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Author Topic: Video Games In Lobby Gary Davidson Expert Film Handler Posts: 101 From: Santa Monica, CA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-05-2004 12:18 AM                     What is the consensus on video games in theaters? Considering the real estate they take up in the lobby, are they profitable? And what about the violence quotient, do patrons ever complain?  |  IP: Logged Ken Layton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1452 From: Olympia, Wash. USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 02-05-2004 01:23 AM                     In some locations they are very profitable.  |  IP: Logged Richard Cieplechowicz Film Handler Posts: 16 From: San Antonio, TX Registered: May 2002 posted 02-05-2004 02:09 AM                     Our arcade does well; however the real money maker seems to be our new Dance Dance Revolution game. I am having to do crowd control on it. My staff is also crazy about it and I am making the money spent on payroll back as they play.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 02-05-2004 02:31 AM                     Most of our locations have dedicated game rooms rather than games hogging the lobby. Our games are handled by a former company employee who went from theatre co-ownership to running an amusements company. The games can, as others have mantioned above be very profitable: I would rather have a lobby full of games for extra income than run rolling stock or have slide projector ads... There have been only two complaints I can remember regarding games in one of our locations: The first was lodged in a letter to the editor to one of the local 'progressive' rags that they like to dump off at each location- The game that was complained about was 'Carn Evil', a twin-gun shoot-em-up where you shoot up zombies and other monsters- The complainant described: 'I saw children as young as maybe 8 or 10 shooting at 'human beings' [the zombies- to my recollection you cannot shoot any of the 'human' characters in this game] with an automatic weapon, I believe it was an Uzi [it is a pump shotgun] and as the body count racked up the child had a glazed look in his eyes as he continued on his rampage...' He went on about how all video games with guns should be outlawed and such... Granted this was shortly after Columbine, but still this guy was way over the top (and incorrect on many points in his description of the game). The other was for the 'South Park' pinball machine: It was installed in the same week that 'South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut' opened, and the game was set with the 'adult' language option. The game was there (played by adults kids and ven entire families!) for almost three weeks before someone finally complained, the language option was set to the G-rated version and the volume turned down. -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Gary Davidson Expert Film Handler Posts: 101 From: Santa Monica, CA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-05-2004 10:03 AM                     Thanks for that, guys. One other question: How do the video game companies charge for their machines? Do theaters pay a percentage on what they make? How much does a typical video game make for a theater?  |  IP: Logged Dino Panagiotopoulos Expert Film Handler Posts: 139 From: Windor, Ontario, Canada Registered: Jan 2003 posted 02-05-2004 10:45 AM                     Richard, We've had the Dance Dance game since the day we opened 3 years ago and it has been the hottest game ever since. We get kids that will spend hours on it and I believe there was even a tournament hosted there (there is a DDR League in Windsor). Another game that will bring in large revenue (if you can put up with the noise) is Air Hockey because it doesnt require much skill at all and is fun. If you have a large ethnic community (Greeks, Italians and such) a wise investment would be a foosball table. Here in Windsor Foosball is the most popular game to play and also brings in a very large revenue to the theater. Gary, in most places like here, the video game companies charge a 50/50 percentage of all video game revenue. Not bad considering you really dont have to do much to run them. They come in every so often and empty everything out, fix anything, and give you your cut and they are out. I wouldnt assume everyone as like this as some might charge differently. I would go and talk to as many amusement companies and see if you can try to bargain a little.  |  IP: Logged Gary Davidson Expert Film Handler Posts: 101 From: Santa Monica, CA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-05-2004 10:52 AM                     Dino, I'll take your advice and check out a few amusement companies. How much can you make a month on a machine, a couple of hundred bucks? Less than that?  |  IP: Logged Chris Markiewicz Expert Film Handler Posts: 209 From: Glenaviegh, County Tipperary, Ireland Registered: Aug 2002 posted 02-05-2004 11:20 AM                     Video games can make a ton of money. If you have the space, I think the lobby is a better location than an isolated game room with no security camera At least in the lobby staff can keep an eye on the games so they don't get trashed as quickly...  |  IP: Logged Gary Davidson Expert Film Handler Posts: 101 From: Santa Monica, CA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-05-2004 11:47 AM                     Chris, what dou you mean by a "ton of money?" We talkin' six figures here?  |  IP: Logged Dino Panagiotopoulos Expert Film Handler Posts: 139 From: Windor, Ontario, Canada Registered: Jan 2003 posted 02-05-2004 12:01 PM                     We are in a mall so we get tons of kids that are just hanging out that want to come in and drop some coin. As far as revenue goes, I just work in the booth so I wouldnt know any amount that comes in. Ive been there when they do come for a pick up and I see the amount of traffic the games get so I could imagine a few thousand dollars a month but this is just my location.  |  IP: Logged Gary Davidson Expert Film Handler Posts: 101 From: Santa Monica, CA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-05-2004 12:16 PM                     Mmmm... interesting. Thanks, Dino.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 02-05-2004 12:51 PM                     Gary: The take per machine will of course vary depending on the age and size (a sit-down version of a driving game vs. the 'upright' version of the same game) of the machine and the clientele of the location is a factor as well, you aren't gonna see much profit from video games if they are in an arthouse (matter of fact many arthouse patrons hate having them in any location) compared to having them in a first run plex... -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Travis Hubrig Expert Film Handler Posts: 175 From: Minot ND, USA Registered: May 2003 posted 02-05-2004 01:17 PM                     At our Seven plex, about $300. month average... we have better months than others. We are also located in a mall. Our 3 machines are in the lobby. We recently got a picture machine... piece of crap. More trouble than the standard video games.  |  IP: Logged Mark Hajducki Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Edinburgh, UK Registered: May 2003 posted 02-05-2004 01:36 PM                     Whilst they make money they can also be trouble since non-patrons turn up to use them and it is harder to control who is in the foyer. In addition you get lots of people claiming that the machines 'swallowed' their money and wanting a 'refund'.  |  IP: Logged Gary Davidson Expert Film Handler Posts: 101 From: Santa Monica, CA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-05-2004 02:08 PM                     How much do video machines typically charge the customer per game. Is it fifty cents?  |  IP: Logged

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