Im thinking of opening an arcade. I need advice

[racerx1690]

Yes there is a lot of up front money to be paid, even before you dream of opening the doors. And yes they beat the hell out of the games nowadays. Parents have absolutely NO sense of disipline. (however its spelled LOL) SLACKERS! The only time a parent even thinks of getting on to their kid is if they see my average, but mean looking ass heading for them.

 

[modessitt]

For those that didn't catch it or don't know, his location was College Station, home to Texas A&M and probably some other smaller colleges. So he is in a college town.


ken

And if you've ever been to College Station, you'll know that all you'll need is 20 Big Buck Hunter games and you're golden. Don't put any Wheel of Fortune games in there, as Aggies can't spell....

 

[F_Zero45]

Man, thanks for all the feed back. I better rethink this. Maybe having a crappy poduct (arcade games) charge an admission fee, have snacks and girls in swim suits to serve the customers. Getting paid minimum wage plus tips.



Oh and BYOB

 

[demogo]

You'd get lots of free publicity if your waitresses were topless.

 

[racerx1690]

That is a whole other ball of BS in the state of Texas. The way the law reads, and the way they enforce it, is if you have an establishment that has alcohol in it (served or BYOB), some asshole gets drunk at home or at another establishment, then simply walks into and out of your place and kills a busload of nuns, it is YOUR fault. F'n TABC or whatever it is called now. After that was thrown across the table at the TABC office I said the hell with opening any type of alcohol related establishment. The people who have bars are either extremely rich (don't care/have lots of insurance and a badass lawyer), or extremely stupid (don't know the law). The topless stuff varies, depending on who is running your area.

 

[demogo]

OK, we've decided then -- it'll definitely be topless.

 

[racerx1690]

Here is a list of the top earning games. (mostly redemption and pushers) Video games are struggling bad. A golden Tee 2010, Madden Football, Really nice 36"-42" LCD Multicade (PM me), and a gun game should do well. Stacker, Boxer, Drift, Extreme Hunting, and Whistle Stop make good money here in N. texas. I am working a FEC though. www.theplexfec.com

Main REPORT:
10/27/2009

'Top 20 Redemption & Merchandise Dispensing Games Combined – July '09'

* 'Big Bass Wheel' Dlx. - (#1 and #2 earning games in locations where we have doubled up)

'Big Bass Pro' Small Version - costs $2000 less (#1 earning game in locations that do not have a 'Big Bass Wheel Dlx').

'Pharoah's Treasure' 4 Pl - (#2 earning game except in locations that have 2 'Big Bass Wheels' where Pharoah's drops to #3 earning game)

* 'Wheel Deal' 3 Pl (still #3 earning game even in locations where we have 2 'Wheel Deal' 3 Pl's - doubled up)

'Winner's Cube' (Newest addition to Top 20 List--took over as #1 earning merchandise dispensing game - see 'Ideas of the Month')

'X-Prize' – a big footprint but a big earner.

'Barber Cut Lite' - (#1 earning merchandise dispensing game for past few months but 'Winner's Cube' took this #1 spot this month with 'Barber Cute Lite' now #2)

'Elvis' Pusher 8 Pl or 'Monopoly' Pusher 8 Pl, 'Disco Fever' 8 Pl, 'Gold Coast' 6 Pl, or other 8 Player Pushers or other 4 Player Pushers.

'Monopoly' Pusher 2 Pl.- small footprint, huge revenues.

'Wheel of Fortune' Pusher 2 Pl – small footprint, huge revenues.

* 'Deal or No Deal' Dlx.

* 'Slam A Winner'

'Spin N Win' 4' Wheel

'MEGA or Giga Crane' 3 Pl

'Amazing Road Trip' (#4 earning merchandise dispensing game)

'Smoken Token Extreme'

* 'Wonder Wheel'

'Red Hot!' 2 Pl

'Roll 2 Win 2'

'Monster Crane'

'Stacker'

'Just Missed the Top 20'-'Tower of Power' 3 Pl, 'Cyclone', 'Goldzone' 3 Pl, 'Winner's Wheel', 'Circlerama', 'Time 2 Win', and 'Lighthouse'.

*Games to consider doubling up on in Locations with 50 or more games.
Disclaimer: My company is not currently testing 'Flip 2 Win' and 'Price is Right' pushers but have heard good earnings reports on these games and one or both might have earned a place on the TOP 20? It is very difficult to integrate revenues from the Giant versions ('Stacker', 'Lighthouse', 'Slam-A-Winner', 'Big One Crane',…) so they are not included but are great games to consider in high-trafficked locations. Alpha-Omega Amusements will start testing 'Wheel Deal X-treme' (Benchmark), 'Big Dog' & 'Sharky's Treasure' (Bob's Space Racers),'Candy Crane House' & 'Big Bertha' (Smart), 'Go Ballistic' & 'Photo Finish' (ICE), 'Stacker Double Up' & 'Star Blitz' Photo Booth (LAI) and 'Typhoon' (TrioTech).

 

[GORDONFAN]

One of these threads seem to pop up here a few times a year. And even more with people talking about putting a couple of their machines on location to earn a couple extra bucks. Living the dream doing your hobby for a living would be cool, but as stated earlier there is a reason why there are very few arcades still in biz. With x-box/ playstation games out there nobody is really running out to pay to play old arcade games. The only way it might work is if it was in a tourist/resort type area like on a boardwalk or strip with redemption games. Face it most people who are into older arcade/pinball machines probably own them and are not going to pay to play them. At least not enough to pay your bills. I wish you luck either way.
Glennon

 

[sonnyburnett]

Face it most people who are into older arcade/pinball machines probably own them and are not going to pay to play them. At least not enough to pay your bills. I wish you luck either way.
Glennon

Very true.
I would do massive coinage if I would spot a machine in the wild.
Just to support it and give it love.
But that's comming from an arcade lover and how many are ther out there.

Still I find it difficult to beleive that cute games like Bubble Bobble series etc ..
would not apeal to younger kids that arn't ruined bij first pesron shooter xbox ps3 etc etc..

 

[racerx1690]

Very true.
I would do massive coinage if I would spot a machine in the wild.
Just to support it and give it love.
But that's comming from an arcade lover and how many are ther out there.

Still I find it difficult to beleive that cute games like Bubble Bobble series etc ..
would not apeal to younger kids that arn't ruined bij first pesron shooter xbox ps3 etc etc..

Bubble Bobble is usually in the wrong cabinet.

 

[sonnyburnett]

Bubble Bobble is usually in the wrong cabinet.

Well that's a small cab

I was thinking more like this:

Well deosn't that SCREAM play me please