Old school arcade-gauging interest

[polak]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I think this would be a terrible idea because I don't think the games actually generate a lot of revenue/profit. The money comes from the food/beverage business.

Some rough numbers:
$2500 machine (assuming that is about average)
$1 per play and assume each play is about 10 minutes. That generates $6 per hour ($12 if it is a head to head game.)
At 4 hours of constant play per day (assuming that is a standard evening 6-10pm) that would be $24 or $48 per day. $168 per week or $336.
I don't see a lot of room for profit sharing because this doesn't even include maintenance on the machine, possible rent cost for the room, utilities.

Yes but it would give you an idea if your gimmick to get people in the door will generate any interest. If no one plays games when they go out then relying on games to get people into the door to buy your food is a bad idea, no?

I remember Playdium. It was freaking awesome but obviously there just wasn't that much money in it. I was a kid then so I don't remember if they served alcohol but if you went all out like Playdium was and served alcohol you might have better luck but then again, they had what looked like super expensive games so maintaining them and protecting them from drunks might be an ordeal.

[blankall]

Not sure if this is useful info or not, but in Vancouver they've opened up an electronic darts bar. The game is pretty fun. It might be a fad, but it's also become very popular. All sorts of young people who had brought their own darts.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Doesn't look vintage whatsoever. It was a modern, tiny, Airport arcade like our little flippers corners. Did he try vintage before or after this picture?

Before. It was on an interview with him post movie. He tried to go totally old school but couldnt make a go of it and had to put in modern machines.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by blankall

Not sure if this is useful info or not, but in Vancouver they've opened up an electronic darts bar. The game is pretty fun. It might be a fad, but it's also become very popular. All sorts of young people who had brought their own darts.

I may be dating myself here, or hallucinating my drunken past, and writing a really long sentence at the same time, but in the mid-90's there was a version of "electronic darts" that had you throwing otherwise traditional darts that were fitted with flimsy plastic tips instead of a sharp steel point at a dartboard with little holes that the plastic tips would fit in.

Anyone else remember this terrible idea?

A computer would calculate your score, and the players would complain about how poorly the computer calculated your score.

Then you'd bitch about the crooked tips and ask the waitress for new tips and she would hate you and you'd order another pitcher of Labatts Dry.

Good times!

[t0rrent98]

New York City has something like this. It's called Barcade. The place had a lot of pretty decent old games like Contra, Double Dragon, etc....

Place was small and there wasn't much seating room if you just wanted to chill and relax while your friends played games.

The one we spent quite a bit of time on was the Battle Royale 4 player Pac Man game. Now that's a game for team bonding.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Find a way to test your concept before making a big investment. What people say they will buy and what they actually buy are two very different things.