Arcade on a Cruise Ship

[Encryptor]

I recently went on a cruise on Carnival the fun ships and they had an arcade on the ship. I thought I'd share them.


Encryptor

[leapinlew]

Was that the Imagination?

[Ginsu Victim]

About what I expected these days, but there's some pretty good games there.

[Havok]

Are those tvs on the ceiling? Almost looks like scan lines on them...

[Dazz]

Wow, arcade games everywhere and not a single joystick in sight...

[Ginsu Victim]

Wow, arcade games everywhere and not a single joystick in sight...

Star Wars Trilogy

[Bluedeath]

Let s face it, the only way that arcade industry can survive is trough dedicated drive/shooting/sport cabinets. What made arcade games so great in the 80s was the fact that it was not possible to recreate the same experience at home. Nowadays home systems are more powerful than arcade machines in most of the cases, execept tekken/street fighter clones we won't see many joystick cabinet in the future.

[SirPeale]

Indeed; when I was working for Mohawk those were the games we were always putting out; drivers and guns.  Used to be drivers, guns and golf, but golf isn't as popular as it used to be.

[ToplessZ]

I got to play the crap out that star wars trilogy when I went on that cruise last year.  It was set to free play somehow so I play it several times... eheheh  The games cost an arm and a leg though!

[RayB]

No man. The future is BEAN BAG TOSSING!

[Ginsu Victim]

Funny how it Back to the Future II, the kids in the future are disappointed by the Wild Gunman game because you have to use your hands.

Not quite panning out that way...

What would they think of Guitar Hero and DDR?

[TxGlenn]

Blah...slap a DOnkey Kong cabinet in there and I bet it would outsell the rest.

[Encryptor]

Was that the Imagination?

No it was the Victory. We went on the Glory 3 years ago and it had an arcade also.

Are those tvs on the ceiling? Almost looks like scan lines on them...

Yeah there are lots of tv's everywhere in that area.


Encryptor

[TOK]

Indeed; when I was working for Mohawk those were the games we were always putting out; drivers and guns.  Used to be drivers, guns and golf, but golf isn't as popular as it used to be.

I thought Raw Thrills, its games and Merit were about the only game companies turning a profit. The staple of every bar I go to is the Megatouch and Golden Tee. Sometimes a Buck Hunter type thing, but always a GT.

[SirPeale]

Mohawk was the name of the op I worked for.  That was the two biggest types of games we'd put out on location: drivers and gun games.

[TOK]

Mohawk was the name of the op I worked for.  That was the two biggest types of games we'd put out on location: drivers and gun games.

If that was for me, perhaps I wasn't clear... I know Mohawk isn't a game company, and I disagree that golf games are less popular.

[SirPeale]

Mohawk was the name of the op I worked for.  That was the two biggest types of games we'd put out on location: drivers and gun games.

If that was for me, perhaps I wasn't clear... I know Mohawk isn't a game company, and I disagree that golf games are less popular.

Sorry TOK, I didn't realize you were on route collecting from the machines.  Of course you'd know.

[TOK]

Sorry TOK, I didn't realize you were on route collecting from the machines.  Of course you'd know.

I'm not on a route collecting quarters.
If I want to know how Sony is doing, I don't go down to Wal Mart and ask the guy unloading Sony TV's from a truck.

[SirPeale]

Sorry TOK, I didn't realize you were on route collecting from the machines.  Of course you'd know.

I'm not on a route collecting quarters.
If I want to know how Sony is doing, I don't go down to Wal Mart and ask the guy unloading Sony TV's from a truck.

Apples and oranges.  If you want to know how popular a game is, ask the guy that pulls the money from the machine.  It's a direct indicator of "popularity". 

From collecting on a route, I can see firsthand that it has gone way downhill in terms of popularity.  Going from collecting 1000 a week a golf machine to maybe a couple hundred bucks, and we're talking new machines and courses here.  At this rate they won't even pay for themselves for a long time - if ever.

So pretty please...tell me how your argument holds water.

[TOK]

Sorry TOK, I didn't realize you were on route collecting from the machines.  Of course you'd know.

I'm not on a route collecting quarters.
If I want to know how Sony is doing, I don't go down to Wal Mart and ask the guy unloading Sony TV's from a truck.

Apples and oranges.  If you want to know how popular a game is, ask the guy that pulls the money from the machine.  It's a direct indicator of "popularity". 

From collecting on a route, I can see firsthand that it has gone way downhill in terms of popularity.  Going from collecting 1000 a week a golf machine to maybe a couple hundred bucks, and we're talking new machines and courses here.  At this rate they won't even pay for themselves for a long time - if ever.

So pretty please...tell me how your argument holds water.

You're telling me that because a Golden Tee machine you took tokens from is making less money in a few locations, you can extrapolate that Its Games is NOT the largest designer/producer of games in the US?

I'm pretty sure they still are. Thats how my argument holds water.
You are thinking very small. 

[SirPeale]

Sorry TOK, I didn't realize you were on route collecting from the machines.  Of course you'd know.

I'm not on a route collecting quarters.
If I want to know how Sony is doing, I don't go down to Wal Mart and ask the guy unloading Sony TV's from a truck.

Apples and oranges.  If you want to know how popular a game is, ask the guy that pulls the money from the machine.  It's a direct indicator of "popularity". 

From collecting on a route, I can see firsthand that it has gone way downhill in terms of popularity.  Going from collecting 1000 a week a golf machine to maybe a couple hundred bucks, and we're talking new machines and courses here.  At this rate they won't even pay for themselves for a long time - if ever.

So pretty please...tell me how your argument holds water.

You're telling me that because a Golden Tee machine you took tokens from is making less money in a few locations, you can extrapolate that Its Games is NOT the largest designer/producer of games in the US?

I'm pretty sure they still are. Thats how my argument holds water.
You are thinking very small. 

No, you said that golf games are still popular; that's a far cry from "IT Games being the largest designer/producer of games in the US".  IT is still making games, no doubt.  I'm saying that golf games aren't as popular as they used to be.  And yes, less quarters in a machine are a direct indicator of popularity. 

And if I were talking about one machine in one location that would be one thing, but I'm talking about hundreds of machines in the Northeast.  The numbers may be different in other areas, but on the operators boards I converse on the profits are down.

[TOK]

Sorry TOK, I didn't realize you were on route collecting from the machines.  Of course you'd know.

I'm not on a route collecting quarters.
If I want to know how Sony is doing, I don't go down to Wal Mart and ask the guy unloading Sony TV's from a truck.

Apples and oranges.  If you want to know how popular a game is, ask the guy that pulls the money from the machine.  It's a direct indicator of "popularity". 

From collecting on a route, I can see firsthand that it has gone way downhill in terms of popularity.  Going from collecting 1000 a week a golf machine to maybe a couple hundred bucks, and we're talking new machines and courses here.  At this rate they won't even pay for themselves for a long time - if ever.

So pretty please...tell me how your argument holds water.

You're telling me that because a Golden Tee machine you took tokens from is making less money in a few locations, you can extrapolate that Its Games is NOT the largest designer/producer of games in the US?

I'm pretty sure they still are. Thats how my argument holds water.
You are thinking very small. 

No, you said that golf games are less popular; that's a far cry from "IT Games being the largest designer/producer of games in the US".  IT is still making games, no doubt.  I'm saying that golf games aren't as popular as they used to be.  And yes, less quarters in a machine are a direct indicator of popularity. 

And if I were talking about one machine in one location that would be one thing, but I'm talking about hundreds of machines in the Northeast.  The numbers may be different in other areas, but on the operators boards I converse on the profits are down.

You're getting all confused now... YOU said golf games are less popular.
If you go back to my original comments, the ones where you thought I was referring to Tomahawk as a supplier, you'll see I said that Raw Thrills, Merit and IT were the coin op companies turning a profit.
Stern is out there, but what they say varies from month to month.

[SirPeale]

Typo.  Edited.

And I'm saying that ON LOCATION these games aren't raking in what they used to.  Sure you see them in bars - what's what they were marketed toward.  But profits now vs just a couple years ago are way down.

[DMala]

I recently went on a cruise on Carnival the fun ships and they had an arcade on the ship. I thought I'd share them.


Encryptor

I was just on the Norwegian Pearl, and the arcade was maybe half that size.  They didn;t really have anything compelling, Time Crisis II was the only thing I remember specifically.

I thought it was pretty interesting that every game was bolted to the wall with metal brackets.  I guess those cabinets could get pretty dangerous on rough seas.   

All in all, I spent more time in the casino.   

[Ummon]

Yeah there are lots of tv's everywhere in that area.


Encryptor

But there, are they supposed to lie on the floor to watch them? You can't even call that eye-candy.

[RayB]

I think I'd take Peale's first hand knowledge of the actual $$ from a sampling of machines, than TOK's assumptions based on seeing machines merely "existing".

... 

[TOK]

I think I'd take Peale's first hand knowledge of the actual $$ from a sampling of machines, than TOK's assumptions based on seeing machines merely "existing".

... 

Don't forget to ask the guy down at Jiffy Lube for advice when you go to buy a new car! 

[TOK]

I think I'd take Peale's first hand knowledge of the actual $$ from a sampling of machines, than TOK's assumptions based on seeing machines merely "existing".

... 

Yes, the number of actual games sold, the Live! Tournament network, their cash payouts and that fact that Golden Tee 2009 is going to be out in the Fall are less important indicators of golf games being popular than the anecdotal evidence of someone taking less quarters out of machines.
The age of the machines, the time on location, and how much less money they earned over a specified time period is completely unimportant information. Less Quarters is all the commentary needed for conclusive analysis.

I surrender! 

[SirPeale]

I think I'd take Peale's first hand knowledge of the actual $$ from a sampling of machines, than TOK's assumptions based on seeing machines merely "existing".

... 

Yes, the number of actual games sold, the Live! Tournament network, their cash payouts and that fact that Golden Tee 2009 is going to be out in the Fall are less important indicators of golf games being popular than the anecdotal evidence of someone taking less quarters out of machines.
The age of the machines, the time on location, and how much less money they earned over a specified time period is completely unimportant information. Less Quarters is all the commentary needed for conclusive analysis.

I surrender! 

I already said new machines and an approximate amount less.  I'm very sorry I didn't spill the rest of the beans here!

New machines on locations less then six months and their income drops sharply after about the first three months.

Of course a company is going to be releasing new material with promotions.  If IT never released anything else, they'd go completely out of business.  Their business is to sell to operators.  The operators have to buy new stuff to keep people interested so they can keep making money.  But in the network of ops I talk with they're not interested in golf, bowling or even that new beanbag game.  They're going for a shooter (Buck Hunter Pro or whatnot) or a digital juke, like Touchtunes.  Because people love shoving money into a machine that plays the music they want to hear.

TOK, you can argue all you want, but unless you work in the industry and can attest to what is actually going on there, as opposed to being a critic on the sidelines, your vision about popularity is viewed thru rose colored sunglasses.

[TOK]

I don't work in the industry because its not stable. I couldn't provide for my family the way I want working for, or probably even BEING an op. If I WAS going to take a shot at working in the industry, I'd move to Skokie, IL and take whatever job I could to get me in the door at Raw Thrills and try to move up from there. I actually think Incredible Technologies is probably more successful, but Eugene Jarvis is one of my idols.

Being a hobbiest doesn't disqualify me from understanding the industry. I think the fact that you provided more relevant data based on what I mentioned confirms that. You said you don't even work for the company anymore. While working there, did you come across people that hated their jobs and lacked passion for it? Would you trust their opinions over someone who embraced and followed the scene? I wouldn't. I manage a contracting group FILLED with those kinds of people.

[SirPeale]

Most of the people that I met loved what they did.  Myself included.  The only reason I stopped working for the op was because has no people skills.  His business skills were second to none, and he knew a ton about what makes money, and what doesn't.  When it came to stuff involving people, whether it be customers or employees, he was sadly lacking in that department.

Since I'm still doing repair as a home business now, I keep contact with most of my business contacts from when I was working there.  And a lot of them are the operators that own the companies.  A lot of the talk concerns what's making money.  Guess what isn't making nearly what it used to anymore?

[SirPeale]

I think I'd take Peale's first hand knowledge of the actual $$ from a sampling of machines, than TOK's assumptions based on seeing machines merely "existing".

... 

Don't forget to ask the guy down at Jiffy Lube for advice when you go to buy a new car! 

Your logic boggles the mind.

[TOK]

I think I'd take Peale's first hand knowledge of the actual $$ from a sampling of machines, than TOK's assumptions based on seeing machines merely "existing".

... 

Don't forget to ask the guy down at Jiffy Lube for advice when you go to buy a new car! 

Your logic boggles the mind.

That was actually a crappy thing to say, and I'm sorry for that. I've had more than my share of crummy jobs.

So if ops are talking about GT not earning, what is? It sounds like you're going to offer up information, but then you don't.

[SirPeale]

That was actually a crappy thing to say, and I'm sorry for that. I've had more than my share of crummy jobs.

So if ops are talking about GT not earning, what is? It sounds like you're going to offer up information, but then you don't.

Seriously?  Redemption is what's earning.  One guy filled a crane machine full of those spikey-inflated balls and said he was making money hand-over-fist.  Games like Stacker are immensely popular (though they're rigged, and it even states so in the manual!).

Don't get me wrong, Golf and the like still earns, but not like it was.  Once upon a time you put a GT machine in a good bar and you'd bring in $1000 a week - easy - if not more.  Now you're lucky if you can pay off the machine.

Music still earns very well.  Digital jukes especially.  People love the selection available.  And they pay a premium for it.

[Encryptor]

Why don't you just take over the thread with your senseless argument!


Encryptor

[Ginsu Victim]

Why don't you just take over the thread with your senseless argument!


Encryptor

I keep checking for this thread to get back on topic.

[TOK]

Why don't you just take over the thread with your senseless argument!


Encryptor

I keep checking for this thread to get back on topic.

Sorry for the sidetrack, Encryptor.

[Ginsu Victim]

Why don't you just take over the thread with your senseless argument!


Encryptor

I keep checking for this thread to get back on topic.

Sorry for the sidetrack, Encryptor.

I'll get it back....

Uhhhh......

So, arcade machines on a boat, eh? Wild stuff.

If the ship goes down, grab a cab. Wood floats!

[DeLuSioNal29]

Yeah, what was the subject again?

~ D

[Ummon]

Music still earns very well.  Digital jukes especially.  People love the selection available.  And they pay a premium for it.

They even have ethernet connection and can download what you want on the fly. You can actually hear Slayer in a public place now.