Winning Odds

Coin-operated air hockey, football tables and pool tables are coming back into fashion, now that the video side is being overtaken by home based consoles.

Choosing the right combination of amusements, games and machines can be a precarious balancing act between customer satisfaction and maximum pay back.
The right combination can enhance the guest experience and help create that elusive fun factor that keeps them coming back year after year.
But with a plethora of choice available, selecting the winning formula can be a tricky recipe to perfect.
JS Classics provide retro arcade machines to both the home market and corporate sector. Over the years the company has grown and now deals with all aspects of gaming throughout the corporate sector.
Jonathan Thompson of JS Classics advises: “The key to a successful games room or arcade is variety - there must be something to appeal to kids, parents and grandparents alike.
“There are also certain arcade games that will always big revenue earners. So-called ‘legacy’ games such as Pac-Man and anything Star Wars related have always been and continue to be popular. Air Hockey tables also remain a favourite among all age groups.”
Jonathan continues: “Eventually video arcade machines will become out of date and will need to be changed, but as long as you buy right and choose popular titles their earning potential can last for years. On the whole, kids will enjoy playing on the games they are presented within a closed holiday park environment.”

MAXIMISING PROFIT

Air hockey tables remain a favourite among gamers of all ages.

Arcade machines come in a huge range of sizes from what’s known as a single player upright machine through to multiplayer games held in small cinemas. In general, the larger screened machines are known as ‘deluxe’ models and the more conservative sized machines are known as ‘standard’ cabinets.
Jamie Stanford managing director of Liberty Games says: “Much of the UK market revolves around refurbished machines because of the rather hefty price tag of a new machine. Prices range from good second hand machines at around £2500 right through to the latest Sega full motion machines stretching in to the hundreds of thousands.
“The payback of a machine is directly related to how well the machine is purchased in the first place. I would advise reducing your capital input by buying second hand – these machines depreciate at quite a rate in the first few years so bargains are out there. In most cases we see machines paying for themselves in the first 3 months and the owners enjoying profits from that point onwards,” he adds.
Liberty Games sell a comprehensive choice of both new and refurbished arcade machines covering a wide range of genres, from dance, driving and quiz machines, to prize redemption machines such as grabbers and cranes.
Jamie continues: “Currently our most popular products are the Galaxy and Cosmic range of machines. The cabinets hold up to 350 games and give the user a much richer experience than a single game.
“Apart from that, we find that the arcade machines that have not been well replicated on home based consoles are still very popular. Shooting games for example have not yet been replicated to any high standard in the home environment so consequently can still pull in the crowds at the arcades.”
Outside of the games room, larger scale games and rides such as bumper cars, dodgems and go-karts are also a firm favourite among families. Specialising in coin-operated family games and rides, World of Rides’ most popular range is their ‘Mini Moto’ pollution-free battery operated cars, which run on a hardstanding oval track.
David Robinson, general manager of World of Rides comments: “Battery rides are always a win-win investment as financially they are hardly ever viewed as an expense by operators, as they have such a rapid pay-back period.
“Our battery operated cars have remained virtually recessionproof over our past forty years of production. Parents and children love them as they are such fun, and operators and local authorities love them as they are pollution-free, and contribute to lowering their carbon footprint.”
David continues: “Incomes for such rides will vary at differing times of year, but our customers tell us that an average income, at a normal price of £1.00 per three minute ride, is normally around £100.00 per vehicle per day, which increases further at peak holiday periods.”

Company Contacts

JS Classics
Tel. 0800 112 33 41
www.jsclassics.net

Liberty Games
Tel. +44 (0)1372 736470
www.libertygames.co.uk

World of Rides
Tel. +44 (0)191 49 20 999
www.worldofrides.com

EMBED International
Tel. +44 (0)1225 311323
www.embedcard.com

Pure Novelty
Email. sales@purenovelty.co.uk
www.purenovelty.co.uk

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