Revenue for a IIDX Machine In An Arcade

[469.JR07 Si]

i am trying to get one of my local arcades to buy IIDX most likely 5th or 6th style, then possibly upgrade. they would like to know how much a machine would generate in a given period of time. it will most likely be $.75 for 4 songs, or $.50 for 3. if anyone has any information on this it would be helpful. thank you.

[Bortlett]

It's impossible to answer this question without knowing more information. First of all, is there already an established group of people that play IIDX at home or in another arcade? What about DDR/bemani fans? Are there already other bemani machines in the arcade itself? How popular is the arcade itself

Of course, a lot of people will be turned off by it. IIDX is a niche arcade game, especially in the US, because of its steep learning and because it is much less known that DDR. A lot of people who just stop into the arcade every once in a while, like parents with their kids, won't enjoy it all that much.

The two prices (75/4 songs or 50/3 songs) both seem fair. But again, for anybody more qualfified than I to answer this question, they will probably need more info.

[The Game II]

I agree with Bortlett as far as potential players. I'll give you two examples.

The times I have been to Golfland in Sunnyvale, Calif., which has IIDX, there is always someone playing the machine, so there was bound to be a line, long or short. They have their dedicated players who will pump in credits.

Last summer, I took a trip to St. Charles, Mo., where they had IIDX Eighth Style. I was there for 6 hours two different days and basically had the machine to myself. Nobody else played it, except for the one or two passers-by that tried to be a mock disc jockey. The machine was taken out because it didn't make enough money.

Now, revenue really really depends on the playing area. In the area where I live, there are enough people to support a machine - I'd say there are more than 15 IIDX players that have or can get their hands on a IIDX home version. If you put a machine, say, in Pismo Beach, it'll die and won't make revenue (there are people that say if you buy it, they will come, regardless of locale. I don't totally agree with that).

As far as prices, I've seen prices range from 50 cents to $1, and never have I seen more than 3 songs offered.

If you're going for versions, try to get 8th or 10th.

If the arcade is curious about what type of playing base there will be , try to hold a IIDX competition with home versions and see how many local players attend.

--GCII

EDIT: Added locations.
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[0mni]

I Completely Agree with the game.. My arcade would lose it in seconds because NO one would play it, except the local bemani crew. It's a little too hard for the stupid casuals, which is the entire arcade.

Just as an example to how stupid our arcade is, we lost our Initial D Machine because it took a little effort to learn to play. Yet SF Rush is raking in the cash, it even gets more than our DDREX does. Ugh.

I hate People Here.
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[Andy the happy mod-man]

What I don't get is why Konami didn't add Beginner mode in the arcade versions, like they did with 5th and 6th (and probably 7th) CS versions.

It would be a GREAT business move, as it would gain a much wider audience thanks to the slight improvement in the learning curve. Truthfully, I really don't see why Konami left it out.

I mean, it's one of the reasons Pop'n Music rose to popularity over IIDX in Japan. It got very hard just like IIDX, but beginners actually stood a chance at it, unlike IIDX. With IIDX, you're pretty much wasting your quarters unless you've been practicing on the CS versions.

[PlatinumHawke]

Even with Beginner mode for every song, there is still a good chance of people not playing it because of how hard it is, and that they don't want to learn anything new. We have n00bs up here that can pass Dynamite Rave and Afronova (which is all they can pass) with flying colours.. kinda. Give them something like R&P, and a big "FAILED" comes up at the end of the song. IIDX is not something you pick up casually with a few games a weekend.

[Bortlett]

The reason that beginner mode isn't in there could be for a couple reasons.

First of all, the type of people who are going to end up playing IIDX likely won't care whether there's a beginner mode or not. People who play IIDX really enjoy doing it, they are dedicated, and really want to learn how to play the game. Having a beginner mode (which I've heard doesn't help that much with learning L7) isn't going to change these people's attitudes.

Secondly, IIDX takes time. It takes lots of time to learn, because it has a steep learning curve. Many casual arcade gamers don't want to take the time to really learn how to play the game. They don't want to pour hundreds of dollars to get a home version, or to learn how to play in the arcade.

Thirdly, on the surface, IIDX really isn't that exciting. If you're just in the arcade to kill 20 minutes, which would you rather do: pound 7 keys for a minute, or actually sit in a car and play a driving simulation? A lot of people pick the latter because it "looks cooler" and because its flashier. When I was a kid in an arcade, that is what I wanted to do, not play a music game like IIDX.

Hmmm, this kind of turned into a post on why the odds are stacked against IIDX for doing well in the US. It's still possible, certainly, for it to do well. The problem is that IIDX is such a niche music game, and is geared for a very, *very* specific audience. Only certain people enjoy IIDX, and unfortunately, the casual arcade gamer doesn't generally fit that audience.[/i]

[Larrikin]

Beginner mode is in 9th
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[Andy the happy mod-man]

[Larrikin]

All in all that would be a HORRIBLE idea from what I gather. 9th style has the most jacked up timing of any music game. Different timings for some songs, all in all real funky. 10th style apparently tried to fix it, but somewhat failed. The timing is still funky, but atleast its even throughout the songs and is possible to get used to.
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[Andy the happy mod-man]

[Larrikin]

....the way people have been bitching about it i thought it was MUCH worse. I meant horrible referring to the timing but now im all for upgrading
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[Andy the happy mod-man]

[Larrikin]

Now that I think about it, the one time I played 9th style it really wasn't that bad. It was like my 3rd time playing beatmania so I didn't have much to compare to tho (an 8th style and a final were my only other times even playing on the keys).
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[Bortlett]

[Andy the happy mod-man]

[Madek]

[Bortlett]

[homei]

[Andy the happy mod-man]