Just had another read through of you post as I was wondering the other day how many Retro Arcades are actually making money, wish them all the luck but it's certainly not for the faint hearted going on your info on Start Up Costs, not something I'd want to risk but I'm not much of a risk taker, I'd only do something if I knew it was going to work
I'd love to do a job I actually enjoyed, though it doesn't sound like it's even that enjoyable running one of these going on all the boring background stuff like advertising, accounts etc. Modern arcades are just rubbish, no decent games in them anymore, even pusher machines are rubbish. Andy had the right idea going BIG to make it worth people travelling far to spend day there or weekend, I enjoyed night at Leeds with Jim, was great setup with loads of Sega Sims, After Burner Deluxe a highlight as i'd not been in one
Nerd going end of October
https://retro8bitshop.com/nerd-arcade-to-shut-down-at-the-end-of-october-embracing-retro-heritage/
Another Opens in Great Yarmouth that Adamski posted about
https://www.ukvac.com/forum/threads/retro-room-great-yarmouth-review.84871/
Machines bought from a Closed down Business in Bristol, so was that a Retro Arcade? you would of thought Bristol would do okay
Just a place with 30 machines isn't going to do much without it being a Bar as said.
As I'm sure I've said many times lol most of my dedicated are ones with special controls as you can't play them in mame or jamma cab but that depends on what games you like, It's nice having dedicated ones of your favourites and yeah some will probably be all joystick ones which is fine if all you holy grail cabs, many of mine are shooting, driving or like 720, Road Runner, Paperboy or Laserdiscs, Simulators, 3D, so it's a good mix of stuff
I agree with what was said in the BBC Article on Retro Room though "He said some players found playing solo to be "a lonely experience" and there was a desire to play alongside other people" It's not quite the same just you own your own playing, even if 2 of you at least its more fun, challenging each other to beat score on Circus Charlie like we did, nice when your both poor to average at the games too lol
not surprising ones like this close
https://www.devonlive.com/whats-on/whats-on-news/sudden-closure-seaside-towns-last-9544259
I've not really looked at what ones are where, as mentioned NQ64 that have big money behind them and the one in Digbeth (dump) NQ64 Birmingham, we’ve got 33 arcade machines, 2 pinball machines, and 6 retro consoles all waiting for you to get stuck into. that's not a lot really is it? I'm not going to drive from Leicester for that, sick of the sight of Birmingham centre with work
Don't look bad but Norwich, now many would pop over there for a night, are there enough customers in the area?
https://www.retro-replay.games/gallery
I can't believe how many are open to be honest. question is how much money are they really making
