22 replies to this topic

[Zaxxon]

It would be cool if there were local private arcade clubs where classic arcade enthusiasts who don't have the space, the money or electronic tech know-how to service and maintain these games, could pay a membership fee to play these games. Arcade machine owners could highly screen who gets a membership to the club. It would be fans who revere the games as much as the owner and not just riff-raff off the street/kids who can't appreciate the games for what they are and would leave cig burns on them or mis-treat them. It seems like it could be good thing for all involved. Owners could get a fee plus whatever their machine takes in in quarters. Their investment in their classic machines could finally help pay for themselves without having to be put out on location in a bar/bowling alley or public arcade where it would suffer a lot of wear and tear and possible damage. It's a lot better than a bunch of classics gathering dust in some collectors basement or garage that he rarely plays anymore and will just sell of to another collector when he needs to free up some space.

[NovaXpress]

You would need a hell of a lot of members to even pay the monthly overhead and repairs, let alone fund the purchase of the machines. And that's the only reason why it wouldn't work. Even in a big city there won't be more than a couple donzen who woud dbe dedicated enough to pay for the service. And if I pay to get into an arcade, I expect the machines to be on free play.

I would love it and join such an "arcade club" immediately, but there aren't enough out there who feel the same way. A few might want to drop in and play for a day but very few would pay their dues month after month.

[NE146]

yknow.. a lot of arcade collectors often have parties for their friends. They all come over and play classic cabs. 'Course you gotta know them, but hey

[Zaxxon]

I never said anything about funding the purchase of machines. I'm only talking about putting machines collectors already own in one central location. I don't know if quarters alone would cover rent and maint/repairs for a private arcade with a limited membership, thus the fee. It may be the only way to do it.

[sku_u]

Zaxxon said:

I never said anything about funding the purchase of machines. I'm only talking about putting machines collectors already own in one central location. I don't know if quarters alone would cover rent and maint/repairs for a private arcade with a limited membership, thus the fee. It may be the only way to do it.

The fee would have to be pretty sizeable. The kind of fees that most collectors wouldn't pay. It's much cheaper to rent a storage area until you have the space than it is to rent a location zoned for that kind of purpose.

[NovaXpress]

You would have to pay for a location. On the low end, that would run around $1000 a month. They you need someone on duty to check membershaips and provide security. Add in the taxes and miscellaneous and we can easily end up with a cost of $2000 or more each month. Assuming an outrageous $50 monthly membership you'd still need at least 40 regular customers just to break even.

I really wish it could work. But there are not enough classic gaming fans to even keep a retail store going in a major city. AtariAge would be out of business in a month if they were a brick-and-mortar store.

[Zaxxon]

I wasn't talking about making the collectors pay the fees. Fucking forget it.

[NovaXpress]

Why do you suddenly have to be that way? It's an interesting topic. This isn;t any argiument here because we'd all like to find a way to make it happen. If you have any good ideas to make such a thing work then we're BEGGING to hear them because everyone would like to see such a place.

It was readily apparent that you were describing a collector's co-op which would try to pay their overhead by collecting fees from the fans. That would be wonderful, but it's been considered many times before and no one has found a way to make it economically feasable.

[Zaxxon]

I already explained exactly what I was talking about. I don't care to re-re-re-explain what was in the original post to those who refuse to read/comprehend what it says right there. I pretty much got the cynical response I expected. Just forget I brought it up.

[tyranthraxus]

Well if someone had a large property with an empty garage they could
rent out the space for people to store their games in an arcade setting.
You'd probably find 6-12 collectors into this in a big city. They get free
access for them and their guests. Charge 10-20 bucks per person and
it could be a good little 'club house'.

[tiggerthehun]

I've got three games up here in N.W. Indiana that you're all welcome to play anytime. You buy the pizza, but past that, it's free...

[sku_u]

Zaxxon said:

I already explained exactly what I was talking about. I don't care to re-re-re-explain what was in the original post to those who refuse to read/comprehend what it says right there. I pretty much got the cynical response I expected. Just forget I brought it up.

No, it was understood what you meant. Arcades are a tough sell these days. I'm not sure the owners of the games could be all that selective as to who gets to play them.

[Stingray]

sku_u said:

 It's much cheaper to rent a storage area until you have the space than it is to rent a location zoned for that kind of purpose.

I'm certainly no expert on this, but I belive that a private club wouldn't have to be zoned as a retail business or however a regular arcade is zoned. You probably could use warehouse space or maybe even residential. This probably doesn't make a huge difference, but like I said, I'm no expert.

-S

[sku_u]

Stingray said:

sku_u said:

 It's much cheaper to rent a storage area until you have the space than it is to rent a location zoned for that kind of purpose.

I'm certainly no expert on this, but I belive that a private club wouldn't have to be zoned as a retail business or however a regular arcade is zoned. You probably could use warehouse space or maybe even residential. This probably doesn't make a huge difference, but like I said, I'm no expert.

-S

You definitely couldn't do it in a residential area, at least not without a zoning change. Everything, including churches, schools, retirement facilities and clubs need to be cleared by the zoning board first. At least that's the case where I am. There also can't be any profits for an establishment to retain private club status. Before anyone brings it up, I have no idea what is and is not considered a profit in a club and I know that there are tons of private clubs out there who make more money then they spend.

[Dav]

I thought about it. I live in a small town and the rent on one of the buildings downtown is fairly cheap. Definately less than storage units equal to that size. Of course there's still the electricity, and who knows what kind of hoops the city would make me jump through. The liability insurance would probably kill the deal.

[tyranthraxus]

If you're in a small town then a private club wouldn't work but I bet a well
run arcade/pizza place would fly. Less competition for entertainment
dollars and teenagers always are looking for a cool place to hangout and
blow a few bucks.

[NovaXpress]

Who wants to let a bunch of greasy-fingered teenagers run wild over their I Robot and Liberator machines?

If only about 500 of us lived in the same city, that kind of co-op could make anything happen.

[Dr Galaga]

tiggerthehun said:

You buy the pizza, but past that, it's free...

Mmmmmm, pizza! Might have to take you up on that offer this summer. Aurelio's, Gelsosomo's or Giggles?

[tiggerthehun]

Tried JJ's pizza shack yet? That's pretty darned good.

[Dav]

With a pizza arcade the investment suddenly gets much larger as do the hassles. And I'm then required to be there a lot for it to be open. I wouldn't mind being there for 2 hours a day after school though.

[sku_u]

A pizza arcade franchise has already been done by the grandfather of Atari: Nolan Bushnell. It's called Chuck E. Cheese and there are quite a few of them across the country.

[tyranthraxus]

Quote

With a pizza arcade the investment suddenly gets much larger as do the hassles. And I'm then required to be there a lot for it to be open. I wouldn't mind being there for 2 hours a day after school though.

Well then I would suggest vending machines for pop & chips. There is a
ton of money made off of those machines! I'm not sure what your idea
really entails but anything you thought of opening would require contstant
supervision. For it to be worthwhile it would need to be open probably 6
to 8 hours a day at least.

[Dr Galaga]

Quote

Tried JJ's pizza shack yet? That's pretty darned good.

Not the one in Valpo. Before I got married my wife lived in Portage and we would get pizza from the one there. I forgot what it tasted like!