Is any member on here rich enough for a shmup center?

Post by **Dave_K.** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:10 am

Nice pics NTSC-J, you make us all jealous. Although for the price of a trip to Japan you could buy 3-4 cabs.

Nothing will ever match that type/size of gaming center in the west, but I thought there was a place in dallas that came pretty close to a non-shmup japanse arcade.

For me, I have the money, and a risky business plan, but I'm not about to leave my current well paying job for said risky business plan.

bpe · Post by **bpe** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:30 pm

NTSC-J, careful with that camera, I got kicked out of Hey once already for candidly taking pics (without flash ofcourse, but they still didn't like it).

I'm surprised at the 2000 number, more than I thought -- but maybe that includes "arcades" that actually don't have any games ? You know, the kind of place that's all slot and gambling, maybe one or two racing games, ok, but no shooting or fighting at all ?

I also think it would be good to first find out what the maintenance cost is of a place like this. Ie, with a typical crowd (including the type of guys that occasionally hit the cab, controls or screen) at a typical location, what kind of cost per year per cab are you looking at just to keep it running well enough that you don't feel ripped off if it's 50c a game ? That still doesn't make it a business plan, but it's one step closer

ill6 · Post by **ill6** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:06 pm

Getting the money to do this would be easy but the place would loose money unfortunately if we relied on the general public.

A model that could work would be a club with subscription fees etc; the fees would be high though I suspect to pay for the space, cabs and games. Lets face it we would only do it if we got to play the newest games. Assuming rent is free and we have 5 cabs at £3000~ + a stack of PCB's at £7000 we would be on our way with a great arcade. There are about 5 games a year say at most that require a new purchase so lets say we need £5000 for games (and we get some old ones too). So We need 15 members willing to drop 1 grand to do this (assuming we have space and power)... OK so you could do it for less but you get the idea; personally I would not bother as I would rather have the board myself.

In the meanwhile I have a couple of cabs and a stack of games in London and if anyone wants to come around they are welcome.

JJG · Post by **JJG** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:12 pm

It would make sense to have it somewhere in the midwest where rent is cheap and people from both coasts can get to without traveling too far.

cigsthecat · Post by **cigsthecat** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:31 pm

I heard icycalm has $150 million, ask him about opening one.

D · Post by D » Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:38 pm

It would prosper given proper marketing would be exercised. But that goes for about anything there is. Especially if the intent is not to make profit, but instead not to make any losses. Break even.
-Build it and they will come- If it looks nice people will come, you invite a local newspaper, etc. People will love it. Few people even know modern shooter exist. Their jaws will drop to tha floor when they see an arcade filled with awesome games they did not know about exist

Raidenfighter Kirkov · Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:35 pm

Dave_K. wrote:I've been thinking we could hold a yearly shmup conference. On the east or west coast of the US (where ever there are a majoritity of cab owners that are willing lug their cabs to). Rent out a bunch of conference rooms at a hotel for the weekend, and have talks/education sessions to go over strategy, with competitions, and free play times. People could bring stuff to swap/sell. Parties at night. Similar to what California Extreme does, but on a much smaller scale of course.

Hi !

Great idea ! But think about this: Be a special part of the next "California Extreme" conference.

Is there anyone who knows some of the organisators of the "California Extreme" event ?

I have some relatives in Los Angeles. So it would be very easy for me to visit this nice place.

Greetings
RFK

Michaelm · Post by **Michaelm** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:32 pm

D wrote:Their jaws will drop to tha floor when they see an arcade filled with awesome games they did not know about exist

Yeah and then they will leave after their third try and still not getting past stage 1

ill6 · Post by **ill6** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:56 pm

They did build it but they did not come, or at least they came (in the 80's and early 90s) and went again.

Casino in London had Mushihemesama at launch and Gigawing G at launch on the only two good cabs they have for shooters (they have other good games in crap cabs)... Since then they have had at some point or another Ketsui, Espgaluda, Batsugun, Cyvern, Sengeki Striker, Armed Police Batrider and others but theres very rarely anyone there (except Dels)...

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:01 pm

I got kicked out of Hey once already for candidly taking pics

Just apologize. It takes you stupidly far in Japan... it can get your out of anything up to the US equivalent of 3rd degree felonies.

Post by **Dave_K.** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:16 pm

Raidenfighter Kirkov wrote: Great idea ! But think about this: Be a special part of the next "California Extreme" conference.

Is there anyone who knows some of the organisators of the "California Extreme" event ?

I have some relatives in Los Angeles. So it would be very easy for me to visit this nice place.

I know one of the founders of California Extreme, and may think about this for next year, but only as a special side event/competition. I would not want the hords of kids pounding away on my machines, and me getting nothing out of it.

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:43 pm

NTSC-J: Great pics. I'm so jealous. Its a shame US arcades aren't like this. US arcade owners don't seem to get it through their skulls that there are people who want more than just loads of racing game rehashes and Dance Dance Revolution 4,115,230,670,907th Mix.

I'd have the cabinets equipped with both a coin slot and a card reader. You could buy 4 tokens a dollar or get a timed play card for something like $7 an hour. To keep the timed play price down, the more expensive games like DDR/Time Crisis 4 would be set to accept tokens only.

There'd be monthly tournaments to make extra money, with a $5-10 entry fee (credits spent on gameplay would be extra). All who join a tournament would have the whole month to keep playing. The winner could get something like $70 cash.

Good hours would probably be 11AM-2AM.

Some games I'd have are as follows:

1 Token (Timed Play permitted with card)
- Darius Gaiden
- ESPGaluda II
- Raiden III & IV
- Mushihime-sama Futari
- Giga Wing Generations
- Border Down
- Ketsui
- 19XX
- Ibara
- Batrider
- Battle Garegga
- Battle Bakraid
- Progear
- DDP Dai-ou-jou
- Assault (Namco's Nuke-N-Roll tank game)
- SFIII 3rd Strike
- Alien vs. Predator
- Ultracade with all game packs (way to cram a shedload of stuff into one spot)

2 Tokens (Timed Play with card)
- Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection
- King of Fighters XII
- Crisis Zone DX
- Terminator 3 (pinball)
- Ninja Warriors (an old game, but the 3 monitor cabinet could be a little expensive to maintain)

3 Tokens (Tokens required, No Timed Play)
- Guitar Freaks V3 (GF = the king of Bemani)
- Drummania V3 (linked to GFV3)
- Battle Gear 4 (2 players)
- Time Crisis 4 DX
- Taiko no Tatsujin

4 Tokens (Tokens required, No Timed Play)
- Dance Dance Revolution Supernova (Kept in a secluded spot of the place, away from all the other games so it doesn't disturb other players with that loud stomping noise)

JJG · Post by **JJG** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:45 pm

I'd say all the music and rhythm games should be in a separate room, they are damn annoying.

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:58 pm

JJG wrote:I'd say all the music and rhythm games should be in a separate room, they are damn annoying.

Sounds like a good idea there. Beside DDR, Drummania can get really noisy along with Taiko no Tatsujin. It's not just the music but also the THUD-THUD, THUD-THUD from the drums/dance pad being hit.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:21 am

I think Raiden Fighter Kirkov's home must be the closest thing on this planet to a "shmup center".

bpe · Post by **bpe** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:11 am

I'm not sure, but figuring out what games need how many tokens might be jumping the gun a little

Also, I don't know if you really need a lot of new games to keep the place interesting. I have Strikers 1999 in Mame, but that doesn't stop me from going to the arcades to play it on an actual cab.. Just having a great experience with a great cab in a great environment can be worth the money, and thus keep the place going even if you buy only one board a year (... provided it's a Cave board, naturally).

Well, that and the fact that I haven't found anything from after 1999 here :\

GP.. I tried that, but it didn't work. In fact the next time I went I had the impression they remembered and were kind of following me around. Creepy.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:56 pm

bpe wrote: Also, I don't know if you really need a lot of new games to keep the place interesting. I have Strikers 1999 in Mame, but that doesn't stop me from going to the arcades to play it on an actual cab.. Just having a great experience with a great cab in a great environment can be worth the money, and thus keep the place going even if you buy only one board a year (... provided it's a Cave board, naturally).

.

Quoted for truth. There's an arcade nearby the place I work (crammed with fighting games, the only shmup there is Aerofighters 2), and I go there in my lunchtime very frequently. Of all credits I spent there, more than 80% were in Street Fighter 2 Champion Edition, a game I have at my home, and even play on Kaillera serves from time to time. Yet I just can't resist to challenge people when there's someone playing at the cab

Post by **Icarus** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:15 pm

http://www.thestudio-uk.com/external/raizingheaven.jpg
God, I wish I was back there again. ;_;