From: chris@coombs.anu.edu.au (Chris @ SSDA)
Subject: Re: Soft tips (Was: Lurker comes forward)
Organization: Computer Services Centre, Australian National University
Date: 29 Sep 92 03:24:36 GMT

tang@akofin.enet.dec.com (Gabe Tang) writes:


>re: (Chris @ SSDA) :


>Chris,

>	In the US, there is a machine like the one you describe marketed as
>	Top Dart. I don't know who maufactures it. I have heard the machine
>	quoted to cost around $US 4,000. Somehow I don't think that translates
>	into $AUS 40,000. I thought the translation rate was maybe .75US to 
>	1AUS. At 40k $AUS, I should think very few are sold at all. :-}

Yep as far as I know that particular demo version is still the only one in
Australia, however the machine itself was designed for the pub environment and
had facilities for coin slots, etc.  I've never heard of the Top Dart board
but it certainly sounds similar - perhaps the guy selling them is just making
one hell of a profit - or I got the $40K number wrong (this was 1.5 years ago).

>	Still, that's a lot to pay for a machine to do the scoring for you. ;^)
>	I recall the talk was that the board itself was the weak point. They
>	wore out just as quickly if not more so than a regular bristle
>	board but cost a bit more since they were made with graphite (carbon)
>	throughout the bristles. You need a lot of games to make back that
>	investment and cost of board replacements. Depending upon which game 
>	was being played and with chitchat, delays for beer and bathroom runs, 
>	practice/warm-ups and whatnot, let's say a typical game goes for about 
>	10 minutes on average. Even with a game machine being used for 12 hours 
>	per day, or 72 games, that will only average out to $36 per day assuming
>	$.50 per game because of 2 players. Besides the fact that it would
>	take roughly 111 days to make back the initial outlay and maybe a
>	few board changes, I still think $36 a day isn't a real money earner
>	either. For a bar, I should think the attraction is still in serving
>	alcohol. The darts is merely the amusement that draws people into
>	the bar. All in all, I'd rather buy 1 standard board for $36 dollars
>	and collect the extra $36 dollars each day in the form of served
>	drinks. After 111 days or so, I'd probably be a little under $4,000 
>	ahead rather than just paying off the cost of the machine. 

I seem to remember that the separate components of the board - ie each
segment was separate and could be replaced individually.  Also the board could
be rotated.

>	Hey, what do I know. I haven't seen many of these type of electronic
>	darts in the area either. Must be cheap bar owners too.  8-}}

As far as I'm concerned the ability to count is one of the more important
features in a game such as 501.  Electronic scoring means that the players
really don't have to learn to count for themselves.

(Say's a man who once pegged 157 when he had 257 left - SHIT)

Cheers all

Chris.

-- 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
                  Chris Patterson | Ph:  +61 6 2492185
     Social Science Data Archives | AARNet: Chris@coombs.anu.edu.au
   Australian National University | "I wonder what happens if I ..."
--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
                  Chris Patterson | Ph:  +61 6 2492185
     Social Science Data Archives | AARNet: Chris@coombs.anu.edu.au
   Australian National University | "I wonder what happens if I ..."
Newsgroups: alt.sport.darts