48 replies to this topic

[ady]

A friend of mine keeps on asking when this arcade is going to open...... he's very excited... And i have to admit i am a little..... LOL

I love the old techs.... i've got my pound coins ready..... Bagsy moneytalks first please..

One of the most enjoyable Emu's have made....

Fruit-Emu (Fruit Machine Emulation) - Download: - Money Talks 1280DX

Have to agree on how good the real machine is Andy.

[mart1711]

Im a short way from gravesend and if anyone is going to come there and read roms they are more than welcome to read my bully for you roms and we can get that on the emulator too!!! If you are looking for a local electrician/builder for your new shop TI drop me a pm lol!!

[treasure island]

Thanks for all your support and responses!

I will answer the questions as they pop into my head, so in no particular order...

I do not have a rom reader, to be honest im not really that 'computer literate'. Give me a M1 maygay in a bag and i will put it together but a simple rom reader i have NEVER looked far into!! I must be the ONLY operator that doesnt have one, but i only see the use if your putting new programs in everything as the bulletin board updates. Most of my machines are distant memories so never seen the need, although if someone was to guide me how to obtain one and how to use it i would gladly upload the roms required as i know many live further away.

the answer to will there be just SOME classics is NO...ALL MACHINES WILL BE CLASSIC. 1998 is the latest, but most are 90-96, quite a few 80s machines and a couple of really old ones like 'chance a nudge' and 'sweet addaline' (80p Jackpot) (thanks to mike hilton).

I will even be supplying the 'old fashioned' drinks such as dandelion and burdock!

Every machine will be 78/80/84/86 depending on what it was PROGRAMMED for...none of this 70% lets kill the industry rubbish.

As for the question from Cliff, yes my arcade on the isle of wight did 'vanish', i had a break in my lease, i wanted to get out of the AGC sector and concentrate on what i enjoy...hence the CLASSIC ONLY amusement arcade. All the old ones in there have come with me, i sold all the modern stuff, all that will be different is the quantity, much much more!

Its been hard work, i have a lot to do, i want to really help support this site, i have met some good guys on here. Maybe one day someone will come up with a Maygay James Bond or a Whats On (two of my most sought after).

In the meantime, my apologies if i have not covered all the questions.

The opening hours will be all year round. Mon-Fri 10 am - 5pm, 9am -6pm Saturdays. Closed on all Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The old girls (machines) need a rest!

[Andy2003]

You haven't got any cans of TOP DECK have ya??? does anyone remember those drinks?

[FRUITJUNKIE1971]

Wow! A proper retro arcade! I really hope that this arcade is a success, I will pop over when it opens, should only be a 45 min journey for me, as i'm on the isle of Sheppey. I hope you have a Sunday Sport machine, i loved that!

[£6 In Tokens]

TI, still waiting for the pics of The Guvnor, have you still got the machine mate?

[spa]

Oh come on its a great excuse to go and play some decent games, not a Beardy DOND in sight.

Anyone up for going to the opening?

Pick me up on the way

[Guitar]

Pick me up on the way

Where do you live?

[Guitar]

Also Money Talks is under the MPU4 section, its definately Impact tech.

[>_>]

Where is the arcade then? the only ones I know of in gravesend are cointron, nobles and olympia..

[treasure island]

its not open yet...im hoping within the next 4 weeks!

Yes i still have The Guvnor, pm with details and on Monday i will take some good snaps of it.

Sorry to shifty....will pm u in mo.

Money Talks is impact, i know cos i have one.

I will if ok with the owners of this site upload pics of the arcade as i go...

[ady]

Also Money Talks is under the MPU4 section, its definately Impact tech.

Cheers for spotting that, a funny 5 minutes when I uploaded I think.....

[stuart4000]

This sounds great, however being a few hundred miles off procludes me from popping by in the near future.

A couple of concerns though: from a business perspective, how many arcades are there local to you? When new customers, those who don't fully appreciate what you're trying to achieve, see that the machines are £2/£4£4.80/£6 Jackpot, they may question where the new £35/£70 machines are and leave in 5 minutes. Will you be relying on people who give a toss i.e. people from this board and it's clones (pun intended) visitng?

In terms of licence, are there any machines which require one, given that they'll be low jackpots?

In terms of Insurance, is your premium higher/lower/roughly the same as other arcades? I'm thinking more in terms of replacement here - as you've said a fair few of your machines are, dare I say it, of the rare variety, and arcades can/do attract the occasion ruffian.

I geniuinely hope it goes well for you - tell me to stick my nose elsewhere if i've been intrusive, i'm just curious.

[Bencrest]

In terms of licence, are there any machines which require one, given that they'll be low jackpots?

I geniuinely hope it goes well for you - tell me to stick my nose elsewhere if i've been intrusive, i'm just curious.

Interesting point... I'm probably totally wrong but isn't Category D (for monetary prizes) now maximum 10p play maximum £5 jackpot?

If so, any old machines on say £6 ROMs - would they require / be covered by a Category C license? Will any £6 machines have to be kept in an over 18s area - in which case, would the arcade need an FEC / AGC license, or just the FEC?

Will all the machines have to be 'stickered' up to the current standards? (Gamcare stickers, Category stickers, e.t.c.)

[>_>]

I'm gonna go and have a look around the town center at gravesend and see if i can find it..

[Geddy]

Don't forget FAIRPLAY stickers Bencrest, handy over the coin slot to stop punters playing them and being CHEATED!!!!!!!

[treasure island]

Some valid points made...

Catergory D can now be upto 30p play £8 tokens so long as the stake is also non monetary (therefore 20p play £6 tokens) is Cat D.

Cranes as you well know are £1 play £50 (non monetary) prize, of which no more than £8 cash can be offered.

As for licence, they are ALL exempt from licencing.

As for viability, that is something that cannot truly be judged until tried. I do not know of a CLASSIC ONLY arcade that has opened in this volume, nor one that is INLAND. I guess you may call this a experiment, or perhaps the fact that i believe that there is a place for our history of games being available to play. I believe this is the reason why this site has been so successful.

I see your point also with regards to the jackpot level and to why someone should be interested in such low jackpots, when the £25/£35 and £70 jackpots are on offer. My answer to this is simply that we are in a VERY dark economic age and PERSONALLY i see this remaining for some time. For your average 'punter' the AMUSEMENT from the machine is no longer there, just the 'carrot' of a bigger prize. The games these days are badly programmed and dire to play. The older programs were longer and had the element of suprise in them. They were far less controlled and concentrated on the gameplay and worried about the maths later. With some operators running their machines at low percentages i believe if people were to try the older games they will see how FUN they actually are, whilst benefiting from the 1968 Gaming Act software guidlines, and enjoying the 'enriched periods of play' they of course didnt put in back in the day!!

Whether it will make money or not is a doubt, frankly i will be running everything on high percentages so i will need a fair turnover, but as this will be like a 'working museum' i do think people will come for the games they used to love and enjoy the cheats they used and feel the edge go back to the customers favour rather than....£20 for a board, 16 nudges, £1.60 win available...good old bell fruit.
When on the island i had a great following, i miss many of the older customers i had come over 2/3 times a year and many i still speak to. People will come, i know i would...just a shame for me that house rules will be NO MEMBER OF STAFF TO PLAY ANY MACHINE AT ANYTIME...so please emulate guys!
I will of course be implementing my £5 free plays (£5 for £5) for the arcade, and some of my popular promotions.

We will see, only time will tell. Im excited to see them all together, but also aware that it will all take time.

I speak openly and honestly so anymore questions then feel free to ask!

Dave

PS Subelectro Rainbow Gambler will hopefully be saved by Tris (TTX), i want to just say how GRATEFUL i am and how much i really appreciate your support...TOP MAN!

[Bencrest]

Some valid points made...

Catergory D can now be upto 30p play £8 tokens so long as the stake is also non monetary (therefore 20p play £6 tokens) is Cat D.

Cool, cheers for that

As for viability, that is something that cannot truly be judged until tried. I do not know of a CLASSIC ONLY arcade that has opened in this volume, nor one that is INLAND. I guess you may call this a experiment, or perhaps the fact that i believe that there is a place for our history of games being available to play. I believe this is the reason why this site has been so successful.

PJ's in Mabelthorpe apparently is (or at least was!) such an arcade, or so I believe - the day I turned up it was shut so I can't say for sure.

As for this particular site being successful in terms of older machines? There is definitely a large contingent of 'younger' players who simply want to play recent (MPU4/MPU5, Scorpion 4, Impact) based machines. Can't fault them really, as that's all that most arcades have had in for the past few years.

MPU Mecca is a whole different kettle of fish, definitely a hardcore bunch of 'old-school' machine enthusiasts there, it's great to see the projects and whatnot they get up to

I see your point also with regards to the jackpot level and to why someone should be interested in such low jackpots, when the £25/£35 and £70 jackpots are on offer. My answer to this is simply that we are in a VERY dark economic age and PERSONALLY i see this remaining for some time. For your average 'punter' the AMUSEMENT from the machine is no longer there, just the 'carrot' of a bigger prize. The games these days are badly programmed and dire to play. The older programs were longer and had the element of suprise in them. They were far less controlled and concentrated on the gameplay and worried about the maths later. With some operators running their machines at low percentages i believe if people were to try the older games they will see how FUN they actually are, whilst benefiting from the 1968 Gaming Act software guidlines, and enjoying the 'enriched periods of play' they of course didnt put in back in the day!!

Whether it will make money or not is a doubt, frankly i will be running everything on high percentages so i will need a fair turnover, but as this will be like a 'working museum' i do think people will come for the games they used to love and enjoy the cheats they used and feel the edge go back to the customers favour rather than....£20 for a board, 16 nudges, £1.60 win available...good old bell fruit.
When on the island i had a great following, i miss many of the older customers i had come over 2/3 times a year and many i still speak to. People will come, i know i would...just a shame for me that house rules will be NO MEMBER OF STAFF TO PLAY ANY MACHINE AT ANYTIME...so please emulate guys!
I will of course be implementing my £5 free plays (£5 for £5) for the arcade, and some of my popular promotions.

We will see, only time will tell. Im excited to see them all together, but also aware that it will all take time.

I speak openly and honestly so anymore questions then feel free to ask!

Dave

PS Subelectro Rainbow Gambler will hopefully be saved by Tris (TTX), i want to just say how GRATEFUL i am and how much i really appreciate your support...TOP MAN!

I think your theory about gambling and the recession is a moot point, because to be honest, fewer and fewer people seem to be gambling for genuine entertainment. Hate to say it but gambling (particularly higher stake gambling) thrives in a recession, punters with less money will be drawn into gambling with higher returns.

I really hope business goes well for you, but I can't help but feel that the recession will mean :

1) The current 'hard-core' of players - who mainly play for financial gain, won't be interested - there isn't enough of a reward on offer.

2) Many younger players won't be interested (you'll find the odd one, I love older stuff of anything really, love finding out how things have progressed and what technology was available before I was born (or when I was too young to gamble )

That really leaves you with enthusiasts, people looking for nostalgia, more of a 'museum' than an arcade I guess. Then again, I've just re-read your post and that seems to be your plan anyway, so that's good.

That's not an attack or anything - as I've said above I think it's great you are doing this, and I really hope you do succeed, but it's going to be a complete ballache trying to tempt 'modern gamblers'.

I would like to pop in at some point, but don't have any plans to head down to Kent at the minute - might nip back later in the year back to the area I lived in 'til I was about 7 (Sandwich), probably taking in Deal, Broadstairs, Margate, Ramsgate e.t.c. - if I do that I'll make a point of popping in.

[superbank]

As for viability, that is something that cannot truly be judged until tried. I do not know of a CLASSIC ONLY arcade that has opened in this volume, nor one that is INLAND. I guess you may call this a experiment, or perhaps the fact that i believe that there is a place for our history of games being available to play. I believe this is the reason why this site has been so successful.

I know there used to be an arcade in Perston, Red Rose Leisure, that used to have a afew old classics avaialble to play, MPU3 machines and the like. Not sure whether they still do though. There is also one in Scotland (Edinburgh I think) that has Eachway Shuffle, Lucky 2's, Super Nudge Gambler etc that has been mentioned. Take a look over at The Mecca for more info on this Dave.

[spa]

Where do you live?

Norfolk, quite close to you. Near Sunny Hunstanton