What it's like running an arcade in 2015 in the U.S

[BigusSchmuck]

A good read:
http://www.polygon.com/features/2015/9/7/9251753/running-an-arcade-2015

[GreatBlueSwirlof99]

Nice read, pity that we don't have arcades here in europe(at least where I live )

[Punch]

Too bad those 'arcades' are more like gimmicks/decoration for these bars, I don't think that many people care about playing Terminator 2 or Bubble Bobble. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong though.

[MrBroadway]

removed

[xelement5x]

Neat read, it's interesting to read about how it is getting harder and harder for them to find units at reasonable prices as well.  Upkeep alone for places like that must be crazy.

[BigusSchmuck]

Makes you wonder if it would be more cost effective to just use superguns and build around those instead...

[ClodBuster]

Nice read, pity that we don't have arcades here in europe(at least where I live )

Let me guess... You're from Germany?

If I'm wrong, feel free to poke fun at me as much as you wish.

[TR0N]

I've heard of barcades but there are none around here.It has to be a pricey venture though with the upkeep and all.

[wildfruit]

This is about as close as I can get to an arcade these days
If you can call 2 cabs and three pinballs an arcade
https://www.brewdog.com/lowdown/blog/introducing-two-bit
It's near my work but it's full of hipsters drinking IPA cos it's trendy.
If you're lucky a trip to the seaside can be fruitful for a few Sega or Namco cabs but few and far between.
I miss going to my local department store that had a massive arcade on the top floor and spending all my pocket money whilst my mum went shopping.

[pulstar]

I've been to the Heart of Gaming a couple of times in London. Pretty good, it's mainly Versus City cabs playing Street Fighter (Super 2X, Alpha 2 and Third Strike mainly) , some other Capcom fighters and some Neo Geo fighters. There are some shooters there that get rotated with other games quite regularly. I haven't been up in a year though...http://www.thehoguk.com/gallery/

I think most arcades have to have a secondary income, such as bars/restaurants etc., just because arcades are not profitable anymore, not on their own, as unfortunate as that is.

[wildfruit]

I've been to the Heart of Gaming a couple of times in London. Pretty good, it's mainly Versus City cabs playing Street Fighter (Super 2X, Alpha 2 and Third Strike mainly) , some other Capcom fighters and some Neo Geo fighters. There are some shooters there that get rotated with other games quite regularly. I haven't been up in a year though...http://www.thehoguk.com/gallery/

I think most arcades have to have a secondary income, such as bars/restaurants etc., just because arcades are not profitable anymore, not on their own, as unfortunate as that is.

Yea I've seen this before. Looks decent and only £20 for a month pass is bargainous. I just cant be bothered trekking west across the city for this. I'm about 25 miles out from central and it just took me 1 3/4 hrs to drive that. If I lived near an underground station I probably would dive in.

[pulstar]

Yeah, it is a bit of a trek even on the tube...driving would be far worse and take ages if you're on the other side of the city. As well as the arcades there they also have consoles in the back room, they sell games on the front desk and even have tournaments and all sorts of events.

[bartre]

http://www.thebeercade.com/

^^my current employer.
I specifically got hired to fix up machines, I'll see if i can post some pics of my backlog