READ ME! *Alternative Uses for Disposable Income*

[Junior Asparagus]

I know there are plenty of ideas out there and the prospect of Drummania is kind of exciting, but given the state of affairs at TGA at the moment, and looking forward to the summer, I can envision some potential problems. I was discussing this with some other people, and we came up with a list of suggestions or ideas that might be of a higher priority that acquiring new games right away. What are other people's views on these?

- VENTILATION. As we all know, it can get incredibly hot in the store. It's only like 65 degrees out, and the air feels so gross in there after you play a game of DDR, even with the windows open and only a few people in the store. And of course, there's always the much-discussed body odor problem. Imagine what it's going to be like in the middle of the summer when 50 people are packed in there for an event? :( And that small middle room is the worst as far as heat goes. Someone suggested taking down the door between that room and the back room, but I dunno if that's possible. But anyway, air conditioning would be great. You could probably fit air conditioners into the windows--it could be at least worth looking into. Or if not that, then perhaps investing in some powerful fans.

- Cleaning materials. I think it's common knowledge that most gamers aren't going to win any awards for cleanliness. :) But the carpet gets gross with all the food people leave around (even if they don't spill--just having food around gets it into all of the furniture). I imagine a carpet cleaning is out of the question. Is there a vacuum around? Brooms? Dustbuster? Amanda said she's vacuumed before, so maybe there is. The bathrooms, well, the bathrooms could use some work. Having toilet paper, soap, and paper towels is good, and that's in a better situation than it used to be, but the bathrooms can still get filthy. Mops, sponges, and some of that toilet cleaning stuff could all come in handy. And trashbags, so food residue doesn't get all over the place. Above all else, CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELVES. I see people leave food out all the time, or leave their trash piled in the corner. Especially now that summer's coming...I don't even want to think what it'll be like if people leave their food all over the place indoors and bugs get in. :eek: I would even suggest that the next TGA event be TGA CLEANING DAY!!!! But then, probably only 3 or so people would come.

- Organization of game materials. Walk around the store and there are random TVs, wires, and consoles lying all over the place. Perhaps some shelving would help? Cabinets? Entertainment center-type things? As it is, people are likely to misplace their stuff, or have to look all over the store to find what they're looking for. I don't know how it'd work, but maybe some sort of storage system would make things easier.

- On a related note, is the shelving for the merchandise adequate? It's just lying out there for anyone to possibly take. I know 99% of the regulars can be counted on to self-police, but still. But the games aren't in the cases, at least, so maybe that's ok.

We were just spouting off ideas left and right. I forgot if there was anything else.

So, what do other people think? These are just some of the things we came up with. Obviously, we're not expecting everything to happen. I just think that thinking about some of these things could be very helpful to the store in the long run. I also think the casual players would be more likely to make trips to TGA if it were clean and comfortable, rather than if it was only stockpiled with the latest Bemani games. I understand that some of this can cost some money, but I would even say that doing some of these things is a better investment than more games and/or merchandise. This isn't at all meant to badmouth the store or the business decisions that have been made there. It's just some of the things that some of us thought might be worth looking into, even before getting more machines, especially since there isn't a ton of more room where we could put those machines. Thoughts? Please be constructive...?

[Bryan]

VENTILATION. As we all know, it can get incredibly hot in the store. It's only like 65 degrees out, and the air feels so gross in there after you play a game of DDR, even with the windows open and only a few people in the store. And of course, there's always the much-discussed body odor problem. Imagine what it's going to be like in the middle of the summer when 50 people are packed in there for an event? :( And that small middle room is the worst as far as heat goes. Someone suggested taking down the door between that room and the back room, but I dunno if that's possible. But anyway, air conditioning would be great. You could probably fit air conditioners into the windows--it could be at least worth looking into. Or if not that, then perhaps investing in some powerful fans.
This is a good one to bring up. We all agree that the place needs ventilation, but that wasn't one of the things taken into account when Andy and Sofia were originally looking for a place to move out of. Actually because of the Heritage's pestilance, they had to move out with in days. Research would have been a much more clever thing to do to take this all into account. Mounted air conditioners are out of the question, there is no possible way you can get it to fit in those upper windows without breaking something and there's not enough depth clearance between TGA and Chan's to allow for that. Fans are definitely an option OR (I just thought of it), those portable A/C units that sit on the ground. Although they are $300 themselves, I think having at least 3 energy-efficient ones would help a tremendous amount, and they wouldn't be a big nuisance to TGA's electricity bill as well.

Cleaning materials. I think it's common knowledge that most gamers aren't going to win any awards for cleanliness. :) But the carpet gets gross with all the food people leave around (even if they don't spill--just having food around gets it into all of the furniture). I imagine a carpet cleaning is out of the question. Is there a vacuum around? Brooms? Dustbuster? Amanda said she's vacuumed before, so maybe there is. The bathrooms, well, the bathrooms could use some work. Having toilet paper, soap, and paper towels is good, and that's in a better situation than it used to be, but the bathrooms can still get filthy. Mops, sponges, and some of that toilet cleaning stuff could all come in handy. And trashbags, so food residue doesn't get all over the place. Above all else, CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELVES. I see people leave food out all the time, or leave their trash piled in the corner. Especially now that summer's coming...I don't even want to think what it'll be like if people leave their food all over the place indoors and bugs get in. :eek: I would even suggest that the next TGA event be TGA CLEANING DAY!!!! But then, probably only 3 or so people would come.
We used to keep TGA very clean, as least when I was there. It looks worse than my workplace and we work with packing materials every day. Cleaning materials, well, I think somebody besides Andy go out for them. Sure Andy could pay for them, but try and find a spot in his schedule where he isn't either working, looking after the store, or caring for his father. There isn't any excuse why somebody sitting around at TGA, ESPECIALLY one of the frequent voulnteers can't even bring something from home to help out. I'd bring what we have, but I usually forget after I leave. But only a few hundred dollars at most are going to be needed for this, and signs too, and the people the run the store themselves must set a good example, if you know what I mean.

Organization of game materials. Walk around the store and there are random TVs, wires, and consoles lying all over the place. Perhaps some shelving would help? Cabinets? Entertainment center-type things? As it is, people are likely to misplace their stuff, or have to look all over the store to find what they're looking for. I don't know how it'd work, but maybe some sort of storage system would make things easier.
A few dollars there. I think we should focus more on the wires by getting sorting units at like a CompUSA or something. The idea is great, but it would dramatically reduce the amount of room that is available with all those bulky entertainment units. A storage locker maybe next to the SvC machine or in the back corner next to the bathroom would be wise. Maybe I could donate a few dollars towards that. I think a few more tables are very necessary, but there has to be a hell of a lot of research done before going out and buying some gigantic table that won't even fit through the door.

Please be constructive...?
Constructive enough for you? Haha, just kidding. But seriously, you brought up some good points, but this needs to be a collective effort. It's not so much a money issue as it is a people issue, we can go ahead with most of these changes without hindering the health of the potential DM purchase. So at this TGA CLEANING DAY, I want to see you as well as the people you formulated these ideas with to be there. We need everybody to get in on this, I think a lot of these problems, except for the A/C problem can be resolved by spending a few dollars and being a little more cautious of what's going on. I'll be sure to remember to keep that in mind when I am there again and if I ever happen to be found running the store for a day or so.

And that... as they say... is that.

[Darius]

well, lemme know when this "cleaning day" will be, and I'll prolly be willing to stop by. Even if I don't play the games, just to chill, and help clean, I'm a bored man. Why not? =) At least I'd be chillin

* smile *

[Andy]

I apologize for any typos and if my grammar sucks. I have 5 min to type this and I've been awake for over 30 hours.

Chris, I'm glad you brought this up. This has been on my mind for the past few days. I took the day off of work today just to take care of the problems you listed and to tie up some other loose ends in the store.

1) I am going to purchase some fans today to help cool the store down. When we had our old fan going with both doors and all windows open, it was very cool in the store. Unfortunately someone broke the fan.

2) I noticed that the bathrooms really need to be cleaned. I am going to clean them today and buy some more soap for the front bathroom. We do have an ample supply of Toilet paper though :gator:

3) The store WAS an absolute mess yesterday. Consoles and games are usually out, only when they are being signed out by someone. At the end of the day, I usually clean and re-organize the store. The past week has been a nightmare, so a lot of things have not been done, that usually are.

4) I don't think this applies to anyone here, well at least I hope it doesn't, but please do not throw trash from TGA (candy wrappers, soda bottles) in the hallways or in the parking lot. This is a very poor reflection on TGA and I have the happy task of cleaning everything up in the early morning hours. If you see some trash lying around in the vicinity of the store, if you could throw it away that would be wonderful.

5) I would like to re-organize the consoles and keep everything as neat as possible. I have been slowly working on this as the budget permits by purchasing tables and chairs. The wood in the back room is going to get tossed, and I would really like to do something with the IIDX monitor asap.

Well, that's all for now, if you have any suggestions, or anything to donate that would help the cause, we would really appreciate it. Thanks!!!

Andy

[iceymoon]

personally i don't care about all of this, but i'm also hardly ever there. ^^; if they're becoming major problems though (as ventilation seems to be, especially with summer around the corner), they should be held as a higher priority, methinks.

[Catastrophe]

When is this cleaning day? I'll go!

I think these priorities in order are:
1. Cleanliness
2. Ventilation
3. Organization

As for cleanliness I know the toilet in the Beatmania room needs to have the chain re-attached to the lever. I went in that bathroom one day and when I opened the door the smell was so bad I nearly blacked out. Pete nearly failed his song too, so you know it must've been bad. :p Apparently several people had used that toilet IN SEVERAL DAYS TIME without flushing. That is just nasty. Why do people do that? Fortunately, I know how toilets work and I flushed it without getting my hands dirty.

As for ventilation, get those window fans. They fit in normal size windows, they don't take up any extra space, and they draw air out of the room. When combined with an open door you get ventilation. When combined with an AC instead you get cool ventilation too.

As for organization, put boxes/crates/baskets under the tables. You've got plenty of tables! :) Leave the hallway the way it is now forever. Its the best use of the space. I think the shelves Andy has now are okay since he doesn't leave the CDs in the cases. The boxes on the shelf are empty but the other collectable stuff isn't very safe. A display case with plexiglass doors (glass is too expensive/fragile) like what you would see behind the counter at a game store would be great but then again Andy has already made a big investment in the shelves he already has. They were expensive, I'm sure. Oh, and finally, someone needs to take home the pile of stuff thats wedged between the DMX machine and the wall. Doesn't the Biology book actually belong to Sofia? Its been kicking around the store since D3!

[mus1ck1d15]

people should donate fans from home,if they have a lot or extra or something...I think i actually might have one of those window fan dealys. If I can find it I'll bring it since we have central air conditioning.

[Devil Warrior]

People should donate money from home too.

[Kamashi-Kun]

I'll Help!! :froggy:
I think we should also give the bum-rush to anyone we catch stuffing things near the DMX machine.

(Who can guess who this is)
||
||
||
||
\/

[Shin-Peter]

That is Awesome Mr. Toxic Avenger, sir. Cleaning day sounds like a plan. I don't mind doing some cleaning... Somebody pick me up, waarrgggghhh!! heh...

[Stax Kazama]

Providing I'm not working..I'd go up and clean. (I randomly started cleaning and organizing stuff when I was up there last time). And maybe each person could like donate something that TGA needs? If one person gets on thing, then it would add up, and most cleaning stuff doesn't cost a lot when its just one thing. I know, from being up there that they are in DIRE, DIRE need of a toilet brush, paper towels, maybe a mop bucket and some floor cleaner, windex, maybe some small storage bins,labels,trash bags, trash buckets (some kitchen sized one for the front, and a small one for the bathrooms?), dispoable gloves, etc

[tropicana]

I agree to all of the above, and I would definately help since a chunk of my time is spent there. :D

[framerate]

resurrecting the dead eh?

i was at TGA on saturday and the play was a mess. I *kinda* helped Andy, Ishbo, etc. tidy up. But still, the trash can was overflowing, there was trash all on the sides of the DDR machine, a IIDX controller out, some SNK controllers, etc.

so if your at TGA when it closes, or are volunteering your time there, i think it would be best to make sure that everything is away and all trash is picked up. (so the people that get there when TGA opens doesnt) :D

and the PNM set up needs to be a little better in my opinion.

dont flame me. im trying to help :)
________
FORD T PLATFORM SPECIFICATIONS (http://www.ford-wiki.com/wiki/Ford_T_platform)

[Hi-C]

I think this calls for another TGA clean up day. what do you guys think? Because when i went to TGA the place was a bit dirty. The floor could deffinetly be vacuumed, in the front, side and back rooms. also somethings need to be staightened out on the tables abd stuff. I would be up for a clean up day so count me in.

[Nayda]

i agree with Hi-C. You can also count me in for clean up day, i mean i've done it before so it's not problem. :froggy:

[Dr. J]

i agree with Hi-C. You can also count me in for clean up day, i mean i've done it before so it's not problem. :froggy:



nayda, i think you meant to see that WE have done it before lol but yea, i also agree with HI-C. we should go there one day (me, nayda, and Hi-C) and clean up the place like is hasnt been cleaned before, what do you say guys???

[Stax Kazama]

If there were a cleanup day and I were actually abe to make it there I'd be willing to help. The bathrooms at TGA are absolutly vile. I'd rather drive 30-40 minutes back to Warwick to use a clean toilet rather than use one at TGA again. :confused:

[Garrett]

If there were a cleanup day and I were actually abe to make it there I'd be willing to help. The bathrooms at TGA are absolutly vile. I'd rather drive 30-40 minutes back to Warwick to use a clean toilet rather than use one at TGA again. :confused:

Just squat :p

[Stax Kazama]

Just squat :p


Thats not funny.