Winnitron 1000

[elkameleon]

Saw this posted on Kotaku, though i'd share it with you guys here. Very cool.

http://winnitron.ca/

[SavannahLion]

Saw this posted on Kotaku, though i'd share it with you guys here. Very cool.

http://winnitron.ca/

Neat idea.
Not so neat name.
Stupid use of useless buzzwords.

Using buzzwords tends to be a buzzkill because you find morons in the general population spouting nonsense.

[Blanka]

I like the Dutch one, cos I handcrafted it 

[Vigo]

Interesting. I like the premise of the project, that it is an open invite for anyone to build one of these, and an invite to indie games to allow anyone to host their game on a public arcade machine.  I would really rather something like this floating around around than the megatouch machines found in every bar. I also like the how everything will be networked with global stats.

However, I really don't know if it is going to take off.  I suppose it is too early to say.

I was reading their forums, and it sounds like you can't even test the software unless you prove to them that you are building a winitron for public use. 

I'm also surprised that they haven't openly tapped us as a resource over here yet, as well as some other arcade communities, I'm sure they are at least lurking here though. If you are starting a global project asking for people to BYO arcade machines, you should maybe make connections to the largest DIY arcade machine community, as I am sure some of us would be interested as well.

Maybe we should give a shout over to them to build some sort of cross-community rapport?

I like the Dutch one, cos I handcrafted it 

Blanka, Indeed it is one of yours! Very cool!  It's my fav too! Have you gotten involved with the winnitron project, or was it more that they simply purchased from you? Have you played this as a winnitron? No matter what, that is awesome!

[TopJimmyCooks]

I've seen very similar frontend layouts, so you're going to have to watch out for counterfeit Winnitrons, unfortunately. 

[elkameleon]

I think this is a great idea, I just don't know how much it would get used at the local pub or pizza joint here... Probably not enough to warrant a dedicated build, and especially not without being able to recoup on the costs.

[SavannahLion]

I think this is a great idea, I just don't know how much it would get used at the local pub or pizza joint here... Probably not enough to warrant a dedicated build, and especially not without being able to recoup on the costs.

You can't, at least not directly. I didn't see any coin mechs on the few pics I looked at. It appears this whole operation runs purely on donations.

[Vigo]

I think it would be a great idea for any local business owner to think about building one for their restaurant/pub/whatever, if they are in a good enough location for it. They could get some attention for it in their local newspaper and everything. Good for business if strategically planned.

Asking for someone else to build an arcade cabinet in someone else's business and maintain it indefinitely for them without anything in return is much harder to do. (Unless you are like smalltownguy and get free pizza for life out of the deal  ).

I honestly don't see the major issue with asking for a quarter for every 15-20 minutes of play or something small like that. Allow people to browse the catalog for free and see video clips of the game in action, then they can play for hours for a dollar or two to pay for the equipment maintenance. Or, if that is too strict, just simply have a null coin slot that says games are free to play but donations are appreciated to keep the machine running.

[Blanka]

Have you gotten involved with the Winnitron project, or was it more that they simply purchased from you?

Dutch Game Garden bought 26 from me, but all with keyboards or XBOX/PS controller docks. So when they had the opening of their show with the 26 cabs, I gave them a real control panel as gift for the great job they had given me. I thought that they should at least have one cab with arcade sticks.
Well they had a meet with the Winnitron guys, and they decided to label the joystick-cab as Winnitron. Maybe they'll make a second soon, since they have 2 arcade control panels now!

[SavannahLion]

I think it would be a great idea for any local business owner to think about building one for their restaurant/pub/whatever, if they are in a good enough location for it. They could get some attention for it in their local newspaper and everything. Good for business if strategically planned.

Asking for someone else to build an arcade cabinet in someone else's business and maintain it indefinitely for them without anything in return is much harder to do. (Unless you are like smalltownguy and get free pizza for life out of the deal  ).

I honestly don't see the major issue with asking for a quarter for every 15-20 minutes of play or something small like that. Allow people to browse the catalog for free and see video clips of the game in action, then they can play for hours for a dollar or two to pay for the equipment maintenance. Or, if that is too strict, just simply have a null coin slot that says games are free to play but donations are appreciated to keep the machine running.

I'm not up on the laws outside of my state but there might be issues with that. I've been told that arcade.cabinets in public locations earning money need to have tax tags. Whether that's true in all states or countries, I wouldn't know.

Donations might need to have a tax ID as well. Again, I don't know all the ins and outs of that.

All I'm saying is be cautious, especially if the cab is installed in a place of business.

[Vigo]

Yeah, that stuff is always a state by state thing. I believe in my state, no license or tax tag is needed to put up a non-redemption arcade machine. Since there is no sales tax charged, you would need to file for a use tax, but that would only be part of an annual income filing since the amount is so small. I don't believe voluntary donations are taxed either. 

I don't know tax rules of other states either, and I am sure some states are very anal about tagging, licensing and taxing arcade machines, even for a donation slot.

[CheffoJeffo]

Yeah, that stuff is always a state by state thing. I believe in my state, no license or tax tag is needed to put up a non-redemption arcade machine. Since there is no sales tax charged, you would need to file for a use tax, but that would only be part of an annual income filing since the amount is so small. I don't believe voluntary donations are taxed either. 

I don't know tax rules of other states either, and I am sure some states are very anal about tagging, licensing and taxing arcade machines, even for a donation slot.

I do recall there being an entertainment tax tag being required on machines in Minnesota and it specifically applied to pinball, video games and, I think, even jukeboxes.

Dunno, it was a while ago and I don't care enough to go look it up.

 

[Vigo]

Yeah, I could easily be wrong.

I was under the impression that it was not, at least if you are not running an arcade business. I understood it as anyone could throw an arcade machine in their pizza joint business and just file use tax.

[Gray_Area]

I'm surprised torino isn't all over this thread.

[CheffoJeffo]

Yeah, I could easily be wrong.

I was under the impression that it was not, at least if you are not running an arcade business. I understood it as anyone could throw an arcade machine in their pizza joint business and just file use tax.

If I had a dollar for every illegally-licensed or unlicensed game I see in various businesses around here ... well, I might be able to afford an actual license tag.

 

[Vigo]

Yeah, I could easily be wrong.

I was under the impression that it was not, at least if you are not running an arcade business. I understood it as anyone could throw an arcade machine in their pizza joint business and just file use tax.

If I had a dollar for every illegally-licensed or unlicensed game I see in various businesses around here ... well, I might be able to afford an actual license tag.

 

  

[SavannahLion]

Yeah, I could easily be wrong.

I was under the impression that it was not, at least if you are not running an arcade business. I understood it as anyone could throw an arcade machine in their pizza joint business and just file use tax.

If I had a dollar for every illegally-licensed or unlicensed game I see in various businesses around here ... well, I might be able to afford an actual license tag.

 

If I had a dollar for every non-redemption arcade cabinet I've seen in various business around here that is not an Incredible Johns or a Casino... well, I couldn't afford a taco at Taco Bell.

Oh wait... can we count non-functioning cabs? I might be able to afford a taco or two.