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| katuuuz:
Well, back to the drawing board then I guess. Thanks guys. I guess I just wanted to pretend I could revitalize the local arcade scene. ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, if there was still such a thing around here, I'd be there all the time, especially now that I could buy $40 worth the quarters without even thinking twice. Unfortunately it looks like the good old days are gone forever. I may still be interested in buying a couple machines for my barber shop, but in no way will I be making any type of serious bank on them. Ah well, back to building 4' replica cabinets to run MAME in for my personal miniature arcade in my hosue. Thanks again, and -rep to console gaming. |
| Yvan256:
If you don't have a competing "big chain" in the area where people can go rent videogames, making it an all-in-one place for videogames could make it very successful. Imagine a one-stop shop where people can play real arcade cabs (i.e. no MAME), builders can buy arcade parts (joysticks, buttons, T-molding even!), players can buy videogames (PC, consoles), consoles and accessories (gamepads, memory cards, etc) and can also rent videogames (consoles only, PC games have serial numbers, etc). Depending on the area, you could also make it a "PC shop" where people can buy computers or at least gaming-related components (i.e. computer parts such as cases, motherboards, CPUs, RAMs, hard drives, graphic cards, keyboards, mouses, monitors - but not printers, scanners, etc). If you don't want to do it all, maybe check with local businesses, perhaps you could team up with someone already established as a "gaming place", simply run arcade machines from there. Or just ask some businesses if they'd be interested in having arcade machines on their location: videogames rental places, movies rental places, bowling alleys, etc. |
| katuuuz:
--- Quote from: Yvan256 on November 15, 2009, 01:25:23 pm ---If you don't have a competing "big chain" in the area where people can go rent videogames, making it an all-in-one place for videogames could make it very successful. Imagine a one-stop shop where people can play real arcade cabs (i.e. no MAME), builders can buy arcade parts (joysticks, buttons, T-molding even!), players can buy videogames (PC, consoles), consoles and accessories (gamepads, memory cards, etc) and can also rent videogames (consoles only, PC games have serial numbers, etc). Depending on the area, you could also make it a "PC shop" where people can buy computers or at least gaming-related components (i.e. computer parts such as cases, motherboards, CPUs, RAMs, hard drives, graphic cards, keyboards, mouses, monitors - but not printers, scanners, etc). If you don't want to do it all, maybe check with local businesses, perhaps you could team up with someone already established as a "gaming place", simply run arcade machines from there. Or just ask some businesses if they'd be interested in having arcade machines on their location: videogames rental places, movies rental places, bowling alleys, etc. --- End quote --- That's a good idea. Buy and refurbish arcade games and just plant them around the town in various stores that are willing to have them. |
| RayB:
No, those days are over. Most businesses that have space and clientele for coin-operated machines ALREADY are under contract with "operators" who place their machines there and split revenue with the location owner. There's a REASON why you see more of those "Stacker" "win a prize" type machines, food and drink vending machines, etc instead of video games now. Don't waste your time. The only thing that can work is a retro arcade / museum, and you have to be really passionate and knowledgeable to pull it off (not to mention have dirt cheap rent, and family to help run it, otherwise the costs are too high). Another thing no one mentioned is taxes and permits which vary by State/Province and even by City. You never mentioned where you live. |
| katuuuz:
--- Quote from: RayB on November 15, 2009, 01:37:43 pm ---No, those days are over. Most businesses that have space and clientele for coin-operated machines ALREADY are under contract with "operators" who place their machines there and split revenue with the location owner. There's a REASON why you see more of those "Stacker" "win a prize" type machines, food and drink vending machines, etc instead of video games now. Don't waste your time. The only thing that can work is a retro arcade / museum, and you have to be really passionate and knowledgeable to pull it off (not to mention have dirt cheap rent, and family to help run it, otherwise the costs are too high). Another thing no one mentioned is taxes and permits which vary by State/Province and even by City. You never mentioned where you live. --- End quote --- I live in CT. Yeah, this idea has really been shot down. Thanks everyone for the input, I guess any games I come across will either go in my barber shop or in my spare bedroom turned arcade I guess. Thanks again. |
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