community arcade

[SavannahLion]

I'm not being serious. It's just an idea I'm throwing out there and seeing if anything has been done.

A community arcade space/club.

Lease a cheap warehouse at some location and split the floor space into "club arcade" and "workspace".

Basic membership would be err.. I dunno $40 a month (assume all dollar amounts are random and not really set on anything from this point forward) which would give members use of the facility and access to monthly workshops. But no space to leave cabs or projects.

Training and testing would be required for all members to use the appropriate tools and equipment at the shop. Eg a new member cannot use the wood working tools until passing the required test. Same for the metal and plastic working tools.

For additional fee, a project can reside at the club but must fit on a pallet (so it can be moved if necessary) so each project pallet would incur an additional $5 fee per month (no pro-rating). A standard cab would fit on a single pallet. A skee ball would fit on five or six. Otherwise it must be taken home at the end of each day unless it is "drying" such as a freshly painted or glued cab. Maybe an allowance of.... one week? before storage fees are incurred.

The arcade floor would double as additional storage for members cabs based on a small fee for $5 a month per standard cab with breaks given for say.... 10, 20 and 30 cabs... Since all the members are arcade lovers, I imagine it would be reasonable to assume the cabs won't get thrashed unlike a public arcade.

Abandoned cabs or projects whose members refuse to pay storage or membership dues can be auctioned off once or twice a year with the proceeds going to support the location or to charity or something.

Monthly workshops can be divided into three groups. Beginners for basic things like electrical safety practices, safe tool use, etc. Intermediate work shops can involve say.... art design, PC configuration, advanced wood working. Advanced workshops can include advanced painting, cabinet design, etc. Maybe even guest speakers like Ond (at this point I am absolutely convinced Ond has figured out how to clone himself and employs a full workshop of Ond clones to complete his fantastic work.)

It's probably not that viable idea anyways, a location with decent floor space is probably prohibitively expensive anyways. 

[Rick]

Maybe even guest speakers like Ond (at this point I am absolutely convinced Ond has figured out how to clone himself and employs a full workshop of Ond clones to complete his fantastic work.)

I, for one, welcome our Ond-clone Overlords.

[SavannahLion]

Maybe even guest speakers like Ond (at this point I am absolutely convinced Ond has figured out how to clone himself and employs a full workshop of Ond clones to complete his fantastic work.)

I, for one, welcome our Ond-clone Overlords.

if clones ran for president and for seats in the House would each clone count as a single individual or would they all be considered as one?

I'd vote for him/them. Might actually get ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- done for a change.....

[ChadTower]

You'd have to have people both able and willing to give the workshops.  And they should cost extra because those people will expect to be paid.

I would simplify the idea.  Each person sublets a certain portion of space in the workshop.  One bench and maybe a 15sqft area to work in.  Part of the rent would provide access to the larger tools that are part of the facility.  The way you have the cost nickel and dimed is too hard to track and would require a ton of work.  Plus it would constantly lead to arguing.

Same idea with the arcade.  Base price per month to join that is reduced by $x for every working approved game you have on the floor.  Approval is important here because someone will game the system and bring in 20 crapbox conversions.  Approval should fall with the owner and/or manager and that's it.

You'll also need rules regarding behaviour because there are always one or two asshats.  This is the arcade hobby - there will be drama - and you need one or two authoritative figures who can make decisions and that's it.  Fortunately this place isn't a forum, someone put up a ton of cash and is running the place, so it's very easy to make someone follow the rules or leave and take their stuff with them.

I would totally be in for that if it were within a half hour of my house and run by someone reasonable.  Might still do it if it were within an hour and run by a friend.

[Rick]

The one challenge you're going to find is in insurance. It's going to cost a lot to acquire suitable liability insurance for your company, because everyone who comes in has a possibility of being injured in one form or another. You're giving them access to tools, and possibly training, so there's no end to the number of possible pitfalls.

Someone cuts off a finger from using the saw. They claim the machine was faulty, or poorly maintained, or that they didn't receive adequate instruction or supervision. Whether or not they came in prepared, took enough care, or even acted responsibility in the operation of the machine, this type of situation makes Insurance Companies very wary in offering affordable rates.

Food for thought!

[SavannahLion]

To be clear.

I wasn't thinking of it like a company. More like a club... perhaps a 501(C) (7)? I think there are some rather strict rules regarding 501 entities with money though.

But yeah insurance and security I think would be the two biggest cost suckers.

@Chad

Perhaps a voting scheme by the group for the cab choices? After all my own personal cabs choices are going to be different than yours. I was thinking one "free" space for a working cab on the floor and additional cabs would be vetted by the members month to month.

[ChadTower]

@Chad

Perhaps a voting scheme by the group for the cab choices? After all my own personal cabs choices are going to be different than yours. I was thinking one "free" space for a working cab on the floor and additional cabs would be vetted by the members month to month.

Voting means politics and this is not the hobby with the people to handle that.  Plus it means a bunch more work.  Gotta keep the idea simple because whoever is doing this is doing it in their spare time.  Generally even if a game is not your cup of tea you're going to recognize it as a quality addition to the arcade.  And everybody will recognize the games that are just crap.  I can't stand Mortal Kombat but I would instantly approve one if it were in good shape because it's an important title.

[knave]

Liability was a primary thought as soon as the members started using power tools.

I like the idea, and to ease my liability concerns would probably avoid having the big tools. Rather members can bring in "their own" circular saw" and learn to use a saw-board. or better yet it's a community so someone who has a table saw can help out the one or two who really need it.

Just set up booths for easy clean up...paint booth, routing booth (BYO-router), Saw booth...etc

You will still need liability but the organization will not be providing tools and the risk associated with them.

Have storage be free for those that offer their cabs on the play floor.

[Rick]

You will still need liability but the organization will not be providing tools and the risk associated with them.

This may alleviate a bit of the cost, but I'm pretty sure insurance will be at a premium. Think about a job where apprentices (or such) might need/want to bring their own tools. There's still the same work being done in the shop.

[matt4949]

This is a great Idea except for the logistics on a location. Figure that at any given moment there are only about 200 cabs actively being  built (47 by CoryBee)  and the remainder by the rest of us. There would not be enough interest to sustain itself at any spot in the U.S.

Also I want first dibs on a OND clone. I would name him Steve and he would spend the rest of his days colorsanding in my garage.

[SavannahLion]

You will still need liability but the organization will not be providing tools and the risk associated with them.

This may alleviate a bit of the cost, but I'm pretty sure insurance will be at a premium. Think about a job where apprentices (or such) might need/want to bring their own tools. There's still the same work being done in the shop.

auto garage. My brother works at one and he has to purchase and maintain the bulk of his tools. I'm not exactly sure what he has to  buy. Does he have to buy his own computer to analyse the car computer? I have no idea.

This is a great Idea except for the logistics on a location. Figure that at any given moment there are only about 200 cabs actively being  built (47 by CoryBee)  and the remainder by the rest of us. There would not be enough interest to sustain itself at any spot in the U.S.

That would explain the lack of projects in Sacramento, Cory buys up all the damn supplies.

[Xiaou2]

There is something already in existence thats similar called 'Makerspace'.

 Where you can get a membership, then come in and work on any project with a full shop of tools..  as well as staff that can help you with technical details, advice...etc.

[SavannahLion]

There is something already in existence thats similar called 'Makerspace'.

 Where you can get a membership, then come in and work on any project with a full shop of tools..  as well as staff that can help you with technical details, advice...etc.

I prefer the term Hackerspace.

[ChadTower]

This is a great Idea except for the logistics on a location. Figure that at any given moment there are only about 200 cabs actively being  built (47 by CoryBee)  and the remainder by the rest of us. There would not be enough interest to sustain itself at any spot in the U.S.

That's limited to MAME cabs.  There are a LOT MORE project restorations going on at any given point than new builds.  I know guys with a ton of cabs that need workshop space.  I would benefit from that because if I could do my work elsewhere, especially if I had access to booths, it would help me quite a bit.

[Rick]

That's limited to MAME cabs.  There are a LOT MORE project restorations going on at any given point than new builds.  I know guys with a ton of cabs that need workshop space.

Don't forget about the ability to work on bartops, cocktails, cabarets, full-size arcades, mini-pins,  full-size and widebody pinball cabinets!

[Funkoid]

It's UK based but check out somewhere called "home of arcade" - similar sort of thing you're on about

[Ond]

If you build it I will come, clones n all 

[Alistair Keith]

Sounds like a good idea, would this be for cost-price or profit?