How much would it cost to buy machines for a video arcade?

I went onto Amazon tonight to look for a few accessories for an N64 that I recently acquired. (Yes, Amazon often has things of that nature.) Somehow, I started going through all the items I found on the site and saved to my bookmarks over the years. I started going through the folder full of arcade machines of varying types, everything from classic video games like Galaga to air hockey to skeeball.

I saved them all over the years because I wanted to start a business that was part arcade and part family-friendly restaurant. Basically, a Chuck E. Cheese that didn't have an animatronic puppet show or a pothead teenager wearing a giant anthropomorphic rat costume that will frighten small children. There are a few restaurants like this already and they are growing as a successful business model. However, they are all sports bars that just so happen to have a lot of new and used arcade games intended to attract people looking to relive their youth. That's not what I had in mind. I would want my place to be family friendly because kids pump more quarters into the game machines.

I sure hope that idea proves true because buying these machines is not going to be cheap. Here's the prices I found for various games I've found (and sometimes have actually played in an arcade, movie theater, et al.) over the years. Please note that this list is a mix of classic games sure to illicit feelings of nostalgia and modern games that are just lots of fun. (Or seemed to be fun from the product description.)

* = Video game machine I have actually played in real life somewhere...

Skee-Ball 2010 Alley (10ft. model) - $5,286.99

American Heritage Monarch Air-Hockey Table - $999.95

Arcade Legends 3 Upright Multi-Game Video Arcade Game Machine - $2,995.00

Ms. Pac-Man / Galaga Class of 1981 Arcade Gaming Cabinet* - $3,040.86 (This one would be a must-have.)

Namco Dead Heat Arcade Racing Game* - $8,497.99

SEGA Grid Racing Game - $10,355.99

NAMCO Tank! Tank! Tank! Motion Cabinet Battle Arcade Game - $22,215.99 (The home version on the Nintendo WiiU is lots of fun to play with friends, not to mention MUCH cheaper!!!)

Terminator Salvation 42in Shooting Arcade Game* - $10,270.99

Twisted Nitro 42in Mini-Motion Cabinet Stunt Racing Arcade Game - $14,489.99

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII Sit-Down Arcade Game - $11,025.99

Aliens Extermination Deluxe Arcade Game - $10,305.99

H2Overdrive 42in Deluxe Racing Arcade Game - $9,052.99

NASCAR Arcade Racing Game (Deluxe) - $11,450.99

Adding up the cost just for the machines listed here comes up to a whopping $105,499.72. Holy cow! How do those glorified sports bars with arcade games manage to get a business loan?! It's beginning to look like I'd need to be a millionaire just to get the business off the ground!

There are cheaper versions of some of these games. However, those cheaper versions either have smaller screens or they are stand-up machines instead of a cockpit design, which would reduce the fun factor. Trying to cut cost on the actual machines may not lead to greater profits in the future. Also, please note that I'm not done with my research. There are several types of redemption games that offer tickets and prizes that I want to have as well. (Claw machines, Stacker, et al.) What would an arcade be without them? They generate so much revenue. If I offer good prizes (like game consoles, points cards for console's online services, movie box sets on DVD/Blu-Ray, et al.), I might also make enough money from them to justify the time, trouble and expense. ;)

I've also noticed that most of these games are either a racing game or a shooter of some kind. That isn't a whole lot of variety but, it's also a sign of the times in arcade machines. Ever since the home consoles caught up (and largely surpassed) the arcades in visual/sound quality, most gamers have been staying home. The only genres that continue to succeed would be racing, shooters, fighting games and a few different types of puzzle/redemption games. The racing games in arcades do well because the home consoles can't give you the same experience; even with a driving wheel, gearshift and vibrating gamer's chair. The shooters survived because home systems always treated light gun games as an afterthought. That has started to change since the Wii and WiiU have made them MUCH easier to make/market without the need for additional accessories. I don't know if the trend will continue but, I won't get upset if it does. I like 'on-rails shooters' like the House of the Dead games.

I'm not about to give up on the idea but, it will require me to find a source of funding that actually believes in the business model. Good thing I'm actually a VERY good writer. Authoring a killer business plan shouldn't be difficult at all.

Irregardless of what actually happens, I will someday get something like that machine with the 130 vintage games in it, the Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga machine and the Air Hockey table. I know I can find places for all of them in my house and/or garage. After all, $7,035.81 is a small price to pay to have my own little personal arcade. :)

- Lord Publius