So, I'm thinking about opening an arcade...

[the7k]

The Namco cab is pretty expensive - if I buy it from the distributor. On the second-hand market, it is apparently not uncommon to find it for less than $500. Still, I might be better off just getting a Ms.Pac-Man/Galaga dual cab.

And yeah, I've never seen a Mario Kart Arcade in the states. Maybe it's more common in other areas. (California I bet - on my side of the states, the only import cabs I remember seeing were Wangan and Initial D) They look ideal for what I'm going for, though - good cartoonish graphics don't go out-of-style nearly as fast as hyper-realistic, and it's Super Mario. Everybody loves Mario.

The PlayChoice-10 is actually an NES in arcade clothing. There is a pretty huge list of titles it supports, and it can hold 10, allowing the user to select whichever they want (much like the Neo Geo). Super Mario Bros 1-3, Dr. Mario, Contra, Tecmo Bowl, Kung Fu, Ninja Gaiden 1-3, Punch Out - it's even got Capcom titles like Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Mega Man 3 and 1942. (Lack of Donkey Kong and Tetris is a bit disheartening, though.) With the right combination, it could get a lot of attention.

[the7k]

New Polls.
Name - http://micropoll.com/t/KEsotZByBD (cut choices from 10 to the three most popular of the previous poll.
Genre - http://micropoll.com/t/KEsotZByBh (Check box as many as you like, and omit the ones that don't interest you.)
Side-business polls - http://micropoll.com/t/KEsotZByBi (Check box as many as you like, and omit the ones that don't interest you.)

Thanks again for all the help.

[the7k]

Found Tekken Tag Tournament for $500. Guy says he offers free delivery, but I dunno how far he delivers exactly (I live 105 miles from him).

Definitely considering this. I found another TTT for $450, but it's more than 3 times as far away as this is.

[Para]

I haven't been keeping up to date with this thread since about the first page but I was wondering if anything became of this whole idea.

Not to be lazy but I don't feel like reading ten pages worth of posts just to find out that nothing important or significant is happening.

[the7k]

Still "in progress", I'm hoping this comes to fruition in the next 2-3 months so I get some Summer money.

[the7k]

Alright folks, looks like the Department of Revenue is going to charge $250 every two years per machine. That's pretty steep. With enough investors, it wouldn't be a huge problem, but that's $7500 if I just have 30 machines. I can see now why so many people stick to just Big Buck Hunter and Redemeption games around here.

The machines which have to pay this biennial charge are defined as:

"Any machine for the playing of amusements or video games, without free play feature or machines of the crane type operated by a slot wherein is deposited any coin or thing of value; and any machine for the playing of games or amusements, which has a free play feature, operated by a slot wherein is deposited any coin or thing of value and such machine is of the nonpayout pin table type with levers or "flippers" operated by the player by which the course of the balls can be altered or changed."

So, here's a question - if I charged at the door, would I still have to pay the Department of Revenue? Since they are not depositing 'any coin or thing of value', simply paying for admission, I should be in the clear, correct?

Now, I know a lot of people don't like the admission fee deal, and I can understand that - plus I could see how it would limit customers (no one would come at the end of the day, for example). So, why hasn't anyone taken the 'Parking Garage' approach? Simply have people take a 'ticket', play as much as they want, then check out with the ticket and pay a fee appropriate to the amount of time they spent there? Maybe something like $1/30min., capping at $10/whole day. Maybe even charge $50-60/month memberships for serious customers.

Oh yeah, and I got Tekken Tag Tournament. Pretty good condition, there were a few issues but he says he'll fix the machine up for me at no charge. Only real problem is the side decal is nicked up pretty good (I'll probably just peel it off and run with JT's idea of having some college art students paint it up) and there's some weird splotches on the control panel, but it's nothing serious.

[fastbilly1]

My understanding is that you would still have to pay the $250 a machine fee. But I believe that varies state to state

[the7k]

Lame.

Wait, does anybody have any idea if GameFrog has to pay such a regulatory fee? This is essentially the same thing GameFrog does, right? They just do it with consoles rather than arcades.

[the7k]

Well, everybody likes pictures, so...

[Para]

moar pix plz