Save Video Games -Get A Life Gaming
Donation protected
I moved from Minnesota to Colorado a year and a half ago to help care for my dad who had suffered a series of life altering strokes. I was working thirty hours a week helping with my dad's care and therapies. To help make ends meet I got a part time job as a repair tech at a video game shop in Denver. This is where I met Ray and we quickly became friends. We worked at the game shop buying, selling and fixing game consoles from the Atari era all the way up to the current generation consoles. Ray and I each had to fix approximately forty-five consoles a week. It was a lot of hard work, but also a blast working on broken games and consoles. After work we'd occasionally have tournaments with games like Killer Instinct and Mario Kart to blow off steam. After working there for a year, imagine our shock when the owner decided to pack up the shop and move back home.
We found other jobs, but this unexpected turn of events spurred us on to this point. We have been putting all spare time and funds toward setting up our dream of running our own repair shop. Over the years, as long time video game enthusiasts we've paid good money for devices that, given the cost, should have a longer life span. To offset this disposable market mentality we pride ourselves in fixing game consoles to keep you playing longer, spending fewer dollars than you would having to purchase a replacement. Ray is well versed in fixing handheld systems, controllers and retro consoles. My forte is lasers, all things inside disc drives and processors. Between the two of us, we can fix just about any console, cartridge game or controller issue. Because of our excellent rapport and customer service we trust there will be a solid base of loyal customers. We will be one of the only shops able to do processor replacements to permanently fix overheating systems. We have a good working relationship with local video game retailers fixing their broken trade-ins. They are ready and willing to send business our way once we are a fully functioning shop. If you check out our website (http://getalifegames.com/), the products for sale aren't ours; we're listing them for a local store that doesn't have much of a web presence.
So far with what we have been able to save and with a generous donation from my Grandma, we have designed a logo, secured business licenses, rented a small shop space, purchased some basic tools, and are developing a website. We are still in need of replacement parts and a few more pieces of equipment for making permanent repairs for things like Red Ring and Yellow Light errors on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Our biggest challenge right now is coming up with the equipment needed to do these more specialized repairs. Initial funding will go to purchase the most important pieces: the BGA Rework Station and the disc repair machine.
RepairTrax: Repair order tracking system $365
For internal tracking, also customers can login and view their repair progress to get updates
VMI Hybrid 2.0 Disc repair machine $1800
Resurfaces all disc types to remove scratches and scuffs
BGA Reball/Rework station & supplies $1800
This machine allows us to remove and replace the processors on consoles
Air Compressor $200
(A quiet one to not upset the hair stylist next door)
We use this to blow out the dust and debris inside consoles
Point of Sale system $1000
Computer, Cash drawer, Receipt printer, Barcode scanner
Security Cameras $300
Day and Night Vision with hard drive backup
Replacement Parts $500
First round of the most common parts: lasers, hard drives, controller parts, capacitors, batteries
Exterior Signage $5000
Sign Install Labor $1000
My dad and step mom recently moved to Wyoming. Having more time available, I'm devoting my energy to making this dream into a reality. We have started to take in some simple repairs using the basic tools we have, but we're asking for your support to take the next step. If you can think of a son, niece or friend that likes video games or has mentioned a broken game system, please share this with them and help get the word out! Any help you can provide is very much appreciated. Another great way to help out is to like our WellsFargoWorks Project entry, which is the same story above. Liking this project gives us a chance to win $25,000 and a mentorship for the business! https://wellsfargoworks.com/project?x=us-en_viewentriesandvote_17761_21
We found other jobs, but this unexpected turn of events spurred us on to this point. We have been putting all spare time and funds toward setting up our dream of running our own repair shop. Over the years, as long time video game enthusiasts we've paid good money for devices that, given the cost, should have a longer life span. To offset this disposable market mentality we pride ourselves in fixing game consoles to keep you playing longer, spending fewer dollars than you would having to purchase a replacement. Ray is well versed in fixing handheld systems, controllers and retro consoles. My forte is lasers, all things inside disc drives and processors. Between the two of us, we can fix just about any console, cartridge game or controller issue. Because of our excellent rapport and customer service we trust there will be a solid base of loyal customers. We will be one of the only shops able to do processor replacements to permanently fix overheating systems. We have a good working relationship with local video game retailers fixing their broken trade-ins. They are ready and willing to send business our way once we are a fully functioning shop. If you check out our website (http://getalifegames.com/), the products for sale aren't ours; we're listing them for a local store that doesn't have much of a web presence.
So far with what we have been able to save and with a generous donation from my Grandma, we have designed a logo, secured business licenses, rented a small shop space, purchased some basic tools, and are developing a website. We are still in need of replacement parts and a few more pieces of equipment for making permanent repairs for things like Red Ring and Yellow Light errors on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Our biggest challenge right now is coming up with the equipment needed to do these more specialized repairs. Initial funding will go to purchase the most important pieces: the BGA Rework Station and the disc repair machine.
RepairTrax: Repair order tracking system $365
For internal tracking, also customers can login and view their repair progress to get updates
VMI Hybrid 2.0 Disc repair machine $1800
Resurfaces all disc types to remove scratches and scuffs
BGA Reball/Rework station & supplies $1800
This machine allows us to remove and replace the processors on consoles
Air Compressor $200
(A quiet one to not upset the hair stylist next door)
We use this to blow out the dust and debris inside consoles
Point of Sale system $1000
Computer, Cash drawer, Receipt printer, Barcode scanner
Security Cameras $300
Day and Night Vision with hard drive backup
Replacement Parts $500
First round of the most common parts: lasers, hard drives, controller parts, capacitors, batteries
Exterior Signage $5000
Sign Install Labor $1000
My dad and step mom recently moved to Wyoming. Having more time available, I'm devoting my energy to making this dream into a reality. We have started to take in some simple repairs using the basic tools we have, but we're asking for your support to take the next step. If you can think of a son, niece or friend that likes video games or has mentioned a broken game system, please share this with them and help get the word out! Any help you can provide is very much appreciated. Another great way to help out is to like our WellsFargoWorks Project entry, which is the same story above. Liking this project gives us a chance to win $25,000 and a mentorship for the business! https://wellsfargoworks.com/project?x=us-en_viewentriesandvote_17761_21
Organizer
Ben Nagel
Organizer
Arvada, CO