poj
New member
I've always been interested in having one, but people keep saying how they are rarely successful. It's really depressing. It would be nice to hear from someone who has had success with theirs.
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There was a thread quite a while ago where DreamTR shared the earnings for the classics on location at his commercial arcade, and they were really sad. As a business model, just a straight up arcade with only classics isn't viable anymore. It needs to be like 70/30 redemption and new-ish stuff vs Classics for you to even stand a chance.
edit: Here is it http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=156295
Thanks for the link spmahn. It was very informative.
You and I are close enough to each other that we can open one together.![]()
You take care of the funding and I'll test the machines. >_>
I've always been interested in having one, but people keep saying how they are rarely successful. It's really depressing. It would be nice to hear from someone who has had success with theirs.
I'm one of the owners at Ground Kontrol in Portland, OR.
(pics)
https://picasaweb.google.com/claycowgill/GroundKontrol30Remodel?authuser=0&feat=directlink
(website)
http://www.groundkontrol.com
I think it would be hard to pull off a straight-up old school arcade now-a-days (at least in most markets). We're also a bar which makes it a viable business model for us.
Sadly, "classic" games are fondly remembered, but generally don't earn very well. We always tried to keep at least 20 of the VAPS most collected on the floor but more and more they've been pushed off due to poor earnings. (our list of 'retired' games is a who's who of collectibles-- Defender, Sinistar, Xevious, Phoenix, Crazy Climber, GORF, Missile Command, Star Trek, Stargate, Space Duel, Battlezone, Spy Hunter, etc.)
One thing to keep in mind too is that we children of the 80's are starting to transition out of the peak "go out multiple times a week" demographic. Our audience has never really changed and is heavily populated by 20-30 somethings-- but the "classic" games of 30-somethings today are more and more what I would have referred to as "JAMMA junk" in my early collecting days. ;-)
It helps a lot to have another job that pays your bills-- we literally didn't make any money for the first 5+ years we were in business, but since all us owners at GK have "real" jobs for income we could afford to operate on a shoestring and put in a lot of sweat equity to turn it in to something that does finally make money (albeit half a decade later). I think you need to own all your equipment, do all your own repairs, and be willing to sink a lot of time in to be successful. As soon as you start paying other people to do maintenance or splits you just bleed cash like crazy. You really need to get a good lease and make sure you have at least six months worth of operating capital (cash) on hand-- things can start pretty slow. NEVER carry any debt and make sure you can self finance if need be if business slows.
For most people they'd probably be better off buying a Yogurt franchise or something instead and then put a few games in the corner for fun. ;-)
-Clay
I'm doing a trip up to Portland at the end of this month with the sole purpose of going to Ground Kontrol. Hopefully there are still a few classics there for me to dump a few coins into? If not, there's always the bar I guess...
Thanks guys. How is this?
60% redemption games (Blasphemy, I know.)
20% newer games
10% 90s games
10% 70s and 80s games
It's not my ideal arcade, but it would be successful, right? Assuming that I have a good location that is. Or would redemption games not even be needed as long as I have newer fighters/shooters/dancing/etc?
That Darius Burst game looks sweet.