Then I'll be the wiseguy in the back of the room saying "I told him so."
I totally agree with you. I would put 90's pins or later. But the cost will be more...
best games for a new arcade
- Thread starter supercharged
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I totally agree with you. I would put 90's pins or later. But the cost will be more...
tyranix95
Well-known member
Ohh...and don't forget one of these...
I was always running across the street to the Lqr store or 711 to get drinks n stuff until the OP brought one of these babies in.
Once the COKE machine was installed, I never had to leave the arcade to get a drink.
I could just grab a drink and sip out side instead of running across the street n back.
I was always running across the street to the Lqr store or 711 to get drinks n stuff until the OP brought one of these babies in.
Once the COKE machine was installed, I never had to leave the arcade to get a drink.
I could just grab a drink and sip out side instead of running across the street n back.
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Ohh...and don't forget one of these...
I was always running across the street to the Lqr store or 711 to get drinks n stuff until the OP brought one of these babies in.
Once the COKE machine was installed, I never had to leave the arcade to get a drink.
I could just grab a drink and sip out side instead of running across the street n back.
You mean one of these:
tastes better too!
I mean since we're all talking about making this dude spend his money why not throw in a few thousand for a soda machine.
OregonPacman
New member
Raiden 2 is my favorite vertical shooter. Currently, I have original Raiden and have wanted a Raiden 2 PCB for years but have never got around to getting one. Having a couple of vertical shooters and maybe a 6 button (or MK) fighter would be a good idea. That would cater to the "newer classics" crowd.
Casey120
Member
Then go for Raiden DX , not Raiden 2 , it's the definite version of the old Raiden serie !
http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/raidendx.htm
http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/raidendx.htm
a vintage coke machine with cans of coke is one of the biggest money makers I have.
supercharged
New member
great info here.
I already have a high speed pinball so I will put it in. My other pin is an ultra reliable but dated silverball mania. still fun to play
I do have a line on a Soul Caliber showcase and a Dark Silhouette. Also planning to have a small snack bar and arcade/80's merchandise
The location is interesting. everything from a skate shop across the street and two hobby stores down the block to the courthouse a few blocks away with all the professionals.
I already have a high speed pinball so I will put it in. My other pin is an ultra reliable but dated silverball mania. still fun to play
I do have a line on a Soul Caliber showcase and a Dark Silhouette. Also planning to have a small snack bar and arcade/80's merchandise
The location is interesting. everything from a skate shop across the street and two hobby stores down the block to the courthouse a few blocks away with all the professionals.
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roothorick
Active member
You need a Time Crisis, preferably 2 or later. Not just any shooter -- it's gotta be a Time Crisis. Even if it means you don't buy any other games period, get a Time Crisis. I'm 100% serious. Nothing will earn as well as a Time Crisis. Badger's TC4 makes ~60% of our video revenue, all by itself. And it's competing with two other shooters (Aliens Extermination and Star Trek Voyager) which don't make anywhere near that. Edit: I totally forgot about our Big Buck Hunter Pro, which is in a better location than our TC4... and the Time Crisis STILL wins. That game is unreal -- it's on par with most of our redemption in terms of revenue.
If you still have money left over after the Time Crisis, get a little more variety in drivers. Cruis'n is very simplistic and won't satisfy anyone that is serious about driving games. Hydro Thunder and the Rush series (especially 2049) are proven earners with satisfying physics. I've always thought a motion-platform driver would make good bank, but there haven't been any decent ones in a good while, so take that with a bit of salt.
Common wisdom says you should get some decent fighting games. I could never really get into them, and we don't have any fighters here, so I wouldn't know. It wouldn't hurt to pick up a Tekken or Soul Calibur on eBay and stick it in a generic cab just to see how it does.
Make sure you get a location with a lot of foot-traffic out front. It's not worth your time otherwise. Now, get a flashy dedicated cabinet with pretty lights to put out front and draw eyes. The actual game isn't all that important, and it doesn't need to get much play -- an old DDR will do the job, as long as it's in good shape and all the lights work. Its sole purpose is to draw attention and get people thinking about your arcade.
If you still have money left over after the Time Crisis, get a little more variety in drivers. Cruis'n is very simplistic and won't satisfy anyone that is serious about driving games. Hydro Thunder and the Rush series (especially 2049) are proven earners with satisfying physics. I've always thought a motion-platform driver would make good bank, but there haven't been any decent ones in a good while, so take that with a bit of salt.
Common wisdom says you should get some decent fighting games. I could never really get into them, and we don't have any fighters here, so I wouldn't know. It wouldn't hurt to pick up a Tekken or Soul Calibur on eBay and stick it in a generic cab just to see how it does.
Make sure you get a location with a lot of foot-traffic out front. It's not worth your time otherwise. Now, get a flashy dedicated cabinet with pretty lights to put out front and draw eyes. The actual game isn't all that important, and it doesn't need to get much play -- an old DDR will do the job, as long as it's in good shape and all the lights work. Its sole purpose is to draw attention and get people thinking about your arcade.
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Super Street Fighter IV
Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Still regarded as the best by most fans of the series)
Mortal Kombat 1,2,UMK3
Gun games, Driving games... Repeat gun games, Driving games
House of the dead 1-4, Time crisis, Initial D
Basically any newer gun & driving games you can get.
Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Still regarded as the best by most fans of the series)
Mortal Kombat 1,2,UMK3
Gun games, Driving games... Repeat gun games, Driving games
House of the dead 1-4, Time crisis, Initial D
Basically any newer gun & driving games you can get.
Robotron Jon
Well-known member
If you are getting a driver, get two, so you can link them together for head to head competition. 2049 is a solid game and you should be able to find a pair for a grand or so. A pair of Hydro or Arctic thunders might do okay too.
I think High Speed is a solid pin but a T2 would probably do better. It's a theme that attracts the average player and the game is simple enough that the average person will be engaged. You can pick that game up for a grand or so.
As far as classics are concerned, I would go for games that two people can play at once. People do not like to stand and watch others play. Games like Joust, Mario Bros and Rampage. The classic arcade near me has a Rampage and whenever I am there it is the most played game, by far. If you are going to have a vector, get Space Duel, since that is the only vector that I can remember where two people can play at once.
The other classics I would try are ms pac, galaga, DK and 720.
Fighters - Marvel Vs. Capcom and Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, plus a SF II HF.
Shooter - Jurassic Park Lost World and House of Dead 1 and 2.
I would get a crane or two and fill it with some prizes, and also have some coin operated capsule and candy dispensers for the kids. Soda machine would be good to have but it could get spilled on the games.
DDR - Definitely get one of these that two people can play. I think some of these allow you to add new songs.
Also think about renting the place out for parties for $100 an hour.
I think High Speed is a solid pin but a T2 would probably do better. It's a theme that attracts the average player and the game is simple enough that the average person will be engaged. You can pick that game up for a grand or so.
As far as classics are concerned, I would go for games that two people can play at once. People do not like to stand and watch others play. Games like Joust, Mario Bros and Rampage. The classic arcade near me has a Rampage and whenever I am there it is the most played game, by far. If you are going to have a vector, get Space Duel, since that is the only vector that I can remember where two people can play at once.
The other classics I would try are ms pac, galaga, DK and 720.
Fighters - Marvel Vs. Capcom and Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, plus a SF II HF.
Shooter - Jurassic Park Lost World and House of Dead 1 and 2.
I would get a crane or two and fill it with some prizes, and also have some coin operated capsule and candy dispensers for the kids. Soda machine would be good to have but it could get spilled on the games.
DDR - Definitely get one of these that two people can play. I think some of these allow you to add new songs.
Also think about renting the place out for parties for $100 an hour.
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Sectorseven
Active member
You're probably better off opening a bar and having a distributor come in with some decent games and splitting the revenue with you.
That way you don't have to deal with the games and you can rotate out the non performers easily.
Could also rent out the game room like others have said and just put a divider up between the two during that time.
That way you don't have to deal with the games and you can rotate out the non performers easily.
Could also rent out the game room like others have said and just put a divider up between the two during that time.
TraderSteve
Member
Excellent Advice
Excellent advice. Personally I try to do this with my own Arcade at home (have a light gun game, flying game, racing games, fighting games etc...) so there's a good variety to the mix . One of the things that tends to keep people engaged is co-op / competitive games. Try not to load too many single player games in there (even classics), since if you're going for coin drops, why not go for 2 out of the same machine than 1 ? For your Neo I'd use that to help balance out the available games. After you have all your machines there look at what you're missing... do you not have say a puzzle game ? or a fighter ? or a brawler ? stuff like that.
You also have to be in a very HIGH traffic area and need some form of Draw. Hooking up with or next to a movie theater works because people actively go there and need to wait. Crane games and Coke machines were also very good ideas. As was a bar, if you do something like that you might not even need to worry about coins. If it's arcade themed then charge a cover and set everything to free play or credit the hell out of it before you open.
Good luck
----S.
Excellent advice. Personally I try to do this with my own Arcade at home (have a light gun game, flying game, racing games, fighting games etc...) so there's a good variety to the mix . One of the things that tends to keep people engaged is co-op / competitive games. Try not to load too many single player games in there (even classics), since if you're going for coin drops, why not go for 2 out of the same machine than 1 ? For your Neo I'd use that to help balance out the available games. After you have all your machines there look at what you're missing... do you not have say a puzzle game ? or a fighter ? or a brawler ? stuff like that.
You also have to be in a very HIGH traffic area and need some form of Draw. Hooking up with or next to a movie theater works because people actively go there and need to wait. Crane games and Coke machines were also very good ideas. As was a bar, if you do something like that you might not even need to worry about coins. If it's arcade themed then charge a cover and set everything to free play or credit the hell out of it before you open.
Good luck
----S.
tyranix95
Well-known member
I went to a PENNY arcade once.
As I recall, there was cover charge (like $3 or something) and all games accepted DIMES (or NICKLES?).
Place kinda seemed a little odd to me since all the other arcades I've been to have been no-cover and quarts or dollars to play.
But, I still had fun time.
Place was packed--lots of kids.
As I recall, there was cover charge (like $3 or something) and all games accepted DIMES (or NICKLES?).
Place kinda seemed a little odd to me since all the other arcades I've been to have been no-cover and quarts or dollars to play.
But, I still had fun time.
Place was packed--lots of kids.
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p1899m
New member
I've seen nickle arcades and even remember a location in San Jose BITD where one CEC tried paying for blocks of time where you paid to get in and all games were set to free play. At the end of the block of time they would usher everyone out to clean the place then the next group could pay to get in for the next block of time. Seems in some areas these business models thrive and others they just don't catch. Not sure why. I don't think the idea tested well at CEC and was never used at any other locations to the best of my knowledge. I've seen nickle arcades that have lasted for years and others that only stayed open months. I think it's a good idea to go in prepared to try a few different tactics and see which if any work.
I recall a small arcade that opened in my area where the owner had little idea what he was doing. It didn't last long and for the most part was a failure but one day he ran a competition on his T2 machine (this was like 2010) where if you could beat the game in say 30min you got the price of admission in the door refunded. The game got nonstop play that day and he made more money in that one day than he had in the week prior. To top it off no one beat the game in the specified time. I'm not even 100% sure it could be done but apparently it was easy enough to get to the final enemy in a reasonable time and then people would spend too much time on the final screen. I guess this gave them the feeling it was possible and could be done which got people hooked on trying to do better.
Another arcade I frequented in the early 90's would have foosball competitions like once a month or something. They would basically move all the games out of the location and replace them with foosball tables. Not sure where they put the games, maybe a storage bin out back. At any rate that was the one day where the place was over run. Not just packed to capacity inside but also a crowd of people hanging around out front of the place.
Luddite
Member
BITD the games at the local pizza place that were always busy were Rampage and Raiden 2. I remember pizza parties after little league and soccer games and everyone would fight over who got to play first. People would keep dropping in quarters to try and get to the end of the game.
Brick Top
Well-known member
Hate to say it, but this seems closest to the truth.
roothorick
Active member
There's no fun in that
Plus, most modern operators really suck. Like, "it lights up and makes noise, GOOD ENOUGH" suck. If you get involved with a good op this'll work, but if he doesn't care about player experience you'll wind up just running a straight-up bar with a game or two in the corner.
sosage
Well-known member
I highly recommend you find DreamTR's thread about his arcade earnings and note everything he says about what earns what in his places. ESPECIALLY if you're gonna run classics. People tend to talk about these more than actually play them.
If you want to make any $$$. Make the classics "Filler games". They are no way going to draw kids from a skate park or a hobby shop to your arcade. You need games like DDR, newest driving games, new shooters, cranes and prize games. Kids will pump more money into a game like Barbercut trying to win a IPod or Xbox than they will ever pump into a classic game priced at 25 or 50 cents. Cranes will also out earn ANY pinball machine you put in there. Even the newer Stern pins make a lot less than a Crane or Stacker will make in a year and need much more maintenance.
Brian
Brian
tyranix95
Well-known member
RAMPAGE: That reminds me of some other games that would get busy.
DOUBLE DRAGON
ROLLING THUNDER
AFTER BURNER I / II
SUPER OFF ROAD
CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINT
---------------------------------
And of course
Ms. PAC
GALAGA.
Vs. S.M.B.
