My amazing idea

[oakraiderz2]

So a while ago i was came up with an idea about opening a restaurant where you could play video games. There would be consoles and tvs at the tables. The type of food would be appitizers, burgers, steaks, mostly finger foods. So what do you all think? Would you all be down to get your video game on while chowing down?

 

[Create Reality]

Well, if you are thinking you have INVENTED this concept, sorry to burst your bubble but it's already been done. But opening up a resturant like this eh? Think of how greasy the game controllers would be after eating all those finger foods

:nervous: *puke emoticon*

 

[oakraiderz2]

Originally posted by Create Reality
Well, if you are thinking you have INVENTED this concept, sorry to burst your bubble but it's already been done. But opening up a resturant like this eh? Think of how greasy the game controllers would be after eating all those finger foods

:nervous: *puke emoticon*

Servers...wet naps...napkins on table so people dont get the controller really nasty. When i eat and play xbox i always wipe my hand cause it interfers with my game play. Im sure others feel the same way. I DONT think i invented this, way to stay positive.

 

[Create Reality]

Way to stay positive huh? It's not because I'm being negative and sh!teing on your idea, but there's alot of technical details to running a business that need to be thought over. Especially when you got a gimmick that costs $400 dollars to replace if someone breaks it.

 

[oakraiderz2]

I know dude. Its ONLY an idea...THATS ALL. I only asked if you would go to a place like that.

 

[TheRelic]

I wouldn't touch it personally.

But, I can imagine that with some good marketing and networking with youth/church and related groups, and optional seperation of the restaurant/gaming lounge combination, it could go down really well.

As long as the food is decent, and the nice/comfortable fit out is kept *very* well maintained.

Because you're effectively pitching to the messiest demographic, and exploiting their messiest habit.

 

[flyinshark]

I had a similar idea. I was thinking about starting out by opening a small arcade place, with videogames, air hockey, and maybe pool.

Any of you guys has any idea how much it would cost to buy the video games, pool tables, renting the place, etc ??

 

[The Juan and only]

I've got another idea..you could have something called a sexstaurant - it's basically a brothel but it also serves good food.

 

[TheRelic]

Originally posted by flyinshark
I had a similar idea. I was thinking about starting out by opening a small arcade place, with videogames, air hockey, and maybe pool.

Any of you guys has any idea how much it would cost to buy the video games, pool tables, renting the place, etc ??

...That's called research ma man

I wouldn't reccomend buying new, i'm sure there's plenty of places/offices etc that have clearouts on their used wares. Not to mention the trading post (or equivalent second hand network).

As far as I know there are dealers that specialize in arcade sales both new and old, retro, etc.

I've only seen prices on the older arcade games (street fighter etc) which go into the early thousands per unit...

Or better yet - purchase second hand consoles, and build your own casing

 

[diplomatic_lies]

Arcades have gone downhill steadily since the advancement of home computer/console technology.

Not being negative. Just realistic.

 

[penkitten]

Originally posted by flyinshark
I had a similar idea. I was thinking about starting out by opening a small arcade place, with videogames, air hockey, and maybe pool.

Any of you guys has any idea how much it would cost to buy the video games, pool tables, renting the place, etc ??

we had 2 similar places in town that.

one is only open in the summer, there is no alcohol, lots of junk food and games and pool tournaments. (spelling?)
it does ok in summer but caves in the fall.

the other had games and computers in one section, food in another, a store for cds and shirts of local bands and then the area where the bands played .
it was hot and it stayed packed.
it served beer to anyone over 21 and there was a seperate smoking area inside. the chinese owner jennifer racked in the dough and it was open for a few years. when she paid off her house she closed it down and that was that, she made her profit.
everyone keeps trying to open another all age place and just dont seem to stick anyone around here.

 

[Morphiex]

a resturant with console games ?
well it depends , cuz most young people have consoles at home , so why would they travel to a place where they had to pay to play games... adn most games are long time games , where u save and resume playing... so who would want to play games that u have to restart over and over again... yeah u could give out memory cards to all members , but that would just cost u more money... then the only games u can really work on are fighting games , but who wants to eat while rapidly pushing buttons while playing tekken or sumthing with your mates... just sounds like a waste of money....

 

[American_Psycho]

I could see something like that be success if it was implemented right...People would definitely go to a restaurant just to play Xbox 360 considering how rare and expensive they are right now.

 

[ethnomethodologist]

Originally posted by oakraiderz2
Servers...wet naps...napkins on table so people dont get the controller really nasty. When i eat and play xbox i always wipe my hand cause it interfers with my game play. Im sure others feel the same way. I DONT think i invented this, way to stay positive.

Why not get touch screen tables? Than you could really play with your food

You've also got to think about your customer base. So check what Diplomatic lies said... Not trying to be a downer, but there are times to conduct feasability studies.

So far it looks like a unanimous no...

Check google for your idea, try different word combinations... see if you can find business data on that type of business, and possibily reasons why it has failed.

Always remember the threee necessity of life and their place in the market. Everybody needs food, shelter, and clothes, everything else is optional. So there are people competing, and making huge gains in this industry already, for thousands of years, so you have got to do A LOT of research to make large gains.

They are the easiest jobs to train for, so with a huge competition system pricing and your customer niche are your two greatest weapons. You've got the niche, but your pricing, and the general environment that people want when they eat is going to be strange, I don't even want to extrapolate that idea.

Penkitten is talking about you opening a cafe type environment, instead of your ****ameemy ideap ****ameme, **** thoughts, just somthing to masturbate over, nice). She even tells you how the business won't work throughtout the year.

Morphiex is saying what diplomatic_lies said with more words and some food for thought. Good idea, 10 years ago, but the choice of games has increased exponentially and not everybody wants qucik excitement while eating dinner.

I'd recommend opening a family diner, half with an elegant environemt for parents, and the other half kid safe with your video games... when I was in my teens I would have killed to ditch my parents who didn't want me around to play video games while eating dinner...

Also as a word of note, when two elements of a business do not work, you must find a new solution, many great inventions were discovered for just that purpose...

 

[Egoist]

what about dave and busters, gameworks, etc?

granted, you can't eat your burger and play DDR at the same time, but would you want to?

 

[flyinshark]

Hmm ... How about a LAN/Internet Gaming Place? I know i could do research, and i think i will, but asking you guys is faster and more entertaining.

So yeah, instead of an arcades place, maybe a place packed with high-end computers connected through LAN and to the Internet, where game maniacs can come and play all day/night. They can play against each other or over the Internet. Maybe i could organize gaming competitions with prizes, to attract people.

I know such places exist, but i dunno if there is a high demand for them or not. Anyone knows?

 

[WORKEROUTER]

Originally posted by Egoist
what about dave and busters, gameworks, etc?

granted, you can't eat your burger and play DDR at the same time, but would you want to?

wow, that would be really disgusting.

 

[WORKEROUTER]

Originally posted by oakraiderz2
So a while ago i was came up with an idea about opening a restaurant where you could play video games. There would be consoles and tvs at the tables. The type of food would be appitizers, burgers, steaks, mostly finger foods. So what do you all think? Would you all be down to get your video game on while chowing down?

I don't want to be negative, but this just doesn't seem to be that great of an idea.

I mean, comeon, think of it realistically.

Gaming and eating? Just the thought of those greasy controllers with ketchup stains all over them is enough to drive away most people.

But let's step back.

The thing is that your place needs to be attractive to a WIDE audience. Honestly, how man people out of the whole are going to be so jazzed up about sitting and playing halo while eating a burger? I know most women are out of the picture already! Most mature guys are also out of the picture. So what do you got left?

Single guys who are really into gaming (I mean, you gotta be if you're go out of your way like this, right?). But most of these dudes are pretty damn poor and lazy.

They'd probably be better off buying a couple hamburgers at McD's for a buck than spending much more at your joint.

Another thing to think about is this...Are you going to have these guys sitting at the table for just the time it takes to eat their hamburgers? That would mean they'd only be playing for like 10 minutes! Enough to get past the first level...

And if you did let them sit endlessly, then it would end up more like a pure gaming joint rather than a restaurant.

Here's a better idea for you though:

Focus on more a gaming place ANYWAY, that also maybe does a little bit of catering in terms of food. I'm not a gamer myself (at all), but how bout a place that holds events and stuff, and gaming competitions? I think there's more potential with something like that.

Just my 2 cents on it though.

 

[WORKEROUTER]

Originally posted by flyinshark
Hmm ... How about a LAN/Internet Gaming Place? I know i could do research, and i think i will, but asking you guys is faster and more entertaining.

So yeah, instead of an arcades place, maybe a place packed with high-end computers connected through LAN and to the Internet, where game maniacs can come and play all day/night. They can play against each other or over the Internet. Maybe i could organize gaming competitions with prizes, to attract people.

I know such places exist, but i dunno if there is a high demand for them or not. Anyone knows?

Though about this a long time ago when a gamer nerd friend of mine had these "LAN" parties where everyone brings over a computer and they play videogames all night.

 

[Wyldfire]

If I had the money to open up a business it would be a Cinema Tavern...a bunch of theatres with swivel, comfy chairs around small tables with a snack bar in the rear of each theatre that serves sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, soft pretzels, nachos, popcorn, soda, smoothies and beer. Then you wouldn't miss any of the movie going to the snack bar to get drinks and munchies...and it would actually be comfortable to watch the movie.

Yep...that's the business I would start. I saw a similar place in a town I used to live in and it was awesome.