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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Jeff AMN on June 17, 2007, 02:12:06 pm

Title: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Jeff AMN on June 17, 2007, 02:12:06 pm

I'm working on a article about how to make your game room more enjoyable aside from cramming it with more games and toys. List some things that you do, and specifically how it makes the game room more enjoyable. I'll give credit to contributors in the article. You don't need to worry about grammar/formatting, I'll re-word it since I'm not using direct quotes.

I'll start with a simple one:

We have a giant whiteboard on one wall with a listing of the most popular games. Next to each game title, we leave room to record the name of a player and a high score. Basically it's a giant leaderboard. I know MAME can be recompiled with highscore.dat, but this allows people to walk in and see that I just knocked their Donkey Kong high score from the board and they are immediately in the mood to play. It's made for some fun times and for some tense playing. Just the other day my brother knocked my Missle Command score out while visiting with his wife and kids. I spent the next three days feverishly attacking his score...it still stands.  :hissy:

It looks kinda like this (all numbers are examples):

Game ------- Score ------- Player --- Cab/MAME Donkey Kong:       76,300      Jeff         (Cab) Missle Command: 346,200       Mike        (Mame)

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: BrentRadio on June 17, 2007, 02:15:19 pm

Ummm....Beer!

 :cheers:

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: BobA on June 17, 2007, 03:33:20 pm

I have a popcorn cart and a canned drink vending machine.  Everyone loves watching the popcorn pop and savouring the smell.  Of course you need a drink after the popcorn and one of the can selections that can be locked or unlocked is Beer.

 ;D

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: rlemmon on June 17, 2007, 03:44:31 pm

I'm a poor s.o.b. but if i had a gameroom I would add a jukebox hooked into surround sound with hidden speakers. And a brass pole with a stripper would be nice to.   :o :o :o

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Apollo on June 17, 2007, 05:08:41 pm

I large LCD screen with 10-20 most popular games by most often played with high scores would be pretty cool.
A beer fridge is a prerequisite of course
Chill out area with a couch or two and a TV and DVD

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: TheAdMan on June 18, 2007, 02:49:24 am

Street fighter tournaments - for cash  ;D

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: BrentRadio on June 18, 2007, 03:23:18 am

I have the popcorn machine, candy machine, coke machine, slot machine, beer tap, big screen, surround sound, and the games, if they need more than that, tell them to bring there own drugs!

http://www.brentradio.com/JackDanielsBARcade.htm

 :cheers:

Brent

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Guaranos on June 18, 2007, 07:27:32 am

My game room only has one arcade machine and one pinball machine in it, but it's a hit at every party.  Guys go home pestering their wives about building game rooms.  Heck, even the wives go home talking about building game rooms.  Why?  Atmosphere.

I picked a theme and decorated to that theme.  It was designed to be a space/alien type room.  It has a funky, alien-ish color scheme (purple and green).  There's curtains with planets on them, and the curtains completely block out the light from outside, making it feel like nighttime no matter when you're in there.  A pillow on the couch is covered in the same fabric, pulling that into the theme.  I also have purple LED lights running along the baseboard for kind of a runway (for aircraft not super models) feel.  There's Space Invaders on one wall, Star Wars toys on a shelf above the arcade cabinet, and a Space Duel marquee in a lightbox on another wall.  Even the air conditioning duct covers and the light fixture (always set on dim) are decorated with space stuff.  There's still some things that need to be pulled into the theme, particularly the couch and chair, but I'm working on that too.

Having a Nintendo Wii and a metal DDR pad in there doesn't hurt either, but you could say it delves into the "more toys and games" category.  However, what they bring to the table is something that arcade and pinball machines can't bring - they let the non-gamers get in on the action.  The fact is, you're always going to have someone at the party that isn't into video games and never was a big fan of pinball.  A surprising number of them will be willing to try out the Wii or DDR, though.  I'm not sure if it's the physical activity that they like, or if it's the relative accessibility of those games, but it works.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: patrickl on June 18, 2007, 08:09:32 am

Does a pool table count?

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: rovingmind on June 18, 2007, 09:22:42 am

sliding door access to a barbecue pit?  (i only wish)

Mine has its own bathroom.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 09:26:14 am

I knew a guy back in the day (back when arcades were still a commercial item) who worked in moving games... he would move a whole batch for an op and keep one as payment.  Ended up with a huge gameroom from it, lots of parties.

The reason I bring this up?  He had a small side room with a tanning booth in it.  Given that he was a pasty white guy, I asked, WTF is up with that?  Most credible answer ever:  women love free tanning and hate tan lines.  There was a minifridge with premade mixed drinks in the room too.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: btp2k2 on June 18, 2007, 09:33:48 am

Quote from: TheAdMan on June 18, 2007, 02:49:24 am

Street fighter tournaments - for cash  ;D

Yeah, I've done a few of those....we do 10 dollar entry fee, winner takes home the pot.

Lot's of fun and lot's of drinking

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: AcidArmitage on June 18, 2007, 09:34:19 am

Quote from: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 09:26:14 am

I knew a guy back in the day (back when arcades were still a commercial item) who worked in moving games... he would move a whole batch for an op and keep one as payment.  Ended up with a huge gameroom from it, lots of parties.

The reason I bring this up?  He had a small side room with a tanning booth in it.  Given that he was a pasty white guy, I asked, WTF is up with that?  Most credible answer ever:  women love free tanning and hate tan lines.  There was a minifridge with premade mixed drinks in the room too.

BRILLIANT!

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Thenasty on June 18, 2007, 09:36:10 am

a working BAR with one the Cheesecakes (or more) serving the goodies  ;D

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: shardian on June 18, 2007, 09:37:19 am

Quote from: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 09:26:14 am

The reason I bring this up?  He had a small side room with a tanning booth in it.  Given that he was a pasty white guy, I asked, WTF is up with that?  Most credible answer ever:  women love free tanning and hate tan lines. 

I guess the guy was also a member of byoss (build your own surveilance system)  ;) ;D

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: shardian on June 18, 2007, 09:40:23 am

I can't really think of anything groundbreaking. Most of the usual suspects have already been mentioned. I do think that the wall colors can be a big difference. Paint your walls a totally crazy color that you would never paint a normal room in your house. When you walk into a room like that, it automatically puts your mind into a "fun" mood.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 09:43:45 am

Quote from: shardian on June 18, 2007, 09:37:19 am

I guess the guy was also a member of byoss (build your own surveilance system)  ;) ;D

Nah, it was all straight up.  No door on the tanning room, either. 

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Ed_McCarron on June 18, 2007, 09:47:19 am

Quote from: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 09:26:14 am

women love free tanning and hate tan lines.

This also plays into the logic of seduction.  The guy was obviously a genius.

Theres really only two steps:

Get a woman to your house.
Get her to take her shoes off.

Once a woman is comfortable enough to take her shoes off, odds are she'll not want to put them back on till morning.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: shardian on June 18, 2007, 10:01:03 am

Well I think it is officially required of you to include adding a tanning bed to your article. ;D

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 10:25:21 am

Well, the tanning bed is gone now... once you get past, oh, 28 or so then the results become less worthwhile.  Or you end up that creepy guy trying to get young chicks into his arcade.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Jeff AMN on June 18, 2007, 10:28:57 am

Quote from: shardian on June 18, 2007, 10:01:03 am

Well I think it is officially required of you to include adding a tanning bed to your article. ;D

We'll see about that one...  :laugh2:

Still, the concept is solid. You should have things in the room to attract those that aren't all that interested in gaming so that it doesn't become a solely a geek's haven at all times.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: shardian on June 18, 2007, 10:30:33 am

I've seen a few guys gamerooms that have a "retro gaming corner". They have an old tv with a collection of old consoles and games attached. Noone can resist an atari or nintendo. ;)

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: moriartyds on June 18, 2007, 10:31:33 am

Dartboard is always a nice, simple addition to a game room.

We've also set up the arcade olympics:  Get a group of players to play 10 predetermined games (or random games).  Points for 1st/2nd/3rd based on points per game (1 quarter) 5/3/1.  Add up the points after all 10 games and declare a winner (usually with some pot of money on the line).

You can do something similar with drinking games.  Pick the 10 or so games and play each one.  Lowest score drinks a shot/beer/etc... highest score gets to pick someone to take a shot/beer/etc..

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Havok on June 18, 2007, 10:38:13 am

Quote from: BrentRadio on June 18, 2007, 03:23:18 am

I have the popcorn machine, candy machine, coke machine, slot machine, beer tap, big screen, surround sound, and the games, if they need more than that, tell them to bring there own drugs!

http://www.brentradio.com/JackDanielsBARcade.htm

 :cheers:

Brent

Now why would you put men's underpants in your bar? Women's, I can understand...

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 11:29:05 am

A dartboard is simple but a real space eater.  You need all the clearance of the dart pathway and you can't keep anything near it that you don't want full of holes.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Green Giant on June 18, 2007, 11:38:40 am

I got an idea for one my girlfriend keeps bugging me about.  She wants her own photo booth.  I have a pretty simple plan for building the frame, but the software is the problem.

Anyone know how this could be done?  The only things I have found online involve very expensive software for commercial use.  I told her I would work on it in exchange for acceptance of my arcade.

Hoping this will spark an idea in some of you coders.  I am always happy to be a tester.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 11:45:24 am

Buy her a game boy camera and you'll get the same crappy black and white photos.  For $5.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: shardian on June 18, 2007, 11:52:09 am

An idea I shared one time that was pretty popular was to get a restored, modified pay phone for the gameroom. They are on ebay all the time.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 12:17:34 pm

I think I've told this story here before, but here goes.

There is a standup coinop foot massager at Salem Willows Arcade.   It's from the 50s, I assume, and you stand on a heavily vibrating plate holding handles on the "cab" for stability.  It really vibrates the feet, knees, etc, and does refresh.  I've seen them from time to time on ebay or at auction.

My friends and I used to have a spot about 20 feet away by a pitch and bat that got little play.  It never took long for a woman to walk up, drop in a dime, discover what it really did, and come back with a cup full of times and go to town. 

Get one of those.  Just keep your mom off of it.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: rovingmind on June 18, 2007, 01:23:32 pm

Ok chad we now expect pictures and dimensions.  :D

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Green Giant on June 18, 2007, 01:24:30 pm

Bolt a bicycle seat on it and your wife/girlfriend will let you play your arcade all night long.   :laugh2:

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 01:27:16 pm

The pics aren't coming through my proxy, but this (http://www.marvin3m.com/arcade/foot.htm) sure sounds like the type of machine.  If someone can take one or two of the pics and attach them to this thread I can verify.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: MKChamp on June 18, 2007, 02:12:26 pm

Center of my gameroom....Poker table. My game night with the friends starts with a cash-game Texas Holdem. When you lose your chips you can buy back in. If they lose their cash or their 'will' to lose more, they then migrate to the pinball machine, mame machine, dart board, foosball table or PS2.
Another reason the poker table is good is because you can play your board games on it when it's a 'couples' night and there are some wives that only play 'board' games...or 'bored' games is what I call them.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: shardian on June 18, 2007, 02:23:19 pm

A friend of mine has one of those 3-in-1 bumper pool/poker/dining tables. His is very high quality - the dining table top could pass for a quality dining room table for sure. I want one for my gameroom, but can't find one locally.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 02:27:09 pm

Not too hard a build, yes?

Another suggestion would be a wall mounted video screen with a constant rotation of hair band music videos.  Everyone needs some Winger when they play Tempest.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Chris G on June 18, 2007, 02:54:08 pm

I second the dart board idea.  I have one and it's always a hit at parties, especially since I only have one cabinet.  I built a sort of framed backboard to go behind it to protect the wall and still look decent.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: shorthair on June 18, 2007, 02:54:22 pm

Quote from: patrickl on June 18, 2007, 08:09:32 am

Does a pool table count?

Hell yes it does. A true arcade has a large room or couple of rooms with the four major table-top sports (pool, foosball, air hockey, ping-pong...and if you're really wealthy, a snooker table).

Quote

You should have things in the room to attract those that aren't all that interested in gaming so that it doesn't become a solely a geek's haven at all times.

<blinks> geek's haven?

Woman, shoes off: depends on the kind. Although, it's mandatory in my place as shoes get taken off just inside the door.

Dart board: could use magnetic or those plastic-tipped ones.

Quote

Everyone needs some Winger when they play Tempest.

Um, as my metal friend in high school would say: "A-DIE-A" followed by some 'chun chun' of the real metal we listened to...perhaps along with some lines.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: ChadTower on June 18, 2007, 03:56:28 pm

Who said Winger is metal?  I said hair music.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: shorthair on June 18, 2007, 06:21:55 pm

My point exact-ly.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: amerish on June 18, 2007, 09:31:20 pm

In addition to my MAME, I have a pool table / air hockey combo. Great for saving space and easy to switch from pool to air hockey (takes about 30 seconds).

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: shorthair on June 18, 2007, 11:30:24 pm

Chad: I'm just razzin ya. I mean, I do think that most of that stuff is weak (as it's not quite heavy enough to be metal-metal, and descends a bit too much from rock particularly in the chick attraction thing...actually more so...and technically it is called Hair Metal), but I do like a track here or there of a couple/few bands, in this case 'Headed for a Heartbreak'.

amerish: but does the air hockey actually blow air?

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Arcades R Fun on June 19, 2007, 09:26:39 am

A few years back we added about 7 - 24 inch Flourescent Black Lights throughout our basement/gameroom ( pool table, MAME Game, 1 Pinball, 4-5 regular arcade games, tabletop Megatouchscreen and bar).

It was a huge hit! I thought maybe it would be good just for the kids but most people find it very cool. We added a black light kit for the pool table that uses a special ball set that glows along with glowing pocket markers and stick on spot markers as well.

For one kids party we bought a bunch of glow stick bracelets and special tropical drink glasses that were black light reactive neon colors. Combined with the black light it was the best party ever.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: Green Giant on June 19, 2007, 09:29:10 am

Stripper pole....

I can't be the only one that wants one.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: ChadTower on June 19, 2007, 09:30:57 am

Nyeh, stripper poles are useless.  Just focus on the strippers.

Besides, most people with a basement gameroom already have one.

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: cowguy on June 19, 2007, 01:10:40 pm

Quote from: Green Giant on June 18, 2007, 11:38:40 am

I got an idea for one my girlfriend keeps bugging me about.  She wants her own photo booth.  I have a pretty simple plan for building the frame, but the software is the problem.

Anyone know how this could be done?  The only things I have found online involve very expensive software for commercial use.  I told her I would work on it in exchange for acceptance of my arcade.

Hoping this will spark an idea in some of you coders.  I am always happy to be a tester.

Get a cheap mac, install mac os x on it, and than they have a program called photobooth.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_Booth

Title: Re: Ways to make your game room more fun (besides the games)?
Post by: rlemmon on June 19, 2007, 03:49:19 pm

Quote from: rlemmon on June 17, 2007, 03:44:31 pm

I'm a poor s.o.b. but if i had a gameroom I would add a jukebox hooked into surround sound with hidden speakers. And a brass pole with a stripper would be nice to.   :o :o :o

You are not alone green giant,  8)