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Thinking of opening an arcade...
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Aceldamor:

--- Quote from: katuuuz on November 16, 2009, 01:40:11 pm ---
--- Quote from: DashRendar on November 16, 2009, 01:16:50 pm ---This industry isn't THAT dead!  As was mentioned earlier, you just need a gimmick or something else besides arcade games.

Maybe open up a Dave & Buster's franchise in your area?  The one we have here is always busy with lots of people playing arcade games and whatnot.  :)

http://www.daveandbusters.com/

--- End quote ---

 We actually went into a laser tag place this past Saturday and the kid working there actually gave us a tour of the place and answered a lot of our questions.  They had 40 vests/guns which were priced at about $1,200 a piece.  That is my only gripe - the high cost of laser tag.
--- End quote ---

On the flip side, it is a one time expense, short of maintenance. Overhead is going to be a tough one here, since laser tag arenas have to be very large to be any fun. There is a laser tage place that opened up by where I live, and it is slow going. It doesn't even open until 2PM during the school year.


--- Quote ---  I suggested an indoor roller rink because the skates would be a lot cheaper, but he wasn't into it.  I guess if this were to one day happen we would indeed need something else and unfortunately the arcade would be an "addition" to whatever that may be. 

P.S. I'm against franchises too, but serving alcohol is definitely something that would included :) 

--- End quote ---

Roller rink huh? Could potentially make you some money, but only if you could hook schools, clubs, etc on regularly renting the venue, and again, it would be a night time only scenario.

We recently lost another arcade here in Phoenix, which pretty much leaves the only big arcade being Castles N Coasters, and arguably Golfland/Fiddlestix. The ONLY reason Castles N Coasters is still in business is because they built a small amusement park around the arcade/goofy golf. They now have like 10 rides, 2 coasters, and a water ride attraction. The same stands for the other parks, they get their revenue from other attractions.
katuuuz:

--- Quote from: Aceldamor on November 16, 2009, 03:13:40 pm ---
--- Quote from: katuuuz on November 16, 2009, 01:40:11 pm ---
--- Quote from: DashRendar on November 16, 2009, 01:16:50 pm ---This industry isn't THAT dead!  As was mentioned earlier, you just need a gimmick or something else besides arcade games.

Maybe open up a Dave & Buster's franchise in your area?  The one we have here is always busy with lots of people playing arcade games and whatnot.  :)

http://www.daveandbusters.com/

--- End quote ---

 We actually went into a laser tag place this past Saturday and the kid working there actually gave us a tour of the place and answered a lot of our questions.  They had 40 vests/guns which were priced at about $1,200 a piece.  That is my only gripe - the high cost of laser tag.
--- End quote ---

On the flip side, it is a one time expense, short of maintenance. Overhead is going to be a tough one here, since laser tag arenas have to be very large to be any fun. There is a laser tage place that opened up by where I live, and it is slow going. It doesn't even open until 2PM during the school year.


--- Quote ---  I suggested an indoor roller rink because the skates would be a lot cheaper, but he wasn't into it.  I guess if this were to one day happen we would indeed need something else and unfortunately the arcade would be an "addition" to whatever that may be. 

P.S. I'm against franchises too, but serving alcohol is definitely something that would included :) 

--- End quote ---

Roller rink huh? Could potentially make you some money, but only if you could hook schools, clubs, etc on regularly renting the venue, and again, it would be a night time only scenario.

We recently lost another arcade here in Phoenix, which pretty much leaves the only big arcade being Castles N Coasters, and arguably Golfland/Fiddlestix. The ONLY reason Castles N Coasters is still in business is because they built a small amusement park around the arcade/goofy golf. They now have like 10 rides, 2 coasters, and a water ride attraction. The same stands for the other parks, they get their revenue from other attractions.

--- End quote ---

Yeah I think the roller rink would work.  There literally is nothing to do around my town, and we used to have one that closed down.  I remember everyone had birthdays there and it was the weekend hangout.  (They also had an arcade there).  Try playing Mortal Kombat with skates on.  I think I used the joystick more for balance then movement.
shardian:
I HATE this multipart article. The guy sounds like a real jackass. He admits in the very beginning he had absolutely no clue what he was doing, and just bought a load of cheap games and threw them in a building. I don't like his snobbish, derogatory tone. I only read it because I read all of my GRM issues cover to cover.

There is no lesson in that article other than a universal business lesson. DON'T START A BUSINESS WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- ABOUT YOUR PRODUCT!
You wouldn't go open up a car repair center or a car dealership without knowing alot about car sales or car repair would you? Then why in the world would you do the same with expensive arcade machines and a really poor market?

::Rant off::


--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on November 15, 2009, 11:43:46 am ---What saint said.

There has also been an interesting series of articles in GameRoom Magazine recently about the demise of an arcade, as told by the owner. His story is much the same as others I have heard.

There have been a couple of initiatives lately that are progressing, but they are more geared towards the "hands-on museum" aspect and are being run by people who restore and repair their own games.

Don't underestimate the importance of machine maintenance and repair -- it can be technically demanding and costly if you can't do it yourself.

--- End quote ---
DashRendar:

--- Quote from: HarumaN on November 16, 2009, 01:45:11 pm ---Not to mention:


--- Quote ---Dave & Buster's is wholly owned and operated and not franchising at this time.
--- End quote ---

--- End quote ---
Yep- but you could use their business model for your own.  Have a full bar, restaurant, skeeball, multiplayer games, party atmosphere, etc.

Seems to work for them, should work for you.
Dartful Dodger:

--- Quote from: katuuuz on November 16, 2009, 03:28:21 pm ---Yeah I think the roller rink would work.  There literally is nothing to do around my town, and we used to have one that closed down.  I remember everyone had birthdays there and it was the weekend hangout.
--- End quote ---

There is nothing that's not online for kids to do anywhere.

So if you build it they will come.

Kids from all walks of life from all over will come and eventually the tougher/thug kids will squeeze out/scare away the good kids so you’ll just be catering to vandals and thieves.

My sister had her nieces b-day party at roller rink.  It was a lot of fun in a really good neighborhood, it was during the day and the roller rink was only open to b-day parties or rented to groups.  On weekend nights it was opened up to the general public.  At the party I thought it would be a fun place to take a date, sort of like a nostalgic thing.  

At night it was all wannabe gangbangers and thugs.  I told my sister and she laughed and said on the weekends the police are called there a couple times a night.  She said I was lucky, if enough kids from competing schools show up, it becomes a warzone.

Maybe I just hate people or I'm too pessimistic, you should go to the closest roller rink to where you want to have one.  This will more or less be your clientele too.  You can see for yourself if this is what you want to be dealing with.
     ...bring a couple of big friends with you and don't bring any dates.
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