Arcade "Feel" or Best Use of Space?

FrizzleFried

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My current gameroom layout is about the best I could muster as far as "space" is concerned. I have quite a bit of space in the large garage to work on machines, etc...

Here it is:

LAYOUT2.jpg



Now, that said... it really lacks an "arcade" feeling IMHO... so I went about trying to come up with a layout that has more of an arcade "feel"... and this is what I came up with:

LAYOUT1.jpg


Now I have the island in the middle... and the "rows" of games, etc... but I lose quite a bit of work space... and the "small" game room becomes the mix use "work/game" room...

What are your thoughts? If I decide to go with this layout I will have to do some re-wiring of my 20a circuits (no big deal, but will take a couple hours)... but do I really want to do it? The current layout affords me the space necessary to work... set up a card table for some poker, etc... The new layout would be a little more cramped... and I'd lose out on the larger "open" area of the current layout... but that island would rock... and feel more "arcade like".

Yes I know... stupid shit... but whatever.

:D
 
If that were me, I'd shuffle things around to keep the pins in the main room, and keep the small room for storage/workshop. I'd also try to tuck them closer together in the main room to keep the island out of the picture, although I'm not against it.
 
Yeah, I have too many games to fit them all in the big room... Either the 3 pins have to go in the small room or 4 vids.... even with the island. Unfortunately a few things can't move. There is a sink that can't move... and the plumbing for the sink goes out the side so the area where the microwave is can't move. I COULD get another game in where the refrigerator/popcorn machine are but then they'd have to be re-located. Also, I can't move the AC/water heater area (obviously)...

A couple other things to consider... the small room has a air vent sucking air out... that comes in handy for the smokers... the cocktail currently in there is a Juke cocktail running speakers that are ceiling mounted in there... and then there is the fact the small room is carpeted but the large one isn't...
 
You need a mall connecting to the room. Carpet the walls. Hire a power trip dork in a vest to cash your $5 bills. Spill some drinks on the carpet. Glad I could help...
 
Okay, this is easy. Bring your Whirlwind, Indiana Jones and tempest over to my house :)

That frees up alot of space for you, and I get 3 new games until you build an addition!!!

Win-win!

;)

I like the proposed setup, but it may not be worthwhile to lose that much work space :(

CHris
 
The power trip dork is no problem. Now... how the hell do I connect a mall to my garage... hmmm...

I wonder if the neighbors would mind?
 
My current gameroom layout is about the best I could muster as far as "space" is concerned. I have quite a bit of space in the large garage to work on machines, etc...

Here it is:

LAYOUT2.jpg



Now, that said... it really lacks an "arcade" feeling IMHO... so I went about trying to come up with a layout that has more of an arcade "feel"... and this is what I came up with:

LAYOUT1.jpg


Now I have the island in the middle... and the "rows" of games, etc... but I lose quite a bit of work space... and the "small" game room becomes the mix use "work/game" room...

What are your thoughts? If I decide to go with this layout I will have to do some re-wiring of my 20a circuits (no big deal, but will take a couple hours)... but do I really want to do it? The current layout affords me the space necessary to work... set up a card table for some poker, etc... The new layout would be a little more cramped... and I'd lose out on the larger "open" area of the current layout... but that island would rock... and feel more "arcade like".

Yes I know... stupid shit... but whatever.

:D
Is knocking that stupid wall out an option? It is really in the way...
 
Would it be possible to move the workbench, toolbox, and shelves over to the wall next to the sink/microwave and just rearrange the games in a manner so you have the same basic layout, just with tighter spacing?
 
The wall was added by the last owner so it COULD come out... but I sort of like the wall as it allows me to heat/cool each area as necessary. I considered punching out the top part and making it a bar between the two sides... but then that takes away from game space...
 
I think the pins should go down on the "bottom" wall in that same room, and you could fit a few of the smaller vids where the pins were.

Then you can move the work stuff on the opposite wall from the vids, and have more room in the larger room. Such as 4 cabs in the center instead of 6, and further down allowing you room for said card table etc.
 
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I have to use an island to get the most out of my space, but I'm only dealing with basically one wall. IMO, I would keep it mostly the same as your current configuration, but move the cocktail to the big room and use the chair space for another vid. I would also move the ones I presume are up against the door to the side walls. With the cocktail and chair out of there, you should be able to squeeze 3 more cabs in the top and with the cabs at the bottom moved to the wall, it would clear it up a little more.
 
That new layout looks great IMHO, and it opens up your smaller gameroom. I say go for it...

John
 
I really like the island in my layout. It makes it feel more continuous. Plus the kids love running around in circles, trying to catch each other by surprise.

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I like the new one better also. I might experiment with putting the pins on the short wall though since it would free up space for more games. Did you already say something about why you can't do that?

Also, I think I'd play with the idea of removing the wall virtually just to see what happens. You might come up with some really cool layout that just feels right. Or you could open a second door to create a flow on both sides....or wider doors....
 
I like the new layout. The only thing I would change is to make the three pins act as a wall cutting the small room in half. It gives you a more private workspace and would make the room not seem so empty. You could obviously change it when you get more games.
 
I'd knock out the wall. Its going to give you the maximum space
and permit two islands. Why cant the current island run all the
way to the lower wall? knocking out the wall lets you run another
island. Keeps all your non arcade stuff in the upper half of the
room and gives you the opportunity to recarpet the place and
possibly repaint (not sure how it is now). I would also enclose the
HW heater in a box with a louver door to make it feel less
garage like.
 
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