Tell Me About Your Local Arcade

[Seik]

Do you guys think opening up an independent arcade would be financially viable? It's been an idea floating around in my head for a while, ever since I went to a bar that held a Rock Band tournament. Everybody was really into that, and i thought it was such a cool idea.

I think it'd be cool to have an arcade that served drinks, but wasn't a huge corporate place like Gameworks/Dave N Busters. A decent sized arcade where you could go to and shoot the shit like a regular local bar, but play some games too. And maybe not just limited to regular arcade games, but console arcade games too. Get some LCDs on the wall hooked up to some 360's next to some tables and serve some drinks and some finger food.

Would something like this pass? Fail?

EDIT: The Gameworks in Schaumburg IL is the closest arcade to me. I like it. Sometimes I go there on Thurs when they have $10 all you can play. Good date spot too, if you ask me. After 9 it's 21+ only w/drinks.

[Yoshi]

Frankie's is really the only non-national chain left around here I believe. It's pretty good though. Lots of new fighting games and retro titles, for instance, not just all the big gimmick cabs.

[Timber]

We've got something similar to Frankie's around here called Magic Mountain but it's got a fucking awful arcade. I think the newest fighting games they have are Tekken 3 & X-Men vs. Street Fighter. And just about everything else is some sort of racing or light gun game.

I worked there during high school and they had a much nicer selection of games back then. I have a feeling that the douchebag GM who came in and fired all of us making more than min wage is the reason it's gotten so awful.

[Josh]

terrible idea

How about you take all the money you have, put it in a pile, piss on it, wait for it to dry, set it on fire and then punch yourself in the balls.

This will accomplish the same end result as opening an arcade, except its quicker.

[Konketsu]

Seik, your idea sounds similar to a place we used to have in Somerville, MA called Good Time. Good Time had arcade games, pool tables, projector screen TVs and served alcohol and food such as pizza and the fried food variety. They did not have the console option there. It was also 18+ after 10P I think. Robot or Grave can verify the time.

Whether it would pass of fail really depends on a number of factors such as the demographic you are targetting, the location of the arcade, you marketing efforts and so forth.

If you have the funds to start the business and carry it until you start to break even, don't mind working there all the time or after you get out of work and have the drive to own your own business, then give it a shot. The possibility of it failing is obviously there but here's to it succeeding.

[Josh]

Retarded. Hey, lets open up an arcade since all the other arcades went out of business! Sounds like a great idea!

[Yoshi]

How about you take all the money you have, put it in a pile, piss on it, wait for it to dry, set it on fire and then punch yourself in the balls.

This will accomplish the same end result as opening an arcade, except its quicker.

[Konketsu]

Opening any business involves risk. It is all about the underlying factors.

[Grave]

Seik, your idea sounds similar to a place we used to have in Somerville, MA called Good Time. Good Time had arcade games, pool tables, projector screen TVs and served alcohol and food such as pizza and the fried food variety. They did not have the console option there. It was also 18+ after 10P I think. Robot or Grave can verify the time.

I don't know much about the 18+ shit because I always thought I saw kids running around late in the place, but they did card everybody who's drinking at the door. Strange mix of children, college kids, gangs and old drunks, but everyone seemed to be having fun. I miss drunk go karts, laser tag, and Derby Owners Club with a pitcher of beer and some waffle fries.

edit: required past tense because it is dead fuck ikea and fuck somerville

[Cerozero]

The one in the mall near me is full of claw machines. In the past they actually had cabinets. I'm going to check to see if there are any decent plushes I would like a Croagunk as well.