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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HeavyElectricity
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.