Business idea

goatman596 · Trick Member Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Location: Tucson, AZ

Alright, I just had an idea for a way to make some money that would be pretty fun. I was thinking about how there is no place in town where a DDR machine is present in a high-traffic area. Also, there are a pair of DDR machines at the Student Union of the local college. I spoke to the owner of a game store right in the union, who said that he sells more copies of Dance Dance Revolution than anyone else in town. He attributes the unusually high sales of the home version to the presence of the arcade machine (and the skilled players who frequent it, and wow the other students.)

So, I had a crazy idea, after talking to this guy. What if I got a vendor space in one of the malls in town. I'd have to check if it was allowable before renting the space, but if it was, I would put a DDR machine in the middle of a high traffic area of the mall. I would then sell copies of the home versions (all of the PS, PS2, Xbox mixes, pads, and bundles) right behind the machine.

I personally think it would work. A lot of DDR players want to find a place to show off their skills/talents. Also, some people, particularly those who have never seen DDR before (standard mall traffic), leave tips. More incentive for good players to show up. These players would make those adventurous few in the audience want to play, and possibly to play at home. I would be right there with copies to sell to them. I also may influence some impulse buys from people who would have never even thought of playing the game before that moment.

I think I would lose money on my initial investment into the machine. Even with constant use, I probably wouldn't break even on the machine with the play costs within the first few months (when the mall would probably get sick of the mall traffic being ruined by the crowds). However, I think I would turn a nice profit on the home versions I sold, which would be the main thing for me.

Of course, this is all theoretical. The mall would probably have some serious issues with an arcade machine taking up a space in their already crammed spaces, even if it didn't take up the space of a standard vendor stall.

Otherwise, what do you guys think? I know a large part of it depends on other players wanting to show off for crowds. I know that I would be into that, and it isn't possible here yet, but how about everyone else?

[ES] GARYsurvivor · Trick Member Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Location: Lakewood, CO

That would be pretty cool, but I'm not sure if you will be able to sell many home versions. If anybody good was there, they would know that it is better to just go play at the machine than bothering with a home version. Still put the DDR machine there anyway. It makes God happy, even though he isn't real like Santa.

goatman596 · Trick Member Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Location: Tucson, AZ

Well, I don't plan on selling to the good players. I play a lot, and I know the arcade is what it is about. But I plan on selling to the casual player, and the non-players who haven't seen the game before, or didn't know that the home version was an option.

And you are right, it would be good DDR karma.

Spike · Administrator Joined: 17 Jan 2002 Location: Denver

[ES] GARYsurvivor · Trick Member Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Location: Lakewood, CO

Da-Risin-Smoke · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 9:43 pm Post subject:

Good idea, i wanted to do that in my town (might not have as much popularity where you live where our pop. is under 1000, but some good buildings are for sale).

Are you that rich though? I'd recommend at least 5k for the machine (i'd go 6,450 for extreme) and it costs a lot for space in the mall.

- Da-RiSiN-sMoKe
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