If you've got the space (as you need quite a bit around them on all sides) and insist on having both dance machines in the same area, back-to-back seems to work best from a non-interference standpoint. The problem is that this really does require a lot of space, especially if you want to leave room for bar tricks and crowds.
Side-by-side (apparently the current configuration) works OK and consumes the least amount of floor space in most cases, but there are still some problems with interference between them, both of the audible and physical (i.e. players running into each other) type. This can be controlled by placing a 2ft or so gap between the two stages and keeping audio levels sensible.
The best solution seems to be putting redemption in the middle areas and lining the outside walls with video games, placing music games in opposite corners with the speakers facing in parallel (but opposite) directions. This minimizes interference (both audible and physical) between the two games, keeps the little kiddies out of the way most of the time (as they'll clump in the center area with all the redemption and non-music video games), doesn't take up too much additional space, and generally doesn't bug the dance game players any. Now, I'm not sure if having all the redemption clumped like that is good or bad for business - I'll check a copy of one of Ho's arcade operator magazines some day :)
If you want to clump all the music games together, you almost have to just get partitions, especially with non-dance type games. This is what they do in Japan (they even have Bemani branded partitions!) at arcades with a full complement of Bemani.
Also, it's always important to control the sub volume appropriately. No matter how you face things, the low frequency stuff will tend to go everywhere, limited only by distance. This is why getting them far apart is usually the best option of the bunch.
And that's your arcade planning lesson for today.
A normality test: +++ATH
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The "pod" topology is the >2 variant of back-to-back. It works reasonably well, similar to back-to-back. The issue is that you need a fair bit of space around it for people movement and crowd formation. The exact amount of required space depends on the locale and which game is where. For example, Putt Putt Ft. Wayne had their IIDX almost up against the wall since it wasn't played by many people and you don't have to worry about bar tricks. DDR is kinda back in a corner under the current layout, and it is a bit confining, but overall things work and there isn't much interference.
A normality test: +++ATH
If you are no longer connected to the internet, you need to apply more wax to your modem: it'll make it go faster.
If you find this funny, you're a nerd.
If neither of the above apply, you are normal. Congratulations.
I hate to put it this way....you give all the suggestions you want...daniel will have it the way it is now....just different location....my advice is to live with it...both are as balenced as we can get it.
lgolem wrote:I hate to put it this way....you give all the suggestions you want...daniel will have it the way it is now....just different location....my advice is to live with it...both are as balenced as we can get it.
I'm sure there's some way to put House of the Dead or Time Crisis between the two machines.
Also how about vertical space. Can we stack the two machines? It would solve many problems. Also can you drill a hole into the Vic Secret changing room? That'd be hot.
So let me get this straight. The guy owns all the machines at the Indiana Memorial Union is trying to get rid of them and sent Daniel a list of games with their prices?
I saw that the ITG2 machine was going for like $2,600.
Get it. For the love of God.
The machine is in absolutely terrible condition but that's really only because the people who work at the Union don't even have access to the inside of it. Fix the USB drives, get it upgraded to R21, clean out the sensors, and it'll be good to go. Hell, you guys can always change it back to an Extreme if you get tired of ITG2.
Get Third Strike too. How much was it going for? All you'll need to do with that machine is recalibrate the sticks and turn the volume up.
Keep ITG2 and clean that shit up. Hell, I'm tempted to buy it from the Union and put it in my basement. (Which I guess we can now effectively call 'pulling a Ho'.)
*walks into 'Scape and dances until we get the new Machine*
Honestly, I'm more excited about the DDRSN2 machine, launching in October, can't wait to play that one. Also, I agree w/ buying the ITG2 machine. Hell, I'll come in and help clean it up if you guys need an extra hand.
well he has apparently already sold it AND we don't have enough space for another dance game...redemption is next to expand since it makes more than 75% of our profits.