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Posted

This is cool and I think it could do really well.

Right now, there is an arcade in Hanover PA that 'gets it' and has hourly rates, special events and such.   They do well enough to recently announce a new location.   Meanwhile the arcade at Crab Towne USA in Glen Burnie has some great machines but doesn't promote the arcade much.   I also like a few spots on the Jersey Shore, particularly Jilly's arcade in Ocean City, NJ and the SilverBall museum in Asbury Park.     

There are a few reasons why I think this could succeed:

  • It represents a new social activity that is comfortable/known, not expensive and can be very interactive. 
  • It is age/gender/talent neutral.  (vs something like bowling which not everyone can do)
  • It has that 'retro' feel that is so hipster ;)
  • There are new machines - including new machines that play old games.   Most exciting, to me, are virtual pinball machines played full-scale, like this.   They play just like the real things yet don't have all the repair issues that complex pinball machines can have.

One word of caution to anyone considering such a business:  Don't call it a museum.  That makes people think they would be looking at the games and NOT playing them.   SilverBall survives because it is on the boardwalk and established itself. 

 

Posted

I went last week!

What to report. It's as simple as it sounds. Bunch of pinball machines (and two MAME cabinets) that take quarters; a working change machine; and a pizza counter. 

The pizza. It's fine. Good, even - M had a slice of cheese, I had a slice of pepperoni. There's a little char to the crust - my pep buckled nicely. I thought the salt content was juuust a little heavy for me, but not bad. The cheese was, as you'd guess, right on the safe side of the salt line. Beer and wine license pending.

I mean, when public school ends, the kids and I are riding our bikes here at least once a week for lunch. Just like the old days (except now completely different.)

  • Like 3
Posted
10 hours ago, rockcreek said:

I went last week!

What to report. It's as simple as it sounds. Bunch of pinball machines (and two MAME cabinets) that take quarters

How much is each game of pinball?

This is a place I'd visit just to play, if it wasn't crazy expensive.

*Nobody* can beat me in ping-pong; it takes a specialist to beat me in pinball, not that I'm cocky or anything.

Posted
16 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

How much is each game of pinball?

This is a place I'd visit just to play, if it wasn't crazy expensive.

*Nobody* can beat me in ping-pong; it takes a specialist to beat me in pinball, not that I'm cocky or anything.

I haven't been yet, but I believe I saw that games were all $0.50.

Posted
1 hour ago, DanielK said:

I haven't been yet, but I believe I saw that games were all $0.50.

They were 50 cents. 

Some of the other patrons and I agreed that he needs either a Black Night or a Stargate table.

Posted

Quick update: beer and wine license pending.

Tried the olive and mushroom yesterday. Good, needed to be just a little more piping hot. But maybe it was, and I was knee-deep trying to revive my long dormant skill at Phoenix.

Pro tip: for video games that require more than one button push, use the MAME cabinet that faces the counter - three of the buttons are clustered and easier to reach than on the other cabinet.

There ARE two older ("vintage") pinball machines that cost 25 cents. One is a Williams Argosy, and I forget the other, but they're both cool to play. The down angle is a lot flatter, so it's great for the kids.

  • Like 1
Posted

There ARE two older ("vintage") pinball machines that cost 25 cents. One is a Williams Argosy, and I forget the other, but they're both cool to play. The down angle is a lot flatter, so it's great for the kids.

"Argosy" (1977) was the last four-player machine ever made by Williams, and is not digital.

Does anyone know what the best machines are, and what kind of condition they're in?

Hopefully something that I've never played before - I want to learn a couple brand new machines from scratch. My dream is to encounter a high-quality machine in like-new condition that I've never played before.

If these are well-maintained machines (i.e., "like-new"), I would appreciate it if someone would post an occasional tally of machine high-scores so I know when I need to make a return visit. Don't be surprised if you see a guy playing for several days, for a couple of hours each day, in the near-future, then disappear, and reappear sporadically on an as-needed basis.

For now, a simple list of machines and general conditions of each would be much appreciated.

Posted
On 1/25/2017 at 2:27 PM, Al Dente said:

Is this joint kid (7 year-old) friendly? Would it already be packed at 4:30/5pm on Friday?

Yes to the first, my 7 year old loved it, I don't know to the second.

  • Like 1

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