Having been witness to one person "start" an arcade here, it takes a
lot of money. Expect to throw down close to 100k if you want a real arcade with a decent number of machines. Especially if you're looking to get IIDX machines because they are some of the most expensive bemani games available.
I won't get too specific, but the failure of this arcade was more because of a spoiled rich kid, who was also a moron with no business sense, not having any business, and not taking care of the business properly (and making about over nine thousaaaaaand bad decisions, but anyway). Essentially, the games themselves are ridiculously expensive, the overhead is really high, the employees you'll have to hire will have to be paid...it's really really expensive. Honestly, if this kid hadn't been rich, it wouldn't have happened. If he had been smart, it would still be around and there'd be a IIDX machine in Tennessee, but i'm not bitter or wanting to injure him in horribly creative and violent ways or anything.
And, honestly, i'm not trying to shoot down your idea. I've wanted to open up an arcade here ever since that idiot failed, but...no monies. I also don't feel like going to far into debt, beyond student loans. I wish you the best of luck, though. If you do get the money to do it, location location location and seeing what people in your area want to play (STEADILY) are your friends.
