Da_Shroom_King's forum posts

Avatar image for Da_Shroom_King
Da_Shroom_King

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#1 Da_Shroom_King
Member since 2012 • 25 Posts
Thank you for the responses everybody! And yes El_Zo1212o I am taking notes, but I don't think I could afford that simulator as an attraction, at least not until my money making machine is complete. Some very interesting ideas so far, and I'll be glad to comment on them when I get home and plug my laptop into a socket. Before I go though, I've used the lovely search bar here in the forums and found this thread: http://www.gamespot.com/forums/topic/27464759/gaming-cafe--gaming-lounge-would-one-actually-go I'm wondering now if anyone has any information on what happened to Zavvi, Omega Games, RapidFire or any of the other companies mentioned in the thread. I've been trying to google them but I'm not getting anything specific on why they closed down or even how their business was ran. According to the other forumers in the thread, they were quite popular but still went out of business. I'm currently trying to get some more accurate estimates on just how much it would cost to run this lounge and how much profit can actually be made, thanks for your continued feedback guys, I really appreciate it. I'm also leaning towards converting this into a bar and gaming lounge, it seems more viable to me but we'll see after I run a few numbers.
Avatar image for Da_Shroom_King
Da_Shroom_King

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#2 Da_Shroom_King
Member since 2012 • 25 Posts
Thank you both, XaosII and El_Zo1212o! You have both given me a great deal of new information to think about. I was thinking about what you said earlier Xaosll, about what killed the arcade industry, and I've concluded that society's culture certainly did play a big part in the industry's death, but it wasn't the only reason. With Korea, I agree that it was probably the culture that kept the industry afloat. However, in the case of Japan and China they were more or less forced to embrace the arcade industry because they didn't have any other means of accessibility to home consoles. Unlike in America, where we had the accessibility and legal right and the space in our comfortable homes for our consoles. So I don't think I can market on accessibility for my arcade. I have to offer something else. I continued to think about it and I found myself asking the most fundamental question: Why does anyone go anywhere if they have the accessibility to it from the comfort of their homes? Especially if it's cheaper. Take movies for example; I can order a movie from home at half the price of a movie ticket and invite as many friends as I can fit inside my living room and the junk food would be cheaper. But then I figured it out; the theater's aren't selling just the movie or their overpriced junk food, they're selling an experience and atmosphere. I could just do as I stated earlier and just order a movie, but I don't. I go and invite my friends or my girlfriend to the movies because of the atmosphere. The surround sound, comfy seats and big screen doesn't hurt either. In fact I think if any one of those things were taken out of the equation, it'd ruin the experience. If you've ever ordered a movie from home, you know you can't compare that experience to actually going to the movies. So I think the two main reasons why you start hanging out anywhere is because: 1. You can't get it anywhere else. Such was the case in the Arcade's golden age, where there was no such thing as the home console yet. Or the reason why you go to the same burger joint every week because nobody makes burgers like them. 2. The experience & atmosphere. Your friends add to both of these, I actually believe that it doesn't matter where you go because friends can make anything fun, but the reason you go their in their first place is because of the atmosphere. Now I'm sure that the classic arcades had a good atmosphere and offered a great experienced, but when the home console came out, the people who could afford them stopped going to arcades and took the experience and atmosphere with them. At least that's what I think. Please, tell me what you guys think of my reasoning. Is any of this not true? I'm sure there is something else I'm missing, or something that I'm wrong about. But in any case, tell me what YOU would like to see in an arcade like this. Or rather a "Gaming Lounge" as El_Zo1212o is now convincing me to label it as. I'm taking serious consideration of your suggestions, you seem to know what you would want from a business like this, let me know if you think of something else! Thanks~!
Avatar image for Da_Shroom_King
Da_Shroom_King

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#3 Da_Shroom_King
Member since 2012 • 25 Posts
Thank you for your input XaosII! Very informative post. You bring up a good point, it would make a business more viable if the culture supported it. I know from my personal experience that people who have Ninteno 3Ds or PSPs don't bother playing them in public because of our culture declared that 'adults shouldn't be wasting their time playing video games'. Unlike in places like Japan, where a grown man could be reading a comic book in the subway and no one would bat an eyelash because it is accepted in their society. One of my goals that influenced my coming up of the idea of opening a video game arcade was to help change the culture of America and their perception of video games by introducing a more modern arcade. My reasoning behind this was that by making it more accessible to someone who doesn't have the inertia to buy or invest money into a console. I also believe that should it actually succeed, people would begin to see that gaming is something you can do publicly and change the image of the average 'gamer' from someone who lurks in their parent's basement to a fun hobby like watching movies or listening to music. I wouldn't say gaming is exactly cheap, but I could be mistaken. I know me and my gamer friends usually only manage to scrape enough money to buy one or two games a month. We miss out on a lot of great titles, especially since we end up buying the multiplayer games like CoD to play with each other. Feel free to disagree with me, I don't have anything else I can use to make an argument . So now my next few questions are; by opening this arcade, would it really help the appeal of video games in our society? What else can I do if I do opt to open this business to help combat america's reception of video game arcades? Speaking for yourself as a gamer, what would attract you to go to such a place? I realize now that the reasons I listed only apply to me and my friends, so let me know what you would want, as a gamer.
Avatar image for Da_Shroom_King
Da_Shroom_King

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#4 Da_Shroom_King
Member since 2012 • 25 Posts

You do realize arcades are completely dead except for Japan, Korean (and they are more internet cafe "baangs" than actual arcades), and parts of china? Not one of your reasons actually change why arcades died and why they'll go to yours.

XaosII
Yes, I understand that arcades are practically dead in the United States. However, I do not plan to revive classic arcades. As I understand it, the home console is the thing that destroyed classic arcades. But I would appreciate if you elaborate on why you think it wouldn't work. Or give me any suggestions or input what I could do better.
Avatar image for Da_Shroom_King
Da_Shroom_King

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#5 Da_Shroom_King
Member since 2012 • 25 Posts
Info: I was playing around with the idea of opening up a 'modern video game arcade'. In short, it's a place where gamers can go to play games on modern consoles(PS3, XBOX 360, NINTENDO WII, ETC) with modern games(CoD, Skyrim, Wow, Battlefield, Portal, Madden etc) against or with each other, or alone if they choose to do so. I was also thinking to have a nostalgia corner of the arcade, but I'm getting ahead of myself. If you know what you'd like to see in a business like this, let me know! Comfy chairs? A bar/cafe combination? Blue lights?! By opening this arcade, would it really help the appeal of video games in our society? What else can I do if I do opt to open this business to help combat america's reception of video game arcades? Speaking for yourself as a gamer, what would attract you to go to such a place? I realize now that the reasons I listed only apply to me and my friends, so let me know what you would want, as a gamer. What do you guys think of it's viability? Would you go? Why or why not? How much would you pay? Any suggestions/input/concerns you'd like to give? Also, feel free to be my devil's advocate, poke holes in my idea as well! I would love to know everything that can go wrong. Thank you all in advanced! Reasons(Assumed) why I think it's a viable business: - With new titles being released all the time, not everyone has the capital to buy EVERY game. - There are a lot of exclusive games that not everyone has access to, so it'd be cheaper than buying a console. - If people have a bad PC/Internet Connection, it'd be great to go someplace that not only has one, but one that's already installed with games! - Great place to meet new people/Have a hang out place! - Big television screens; bigger is better. - Local Tournaments for fame and prizes -When playing games with records, it'd be a great place to practice and hone your skills without the consequences. Suggestions/Criticism given by others: 1. "Make it part-bar and only allow 21+, no adult gamer wants to hang out with kids." 2. "Sell Games & accessories in addition to the arcade." 3. "Sell snacks and drinks, gamers love junk food!" 4. "Add classic arcades alongside the arcade. You can't beat the classics!" 5. "Include Memberships and discounts." Counter Suggestions/Criticsm given by yours truley: 1. While that is true, by doing so I would be restricting a large portion of the gamer community, which could hurt business an incredible amount. The gamer community(at least in my head) ranges mostly from 13-25 year old, mostly males, and cutting off everyone between 13-20 is a HUGE loss of income. But then again, not all may have the financial capital to come by daily or even weekly, as opposed to adults. 2. I'm not sure if it would be a good idea, simply because places like GameStop offer discounts for members, and game trading of course. I'd have to find a way to compete with that, so maybe. 3. If I did sell snacks, people could grease up controllers which would not only potentially brake them, but nobody wants to play on a cheetos dusted, stick controller. If I did decide to add snacks, I'd have to have an employee or myself wipe down the controllers after every use. I would probably sell sodas and drinks though...maybe. 4. Can't seem to find anything wrong with that, so maybe. 5. Of course! Genius! I personally go to Hot Topic constantly just to get a card stamped out! I'm losing a butt-load of money but I don't care! Hurhurhur....I am such a sheep.