Planning an arcade, would like your input.

[the7k]

Hey guys. Sorry I haven't been around as much, but lately when I'm not doing my current job (which is rapidly reaching it's breaking point), I've been researching what I hope to be my next one.

Anyway, I'd like to get opinions and such to help me in how I go about doing this. Before I can cut the ribbon, I'm going to have to have investors - and in order to have investors, I'm going to have to have a solid plan in place. It's why I'd like to know what type of machines to invest in, as well as what non-arcade supplement would appeal to others.

Name - http://micropoll.com/t/KEsotZByBD (What names appeals to you the most? Unique, but not confusing.)
Genre - http://micropoll.com/t/KEsotZByBh (Check box as many as you like, and omit the ones that don't interest you. What is the first thing you look for when you step foot in an arcade?)
Side-business polls - http://micropoll.com/t/KEsotZByBi (Check box as many as you like, and omit the ones that don't interest you. What would it take for you to go out to an arcade? What would it take to keep you there?)

Appreciate any help you guys can give me.

[comradesnarky]

I wish you the best of luck with this. There's really not many arcades around anymore.

[scarmullet]

I really suggest picking up a bunch of various candy cabs and getting kick harnesses for the JAMMA compatible ones. Also pick up some NEO-GEO candy cabs. This'll make it easier to switch around your stock if a game isn't being played much anymore, you can just pull out the board and put in a new one easily.

[juan0tron]

This sounds awesome! If I lived anywhere near you I'd be sure to be one of your biggest customers.

[hargcore]

I'd love to start a Barcade but don't see the money in it round here. Just voted!

[shenske]

There is a Barcade not too far from me and it is really successful. I just wish they would open up during the day so I could play arcade games sober. People drop a lot more money when they've had a few drinks in them. It is nice that they have a HUGE supply of $10 rolls of quarters. They give a free drink if you buy a roll

[judog1]

You should get a variety of games, but you should make sure all of the games work.  It shows that you care about the arcade.

[SonicAdvDX]

The most recent fighting games. People love Street Fighter IV, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and all Street Fighter Alpha, basically, any Capcom fighter. If you get the competitive players to come to your place, you'll be making mad stacks. 

[the7k]

I would like to do a barcade, but I just get the feeling I'd have to do it in a different city than this one. There's a city a few miles over, though, that would be perfect for it (obviously, it's a town dominated by it's college). My current plan is to actually do it in a strip-mall that's within the parking lot of a Super Wal-Mart - not exactly the best place for a bar. Still, it all depends on what is available when I've got the money ready and the plan finalized.

Yeah, I definitely plan to pick up a lot of Neo Geo MVSs. At least three. The advantages being that Neo Geos were spread like wildfire in my area during the 90s (thus, nostalgia factor), the allowance of four games per cab means I can have a ton of variety in a small space (I can easily have each game represent a different genre), and we have a lot of Spanish-speaking residents who seem to love SNK games, especially King of Fighters. (Something I picked up on while working at GameStop.)

Still, I'm going to have to have a good amount of dedicated cabinets. Like it or not, I am competing with emulation and home consoles, so I have to have experiences that can't be replicated at home.

I do intend to get recent fighting games. Eventually. I will definitely be getting at least MvC2 and SF3:TS, along with at least one popular 3D Fighter (Soul Calibur or Tekken 3 being the first thoughts) - as well as a good chunk of other fighters that are popular, but if I go for the most recent machines right off the bat, I'll end up going broke before I even get started. I plan to start with the evergreen machines that will get me a good chunk of quarters without me having to shell out $25,000 for a cabinet.

Oh yeah - tournaments. At least every two weeks. It's the bare necessity to keep the scene social and healthy. It's why arcades around here just sorta faded away.

[comradesnarky]

Where exactly are you located?

I'm about to wrap up college for a marketing degree. I'd be very interested in helping you out with this if it's geographically possible.

[the7k]

Florence, South Carolina. Plan to place it in a strip-mall near a Super Wal-Mart, as it gets a lot of traffic and the rent is low.

If it's worth it, I may go to the indoor mall - it gets a lot more traffic, but I'd be limited to their hours (9am-9pm isn't ideal for an arcade, as mornings tend to be dead and the late night is when most people want to game) and the rent is higher.

[Brandonh1091]

Awesome, that's about a 2 hour drive from here. Best of luck man, I hope it goes well.

[comradesnarky]

Florence, South Carolina. Plan to place it in a strip-mall near a Super Wal-Mart, as it gets a lot of traffic and the rent is low.

If it's worth it, I may go to the indoor mall - it gets a lot more traffic, but I'd be limited to their hours (9am-9pm isn't ideal for an arcade, as mornings tend to be dead and the late night is when most people want to game) and the rent is higher.

Ah damn, I'm very far from here.