I’m going to try a new poll feature out here, via gfxpoll.com. Other polls I’ve tried have been through SurveyMonkey but I’ve been wanting something that you can embed into the site, so here it goes. Just click on the link below for your preferred choice and it should show up on the graphic below. Also feel free to leave a comment about your choice in the comments section.
Poll: How do you prefer to pay for games? (Click on these links, not on the graphic)
- Good ol’ Quarters!
- Nickels
- Tokens
- Admission fee w/ freeplay games
- Magnetic strip cards/keys
- RFID tags/ wristbands
- Other
Status:
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I voted for quarters, as a proxy for my local currency (good ol’ sterling). This probably reflects the UK arcade scene more than any personal preference. This might seem strange to readers across the pond, but I have never been to an arcade which charges for entry during regular operation. The only times I’ve paid to get into an arcade were due to the “freeplay morning” promotions at my local one (check out the forums for an explanation).
Also, I frequently see arcade cabinets deployed in settings where the games are not the main attraction. Tekken 3 in a takeaway, Street Fighter 2 in the football club’s bar, a couple of games at the sports centre (most memorably Neo Turf Masters and Decathlete), Sega Rally as part of a travelling fair, and the small variety of games at my local bowling alley. In these cases, alternative payment methods are rarely feasible, and of course you’re never likely to have spare tokens in your pocket.
It should be noted that I wouldn’t pay to enter an arcade unless I had some way of knowing what games were inside first! However, in the UK this is not a problem – even the big dedicated arcades in London and at beachfronts don’t charge for entry, so those of limited resources can have a good browse before deciding to drop £2 on a game of After Burner Climax.
Sorry about the quarters thing – I’m trying to edit the poll to add sterling but it won’t let me edit the options. I’ll have to keep looking into it.
I’ve only been to one arcade that charges an admission fee, most don’t. I have noticed a trend in the US that more are starting to do admission fee only w/ free play.
No worries, I think the intention is fairly obvious to most people.
The other thing I forgot to mention is that UK currency is more coin-intensive than the US. Whereas it is apparently not common to encounter 50c and $1 coins, in the UK the 50p, £1 and £2 denominations are regularly encountered and have no equivalent banknotes.
The most common payment method here is probably tokens right now. There are only a few arcades left that use quarters really. Swipecards are popular but only at the biggest arcades. One arcade that was pay one price for all machines on freeplay just went under, but they did let you walk around before you paid, it was really an honor pay by the hour system.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a 50¢ or $1 coin. I wouldn’t mind the $1 coin becoming the standard however, I imagine that counterfeiting such currency is much more complicated.
Does anyone know of an arcade that has switched over to those RFID wristbands? I saw a booth at ASI advertising the idea but I didn’t stop by.
I went with tokens, only because places like FunSpot offer deals where the tokens are cheaper. With their deal, they come out to 11 cents each! There’s other places that I’ve seen do 3 for a dollar and they can **** off.
I HATE Dave and Busters style game cards, if they put REAL money amounts on it rather then just points that confuse and rip you off, I’d be fine with that. But give me good ol’ quarters and tokens any day of the week.
Others! – Mobile Phone
Mobile phones? Please do tell how that works!
IMHO Magnetic stripe cards/readers are the best option (from a business perspective). No counting quarters/tokens or filling change machines, no slugs and jammed coin mechs, you can easily increase prices across all machines (although like the other comment I also hate it when Dave & Busters obfuscates credits to quarters), real time accounting of income, bonus and rewards systems for discount credits, …
What I hate most is nickles or pay at entrace with all the games on free play. This completely ruins the motivation to play a game seriously (score/skill). Part of the enjoyment is eaking out as much fun as possible for your money. Without challenge it gets boring real fast.