Seattle Gameworks - Beatmania IIDX Petition?

Mushushu · 06-28-2009, 01:54 AM

Hey there,

If any of you are in or around the Seattle area and go to Gameworks, are any of you interested in getting a Beatmania IIDX cabinet set up?

I don't know if Gameworks listens to their customers or if they would even bother looking at petitions, but it seems like they care enough about arcade gaming to stay up to date.

They have King of Fighters 12, Blazblu, Tatsunoko VS Capcom, SF4, Initial D 4, Pop'n Music, Taiko no Tatsujin, DDR X and a bunch of other great games in relatively new/clean condition.

Their selection of games is quite well rounded and almost perfect. It just seems like they have everything most people would care to ever play at an arcade, except IIDX.

What do you guys think? If they get enough people asking for it, would they even listen?

Admittedly, they still don't have a Jubeat or DJ Max Technika machine either. Oh well...

Davyn · 07-01-2009, 06:49 AM

There was a IIDX machine in northwest washington a couple years ago. It didn't make very much money and eventually had to be resold.

As far as gameworks goes, they probably used up their music game budget with the stupid DDR X machine. If they really want to get people going to play the bemani machines again, they would do A LOT better upgrading the Pop'n Music or Drummania machines. Especially with there being multiple people with both of those games in their homes now.

And they would almost certainly ignore a petition.

I find it funny you took the time to list every game in that place since the only people reading this would have to be familiar with it to even opening this thread reading in the first place. :P

Mushushu · 07-02-2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davyn

There was a IIDX machine in northwest washington a couple years ago. It didn't make very much money and eventually had to be resold.

As far as gameworks goes, they probably used up their music game budget with the stupid DDR X machine. If they really want to get people going to play the bemani machines again, they would do A LOT better upgrading the Pop'n Music or Drummania machines. Especially with there being multiple people with both of those games in their homes now.

And they would almost certainly ignore a petition.

I find it funny you took the time to list every game in that place since the only people reading this would have to be familiar with it to even opening this thread reading in the first place. :P

I know which machine you're talking about. It was 8th Style, and I remember driving all the way to Acme Bowl just to experience playing on a IIDX cabinet for the first time. The cabinet itself wasn't exactly in the best condition ever and movies would never end up playing (Displaying the CD/DVD disc logo instead). Then it turns out they relocated it to Tacoma Narrows Bowling... They had it there for a while but then they ended up selling it to a foundation over in the east coast. Figures.

Actually now that I think about it, Gameworks really need to get some more shmups in there too; Preferably some decent CAVE bullet hell shooters like Death Smiles or Dodonpachi. I think the only shmups they've got are Raiden Fighters and Galaga...

You're more than most likely right on the DDR X machine, unfortunately. But that's how America works- DDR sells. Every arcade owner worth their salt knows this.

I do agree with you that they need to update Pop'n and GitaDora badly. There are some great tracks in Adventure and Party that I'd love to play over there. GitaDora isn't my music game of choice and I can only play songs up to 30, but it's still hella addictive.

Do you frequent Gameworks by any chance? I just found out from a coworker that there is free ferry parking where I live on Sunday so I'm thinking about becoming a regular over there. I only ever manage to go to Gameworks about once a month or so.

Everytime I go to Gameworks I'm the only one playing Pop'n. Except for maybe the random casual or first timer that plays Enjoy mode and never touches it again.

I'll keep bugging the guys behind the counter though for them to try and get Beatmania in. It's obviously wasted effort, but I've got nothing better to do anyway.

KevinDidder · 07-10-2009, 10:54 AM

I mostly visit Acme but I used to pop by GW all the time when DM didn't work at Acme. Now Acme has V3 and I never need to go back to the overpriced loud as fuck hellhole that's Gameworks.

Lentic · 07-20-2009, 01:32 AM

Gameworks is clearly a very active arcade. It seems like every time I step in there, they've rearranged the entire floor - and they're always adding new machines. They just spent a fortune on a whole set of Hummer driving machines, and now DDR X. I honestly can't see those drivers making a ton of money for them.

Of course, getting a new IIDX machine is a huge investment, and therefore a risk. $14,000+ for a machine with only a hardcore fanbase. Again, it's like Pop'n - the only people playing it are newbies (who touch it once, then leave), a few VERY casual players, and then a bunch of hardcore players. If they got, say, Gold or DJT, and charged $1 per credit (wishful thinking), there would have to be 38 plays per day for a year, JUST to pay for the machine. So it's a hard sell.

But clearly, GameWorks doesn't seem too strapped for cash. It's a tough situation - they clearly care, but maybe not enough to justify a new, really expensive machine in this economy. They do have a feedback/email system on their website, which I tried once about this same topic, but I never got a response. I guess the key would be to find the person who's in charge of actually selecting the machines they have in the arcade, rather than just some random dude who happens to be selling game cards.

Seattle really needs a big push to get IIDX into GameWorks. GW is a fricking machine, I'm sure it has the resources, but the owners just may not be convinced yet - or do they even know that a bunch of people want this machine in there? We'd need to be able to contact someone on the inside...

Oh, and I second your call for some decent shmups. I'm just getting into Touhou, and got Ketsui Death Label for the DS a few weeks ago (I can nearly beat Very Hard, that game's a bitch).

Davyn · 07-27-2009, 01:20 AM

Another thing is they are very afraid of getting used or foreign games. There's no official support system, they can't get parts from the manufacturer, and there's no warranty at all. On top of that the manuals aren't in English, and gameworks employees are the type of people that don't believe humans are capable of reading more than one language. They also used to have some apparently anti-asian employees (refusing to fix pop'n music and calling it a "fucking chink game" got one guy fired).

Lentic · 07-27-2009, 02:49 AM

I think if anything's going to convince them, it's the presence of a IIDX machine at an Arizona GameWorks. they'd have to get in contact somehow. They have to know it's a profitable business proposition before they jump on it.

YouTube - 2008-12-21 - T_Bone plays beatmania IIDX 14 GOLD at Gameworks (1/2)

シャナ · 08-17-2009, 01:32 AM

they have DDR X now? this is news to me. O:
then agan, i don't go to gameworks often so...

i agree that gameworks in seattle should have an IIDX machine, but as previously stated, they're a bit of a hassle and IIDX machines, buying, shipping, all that, are expensive.

i hope they get one at some point, though.

Quad_killeR · 08-28-2009, 05:10 PM

I am currently employed at gameworks. I can tell you this: Each Gameworks location has ZERO say in what machines they get. We don't ever purchase a machine and therefore have no "game budget". Rather, all machines are dictated by sega. As nice as a IIDX machine would be, it's not going to happen. Someone at Sega would have to have a IIDX machine floating around somewhere and decide to put it at a gameworks.

tl;dr Gameworks will not get any arcade machines based on what customers say. It's all up to SEGA

Quad_killeR · 08-28-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lentic

But clearly, GameWorks doesn't seem too strapped for cash. It's a tough situation - they clearly care, but maybe not enough to justify a new, really expensive machine in this economy.

Not true. Gameworks is hurting all over the country. Seattle is right in the middle as far a revenue goes. The only one that's actually doing better is Shamburg, Illinois. Instead of worrying about a IIDX machine, SEGA is worrying about not shutting down Gameworks country wide.

the girl Devin · 09-03-2009, 12:26 AM

Heya, I'm heading up to Seattle with some friends tonight (from California!), for the Penny Arcade Expo. Sooo I will be visiting this arcade again, since I went last year. The only part that sucked was getting kicked out at 10 PM for their casino or whatever. Have they gotten any new games from last year? I think there was a taiko drum game, Pop'n 14, and something like 3 different versions of DDR when I went.

I will most likely be there Friday morning.

fredly · 09-04-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the girl Devin

Heya, I'm heading up to Seattle with some friends tonight (from California!), for the Penny Arcade Expo. Sooo I will be visiting this arcade again, since I went last year. The only part that sucked was getting kicked out at 10 PM for their casino or whatever. Have they gotten any new games from last year? I think there was a taiko drum game, Pop'n 14, and something like 3 different versions of DDR when I went.

I will most likely be there Friday morning.

I'm also going to Seattle

I'll probably end up going to Gameworks. I know a few of my friends are going to that Penny Arcade thing and I was gonna go but eh. I'm leaving pretty soon.

BLueSS · 10-21-2009, 06:07 PM

Quad_killeR, thanks for that insight about Gameworks.

As a reminder for any new people, the Seattle Bemani crowd is at PNWBemani.net - Washington/Oregon DDR and Bemani Community so if you anyone is still curious to what Gameworks or the other area arcades have, check the site out. We're pretty on top of things.