Anyone ever setup or run a game arcade?

[tekwehuself]

I am mulling over setting up a small PC based game arcade.

I would like to figure out the best way to be able to charge for time used on the game system with minimal input from staff. The games wont be played with keyboard and mouse, so no direct user input can be done.

It has to be able to lock and unlock with proof of time bought
no coin operated systems. not interested in that route.

I am thinking something like programmable swipe cards with a pre-paid value and an interface detects the card, determines available value then permits usage in minutes based on the rate.

I know its a shot in the dark to get something as I envisioned, but does anyone knows of any lead to something that could work????

 

[tekwehuself]

I am thinking a stored value card would be the best route. But not very familiar with the providers of them.

What would the stored value card reader look like and how could I get it to directly trigger the lock and unlock events of the computer?

 

[code_pirahna]

Bruh that s the equivalent of a lemonade stand.........

When the whole neighborhood can go to the local grocery store and buy their own.....

pick a different market man when someone can play just as good quality from their own living room its easier and too much competition for you to profit.....

unless you do a Dave and Busters type thing....

 

[alexw]

arcades are dead. Every arcade in my hometown has went out of business decades ago

 

[tekwehuself]

Bruh that s the equivalent of a lemonade stand.........

When the whole neighborhood can go to the local grocery store and buy their own.....

pick a different market man when someone can play just as good quality from their own living room its easier and too much competition for you to profit.....

unless you do a Dave and Busters type thing....

arcades are dead. Every arcade in my hometown has went out of business decades ago

My friends, thank you for your advice. But without revealing too much, I have created my own content for these machines in a niche market.

I would say it is more like an interactive museum / meets arcade based on the content and how you physically interact with it.

I am just seeking a way to control access to the content and the experience via a pre-paid reusable card system.

 

[alexw]

My friends, thank you for your advice. But without revealing too much, I have created my own content for these machines in a niche market.

I would say it is more like an interactive museum / meets arcade based on the content and how you physically interact with it.

I am just seeking a way to control access to the content and the experience via a pre-paid reusable card system.

hey man good luck. We're simply trying to tell you and that there really isn't a market for arcades. I think you have a chance at success with like an old vintage arcade. For the older heads that want to relive their childhood with the games like space Avengers asteroids Pacman excetra

 

[Mrfreddygoodbud]

Bruh that s the equivalent of a lemonade stand.........

When the whole neighborhood can go to the local grocery store and buy their own.....

pick a different market man when someone can play just as good quality from their own living room its easier and too much competition for you to profit.....

unless you do a Dave and Busters type thing....

exactly,

unless you want like a piece of a cruise ship or something,

I dont see a plain arcade going anywhere in 2014..



youd be better off opening up a coffeshop/bar with really good free stable wi fi for customers.

everybody getting caffiened/and liquored up after a tryin

day at work..

you really cant go wrong with a bar, unless you dont do your homework(demographics kind of bar you want) and get a fucked up location

 

[tekwehuself]

hey man good luck. We're simply trying to tell you and that there really isn't a market for arcades. I think you have a chance at success with like an old vintage arcade. For the older heads that want to relive their childhood with the games like space Avengers asteroids Pacman excetra

exactly,

unless you want like a piece of a cruise ship or something,

I dont see a plain arcade going anywhere in 2014..



youd be better off opening up a coffeshop/bar with really good free stable wi fi for customers.

everybody getting caffiened/and liquored up after a tryin

day at work..

you really cant go wrong with a bar, unless you dont do your homework(demographics kind of bar you want) and get a fucked up location

Again, thanks for your advice guys. I do appreciate, however as I had indicated:

"I would say it is more like an interactive museum / meets arcade based on the content and how you physically interact with it."

Its NOT just a plain arcade. It is simply using games as a medium to teach and interact with childen with specific content.

The use of it will come at a cost, hence the paid card. I am not just trying to find a hustle, I am just creating new income streams from existing products i have produced.

 

[Mr. Del]

swallow your pride and ask Da Don? He claims to have some sort of internet cafe, maybe he would know?

 

[code_pirahna]

Again, thanks for your advice guys. I do appreciate, however as I had indicated:

"I would say it is more like an interactive museum / meets arcade based on the content and how you physically interact with it."

Its NOT just a plain arcade. It is simply using games as a medium to teach and interact with childen with specific content.

The use of it will come at a cost, hence the paid card. I am not just trying to find a hustle, I am just creating new income streams from existing products i have produced.

Yeah but most museum type of systems have an upfront fee before you enter

 

[tekwehuself]

swallow your pride and ask Da Don? He claims to have some sort of internet cafe, maybe he would know?

C'mon man. I wanna make it.

 

[Mrfreddygoodbud]

C'mon man. I wanna make it.

create your own digital token system..

with timer clocks by each node..



1 token could be ten dollars all day..

1 could be five for three hours

etc.....

then you could use the cards for like

100 dollar a month memberships unlimited use

for a month...

but you better have some digital security on those

tokens because these lil heads are slick as hell now and days..

 

[tekwehuself]

Yeah but most museum type of systems have an upfront fee before you enter

Where you are my friend. Where i'm at, its a different story.

 

[tekwehuself]

create your own digital token system..

with timer clocks by each node..



1 token could be ten dollars all day..

1 could be five for three hours

etc.....

then you could use the cards for like

100 dollar a month memberships unlimited use

for a month...

but you better have some digital security on those

tokens because these lil heads are slick as hell now and days..

Im digging deeper. Thanks for the feedback though. Made contact with a few companies.

Essentially, all I am trying to do is create a rechargeable prepaid system to unlock and utilise content in physical locations. There are other possibilities besides game etc

I will update this thread if anyone is interested.

 

[alexw]

Im digging deeper. Thanks for the feedback though. Made contact with a few companies.

Essentially, all I am trying to do is create a rechargeable prepaid system to unlock and utilise content in physical locations. There are other possibilities besides game etc

I will update this thread if anyone is interested.

yeah man let us know how it works out. I wish you nothing but success. I didn't want to kill your dreams but that old arcade/video game business model is dead but you seem to be on to something different.

 

[8/11Streetz]

sounds interesting



wish you much success man and keep us posted

 

[Mr. Del]

C'mon man. I wanna make it.

Damn, my bad. Why you gotta hurt Da Don's feelings like that, tho?

 

[Dr. Truth]

C'mon man. I wanna make it.

Dave and busters be packed as shit though, bad bitches in there too.

 

[DiGeneral]

What about time based programs that libraries use, to limit/time their public computer use?

 

[bjjghk7890]

Nah.

 

[BDR]

swallow your pride and ask Da Don? He claims to have some sort of internet cafe, maybe he would know?

 

[BDR]

swallow your pride and ask Da Don? He claims to have some sort of internet cafe, maybe he would know?

 

[tallblacknyc]

only kno people that did tournaments or weekly events...tournaments was $20 charge..winner recieves $200.. the weekly event style was like $10 unlimited play(they made more of their bread off of food/drinks)

 

[tallblacknyc]

don't let these guys discourage u..the gaming industry is a billion dollar industry..dave and busters is a million dollar franchise..which means somebody got to be paying..with kids, nerds, vidgame fans u can find a niche..kids bday party, tournaments, date nite u can be a success..throw in food/drinks..host parties/vidgame premiers and u can grab ur own niche..goodluck to u bro..as i said b4 i kno a few people that did tournaments/weekly events and some were easily making g money doing so

 

[godofwine]

hey man good luck. We're simply trying to tell you and that there really isn't a market for arcades. I think you have a chance at success with like an old vintage arcade. For the older heads that want to relive their childhood with the games like space Avengers asteroids Pacman excetra

Yeah, when I read your thread title Tek, I pondered a similar idea, but how much you would pay for machines, TV's, and rent I don't know how you would pull any profit. My quick 2 minute idea consisted of PS4, XBOX One, PS3, PS2, PS1 with big screen TVs and a gamers environment wouldn't be worth what you would spend on equipment

Good luck, though. I hope it works for you

 

[ThaBurgerPimp]

Dave and busters be packed as shit though, bad bitches in there too.

Gameworks too most times..

this place in Arkansas doing good

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Z82-Retrocade/329341593840466?sk=timeline

 

[ballscout1]

Again, thanks for your advice guys. I do appreciate, however as I had indicated:

"I would say it is more like an interactive museum / meets arcade based on the content and how you physically interact with it."

Its NOT just a plain arcade. It is simply using games as a medium to teach and interact with childen with specific content.

The use of it will come at a cost, hence the paid card. I am not just trying to find a hustle, I am just creating new income streams from existing products i have produced.

If there is a Dave & Busters near you see if you can speak with somebody there because that is what they use....Credit Style cards that are reloadable and you use to play whatever..

At lest find out who the vendor they use is

 

[BenQ]

The good old 90's playing mortal kombat & golden axe in the arcade

 

[p5ych3]

i remember there used to be an arcade in times sq above bb kings.
they used something like a metro card that you loaded up to play the games.

 

[KingAddies]

Kinko's/FedEx Store uses a preloaded card, I think the system is home grown but I will look on the back of the card for the vendor when I find it. When I was on the road a lot, there were a few laundromats using the prepaid system and I actually found the company that was using it. I'll have to dig up that card as well. It must be a 'b' to give refunds for the leftovers because I used to argue with the on premises staff that I was just passing thru and I want my $1.25 back - not being cheap but some places it was in my best interest to grab that 5-pack of Top Ramen for $1 and eat in the room (Lynchburg, VA for example - the James River overflowed and contaminated several businesses to the point they couldn't flush or shower)

 

[tekwehuself]

Thank you for all the feedback guys. Getting in some information.

I promise to update this thread in 7 days time and share the idea that I have with the fam. Its a very simple twist.

 

[trstar]

think about setting up a venue for online gamer parties and competitions.

Tweens, teens, and young adults would hold parties to play Xbox/PS4/PC games together in a rented room with a snack arrangement on hand. Great for team type games.

 

[tekwehuself]

Fuck it, here is a bit.

For the programmers among us, you may be aware that Kinect is now being made to work with PC's. What this means is that you can create gesture driven software and do away with existing interfaces such as keyboards and even the almighty touchscreen.

What this means is that you can create interactive experiences for people that operate in a new way. This could be used in retail, medicine or EDUCATION. Education is where i'm at. I currently develop mobile applications that blend learning with fun. I wish i could say what, as lord knows i need the sales, but thats all i can say.

What does this mean? It means that I can get people off their couch, and get them physically involved in whatever they are consuming.

The problem is not information. We have tons of access to it. The problem is the interface between user and content.

So what? Means I could hook up a entire room full of "Game stations" that serve up original content. From a simplistic point of view.. fruit ninja and candy crush become a whole new ballgame when your entire body is the remote. Previously, only a developer for XBOX (shit load of money) could access the hardware, so its open to the little man with a plan.

Don't care? thats cool. If you do, check the link below and get to reading. There are tons of possibilities. But for me? I just need a pre-paid card to allows users to access the software that I have already developed.

I am in a niche market (current location Jamaica), and technologically the caribbean is like Miami for Drugs in the 80's. Those who want to get ahead will.

About Kinect
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/kinectforwindows/

Real World Applications
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/kinectforwindows/meetkinect/gallery.aspx


My 2 cents

 

[ViCiouS]

Yeah, when I read your thread title Tek, I pondered a similar idea, but how much you would pay for machines, TV's, and rent I don't know how you would pull any profit. My quick 2 minute idea consisted of PS4, XBOX One, PS3, PS2, PS1 with big screen TVs and a gamers environment wouldn't be worth what you would spend on equipment

Good luck, though. I hope it works for you

I like this idea... equipment shouldn't be too expensive - anything older than 360 or PS3 will be housed in a gamestation... customers will never touch the consoles or screens it will be behind plexi-glass.
did your plan have a snack bar with fountain beverages and after 6pm cocktail bar with beer on tap? work the numbers to use bar and snack revenue to cover operation costs.
2 separate gaming floors (different floors or wings) over 21 and under.
sport bar meets karaoke bar with private rooms and couches

 

[ViCiouS]

Fuck it, here is a bit.

For the programmers among us, you may be aware that Kinect is now being made to work with PC's. What this means is that you can create gesture driven software and do away with existing interfaces such as keyboards and even the almighty touchscreen.

What this means is that you can create interactive experiences for people that operate in a new way. This could be used in retail, medicine or EDUCATION. Education is where i'm at. I currently develop mobile applications that blend learning with fun. I wish i could say what, as lord knows i need the sales, but thats all i can say.

What does this mean? It means that I can get people off their couch, and get them physically involved in whatever they are consuming.

The problem is not information. We have tons of access to it. The problem is the interface between user and content.

So what? Means I could hook up a entire room full of "Game stations" that serve up original content. From a simplistic point of view.. fruit ninja and candy crush become a whole new ballgame when your entire body is the remote. Previously, only a developer for XBOX (shit load of money) could access the hardware, so its open to the little man with a plan.

Don't care? thats cool. If you do, check the link below and get to reading. There are tons of possibilities. But for me? I just need a pre-paid card to allows users to access the software that I have already developed.

I am in a niche market (current location Jamaica), and technologically the caribbean is like Miami for Drugs in the 80's. Those who want to get ahead will.

About Kinect
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/kinectforwindows/

Real World Applications
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/kinectforwindows/meetkinect/gallery.aspx


My 2 cents

ok- network and pick the brains of a Dave n Busters manager to get to the vendor so you can learn about load stations setup to accept cash and credit. You can decide on whether to use smart cards / magnetic strip cards or use a completely software driven approach. Charge an entry fee that includes a card preloaded with x amount of time (enough for say 15' to 30' of play time / entertainment)


http://www.smartcardbasics.com/smart-card-industrylinks.html
http://www.globalsources.com/manufacturers/Smart-Card.html
http://www.cardlogix.com
http://www.smartcardalliance.org
http://www.abnote.com/products-and-services/smart-cards