Wow, I didn't even know anyone even thought of opening arcades anymore. O_o
I knid of envisaged the games and the something else both being the hook. You get people in for the games that partake insomething else, and those that come for the something else partaking in the games.
Dave and Busters, Jillians, and the like are the only venues I know of that are successful long term, and there you have to have redemption games to draw the crowds.
LAN centre, meaning a place to play networked PC games? Talk about entering a declining market. As broadband adoption and speeds increase, your market shrinks. I've seen places close up shop. There's no point to them when you can just play from home or find free wifi hotspots.
so, I would expect to incorporate food somehow. But without the legal minefield.
so, I would expect to incorporate food somehow. But without the legal minefield.
sounds like vending machines to me.
There is a slight catch 22 with your suggestions I think Savannahlion - in order to cater for every type of gamer (console, pc, 'cade etc) one would require larger premises. Larger premises tend to be available bang smack in the centre of town commanding premium rents (IE more risk, even though theoretically if it works in a garage it works in a stadium assuming infinite population) or in the middle of nowhere. We do nowhere really well here.
I agree. But the FASTEST access we can get here as domestic users is 2mb. Yes, there are rumours that it is going to 8mb via rollout over the next 18 months, but the other thing going for it is that for my phone line and 2mb I pay £41 per MONTH. A LOT of people here are still on PAYG dial up.
I agree. But the FASTEST access we can get here as domestic users is 2mb. Yes, there are rumours that it is going to 8mb via rollout over the next 18 months, but the other thing going for it is that for my phone line and 2mb I pay £41 per MONTH. A LOT of people here are still on PAYG dial up.
Where abouts do you live? Most cities have 24MB connections for domestic as all the companies have gone through and rolled out their own equipment in the exchanges. I say spend your money on a new house in an area with decent broadband.
As a first step, you may want to have a look at some folks who are making arcades work:
http://www.1984arcade.com/
http://www.barcadebrooklyn.com/
http://www.groundkontrol.com/
http://www.funspotnh.com/
http://www.pinballmuseum.org/
There is a really good article in the March 2007 issue of GameRoom Magazine (http://www.gameroommagazine.com) about Ground Kontrol, including a discussion with Clay Cowgill (one of the owners) about their formula for success. Also an article about the Pinball Hall Of Fame in July 2007. I could have sworn there was an article about Barcade, but I'll be damned if I can find it (maybe MAMEMaster or KevSteele can tell us if I am imagining things).
Some threads here on BYOAC about 1984arcade:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=68068.0
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=42319.0
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=38646.0
After reading those, I would check into the local licensing and insurance requirements.
I think these guys have figured it out - http://www.barcadebrooklyn.com/
The bar comes first and this is where you make money.
The arcade games give it an 80's nostalgic feel to bring in the gen-x / children of the 80's hipsters with expendable income. They provide a signature ambiance more than income.
They have attempted this here in LA but didn't quite do it right... http://www.la.cityzine.com/2008/03/13/la-gamer-miss-ts-barcademisses-the-mark/
The problem is, I'm guessing we all play most of the classics to death, so for us, it's NOT over that quickly.
Quarter Pounders
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
The buisness Me & a buddy are working on is currently being named TK Arcade which stands for Tom & Kenny.
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. :cheers:
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. :cheers:
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. :cheers:
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.
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. :cheers:
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.
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.
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 :D
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 :cheers:
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 :cheers:
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.
"Cocktails and Dreams"
Its the 20 year anniversary of that film this week you know ;)
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.
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
I live in Portland, Oregon and frequent an 80's arcade called Ground Kontrol (http://www.groundkontrol.com).
Arcades in Japan are still a succes have you done any research on that?
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
There's no chance this will be up and running by end of April unfortunately. We can't start refubishment til planning is complete and that's 8 weeks from application. And we haven't applied yet, because premises (in Douglas) haven't gone through yet. It's all hassle.
We are not relying on the TT or MGP or tourism (although with the recession, that's likely to increase or die completely). Year round business hopefully.
Are you over for work or break?
Arcades in Japan are still a succes have you done any research on that?Myth. They are just dying slower. From what I've heard, they survive by being more than half full of pachinko and slot machines.
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