ATTENTION ANYONE FROM PHILLY OR EAST PA OR NORTHEAST MD/DELAWARE OR MID TO SOUTH EAST NJ
 
I'm trying to facilitate a real space traveling (potentially) D.I.Y. arcade in near center city Philadelphia.  What does this entail?  It entails getting a handful of way independent game developers to participate in this arcade by creating a game, creating or decorating a cabinet for it, helping install it at the show.
 
Unfortunately, I don't know anyone else in the area besides myself that creates games, SO please speak up if you would like to!  I think i saw a few of you in the early sw jam halloween page...?
 
So basically I'm looking for some other developers for this.  I know I can get the space for it, and I know I can make an event out of it (beers, bands, maybe some cool talks, etc.)...  The goal would be to promote and educate about the population about the underground indie videogame scene while hopefully creating some kind of community to support and facilitate future events.
 
Scratch all that.  I guess my ranting is hard to understand.  Let me clarify.
 
I'm looking to create an ALL ORIGINAL CONTENT arcade.  In other words, I'm looking to facilitate the creation of an exhibit which is composed of a bunch of arcade cabinets loaded up with games created by super-small time indie developers like you and I.  My goal is to install this arcade at a local music venue in Philadelphia where people can play games, and donate money to the creators while they listen to some awesome rock bands and what not.
 
I'm looking for more game developers who are interested in creating and exhibiting their game in such a manner:
<ol><li>create a game (most likely include gamepads to get that arcade feel)</li>
   <li>load it onto a junky old laptop</li>
   <li>build an arcade cabinet to hide all of the laptop besides the screen and gamepads.  paint or draw awesome game related art on the cabinet (optional)</li>
   <li>Bring your creation to the exhibit premier.  Install and decorate your booth.</li>
   <li>come to the opening night and schmooze with everyone who shows up.  Openning night will most likely include 3 or 4 bands, alcohol, some kind of videogame related speech by someone, and some other junk.  let's brainstorm.</li>
   <li>either take these installation to other venues, or take them home.</li>
   <li>do all this again in another few months, hopefully building a strong community in the process</li>
</ol>YOU OUT THERE? LET'S TALK.
 
 
also, it isn't like this hasn't been done before... check this out (especially if you are in new york city):  babycastles.com

um no space theme.  it would take place in real space (not over the internet. in other words, it would take place in real life as opposed to a game jam on a forum). it would be travelling as in the installation would move to multiple locations. 
 
The games can be whatever, but they must be original.   After all the games are created, we would install them on junky old laptops, then disguise those things as arcade cabinets.  so in reality, it would look like an arcade. what i'm talking about is pretty much creating an all original content arcade.
 
I guess i have to clean up my language...
edit:  okay I cleaned up the top post.

are you from the area belross?

Did you see this? http://saltworld.net/forums/topic/14183-for-devs-and-arduino-fiends/
 
That's what I want to do but for a handheld. I want to make it and make a game and allow members of SW to play with it then post it to the next person.
 
This is a cool idea though I am totally down to contribute.

Heck yeah!  I know it is a way off, but if you ever post this to me and I'm able to do this whole diy arcade thing, I could totally incorporate it for a little before I post it on it's way.

Hmm sounds expensive and likely requires a talent that I don't have but I support the idea in spirit :P

I live in Philly and this sounds way cool but I have no ability to actually make games.  But hey if there's some way I can help that would be cool.  Do you have a specific venue in mind?

Helping would be great!  First off, if you know anyone who makes games, ask them if they want to participate! Also simple event help when the time comes would be fantastic.  Or you could be an absolutely incredible person and loan a spare laptop to the cause if for example... the catamites... is trying to participate from afar.  Either way, the event is months and months and months off, and frankly I'm not totally sure what even needs to be done right now besides making sure that there is enough people who want to produce some content for there to actually be content.
 
As far as the place... I haven't asked anyone yet so I don't want to spread rumors or anything, but I'm gonna do it anyway.  I know a group of people that book musical acts at a few venues.  I'm thinking they could let us slide on the bill.  If we get the right bands playing to bring in a crowd, it could probably happen at a place like Philamoca. I'm hopeful but again, I really have no idea at this point.
 

Hmm sounds expensive and likely requires a talent that I don't have but I support the idea in spirit :P

Yeah people might have to throw some dollars down...  well actually maybe only 2.  Just found 2 junker laptops on craigslist for sale.  Only cost a dollar each.  So I guess depending on how demanding of the system the game in question is, you probably won't have to spend toooooooooooooo much.
 
Thanks for the support, buddy!
But... If you realllllllllllllllllllllllllly wanna support the idea in spirit, feel free to spread the word that I am looking for developers in the Philadelphia area!
 

can non-phillyers (phillies?) make a game for consideration in this? i would love to make a game about space......

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhspacehh
 
no but really you could make a game if you want!  Not sure if I could secure a machine for you.  I was hoping the developers would take care of that part themselves...  I'll keep you posted if I happen to amass an extra few in the following efforts.

oh yeah, I also don't live in philly. I wish I did though because its probably a nicer place than where I do live.

oh yeah, I also don't live in philly. I wish I did though because its probably a nicer place than where I do live.

Where do you live warped?  Philly is pretty nice, but it is pretty small.  Which pretty much means it comes with the general problems of a city (poverty, crime, corruption) but without the opportunity in niche interests.  Though I did just realize yesterday that the Indie Dev company Cipher Prime is Philly native.  Who knew?
 

Quote from: nurseOstsAudy on November 13, 2013, 05:02:14 am

philamoca

that's the one with the eraserhead mural?? I've never been there but I've been in the area for UT/work/trespassing on the viaduct

ooo I've never been on the viaduct but I do love a good trespassing now and then.  how dangerous would you say exploring the viaduct is?  did you see anyone else up there?
 
 
 
barcade - beers, tempest, and joust.  what more is there.

Weird. I just answered this question today lol.
 
 

I currently reside in the pustules in indiana's hindquarters, a little town called Bright, officially in the Lawrenceburg area for the purposes of mail. Basically the opposite side of Indianapolis from lafayette am as south east of it as lafayette is north west.
 
I wish I lived in basically any northern city or west coast city quite desperately. My social life is dead here and for good reasons. Too close to the south for people to be anything but hicks, rednecks, hilljacks, hill billies, or river people. Or if failing any of those things they appear perfectly normal except they are staunchly religious-right, which may be worse. The only exception I've known is our mail lady, who says she votes democrat but fails to explain why other than that is just what her family has always done and thinks its not racist to use the word 'nigger' in casual speech to refer to black people.

 

This is a fantastic idea. It seems much more practical to approach a small business owner like a mom and pop bar or bar/grill and figure out how to do this with longer periods of game presentations because one night for all of that effort seems a lil much.
 
Wait I might have read and missed over this but how do you plan to compensate the game developers? Like a flat rate entry for people who wanna play the arcades or actually rigging some kind of monetary depositing system?

I always half-assed planned to open a bar and do events and shit like that. Having a space for them and changing them out bi-monthly or quarterly seems much more efficient so later on the devs and swing by and pick them up but I guess if theres any troubleshooting then thats out?

Wait I might have read and missed over this but how do you plan to compensate the game developers? Like a flat rate entry for people who wanna play the arcades or actually rigging some kind of monetary depositing system?

It could go either way... I know there are coin op slot to usb ports out there... but I think it would be easier if it is handled like this... On opening night, money is taken at the door as an entry fee.  From there, money is split between the venue, the bands, and the devs.  For the remaining nights, simple donation jars, or coin op donation jars, would be taking money from whatever traffic is there.  However, I definitely would not plan to make any kind of serious money off of this.  To be honest, there will quite possibly be NO MONEY in this for anyone but the venue.  It is all kinda up in the air, and I was hoping people might want to do this for experience and community building purposes.
 

I always half-assed planned to open a bar and do events and shit like that. Having a space for them and changing them out bi-monthly or quarterly seems much more efficient so later on the devs and swing by and pick them up but I guess if theres any troubleshooting then thats out?

 
 
I'm not sure what you mean by trouble shooting...?