This exact issue was what I was trying to address with my clinic hours idea, outlined in my first post. Do you think a monthly membership instead would work better? When do you think the “reserved” times should be?
Yeah… but that game has such a place in people’s hearts, I think. At least it does in mine. It’s the first game I single credited. 
I’m thinking that the ‘clinic hours’ would be from 11pm-1am so it wouldn’t take away from the casual gaming hours. My girlfriend could hit the club and I can hit up the arcade. Friggin’ sweet.
I think the membership would definifitely work…especially when you think about in terms of relative cost. What do YOU want to spend $20 on? Two shots of frenet or on investing on the longevity of the fighting game community?
I totally agree that this won’t work on just the games alone. If you really want to make this work, you need to think outside just fighting games for the hardcore. If you want something that works as a business, check out http://www.groundkontrol.com/. They’re in Portland OR, and they’re awesome. Everyone loves that place, mostly because it combines old classics and pinball with beer and live music. Plus Rock Band nights are aaaaawesome.
I support you and wish you tons of luck. I’d do this myself if I had the money. Do you have a more specific idea for where you’d want to put it? Or still just generally the Bay Area? Again, good luck man. I’ll be one of your best customers.
I need to clear something up with you. I’m not sure who you are, I’ll probably remember your face more than anything else. But ask the guys who are in my current “clique”. A lot of them started out as scrubs… most of them are still scrubs <3. You introduced yourself, and “that is that”. You didn’t ask to session or go to a session. If you did, I’d easily have given you my number to contact me about sessions happening throughout the week (that offer, by the way, is still up for grabs)
Sorry that I’m not sure who you are, but EVERYONE who has asked to session with me has been given the opportunity to session. My PRIDE is to share knowledge and help NorCal grow as a community, so I’d like for you to put your assumptions away and reconsider the fact that you didn’t really ask to session with me and my crew to begin with. It’s not my responsibility as a player is to invite every person that I meet to a session. With that being said, no harm is done, if you’d like to session with us, PM me for more information!
And carry on with the constructive ideas/criticism. Just as a few of us have said, we have to take into consideration about the fact that this is Myung’s investment. I fully agree that arcades shouldn’t be the primary source of revenue, but rather a vessel towards another viable source. With that being said, please continue to throw out your wonderful ideas!
-Crackfiend
P.S. Yes, I was really pissed to see you describe me as that type of person. I’m not mad at you, I just dislike assumptions with a passion.
I don’t know about that dude. The Davis scene is very open to new players and the same can be said of the 707 crew. Pretty much any group that posts on open forums that there is a session and everybody is invited seems to go against your analysis.
i think if you charge a dollar or even $.75 a lot of people arent going to come unless theres a tourney. i mean denjin and AI charges $.25 to play and it looks like they are doing good. family fun was charging $1 (dont know if they still do) and no goes there no more at least it doesnt look like a lot of people go there and its really cramp.
But they also already have a strong customer base since they’ve been around for a while. A new arcade charging $.25 with no customer base achieved yet seems like a big risk since you probably won’t have double the players if you charge $.25 vs charging $.50
Also, I assume Crackfiend is an amazing person because he is Vietnamese and therefore Vietnamazing.
I like that assumption.
P.S. I really did.
WE LOVE CRACK
So if this arcade does eventually pan out, when’s the earliest you think we’ll see it?
The analysis isn’t based on the openness of the clique, but on each individual. Think about it, some folks have a hard time introducing themselves, making friends and even making conversation. Basically, some folks are socially awkward when it comes to conversating. Taking those types into account, what would be easier:
-introducing yourself to a crew, going to a stranger’s house and maybe not feelng comfortable enough to focus on the game?
Or
-going to a centralized location where you know there will be serious competition without having to go through the formalities that some may not be too comfortable with?
No disrespect to crackfiend, you’re a cool guy and in no way did you come off elitist. you and your boys are all mad cool. Apologies if it came off that way.
i’d love to see some ST action up in this arcade.
First off, I’d like to say that this is an admirable thing you’re doing. One of my life’s goals is to start an outlet where I can give back to the community by having young kids grew up in a social gaming environment that the arcades provided me back in the day.
While I wouldn’t say that the following would be tips, but they are just observations that I’ve noticed.
-
Your stance on ticket/redemption games are right. They aren’t great investments and usually don’t provide any amount of skill to play. Thus they are fun once, maybe twice but after that they collect dust. Stick to games that require skill.
-
Right now, the fighting game genre is super hot once again. While I like having a place with the latest fighting games, I also like diversity. This is especially true for including retro and music games that were once the favorites back in the day. If you have a Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, DDR SuperNova2, Beatmania, import JuBeat or Taiko Drum Master, then you’ll be tapping into another market where former players of these genres would love to participate in once again.
-
As for side events, I think if you have a spot where players can talk with one another to get drinks and food that would be great. You can also use this spot to hold small events like MMA, Boxing, Wrestling pay-per-views and charge a fee or require a purchase of food to watch.
-
If the hours extend to the late night hours of 1-4 a.m. then you should definitely have a way to remind some of your players that the buses and BART end around midnight that way you don’t have players stranded at closing.
-
If you have a spot close to a BART station or a place for free parking, that would be awesome for players traveling from all over the bay.
-
Have a website or blog for your arcade. Not only will it help get the word out and inform patrons of hours and locations, but you can use it to announce upcoming events like PPV’s, tournaments, or discounted game nights.
Anyways, that all I can think of for now. I’ll be moving into the San Francisco area soon so I would like to work here if you get the place up and running. Other than being able to help look over the place, I’m good at organizing events, designing promotional flyers and is in the process of learning web design. I can’t wait to this happen in SF.
- Daryl “DJcream” Bunao
Hey man, that first way was how I met crackfiend. To be frank (and hopefully not rude), no amount of membership or clinic hours can make a person who has a hard time with new people magically comfortable with them. The only thing that can be supplied externally is a place where people have the chance to meet up and make friends. I don’t debate that it’s hard to meet new folks. But I think places like arcades will make it easier. I know that the only hope this place has of growing is to grow the audience, from spectators to casual players, then from casual players to regulars. And I know for a fact that crackfiend has the same goal in mind. So… you know… meet us halfway. Don’t be affeer’d… We’re a friendly bunch. :lovin:
Unless you’re socially awkward. Then, yeah… Awkward stares and silence.:rolleyes:
A public transportation method that put people within reasonable walking distance would be really important to me personally. To carpool to the nearest bart station and just PT in would be the ultimate convenience.
I guarantee an air hockey table will pull more money in than any other game except the new ones. It hits a huge demographic, costs a lot, is easily maintained, and games don’t last very long.
Most profitable games atm for sure:
PIU, SF4, TC4, Razing Storm, ID4/5, MvC2, Medieval Madness Pinball, Air Hockey, Stacker and Basket Ball Hoops. $.75 is reasonable for sf4, gundam, id5 and t6br, but is completely unreasonable for older games. Big ass cabinets with MvC2, CvS2 and 3S at $.50 are easy money too.
Those touch-screen games in a lounge area @ $.50 a play are also profit makers cause when you’re lounging around, you can play photo hunt or mahjong with a group. Suckers feed these ALLLLL day.
**If membership was implemented, I think lock-ins bi-monthly would be SIIICK. **You stay open all night until 8am and only members can lock in. This is how you get good. People bring pillows and sleeping bags for naps. This is how Japan got good probably as people just sleep outside or in those cubbies.
Oh yeah dude. Photo Hunt is a staple at Vietnamese cafes. We (my cousins and I) all know that shit’s for suckers, but we play it all day anyway. Great idea if you’re gonna have a cafe of some sort with people just lounging around.
Better fuckin do this asap!!!
IRL I am mad socially awkward, but I met most of these guys by doing the thing you don’t want to do: show up to some stranger’s house and introduce myself. I had to do that with the Keystone crew and I definitely had to do that back in the days with the old school guys.
Crackfiend is insanely approachable. He’s a saint. So much so that I worry about him putting too much of himself out there and getting himself hurt/taken advantage of.
As for crews holding info, I know Crack isn’t going to like the idea of this but…DUH! Of course this happens! In my eyes it is perfectly fine. We’re communal, but we also play to win when it comes to competition. People have been holding back info and pulling it out at tournaments when it counts ever since the first spitting contest. The thing is that once it has been seen, it’s officially “out”. It’s up to everyone else to figure it out and help their own groups/crews master the new technique and adapt.
Phew. With all that shit said, the Bay is like one big crew that is splintered into mini-factions. At the next Bay tournament come out and introduce yourself. Find out who is down to let you come out to their local gatherings and settle in.
See, I KNEW there was a reason I told my parents I was moving out of NJ and making the Bay my new home…cuz folks are mad nice out here.
Again, no dis to any crews, but I just never want to come off as the dude that only talks to folks to climb a social ladder or because it benefits me as an individual. I’m more comfortable easing myself into a situation over multiple visits, but next time I see a familiar face, I’ll make sure to extend a handshake and shoot the breeze.
Much love, bay area. Now what’s up with this arcade?