Dragon's Lair Fans - Arcade Lifestyle

General Chat => Meetings, Exhibition, Events... => Topic started by: jinxz on April 23, 2018, 03:36:08 PM

Title: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam *IT's A TRAP!*
Post by: jinxz on April 23, 2018, 03:36:08 PM
Hey fellow DLF'rs!

After years of doing my thing in the arcade scene I can finally anounce that we've formed a team to open an arcade club in a few months. An arcade club in the sense that it is an entry fee venue with all the games on freeplay.
We're planning to start with about 100 machines with our main focus on the classics. Classic woodies, mixed with some repro's (which we will fade out in due time), Pinballs, airhockey, some modern machines like Vewlix's, Candies and also some great deluxe cabs like Outrun, Hang On, 18 wheeler, Elevator action death parade etc.

The team consist of me doing the hardware, Steven (who is known as a presentor on Gamekings) doing marketing/PR and Bas (a great chef in Amsterdam) and Margot who will be doing the food/drinks.

Today we've signed the contract for the warehouse that we'll be converting into the arcade in the northern part of Amsterdam (NDSM area). The upcoming months I hope to post some updates of the progress and working towards an opening before this summer.

If you have any questions, comments or game requests, let me know!

Update May 1st:
We just opened the crowdfunding on Indiegogo : https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/blast-galaxy-arcade-club-amsterdam
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: Robinholland on April 23, 2018, 06:13:24 PM
congratulations  :wink:
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: jinxz on April 23, 2018, 06:27:07 PM
congratulations  :wink:


Thanks Robin.
I remember how cool the setting was during the Eurocade events in Ridderkerk and Hilversum and I'd love to reproduce some of it's magic with some good ol' classics.
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: DarthNuno on April 23, 2018, 07:26:20 PM
That's awesome! Please give us any update on this!  :-*

 :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: rogerxy on April 24, 2018, 09:34:23 AM
Grats, sounds great!  ;D
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: ckong on April 24, 2018, 10:51:08 AM
That's very good news, please keep us posted here.  :)
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: jinxz on April 25, 2018, 10:21:09 AM
Thanks guys.
I'm working daily on getting cabinets ready but considering the current batch of cabinets that I'm working on are Vewlix cabs I won't bother DLF'rs ;)

Tomorrow about 40-50 cabinets are arriving in the harbor in Rotterdam from Japan. After the weekend I should have some really good news in regards to woodies that are coming in.
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: gyruss on April 26, 2018, 04:08:14 PM
Nice! Saw the Gamekings video a few weeks ago, you already got an impressive collection!

 :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: ckong on April 26, 2018, 08:14:30 PM
I like it that the main focus is on Classic Arcade games, must be the influence of Steven (Gamekings amongst others), he really is into classic gaming. Can't wait which classic dedicated games will be presented, a lineup of Nintendo games, originals of course, would be awesome.

Please share the info about the crowdfunding here too, I'm interested in a pre-opening party!  :spaceace:

Can you already share the location, as that has been finalized?
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: jinxz on April 27, 2018, 12:16:22 PM
The location will be the Mt. Lincolnweg 17 in Amsterdam. Its located in the NDSM area just above the IJ river. One of the few locations in Amsterdam with loads of parking space, and just a nice open minded creative spot in Amsterdam.

Yeah Steven has been a great advocate for classic games in the line-up. I should have the "final" list of games mid next week. Luckily the list will not be set in stone and is always changing when games pop up (or break down  :D )

At this moment we are planning just above 100 cabinets on day 1. Consisting of at least 30, up to 50 woodies. As said, some will be converted generics and most of them will be dedicated.
Some dedicated cabs that are for sure:
- Ikari warriors (rotary sticks)
- After Burner
- Space Panic
- Jaleco's Big run
- beast busters
- Wec Le Mans DLX
- Darius Burst AC
- Black Knight 2000 pinball

As a "homebrew" project I will also prep my Namco POD cabinet that is running an XboxOne with the latest Forza Horizon.
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: Andreas_AUT on April 27, 2018, 01:26:03 PM
sounds great, will be definitely interesting!
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: ckong on April 27, 2018, 07:42:31 PM
And also some pinball machines, besides the one that you listed? Video games and pinballs, with one or two table football games make a great mix. :)
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: jinxz on April 27, 2018, 08:53:29 PM
The plan is to start with at least 3 pinball machines. Depending on the budget from the crowdfund we want to expand to 5-6 within a month.

I'm personally mostly into DMD generation pins but the Black Knight was a deal I couldn't refuse :) We went for a hike last weekend and ended up at an icecream truck where I talked to the owner. It turned out that he was about to sell his pinball machine and because the right flipper didn't move he cut the price in half :)
25 euro's for a new solenoid and voila.

Football table might be feasible. I have room for 2 Airhockeys but only have one at this moment. So anything can happen ;)
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: Bomjac on April 28, 2018, 07:31:32 PM
Will be in 020 around June 1st (Rebellion Punk fest at the Melkweg) - any chance you will be open by then)?
 
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: jinxz on April 29, 2018, 01:00:01 AM
No unfortunately not. We start working in the warehouse around that time. I would've wanted to start earlier but the real estate business in Amsterdam is bureaucratic and slow.
Putting the machines in the arcade is one of the last things we do.
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: jinxz on April 29, 2018, 01:08:25 PM
Holy crap Batman. Just did a 28 hour straight working day to reel in some cabinets.
Just a few of the dedicated woodies that i managed to get:
- Zaxxon
- Karate champ
- Great 1000 mile rally
- Bad dudes
- Tiger Road
- Blasteroids
- Indy Heat Danny Sullivan 3P
- Millipede
- Capcom Bowling

Also some beast like LA Machine guns DLX, Rapid River and one of my favourites Lucky and Wild sitdown.
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: level42 on April 29, 2018, 09:51:00 PM
OOOOOOOHHHH....He said woodies.........GET THOS PITCHFORKS GUYS !!!!!



 ;) ;) ;) ;)
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: level42 on April 29, 2018, 09:53:36 PM
Will be in 020
 
Oh man.....that made me laugh SO loud !!!  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: level42 on April 29, 2018, 09:55:37 PM
congratulations  :wink:


Thanks Robin.
I remember how cool the setting was during the Eurocade events in Ridderkerk and Hilversum and I'd love to reproduce some of it's magic with some good ol' classics.

Thanks friend, and you have always supported Eurocade in some way or form which was awesome. :spaceace: :spaceace:

This sounds like a very cool project and I'm positive that in a city with SO many tourists, students, hipsters and whatever it will be a big success.

Who knows.....maybe it will even me make me drive to 020  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: jinxz on April 30, 2018, 09:41:49 AM
This sounds like a very cool project and I'm positive that in a city with SO many tourists, students, hipsters and whatever it will be a big success.

Who knows.....maybe it will even me make me drive to 020  ;D ;D ;D

Thanks!
Yeah I think Amsterdam is potentially the best place to proof the concept and grow. My hope is to expand on a healthy basis and put up the best experience of classic  games that we can offer.
With the latest purchases we went from just being able to fill the arcade to having a choice of what to put in it. Which in turn gives me the freedom to work on cabinets that didn't make the line-up.

In regards to driving to 020, just put up some horse-blinders if you are bothered by it and drive straight to our joint  ;D
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: level42 on April 30, 2018, 10:20:33 PM
LOL....no worries :)

Let me know when you have a full-time job for a Rotterdam location of your soon to be arcade chain  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: jinxz on May 01, 2018, 12:36:11 PM
I was just invited by Steven from Gamekings to do a Nerd Culture video podcast this Thursday between 18.00 and 20.00. It will be aired a day later : https://www.gamekings.tv/?s=nerd+culture (https://www.gamekings.tv/?s=nerd+culture)
Warning *Dutch language*  ;D
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: jinxz on May 01, 2018, 11:45:44 PM
Party time... The crowdfund just opened up : https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/blast-galaxy-arcade-club-amsterdam
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: ckong on May 02, 2018, 12:17:21 PM
LOL....no worries :)

Let me know when you have a full-time job for a Rotterdam location of your soon to be arcade chain  ;D ;D

Wise thing to do is to expand to The East before cluttering The Randstad.  :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: jinxz on May 02, 2018, 12:38:13 PM
Wise thing to do is to expand to The East before cluttering The Randstad.  :D :D :D :D

 ;D ;D
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: level42 on May 02, 2018, 03:38:20 PM
LOL....no worries :)

Let me know when you have a full-time job for a Rotterdam location of your soon to be arcade chain  ;D ;D

Wise thing to do is to expand to The East before cluttering The Randstad.  :D :D :D :D

True.....with FC Twente down one division......there's really not much to do there now........ ;D ;D
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam *crowdfund open*
Post by: gyruss on May 05, 2018, 11:05:44 AM
Edit: gamekings link was already posted..

 :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam *crowdfund open*
Post by: jinxz on May 07, 2018, 11:58:20 AM
https://www.gamekings.tv/videos/nerd-culture-5-blast-galaxy/
Ik werd neergezet als de "beste restaurateur" maar kom voor m'n gevoel net om de hoek kijken. D'r zijn zoveel disciplines in dit beroep dat het onmogelijk is om overal goed in te worden.
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam *crowdfund open*
Post by: ckong on May 07, 2018, 02:37:18 PM
I just watched the first 20 minutes, nice video so far. It's good to hear some guys with knowledge speaking Dutch for a change. :)

BTW, next time ditch the headphones!  ;D ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam *crowdfund open*
Post by: jinxz on May 07, 2018, 09:56:07 PM
BTW, next time ditch the headphones!  ;D ;D ;D ;)

Haha you noticed. I asked them before we started why we need the headphones. Answer was so we can hear how we sound through the mic. I moved one of my ear so I could hear in rea live.
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam
Post by: jinxz on June 06, 2018, 09:00:29 AM
And just like that we managed to get a small barnraid going :)
Of course we're networking our asses off to get the word out that we're starting an arcade in Amsterdam. Apparently one of the people we spoke to turned out to have a warehouse with movie props anda few years ago he bought some arcades and pinballs to have as props.
So we immediatly tried to get to the warehouse and see what was there. It turned out that the collection was not super big but still it had some decent games. Unfortunately I already had the DLX versions of 2 of them but still nice.
Just the discovery, the smell of an old warehouse, moving stuff around to find what was actually there, the dust.... I just love it.

Here are some pics of the find:
(http://www.blastgalaxy.nl/images/1.jpg)

(http://www.blastgalaxy.nl/images/3.jpg)

(http://www.blastgalaxy.nl/images/2.jpg)

(http://www.blastgalaxy.nl/images/4.jpg)

(http://www.blastgalaxy.nl/images/5.jpg)

(http://www.blastgalaxy.nl/images/6.jpg)

(http://www.blastgalaxy.nl/images/7.jpg)

(http://www.blastgalaxy.nl/images/8.jpg)

(http://www.blastgalaxy.nl/images/9.jpg)
Title: Re: Blast Galaxy arcade club Amsterdam *barn raid update*
Post by: jinxz on June 19, 2018, 01:26:22 PM
In the countdown to opening on the 6th of Juli we've started with the decorations.
A great Dutch artist @thechuckone did this amazing mural. We just needed the text on our wall :
(https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/35548026_451965858582837_4546707093133983744_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=d6248be7fff819df0c2c6a65aaabada4&oe=5BB18477)