Arcade update 5/11 (w/video)

Here’s another update of my progress on my arcade store that I am in the process of creating, The Game Grid Arcade in West Valley City, UT, at the Valley Fair Mall.

We’ve been working hard all week getting the ceiling tiles painted black but it takes a bit of time to get them painted well enough to look decent. You have to push the paint into the tiny holes of each tile and this not only takes up extra paint but also is a bit back-breaking. So far I’ve spent about $150 on black paint, and that is at a discount. I really appreciate the support I have received so far, from my family who has come and helped every day and also from someone who dropped by yesterday, Bert who read about the location here on AH. I also appreciate those who have contacted me offering support – this is an arcade for people that just love games and it’s exciting to not only live up to what I have dreamed about for what seems like forever now but to provide a fun place to play for others to enjoy. Anyways getting back to the store, Bert helped paint a good part of the walls yesterday and after it dries, the flat black paint looks great. Once the walls are done I am going to put up some artwork and paint some murals, probably using a light blue that will look good in black light.

As far as games go, I’ve still got to hammer out a final list but I did come across an Aliens: Extermination for $2700. Used games aren’t a bad way to go, especially when your budget is strict. I may also pick up a TMNT with that deal, which I hope to find a Turtles In Time board to put in there eventually.

Here is a video from yesterday that shows what progress has been made so far over the past week. In the next video, I hope to have a few games on site!

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7 comments

Molloy May 11, 2008 at 4:35 pm

The grid roof looks alot better than I would have imagined. Hope you don’t make it too dark though. And you’ll have to set it off with the most hideous 80’s patterned carpet you can find for true authenticity. Plus, it hides vomit and chewing gun so less work for you!

It’s a dream of mine to set up an arcade one day. I’d try and keep it really low cost by having mostly old games (in generic Japanese candy cabinets). I really hate the way most modern arcades have no variety. It’s lightgun games, racing cabinets and maybe a dancing game and a sports game. There’s nothing that’s really replayable that’s going to make you a regular, especially when the prices are so high.

Shaggy May 11, 2008 at 4:40 pm

Yeah I don’t want it too dark but obviously it will be a challenge with everything being black. Then again when I get the murals up and the machines themselves are running I hope that it will work out perfectly. If I have to, I’ll install some well-placed track lighting. Either way it can’t be too bright (which gives you screen glare) and it can’t be too dark (scares off some people). I might do some neon lighting as well.

I agree about the variety or lack there of in arcades these days. I do hope to offer a good variety of games but to make some money you do have to offer a few of the generic games. But with the stuff I currently have I’m not too worried – The Act is great, Tetris will be there to represent some puzzle games (although I’d like a couple more) and I’ll have a couple of scrolling fighters and shmups.

Molloy May 11, 2008 at 5:57 pm

Well there should always be something in there that the girls can play. Cute puzzlers or platformers usually do the trick. Three games I noticed girls playing all the time when I was a kid were Bubble Bobble, Wonderboy and Bomb Jack. More recently it’s probably Puzzle Bobble, but I’ve never been a huge fan of that.

Your lineup looks good Shaggy. I wouldn’t be too worried. The main thing is you have a certain amount of JAMMA cabinets so you can swap things in and out every few months so the place doesn’t get stale. When I was a kid there would be a new game every month or two, so you had a reason to come back. Now the couple of arcades in my country often don’t change up their selection for years at a time, they don’t maintain the machines and just get rid of them once they break.

Molloy May 11, 2008 at 6:01 pm

It’s funny. There was a Scud Race cabinet in my local pub for a couple of years. Then I found the game in another pub a year later. Then I found it in the airport. Then at a seaside arcade. It’s amazing the mileage these same machines make. I know it was the same cabinet because the right driver steering wheel pulled very strongly to one side, making that position completely unplayable. The left position didn’t have working brakes.. which wasn’t such a big issue because you can brake with the gears. It’s just hiliarious that this was going all over the place for 7 or 8 years and nobody fixed any of the problems with it.

Matt O May 11, 2008 at 7:18 pm

Wow,
Someone posted a link to this in a chatroom I frequent and I was surprised to see that it’s close to where I live! Cool! I was just over in that vicinity yesterday (at costco hehe). I’ll have to come check it out sometime.

Faded May 12, 2008 at 1:50 am

What redemption games are you putting in?

You haven’t mentioned any, and I think that is a huge mistake.

Shaggy May 12, 2008 at 6:49 pm

If I can afford any sort of redemption game, I will only feature self-redemption stuff – which I understand completely is something that is not looked upon with high regards by operators as redemption is a big money maker as are parties -but with as little money as I have, I’d only be able to afford maybe two or three redemption games and one or two arcade games.

My strategy will be to target gamers of all aspects with the console museum, pinball and the networked PCs to help make up the difference. As I stated, I don’t have anything against self-redemption and if I can afford it I’ll probably get a Stacker or Movie Stop but I’m not planning on any major ticket redemption operation. It’s a gamble but I’m willing to take the risk with the strong base of gamers in the area, also making up for it with regular competitions.

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