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According to many people, Arcade Machines aren’t profitable anymore because of the new technologies and gaming machines hitting the streets and homes of every person in the world..
Although you should be happy to hear that that is not the case at all.
Arcade Machines are still profitable for many people. Arcades aren’t as popular (or profitable as they once were) but arcades have started to make a comeback in recent years. Many businesses have started pairing food or alcohol with arcades and come up with the modern “barcade””.
In this article we will discuss everything from where arcade machines are profitable, to the costs of owning and running an entire arcade.
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Where Are Arcade Machines Profitable?
Honestly, there are many countries that aren’t offering arcade games anymore because they have to compete with too much competition, and it just wasn’t worth it for them.
The good thing is that there are few Asian Countries that are still offering arcade games and they are earning a handsome amount from those machines.
Those countries are:
- Pakistan
- India
- Bangladesh
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- China
There are few countries in the Middle East as well that are offering Arcade Machine games in the gaming centers. If you want to know which arcade games are popular in the above-written countries? Well lucky for you we hvve done our research.
- Pac-Man
- Tekken 3
- Chicken Invaders
- Star Wars
- Mario Bros
So, if you live in one of the countries above, then there’s still a decent amount of Arcade Machine games around, and people are diehard fans of these games.
Of course arcades are still around in the USA as well but they are far less common than they once were. There are very few stand alone arcades but many businesses have paired the playing of arcade games with a restuarant or even a bar to help increase the profits.
In these type of places the arcade is a part of the reason you go there but you can also go there for the food and to spend time with family or friends. Some popular chains like this include
- Dave & Busters
- Main Event
- Jake’s Unlimited
- Incredible Pizza
- Chucky Cheese
None of the above are stand alone arcades but they bring in a lot of business because of the games that you play and then you will also eat or drink while there.
There are tons of smaller “barcades” throughout the United States and the world as well. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of a barcade check out the video below.
What Is The Cost Of A Typical Arcade Machine?
A lot of people love to search for the prices before they go directly to the outlet or online selling platforms to buy an arcade machine.
There are many factors that determine the price of an arcade machine. They can be anything from the condition of the machine, new vs refurbished, the popularity of the game, to design, technicality, and a lot more.
The majority of the games that we have found range in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousands of dollars. Below are a few other factors that play an important role in determining the cost of the game:
- New or pre-owned arcade machine
- Number of players
- Number of game cabinets
- The size of the monitor screen
- Current market value
- The mechanical and cosmetic condition of the game
- Current game popularity
- Current supply and demand of the game
If you keep these things in your mind, you will know exactly what to look for when you go to purchase a new or used game.
Which Type Of Arcade Game Should I Buy?
This is one of the best questions that people love to ask before they go to buy any arcade game. We would suggest you to go for the games that you like the best. You should Judge the game by:
- Looks
- Themes
- Colours
- Rules
- Number of games
- What kind of games (Kids, Teens, Adults, Mix)
Some people go for the game by looking at the theme (Movie, Celebrities and Sports) and some people go for the brand new games to attract people towards gaming centers.
When looking for buying the game, you should keep the below mentioned things in your mind:
- How much money do you have in your pocket, or how much are you willing to spend on the arcade machines?
- Are you buying the game for your home or gaming zone?
If you are going to buy them for your house, then you will have to ignore the adult games for the most part, but you can count yourself in for the adult game if you’re willing to buy the game for a gaming zone, or an adults only area of the house.
These two things are just a couple of things to consider before purchasing an arcade machine. If you need more recommendations before buying a certain game, you can simply look up the name of the game online and look at reviews of the game.
How Do I Get My Arcade Machine Repaired?
If you have planned to buy an arcade machine, then you should know that most arcade machines are manufactured in a way where every part is modular. Because of this, if you contact the place you purchased the machine from, they will most likely be able to tell you what the issue is with your machine over the phone.
If they are not able to help you over the phone, most places have certified technicians that they can send to your house to fix the machine that week.
If some of the parts aren’t working well or you think they might need replaced, you should be able to locate a part number on the piece. From there you can simply google the part number or call the place you purchased the machine from and order a new piece.
Once the new piece comes in, you will simply connect it right back in where the nonworking piece was located.
Repairs are normally quick and super easy when you purchase an arcade machine. A Lot of the time with a little bit of ingenuity you will be able to fix the piece yourself and not have to wait for a technician to become available for you to keep paying your arcade machine.
The History Of Arcade Machines
When we talk about the past two decades we realize that arcades were the social points for kids and teenagers. It wouldn’t be wrong if you called arcades a “Heaven” for the kids because that was the source of entertainment for them.
Kids use to kick their anxieties of school, forget about their parents, and get lost in the games in front of them all while trying to beat their friends by scoring the high scores or moving to the top-level.
Sadly, over the past couple of decades, arcade machines have played a small role in entertaining and becoming a source of enjoyment for the kids. With the gaming industry evolving so much, it has become difficult for the arcade machines to stand out in the competition.
Once Arcade games became digital that could be played at home, people stopped going to arcades.
Even with game systems in the home, there are a few countries that are still offering arcades and all of the experience that went along with an arcade.
Conclusion
Although most people today do not purchase arcade machines in the United States to set up an arcade, they are still readily available. If you do decide you want to venture out, and create an arcade, I would recommend doing so in a very heavily populated area where a lot of tourists will be passing by.
Even in the United States there are still a few arcades that are in touristy spots that still make a profit today.
If you are purchasing an arcade machine for your home as most people today do, there are many different arcade games you can purchase, and I would highly recommend doing your research on what the best and most reliable arcade machines are before you spend the money on something you may not even spend that much time playing in the long run.
No matter what option you choose, we hope you are happy with your choice, and you are able to enjoy the arcade machine you purchased for many many years to come.