Acceptable prices per play for arcade games.

[YoshiEgg25]

I'd love a 0.25c arcade, or a door cover charge with free play machines, but it's not a viable business model unless (as Flake notes) you serve alcohol or have something similar making up the balance.

Actually there's an arcade by me that charges $15 dollars (iirc) at the door to play all the games for free. They don't serve alcohol, but they do host events, etc. to draw in crowds and have an insane amount of cabinets. They're apparently doing quite well and have been growing. They were planning on adding some sort of game-related merchandise store to the arcade but afaik it hasn't been done yet.

http://www.gallopingghostarcade.com/

I'm not saying it's viable in all situations or anything, but this place seems to be proving that it can be done.

Every time someone mentions that place, I remember that the review I wrote for it back in January still hasn't seen the light of day.

[FerretGamer]

Every time someone mentions that place, I remember that the review I wrote for it back in January still hasn't seen the light of day.

I wouldn't mind reading your review.

[YoshiEgg25]

Every time someone mentions that place, I remember that the review I wrote for it back in January still hasn't seen the light of day.

I wouldn't mind reading your review.

Racket and I were talking about making it a site review. I'll probably take a look at it again this weekend and seeing what I should do with it.

[jfrost]

Post it on the reviews section. If it's cool, Racket will feature it on the main page.

[the7k]

Alright, well how about a different but related question...

What do you guys consider an acceptable amount to pay for admission to an arcade? Would you pay a differing amount depending on how many machines they had? How recent the machines are?

[Balasubbie]

I'd love a 0.25c arcade, or a door cover charge with free play machines, but it's not a viable business model unless (as Flake notes) you serve alcohol or have something similar making up the balance.

Actually there's an arcade by me that charges $15 dollars (iirc) at the door to play all the games for free. They don't serve alcohol, but they do host events, etc. to draw in crowds and have an insane amount of cabinets. They're apparently doing quite well and have been growing. They were planning on adding some sort of game-related merchandise store to the arcade but afaik it hasn't been done yet.

http://www.gallopingghostarcade.com/

I'm not saying it's viable in all situations or anything, but this place seems to be proving that it can be done.

Every time someone mentions that place, I remember that the review I wrote for it back in January still hasn't seen the light of day.

I love how in their pic section, they've got a snap of a bunch of eight-ten year olds huddle around an MK3 cab.

[Bradtemple87]

I have a hard time spending more than a dollar on any arcade machine

[RyaNtheSlayA]

At my local arcade its 25c for the old, 50c for the new, and $1 for the real nice fancy arcade cabs. Like the Jurassic Park sit down light gun game. It's worth every penny I tell ya!

[AmishSamurai]

Alright, well how about a different but related question...

What do you guys consider an acceptable amount to pay for admission to an arcade? Would you pay a differing amount depending on how many machines they had? How recent the machines are?

$15 sounds like a good general price. $10 feels like I'd be skimping, and $20 feels like I'd be paying too much, and I like units of 5. They're nice and clean.

Maybe $15, $10 for kids 12 and under or for large groups?

[YoshiEgg25]

Alright, well how about a different but related question...

What do you guys consider an acceptable amount to pay for admission to an arcade? Would you pay a differing amount depending on how many machines they had? How recent the machines are?

$15 sounds like a good general price. $10 feels like I'd be skimping, and $20 feels like I'd be paying too much, and I like units of 5. They're nice and clean.

Maybe $15, $10 for kids 12 and under or for large groups?

To compare, $15 is exactly what the Galloping Ghost charges for admission.