Hello, all. There’s been a lot of ideas and opinions kicked around this thread, so I’ll try to address the ones I saw.
On the issue of secondary income:
No doubt, this will be necessary. As much as I would love a pure videogame place to make money, all the evidence not only from here but from other operators would seem to indicate that it is at best, only slightly profitable. Certainly nothing one can call a ?career.? But hey, if it can pay rent and draw people in, that means any supplemental business on top of it is pure profit (and I’m perfectly fine with that 
). I have heard a few ideas for secondary incomes:
On the issue of alcohol:
No. :) The cost of a liquor license and losing the entire crowd under 21 I think is just too much to bear. On top of that, people already get pretty heated when it comes to fighting games (and particularly, losing at them). Imagine how they would be drunk. Now imagine a whole ARCADE full of them.
On the issue of tournaments:
The size of these will be determined by the space I get. And the space I get will be determined by how many people live where. And that can only be determined by the survey. :) But the standard of a tourney buy in with a portion going to the house (and the machines on free play) could work. But I would also want to host amateur tourneys, or else we're just going to see the same faces over and over taking everyone's money, and the tourneys will die out faster than the Crocs fad.
On the issue of cafes:
Food is great. It's profitable. It's also a whole other can of worms in terms of permits, equipment, liability, employment, ect. Does anyone here have any experience with running a cafe or a restaurant? Are the rules different for a place that cooks and prepares things (like a Denny's) compared to a place that sells prepared stuff (like a Baskin Robbins) compared to a place that just sells sealed stuff (like snacks and gum at a newspaper booth)?
On the issue of naysayers:
You have a very important and appreciated role in this. Everyone here is eager to say ?yes yes yes? when it’s someone else’s money going on the line. I, on the other hand, need to protect mine. However, I would ask that you go one step farther. For every reason this wouldn’t work, try to come up with a way that it could work, something extra we could to to overcome that obstacle. If that obstacle is insurmountable, please feel free to say that too. If you cannot do any of that, at least please try to shoot down posts only once every 6 hours (so your points can be compacted into one post like this).
On the issue of home gatherings:
I know there are a lot of home gatherings. Hell, that's what most of the threads on here are about. I have gone to quite a few and hosted a few as well. But let me say that they are far from ideal. Most people live in an apartment that can't really comfortably fit more than 5 or 6 people, max. Once you start getting a party of 10 or more friends coming over, and especially in the night when you have to close the windows because of the noise, it gets pretty uncomfortable pretty quick. On top of that, people tend to have 2, 3 tvs at the most. That means when you get 14 or 15 people over, you're stuck doing NOTHING for a good long while waiting for your turn to cycle in. Now granted, my proposed 4 cab setup of SF4 is not going to mean you never have to wait, but at least you can play other games while you're waiting, or maybe even (gasp) try a new game you've never tried before.
On the issue of logistics:
On the issue of public transportation:
When it comes to public transportation, I'm the greenest hippie freak you will find. I personally live in San Mateo, so naturally I started my real estate search closest to home, but I was bummed because San Mateo mass transit really sucks. But I would love to be in Millbrae or some other place near a BART station so the Cal, Oakland, and east of the Caldicott folks could just hop a train and come over. But again, the survey will tell me where the place to set up shop will need to be. Also, I need to be in a relatively nicer place, because I just can't afford to spend the money on security guards and replacing vandalized stuff.
On maintenance:
One of the main reasons I thought I could start this is because I know how to do a lot of repairs and hacks on my own. On top of that, my pet peeve is broken controls. Nothing sours my mood faster. My machines will work. That's an issue I will take PERSONALLY. :)
On payment method:
Yes, tokens have problems. But card readers are potentially way more devastating in terms of loss. If a card reader breaks down, I have no idea how to repair that. I'd need a new unit, maybe even someone to install that (while adjustable coin mechs are relatively cheap). And god forbid the card WRITER went down early Saturday evening. That would mean my ENTIRE ARCADE would be closed until probably Monday morning when someone could come and fix it (not to mention the price of fixing it). No... the card thing, while cool, is just too potentially devastating. As for foreign tokens, you're right. I'll have to try and source some tokens that are very distinct and get electronic coin mechs that can be calibrated to them.
What I actually envisioned was a bar tab/pool hall model, where people could have a credit card for them or their group and whenever they wanted another $5 or $10 bag of tokens, just come to the front and show their ID. At the end of the night, the tab would be closed out and their card swiped. Of course cash is always accepted, but this is just a further convenience method I was thinking of.
On the issue of hours:
I think the Arcade UFO hours are spot on. Again, that would depend on my location and the regulations in that area, but I would look to run it pretty late.
On the issue of air conditioning:
YES. And lots of it.
On the issue of game choice:
Again, I have only put together a list of things that came to my mind. Another thing I should tell you is that all the Naomi, CPS3, and MVS games on that list are games that I already own, so they would really help my bottom line. This list is by no means final, and I might have to do another survey on game choice to find the right balance of games.
On the issue of ?classic? games:
Things like Frogger and Dig Dug? I don't want to put games like that in because face it, people who are in to those games are people who don't really come to arcades in the first place. Rather, they used to, but then they got married, had kids, and now consider it a relaxing weekend if they have enough time for a beer with their friends on a Saturday afternoon. I think that cabinet, especially when compared to what that same space could be used for otherwise, is not worth it.
On the issue of easy to pick up games:
Yes. :) For sure, I want to have a selection of beat 'em ups (I have access to The Punisher and Aliens vs Predator! :D ) and things like Metal Slug or Shock Troopers. Space will dictate how many of those I can have.
On the issue air hockey and pool:
I would LOVE to have those tables, but again, it all depends on how much space I have. If I have to choose between say the Neo Geo cabinet and a pool table or the like... well, I'd want to have some sales figures from various arcades to tell me what decision to make.
On the issue of scrolling shooters (shmups):
I LOVE these games! :) My Ikaruga set is my pride and joy (followed by my EspGaluda board). If the demographic is there to support it, I don't mind keeping as current and large a selection of those as the fighters.
On the issue of Gundam:
I think a few of you misunderstood which game I was talking about. While the pod based game would be awesome, I don't have quite as much money as God, so I don't think I can do that. :) No, look up Gundam vs. Gundam on youtube and you'll see the game I'm talking about. And yes, I know Gundam vs. Gundam NEXT is out in Japan (I played a bunch of it while I was there). But try finding me a set I can buy. :) For those of you unfamiliar with it, it really is the best game that no one has ever played. I'm almost certain if you like fighting games, I can make you a convert.
On the issue of confusing Afrolegends and AfroCole:
My sincere apologies. Slip of the fingers. I have since edited myself. :)
Well, I think that’s enough for this post. I tried emailing fubarduck through his arcadeUFO website, but no response yet. 
Please keep the ideas and feedback coming!
-Myung
) and ask them for rare promotional items to stick in the machine. Easy, light sponsorship and free, high valued items that people would lust after.
). I have heard a few ideas for secondary incomes:
Please keep the ideas and feedback coming!