Arcade-orientated new business - it's happening BUT NEED NAMES. Probably ;)

[drawfull]

Hi guys.

Today I found fantastic premises, right in the heart of town. All told they are 1600sq ft, split over two floors. It's looking very promising.

Games: What would be really helpful, is advice on which (cocktail) games to get for the main seating area. While the venture will almost certainly focus on the classics, in the first instance I am limited to what I can actually get my hands on. I am looking to buy 10-15+ machines in addition to the ones I already own. I would want a couple of uprights in addition to what I already have too.

What I feel is important is typical length of play. I am going to pinch the idea above of giving out custom tokens (Santoro? is that the person to speak to?) with purchases, but I want to figure out what the correct amount of tokens would be assuming most people will take 15 minutes for a sandwich / coffee etc. If a game is typically over in a few seconds then I don't think that will do. The problem is, I'm guessing we all play most of the classics to death, so for us, it's NOT over that quickly. Hope I'm making sense.

Seats: Also, what would YOU want to sit on in what will hopefully a fun but classy environment. I'm leaning towards comfy and sumptuous a la Costa or similar but there will be lots of cocktails so...

Lighting: I can't have it looking like an arcade! I used to be in lighting so have lots of ideas, but am certainly open to suggestions in this area.

What the hell can I call it?!

Thanks!

[BASS!]

I don't have any big ideas, but here is I think the best operating arcade ive been to reecently.

http://groundkontrol.com/

[leapinlew]

The problem is, I'm guessing we all play most of the classics to death, so for us, it's NOT over that quickly.

We aren't your target audience. Hardcore classic lovers built their own Mame boxes or collected the real deal. I don't play arcade games when I'm out much. If I do, it's just to check out the controls, sound or something. Casual classic players are sufficiently satisfied by the jakks, xbox360, or numerous other offerings to play.

Here is a name suggestion and a tag line to go with it:

Blip
Hurry up and check us out before we go out of business

[DrewKaree]

"My Mom's Basement"

In your ads, be sure to mention the code for noisy

[stan2323]

I know of 2 successful stand alone arcades in the US.  The both have miniature golf, a snack bar, no outside food, and about 30 games most of them the new ones.  Both host birthday parties, have ticket eating machines for redemption.  Only 2 or 3 machines at each arcade are older games or a pinball machine, about 10 to 15 machines at each location give tickets and these are mainly the games for little kids.  One arcade has a go kart track as its main attraction and the other arcade has batting cages and a gym like play area for kids as its main attraction.   

Both are part of a national chain or corporation as well so they have name recognition and a corporation that has had there back during at least one lawsuit each that I know of

Both use token and have there own custom tokens, relatively speaking token are cheap compared to other expenses you will incur.  Both are in very popular shopping areas that get a lot of traffic. 

Both go to reduced hours over the winter, only open 3 days a week Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Even then some times they will only bring in $20 to $40 a day in the winter.  That does not even cover the cost of one employ for the day.  They also run a winter special on Sunday, Token Sunday 10 for $1.  During the summer they have to run a special on at least one weekday to draw people in, Token Tuesday 10 for $1.  If they did not they would not bring enough customers on certain days. 

I know the owner of one.  He has been at it for quite a while.  He is hoping this will be the year that the “Family Fun Center” will take in a million dollars.  This is not how much he makes because of insurance, rent, wages, game rental, utilities, ect.  It is a hard business.  The worst part is dealing with the stupid people that are always trying to something for free.  Like the person who said he left his ATM card in the ATM last week and it was used and he wanted the owner to pay him for what was taken off his card.  In reality the ATM had been out of service for 2 months.   

The rest that I know of are in malls and not doing to well. 

Just remember it is location location location. 

For a name Your Last Name Family Fun Center.  Such and "Drawfull Family Fun Center"

Good luck

Stan

[dreamakuma]

The buisness Me & a buddy are working on is currently being named TK Arcade which stands for Tom & Kenny. 

[javeryh]

Marquee Hangout

[ghettodish]

Quarter Pounders

[HaRuMaN]

Quarter Pounders

Haha, that's pretty good! 

[drawfull]

It's very good, but unless I go totally down an American theme, it wouldn't work here...

Ta for the help so far, even Blip

[drawfull]

The other person doing this with me decided PACuccinos is too much like CRAPuccinos.

Need more input

[drawfull]

The problem is, I'm guessing we all play most of the classics to death, so for us, it's NOT over that quickly.

Here is a name suggestion and a tag line to go with it:

Blip
Hurry up and check us out before our bank takes all our money and goes out of business

Is what it should have been btw.

[Santoro]

I'd be glad to help out with custom tokens, but I'll be honest I may or may not be necessary depending on what you need.   If you have a logo already designed you should probably deal with one of the mints directly.  Shoot me a PM if you want to discuss it.

[Flake]

The buisness Me & a buddy are working on is currently being named TK Arcade which stands for Tom & Kenny. 

I assume this is going to go up in Granite City?  Maybe you should consider Fairview Heights?  Kids need something to do here too.   

Good luck.  I will be interested to see how this goes for you.   

[dreamakuma]

The buisness Me & a buddy are working on is currently being named TK Arcade which stands for Tom & Kenny. 

I assume this is going to go up in Granite City?  Maybe you should consider Fairview Heights?  Kids need something to do here too.   

Good luck.  I will be interested to see how this goes for you.   

Well I'm going to write up the grant request later in the month and hope for the best, I'm asking for $300,000, and my friend is too. We have the whole thing planned, for the most part. I have to have a friend with me on this Or I will have no restraint. There would be dozens of fighters and nothing else, so Kenny has to be the voice of reason. I'm aiming at doing NO redemtion games but I don't think that's possible. Kids want to win prizes alot, and that would make some money,which would be sorely needed. 

[leapinlew]

The buisness Me & a buddy are working on is currently being named TK Arcade which stands for Tom & Kenny. 

I assume this is going to go up in Granite City?  Maybe you should consider Fairview Heights?  Kids need something to do here too.   

Good luck.  I will be interested to see how this goes for you.   

With all the issues at the mill.... you may want to reconsider the Granite City option. People already have some choices - including Family Fun Time, Time Out, etc. You can do arcade games, but from strictly a business perspective, you need to make money. Figure up a business that makes money, and add some video games to it.

You know what I think would do good? Put Panteras back in town. Granite folks would love that. While your at it, put in a Seibolds bakery somewhere in there and you have a winner. Next put in some video games, crane, and a some redemption games.

[Flake]

The buisness Me & a buddy are working on is currently being named TK Arcade which stands for Tom & Kenny. 

I assume this is going to go up in Granite City?  Maybe you should consider Fairview Heights?  Kids need something to do here too.   

Good luck.  I will be interested to see how this goes for you.   

With all the issues at the mill.... you may want to reconsider the Granite City option. People already have some choices - including Family Fun Time, Time Out, etc. You can do arcade games, but from strictly a business perspective, you need to make money. Figure up a business that makes money, and add some video games to it.

You know what I think would do good? Put Panteras back in town. Granite folks would love that. While your at it, put in a Seibolds bakery somewhere in there and you have a winner. Next put in some video games, crane, and a some redemption games.

How are you famaliar with this area?  Your location is in VA?  Did you used to live in STL?

[dreamakuma]

The buisness Me & a buddy are working on is currently being named TK Arcade which stands for Tom & Kenny. 

I assume this is going to go up in Granite City?  Maybe you should consider Fairview Heights?  Kids need something to do here too.   

Good luck.  I will be interested to see how this goes for you.   

With all the issues at the mill.... you may want to reconsider the Granite City option. People already have some choices - including Family Fun Time, Time Out, etc. You can do arcade games, but from strictly a business perspective, you need to make money. Figure up a business that makes money, and add some video games to it.

You know what I think would do good? Put Panteras back in town. Granite folks would love that. While your at it, put in a Seibolds bakery somewhere in there and you have a winner. Next put in some video games, crane, and a some redemption games.

Seibolds is gone, haven't you heard? Bankruptcy. The reasons why I wish to do it here in granite is because the idea the city has for a movie theater is more than likely going to flop, Stopkotties is back in buisness and it actually has buisness, considering it's a skating rink. Like I had said it'll be a comic/card/hobbie shop too. Similar to dizzy dugout mixed with an arcade. I have been rallied to do this by about everyone I talk to that lives here. It's cool that there are other options, but I know enough people that can't quite make it to anywhere without making it a special event if it's out of town. As for  that Timeout, I went to the one in saint clair square and nearly threw up. there were FIVE working arcade games, and TWELVE redemtion games. I touched the joystick to the tekken 5 Dark ressurection and it was so loose I had assumed the spring had given out. House of the dead 2 had a busted lightgun, soul calibur 3 arcade's P1 vertical slash button was jammed. the only saving grace was a sega strike fighter with three screens. That wasn't an arcade...that was where evil dwells  

[Flake]

I have been to Time Out in St. Clair square as well and your assessment is correct - its worthless.  I have never even seen one person playing a game any time I've been in there.  I wonder how they even sustain that place?  It cant be profitable.  Its about as worthless as the indoor put-put course that is next door to it.  Never seen anyone in there either.

[ghettodish]

PixelHut

[SavannahLion]

What I feel is important is typical length of play. I am going to pinch the idea above of giving out custom tokens (Santoro? is that the person to speak to?) with purchases, but I want to figure out what the correct amount of tokens would be assuming most people will take 15 minutes for a sandwich / coffee etc.

Toss the tokens and go plastic. I watch the kids at the 'cades with tokens, and there seems to be a greater tendency to scrimp on them. I watch the kids with the plastic and they rip through the credits like they were candy. Typical of American attitudes, Kids with plastic lose all sense of resource (ie money) management. Add in the fact that credit on the plastic doesn't always get spent and you have yourself a stash. You'll face a higher up front cost retrofitting the coin mech with card readers and networking but you might save yourself money in the long run with cheaper plastic cards. Possibly lower labor costs from emptying out the coin buckets as well.

You'll need to take care with accounting and maintaining the database.

You'll lose the feeling of popping in coinage, but that's a moot point. We are not going to be your target market.

[NickG]

SIP 'n' ZAP
Zap 'n' Sip

[TxGlenn]

Flashbacks or
Flashbax

[ghettodish]

It's very good, but unless I go totally down an American theme, it wouldn't work here...

Ta for the help so far, even Blip

"Royale with Tokens"

Just kidding

[RayB]

TOKENS?! 
Did you bother researching 1984 and other places? The way to cover your costs these days is to charge an entry fee and then have all the games on free play. You guarantee $X per person this way and it keeps out loiterers. Then make more off food and drinks.

[drawfull]

We're looking at the best way to implement everyhing we want. There are lots o options, but I disagree that POTD is one of them.

More likely is pay for food / coffee / beer / anything gets credits in the form of tokens or a loyalty card scheme which can be exchanged for more food / coffee / beer / anything or played on the games.

It's cocktail TABLES remember... And essentially that's all they are, tables. the thing to s that makes it different is that you can play if you want to play. Other than that, it's a gimmick or hook.

[RayB]

It's cocktail TABLES remember... And essentially that's all they are, tables. the thing to s that makes it different is that you can play if you want to play. Other than that, it's a gimmick or hook.

OH OK, like the bar I described. I didn't catch that. Sorry 

[drawfull]

Don't have to be sorry! The whole point of this is, out of £300k+ investment, the games represent a small percentage. If the games don't work out, we change and adapt. 20k on games isn't gonna break the bank.

We should be OK - the biggest issue is making rent payments from day 1. We're looking at between £55 and £70k per year, but it's a prime spot here.

Edit to add that the other option is to buy the premises we're looking at. At least no rent then, but it depends what the current landlord wants. Is there a ballpark formula based on rent? Not had answer from agent yet to that.

[councilface]

"Cocktails and Dreams"

Its the 20 year anniversary of that film this week you know 

[FrizzleFried]

I feel for you...

[mrserv0n]

I would stick with your burger bar or some other food venture, You could even have an arcade room at the venue but dont focus your sights on the arcade end have that as a fun addon to your restaurant.

[drawfull]

It's cocktail TABLES remember... And essentially that's all they are, tables. the thing to s that makes it different is that you can play if you want to play. Other than that, it's a gimmick or hook.

OH OK, like the bar I described. I didn't catch that. Sorry 

I would stick with your burger bar or some other food venture, You could even have an arcade room at the venue but dont focus your sights on the arcade end have that as a fun addon to your restaurant.

Arcade is secondary, fun isn't. As I said a lot earlier somewhere in here, I would love to open a totally arcade orientated venture, but it would be folly. Retro bar / bistro / coffee shop, good food, classic free-play games, funky decor. I don't see a problem, I really don't. Whilst traditional cafes and coffee shops are popular they're also quite austere.

Also, we have made the decision to not make it obviously 'arcadey' in the name so if that aspect doesn't work out, we're not stuck with something that says 'games here'.

Once things begin to move forward, I'll let people know. Thanks for all the advice, good and doom-mongerish

[drawfull]

"Cocktails and Dreams"

Its the 20 year anniversary of that film this week you know 

We toyed with 'Golf 'n' Stuff' - Didn't realise it was a real place. And we don't have golf.

[Ummon]

Well, the place used to be called Golf N Things (which I still prefer). Could use that now, perhaps. You know, too bad you're not in Amsterdam. I might think it'd be an easy one, then.

[HaRuMaN]

Well, the place used to be called Golf N Things (which I still prefer). Could use that now, perhaps. You know, too bad you're not in Amsterdam. I might think it'd be an easy one, then.

Yeah, then you could it "Tokin' & Tokens" or something, lol.

[ashes-uk]

Gotta love the IOM, Are you based in Douglas, if so I'd be getting plenty of Bike type games ready for TT.
And also getting the place filled up with cabs, because Im visitng IOM in April 

Seriously though, would think about out of season and how you're getting through that.
I'd be looking at getting into Game in town and asking about putting flyers out, I'd also be possibly getting promo stuff to every techy place on the island. Obvious one's are the adverts in the airport and at the docks.
But I dont think it would be viable to just have cabs, what I always found is pool and snooker tables keep punters in for ages. And I know I will always walk and drive that little bit further to any place that has well kept tables.
I think a good model for this type of "nerdy" thing is laser quest, visit one of those, speak to the guys see how they make it work.
Have a membership fee so the guys that join up get good discounts and have stuff like free play evenings etc etc.

Good luck and dont forget last week in APRIL (get place full of cabs) lm there lol

[polaris]

i didnt realise this was in the IOM , have arcades even got there yet?

sorry had to be done, good luck with it mate, i like the idea of just having cocktails as tables that you can play if you want to. they might be a bit distracting to those wanting a chilled coffee shop though.
is it tourist trade your aiming for or a year round business?

[Donkey_Kong]

Hi, good luck on the venture. You might want to try and get on websites like this right away, maybe even before you open. Try to become a destination right away...
http://www.iomguide.com/

[specialmoose]

Better serve alcohol. The arcades I've been too have only survived due to alcohol. Have family time during the day but after a certain time (7pm?) turn into a bar atmosphere. Funny thing about alcohol, makes you want to play games

Look into www.groundkontrol.com. I always stop by when I'm in Portland. Cheap beers, cheap games, live music


EDIT:

You know, I don't want to change your business plan but have you considered opening a brewery? Be a microbrewery that serves alcohol, food, and arcade games. The microbrewery aspect would drive people in as well as the food (gourmet pizza?). There is one hugely successful restaurant in my city that serves gourmet pizza & salads that is a microbrewery. They bought an old theatre years back and show second run/independent films along with their own microbrew. They also host an annual independent film festival each year.

http://www.moosestooth.net/
http://www.beartooththeatre.net/index2.html

May be something to look into. Alcohol is one hell of a product.

[VespaGuy]

My 2 cents -

Keeping with the gaming theme, have you thought about selling used console games? Around here, there is one place - and one place only - that sells used games, and that is Gamestop. And their margin on used games is huge!

For instance, They sell a brand new PS3 game for $60. Buy it back for less than half that price. Then resell it for $55. They buy back and resell the same game over and over. It's all profit.

There is so much margin between their buyback price and their resell price that I can't understand why nobody has slid in and offered to buyback for a few dollars more and resell for a few dollars less. I honestly think that there is money to be made there.

If I were doing it here, I'd begin by dealing with only the most popular/newest 5 or 10 games for each console (that way you don't get stuck with old games that nobody wants). Find Gamespot's buyback price and beat it by a few bucks. Then find Gamespot's resell price and beat that by a few bucks. All it will take is word of mouth that you have the best trade-in prices, and the cheapest price on used games.

Again, just a thought.