Campaigning DDR X2 AC into your local arcades!

Well DDR X2 is out in North America, no doubt there, it also appears to be the best DDR product in like the last two years. So now the question is how can we get the game in arcades across the U.S.? Well I have been campaigning vigorously over the last few months not only to the arcade company I work for (Namco Cybertainment) but also to every arcade and Family Fun Center across the Colorado front range to consider investing in it. I want to be as many DDR X2 cabinets in the U.S. as there is Extreme's and SuperNOVA's because it is worth it in my opinion. So I have started this topic to discuss what everyone is doing to convince their local arcades to invest in it. Here are some ideas I can propose to help your quest to convince the world.

Dropping the line to major corporations!
Here is a list of chains that typically host arcade games and how to contact them via the internet to express your interest in the new mix. If you see a name of a business that you know you have access to, consider using one of these means of contacts to tell them that you would like to see DDR X2 in your local location. I would not recommend just saying "Put DDRX2 in every location!" because they would treat that as SPAM more or less, let them know you are for real and a customer at their local location by letting them know which specific location you visit. By the ways, DO NOT mention to Namco below that I, myself, told you about the contact, they already are going crazy that I send all of my customers (that have nothing to do with DDR) there to leave feedback about their visit to my store.

Namco Cybertainment - http://www.namcoarcade.com/feedback.asp
If you play at a Time Out, Cyberstation, Aladdin's Castle, Spaceport, Pocket Change, Atari Expo, WonderPark, Brunswick Zone, AMC Theaters, and select partner locations. then this is your link. You know the arcade is a Namco arcade if you see the Namco logo on a small silver license tag usually on the front or sides of the upper parts of the games (this can also be a sticker). Route locations often have a silver colored sticker with the Namco logo with a call for customer service number (PLEASE DO NOT CALL THAT NUMBER! THAT IS FOR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR GAMES ONLY!) If you use their customer feedback form I strongly suggest using the "A Visit From My Local Aracde..." option and then select the "Something else about my visit to my local arcade..." option. Be sure to leave the location for your arcade listed there so they know you are talking about one of their stores.

Tilt (Nickels and Dimes Inc.) - http://www.tilt.com
Tilt has just a simple contact page which is accessed from their home page. They also have a full location guide so you know if they have a store in your area (just make sure that store is not a unmanned location *shiver in fear*). Assuming Tilt's reputation is just as bad nationwide as it is here in the homefront, this may not be the best option, but it is an option.

Dave & Buster's - http://www.daveandbusters.com
They may be expensive but their games are kept up to date, so there is a good chance they may respond to pleas of interest. They do not have a web form for contact but their mailing address is public:

Dave & Buster's World Headquarters
2481 Manana Drive
Dallas, TX 75220
214-357-9588

In addition they also have a Facebook page which you can find here: http://www.facebook.com/DaveAndBusters to scream your heart out. They appear to be very responsive to that page too!

Gameworks - http://www.gameworks.com - comments@gameworks.com
Not really wanting to get into this dirt to much (*cough* DDR 2009 U.S. Championships *cough*) but still don't want anyone to feel left out (not much though considering there being 6 locations now). They seem to have a Facebook page to every location so there is some one on one access:

http://www.facebook.com/GameWorks
http://www.facebook.com/GameWorksLasVegas
http://www.facebook.com/pages/GameWorks-Ontario/95103027646
http://www.facebook.com/GameWorksSchaumburg
http://www.facebook.com/pages/GameWorks-Tempe/95341938841

Cinemark Theatres - www.cinemark.com
If you play at a Cinemark, Century, Tinsletown, or Cinearts movie theatre's "Starcade" then use the contact line to let them know what you think. http://www.cinemark.com/contactus.asp

I really do not know of many other chain arcades that are big time (or at least have websites) but if you feel I missed one that should be shared please let me know.

Convincing your local arcade
If your arcade is not on the above list, there is a fair chance it is local or small enough for the owners to get news of DDR X2 by telling the on-duty managers, other ideas is to seek out their Facebook pages or website if they have any. Do a search on the internet for their business name. Whatever! You'd be surprised what contacts you can find. Also do not forget to use the Arcade Location's on this site for contact info!!

Got a bite? Here is how to reel it in.
Don't be over pushy or threat. That never works. More or less the only thing we as customers can do is point the target to the Betson website page for X2 (Click Here), either by e-mailing the link or handing them a print out. You might consider a petition of sorts but that can be pushy. Refer them to Youtube videos (especially the BemaniStyle ones). Anything to show them the darn thing. After that, one can only hope.

Drop some news if you are making progress in your homefront or if you have advise to share.

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This is an awesome thread.

If you're going to ask them indirectly (like on Facebook or via Email), make sure you that it's obvious that you're a real person, and not part of some kind of viral advertising person. Mention where you live, that you visit their arcade, and that you'd like to be able to play this new game.

Don't try and convince them to buy it, or give them reasons that it's in their interest to do so. Just mention that you love the game, and hope that their arcade gets it, to that you can play it there! Remember that you're asking them to buy the game, but you aren't trying to sell it to them.

Just sent them 2 very professional emails. Also, does anyone know how we would go about this to...say...the Toys R Us in Times Square, NY? I know they have 2 DDR SuperNOVA machines and they get a lot of players there.

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Well considering realistically no other TRU really sports an arcade, I would say you should just ask the manager on duty.

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I can already tell you Gameworks Schaumburg is being very picky. I talked to the manager and he only wants X2 after he is forced to throw away another DDR cabinet (no joke). I feel if you can show your support enough for this location you could change his/their mind and tell them the benefits of upgrading their cabinet (new pads, extensive song list why its a better game) they might change their minds. So far me and only a few other are asking for it so I am not sure if they realize that X2 is a very big deal.

I realize some of you might say "that is like selling them the game". But if they keep hearing the same comments over and over about what makes X2 so great they will be even more influenced into the purchase. Most arcade operators dont think or know why this upgrade is important, its your job to tell them. I guess what I am trying to say is dont try to be too pushy.

Oh and one more thing. If your contacting Gameworks Schaumburg, they are apparently really interested in setting up e-amuse at their venue and are still looking into setting it up. You might want to include something about the e-amuse service as well and why it benefits X2 specifically (of course that is if Betson is offering the service for X2).

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Well, eAmuse is not being offered with DDR X2 AC for the US. Konami realizes that in its current structure, it's not a feasible service and the X2 cabs may very well not include the eAmuse hardware. Also, even if an arcade wanted it, I don't Konami has even set up the servers for X/X2 machines to connect to.

Does anyone have any contact information for Amusement Management Corporation or Tripcorp Amusements? Both of these companies seem almost nonexistant online, no contact regarding anything other than job opportunities.

I really hope the new cabs come with e-Amuse readers (but they should be turned off somehow, as they won't be used for X2. Saves some money for the arcades).

I'm 99% sure my arcade is upgrading. Tilt wants it (Tilt Studio in Indy) to become the DDR hotspot of Indiana again, and there's at least 3 DDR players who work there, so they probably want X2.

But does Tilt want 4 DDR machines? Because as we all know DDR X2 + wooden pads is a match not made in heaven. (And the distributor is not selling stage upgrades.)

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They're technically all for sale right now (I think), and the last I checked, the USA had a price in the $3,000s. The other two said "See manager". And they could always sell the X, too.

And right now, the only way to get X2 is to buy a new cab. The upgrade kit page probably won't be up for awhile.

I know that Tilt's policy is that all games in their inventory are always for sale at Christmas, despite the fact they won't hesitate to put a price tag for a SuperNOVA dedicab at least $12,000. At least around these parts anyways.

I made my final pleas to Namco directly so now its up to you guys to bring in the customer support. Also started contacts with several FFC's and Dave and Busters in Denver, CO so who knows where that will go.

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Tilt's policy is that all their games are for sale. All the time. But it's never worth it because they sell several-year old games for more than they bought them new for.

Well I can't hardly believe it but I got a bite out of a local family fun center, Boondocks of Northglenn Colorado, saying they would look into it after I posted on their facebook page. Rather awesome actually considering we've been pleading them to fix a very broken down DDR Extreme, but now if something actually comes out of it... that is the ultimate question.

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I will try to talk with the Operator here, to bring here X2 updates (we have 2 X cabinets here). This time need to be a bit cheap, because with the expensive cost of DDR X cabinets, this time need to reduce costs.

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Well I did my best but the official answer has landed as a no for my store. But that was expected, as namco has never put a brand new game in our store. So moving on to other interests, I am working on driving the news to competitors in my area.

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So i asked my friend who works at La Tête Dans Les Nuages. Already ordered now Have to wait

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Well as mentioned on the home page, DDRX2 finally has the first location in North America, which of course is at Round 1 in Cali. This is great news and it might be justification to travel there to visit that location one day.

Please don't stop working to get your surrounding locations to get DDRX2.

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I'm not sure if I should wait a few weeks/one month for my arcade to get this. The group of Golflands in the SF Bay Area (Milpitas, San Jose Emerald Hill, Castro Valley, Sunnyvale) all still have a DDR X cab and I'm really tired of playing on them. :\ [Their website is here: http://www.golfland.com ]

I had left an e-mail for the manager at the closest one to me (Milpitas) and have not heard back. Should I also send one to the others in my area?

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I do not see why not. I contact mutliple locations of a regional ffc here to consider investing in ddr x2.

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Dude, how can I contact Gameworks Schaumburg? I live in the area and I hope they don't throw their old cabs away (that has the DDR Extreme that I first passed Bag on 1x and the Supernova machine that I first arcade 9-footer was achieved on, which was Brilliant RED). I also don't want them to do anything about DDR X because I've never played one of those machines before. So I really want them to get a new machine. Maybe put Extreme & Supernova on the top floor and X & X2 on the bottom.

OK get this: Famous Players Silvercity Richmond Hill has a ITG 2 machine and it's been there for several months and I think it's time to be replaced by DDR X2! The address is 8771 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON and the phone number is (416) 646-0444? How do I convince Famous Players Silvercity Richmond Hill to get DDR X2? How?