Author Topic: Midway Cabinet DVD (Read 2367 times)

digitalarcade · « **on:** July 08, 2005, 12:00:44 pm »

During the making of my recent Space Invader Midway cabinet, I filmed roughly 6hrs of DV footage.

I am in the process of putting a DVD together with the footage that will include plans, tips and tricks. I hope to ask a fee for the DVD to cover my costs.

Does this sound like a good idea? How much should I realistically charge for the DVD?

The featured cabinet is shown below:

missioncontrol · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2005, 12:40:36 pm »

Quote from: digitalarcade on July 08, 2005, 12:00:44 pm

Does this sound like a good idea? How much should I realistically charge for the DVD?

Any good DVD should require very hot models in scantaly clad clothing showcasing the cabinet............

conseit68 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2005, 12:48:37 pm »

i agree with mission...you could always talk gozur into wearing his supposed "halloween" costume in place of the hot models...

as for cost i would say no more than 10% above the average paper plans cost.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2005, 01:02:14 pm »

Quote from: conseit68 on July 08, 2005, 12:48:37 pm

i agree with mission...you could always talk gozur into wearing his supposed "halloween" costume in place of the hot models...

ha good one...........

but the only problem is he wants to sell videos not scar everybody for life............

conseit68 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2005, 01:44:15 pm »

ohhh opps i must have misunderstood....

AlanS17 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2005, 02:18:02 pm »

The problem I'm seeing with offering plans is how will people be able to use them? Will you be able to pop it into your computer and pull it from the disk?

Plus, without editing and organization, it's pretty much a home movie. Do you have the equipment/software to do a professional job? If it's not professional then it's not commercially viable.

digitalarcade · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2005, 03:46:17 pm »

Well I have 6hrs of footage which I will be editing using Adobe Premiere. All the footage was taken with a Canon DV camcorder on a tripod so the picture is steady and good quality. I have someone doing the graphics and titles for me plus I have an original score done for me by 'madfiddler' (www.madfiddler.co.uk) who used be part of Massive Attack!

Of course there will be an element of a "Home" movie feel as I am by no means a professional but I don't think that a DVD of a cabinet build has been done before so I am interested to see how this turns out.

Plans and templates will be on the DVD and will be able to be printed out.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2005, 03:50:16 pm »

A Massive Attack soundtrack? That's pretty cool.

pointdablame · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2005, 07:12:04 pm »

The problem I forsee is unique information. What did you do that no one has ever done before? If you just slap 6hours of you building your cab and some plans on a dvd, I don't see many people buying it.

That is not meant to be a mean statement, but instead a genuine concern. You need to differentiate yourself from teh hundreds of pages of information available for free online. I can have wiring diagrams and cabinet plans downloaded in 5 mins. I can download artwork, read tutorials, and ask people here about problems. All of that adds up to me not considering buying a dvd with that info there... even if it is all neatly packaged in one disc. I think there is a market for it (albeit a small one), but you need to prove to everyone that you have something that NO ONE else has.. otherwise, most people will probably just stick to BYOAC and google.

D10 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 09, 2005, 12:34:02 am »

I could see it being helpful for some people. Some people need visual help, no matter how many plans they read or schmatics they look at it. They can't quite understand it, but have somone show them and it all makes sense (and I am not saying there is anyrhing wrong with that). I know there is a wealth of pictoral information here and on the web, but I think someone don't know how many could find it useful.

Thats just my 2 cents

pointdablame · « **Reply #10 on:** July 09, 2005, 01:55:58 am »

I agree, but finding useful and actually buying are two entirely different beasts.

If he's selling these things for $5, then most people would probably pick one up if for nothing else but to see how he did. If he sells them for $39 you're in a totally different ballpark. That is my point. He has to really balance price with his informatiion. He needs to have something to set himself apart or it just won't be worth the price of admission so to speak, unless he's selling them for dirt cheap.

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #11 on:** July 09, 2005, 02:55:06 am »

It sounds like a good idea. It sounds similar to the "This Old Pinball" DVD's about restoring pinball machines.

danny_galaga · « **Reply #12 on:** July 09, 2005, 03:12:27 am »

i was thinking $5 US, but with the soundtrack you have i would imagine around $9.99 should work provided you can advertise who did the score...

digitalarcade · « **Reply #13 on:** July 09, 2005, 03:13:57 am »

I was thinking

monkeybomb · « **Reply #14 on:** July 09, 2005, 03:17:51 am »

For me it depends on how good the explanations are. If it's just you working and showing how to do it then I wouldn't pay the 17. But if you really explain everything then it would be worth more. The dvd could also contain a files that would help people.

Also realize that whatever price the folks in this forum offer is half of it's value.

pointdablame · « **Reply #15 on:** July 09, 2005, 11:46:42 am »

Quote from: monkeybomb on July 09, 2005, 03:17:51 am

Also realize that whatever price the folks in this forum offer is half of it's value.

LOL

We really do like to lowball prices here. I personally think $17 is too much unless as I said you are doing something that NO ONE else is. I can understand wanting to watch someone do it... I actually AM one of the people who learn much better by seeing than by reading... but if I can just download somethig for free.... or pay $20 for it.... well, my cheap side wins out all the time.

Maybe you can post a few samples of it when you are ready to roll out so that people can really see what you are doing. Like I said, if you can show that your DVD is different than anything else available, I think it would sell, but you have to overcome that hurdle first.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #16 on:** July 09, 2005, 07:02:48 pm »

Quote from: digitalarcade on July 09, 2005, 03:13:57 am

I was thinking

pointdablame · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2005, 12:32:14 pm »

Quote from: missioncontrol on July 09, 2005, 07:02:48 pm

Quote from: digitalarcade on July 09, 2005, 03:13:57 am
I was thinking

AlanS17 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 11, 2005, 11:05:09 am »

That's the price of a movie on dvd, but a movie comes with a nice case and quality production. I'm not meaning to sound rude, but I just can't picture paying that much for it. Plus it sounds like you're not in the US so shipping would be high to the majority of your potential buyers.

I know I wouldn't pay more than about $5-10 if shipping were low (ie not international).

digitalarcade · « **Reply #19 on:** July 11, 2005, 11:15:27 am »

In the UK on E-bay I have seen people pay up to

missioncontrol · « **Reply #20 on:** July 11, 2005, 12:56:47 pm »

Quote from: pointdablame on July 10, 2005, 12:32:14 pm

Quote from: missioncontrol on July 09, 2005, 07:02:48 pm
Quote from: digitalarcade on July 09, 2005, 03:13:57 am
I was thinking

pointdablame · « **Reply #21 on:** July 11, 2005, 02:21:27 pm »

yes they do.... um... I'll PM you and explain

MameMaster! · « **Reply #22 on:** July 12, 2005, 01:30:10 pm »

depending on the final quality...you may be better off shopping this around to some of the parts companies (like Happ) and the Retro Retailers that go to retro shows.

They seem to sell tons of stuff like your DVD at shows in particular as the casual user of emulation gets all excited at these shows and frequently decides they want to build a cab but don't know where to start.

I don't think personally that $17. is too much...(assuming it's a quality vid).....maybe $15. ($14.99?) would be a better price point though.

Good luck!...this is pretty ambitious of you.

MameMaster! (tm)

Crazy Cooter · « **Reply #23 on:** July 12, 2005, 09:58:18 pm »

There's no way I'd pay $17 to watch a home movie of someone nailing together a couple pieces of wood and crimp a few wires...

A professional production would be lucky to get $10. There just isn't enough "stuff" that you need to see in motion rather than just a still picture (freely available).

It would be a better investment to just buy the book.


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