I'm more of a lurker here and just try to contribute and stay here just for pinball and don't get in community politics here, but as a user of the "other" popular site out there that we all know about, I don't find this suggestion very fair, especially when the OP is probably just suggesting that because he's perm-banned off of the other one and has been for a few years.
That's my two cents. Expansion is of course always welcome but I'd hate to see it split up the collector community even more (like, they're split now, but in a healthy manner), I think it's very healthy to have a pinball forum and an arcade forum separate, KLOV does have it's own pinball sub-forum but it's pretty empty. It would likely be the same on Pinside, but I could see that being fair since KLOV does indeed have their own section for that, under one single sub-forum. But, I think a whole new site would be a major waste of money, donations, and effort. Somebody's already done it, and it's been a very strong standing example of what we need for a very very very long time, and is *extremely* populated to the extent that Pinside is populated. My vote is to let it be and keep Pinside going strong, and not try a move that basically could turn out like the Ford Edsel.
I know some people here have some stupid hatred for KLOV and believe me it's the same on the other side (it's silly, but whatever) and I'd also hate to see any action regarding this flair up any drama between communities.
I might be younger (17) but I've seen this happen with communities a billion times before because my generation is simply on the internet a lot. Trust me, and just let it be. Please. Otherwise you're going to single-handled split up arcade support, information, help, sales, and more. People won't be happy about it and that's that. I love contributing to here and think all of the actions and additions here have been great but you should really think this one over and see if it's a price worth paying:
How active would it be?
How would people receive it? Yes, there are a few "double-collectors" here like myself but a lot of pinball people simply don't like arcade machines. So, they have no use for it and won't join. Also, how would the outer community receive it? A lot of my fellow arcade collectors probably wouldn't take it too well or just wouldn't join. I wouldn't, sorry.
How would the game archive be handled? Would it include redemption games? There's like a billion and two arcade machines out there, and also thousands of conversion kits, ROM swaps, variations, mods, and more. KLOV's database is old as hell and giant, but it took a long time to make it that way. There isn't just replay and add-a-ball variants, there's like a thousand Ms. Pacman mods alone that need to be documented and people will bitch if it's not. Would Pinside staff be prepared to work for that?
Simply, my vote is no. Stick to what you know Pinside staff and get your arcade fill in a thread here or just do it elsewhere, you don't need to own the entire scene of gaming even though I'm sure it's in good intentions. It will harm the community and also scramble the information even more out there and simply split things up between two major places (one known and solid, one likely to be highly advertised in this active community), which we don't need. It's going to be a major PITA to get arcade support for more unique games and will just split up pretty much everything for things that are hard to get already, parts, games, support, and a known community. Can't you just let this one be? I enjoy using both sites and already mentioned not using the arcade variation of whatever this site comes to be, but also would kind of taint my view of Pinside (the pinball site version) and would turn me off from using it a bit.
I think a single sub-forum would be suitable, but would kind of lack without a game archive, but still. Any more than that and it's stepping over the line IMHO. I don't think Pinside should make up for PACMAN/fizgig being perm-banned from KLOV, your fault, not anybody else's. Pinside doesn't have to even discuss KLOV or anything (obviously), but I don't think trying to make your own is too morally correct either. The staff here have done a great job making this a respected place for pinball discussion and is definitely THE spot to be for pinball collecting, but don't lose that respect by blowing it by wanting more, more, more. I'm happy discussing arcade machines where I do already and I'm sure everybody else is too, and I certainly feel no inclination towards moving. I really think it's in everybody's best interest to let this one go, guys. Seriously. That's not a threat or anything, I just know this will backfire all around, regardless if the initial idea works out a bit or not.
My vote is sub-forum or nothing at all. It isn't needed and would feel like a kick in the nuts. It's Pinside, not Arcadeside.