Hello all. New to the community but a long time lover of all things game room and pinball related.
So we just started a 12-14 month gut renovation of our brownstone in Brooklyn. One of the more pleasant surprises of the design process was finding out that we could actually excavate our formerly useless cellar and make it truly useable space. They just started demolition last week, but they aren't wasting any time. Attached is a pic of part of the cellar 2 days into the start of the project. They have already begun jackhammering out the cement so they can excavate 18-24 inches.
This is my shot at a game room. Some mechanicals need to be down there in a separate room, and it's a Brooklyn Brownstone, which means longer and narrower. Essentially I'm working with a 19x30 space with an overhead height of 7'10-8' (they can't be certain of the height until fully excavated). There won't be any columns to worry about. Not huge, I'm aware, but I'm committed to making it work. I've probably got a good 7-9 months before I really need to start making some hard decisions, but I want it as perfect as it can be.

I have 2 kids who will be 7 (girl) and 4 (boy) when the reno is finished. Here are my thoughts:

1. Super Chexx Pro - the only true requirement
2. 1 pin - maybe Simpsons Pinball Party with hope that it lures the kids in
3. shuffleboard (12 or 14 foot table)
4. Ms. Pac Man cocktail table
5. 75" TV and couches
6. Darts
7. Some kind of game table for poker/board games/chess/checkers, etc.
8. Would love to get one of the three-wheel Super Off Roads in there, but recognize that isn't going to happen.

Let's say the sky's the limit for right now. Thoughts on A/V, flooring, what I'm missing, etc.?

Thanks.

20180215_094501 (resized).jpg

So we'll be 8' clear finished. That's counting everything. We should be good on getting things in and out. It will be heated.

Only a ginormous steel beam the previous owner put in, probably to prevent the entire house from sagging. Spoiler alert: it didn't work.