Regularly clean machines, strategically place them in high-traffic areas, and frequently update games to boost engagement by up to 25%.
Routine Maintenance
To ensure your arcade machine has a long life and high productivity, ongoing and regular maintenance is a must. Read my perfectly detailed guide on effective routine maintenance.
Regular Inspection and Cleaning
The initial step to maintaining operability: regular inspection and cleaning. Dust and debris can accumulate inside the machine and can also affect how its electronics and mechanics work. Wipe the machine down at least once a week with a soft cloth and electronics-safe cleaner. Check for loose wires or components regularly during each cleaning, and make sure controls and buttons are working properly
Check and Update Software
It is very important to keep your software updated. Software updates can be used to correct bugs, add features, or enhance the player experience. Additionally, updates should be applied monthly so as not to affect gameplay during peak hours. Follow the instructions provided to properly update your tracker, as failure to do so may result in bugs that affect gameplay.
Pre-Test Parts
Joysticks, buttons, and screens can wear out over time, which can affect the gaming experience. Playtest all areas of your arcade twice a month. If a part is not performing well (perhaps a joystick seems to lag, or the screen appears dim), it must be replaced immediately. Recording replacements in a log will help estimate the life of the part and prepare for future needs.
Train your staff on basic troubleshooting
On the human side, make sure your staff is trained on troubleshooting so they can help you manage those support calls. For example, changing machines that people want to play because they are at the back of a row or are shut down for simple maintenance like clearing coin jams and resetting them. Employees need to be able to do this easily while also knowing when to escalate an issue and call a technician. Provide training seminars every six months to teach staff about the latest machines and their maintenance procedures.
Strategic Placement
The placement of your arcade machines has a significant impact on their success and appeal, choose the best location. Here are the strategies that really work and will give you more visibility and reach.
Analyze Traffic
Understanding the traffic patterns of your venue is a key element. Place machines where your target audience can see them. For example, at the entrance or on a main thoroughfare where 200-300 people pass by every hour. Use customer traffic data to place machines where consumers can see them
Consider player demographics
Place arcade machines where specific age groups are prioritized. Set up skill games by family and jackpot machines near teenagers. According to survey results, machines are up to 40% more likely to be used when strategically installed for specific demographics.
Use Space Wisely
This means for every user, reducing no one is uncomfortable, using space effectively means for every user. Make sure there is enough space around each machine so players don’t feel restricted and can enhance their gaming experience + increase gaming time from 15% to 25%. Never place machines in corners, hidden or out of sight.
Rotate Machines Regularly
Keep the gaming experience fresh by rotating the machines in your gaming room once in a while. Not only does this attract regular customers, it also helps us understand the placement configuration that generates the most revenue based on usage patterns. Rotating machines every three months can lead to a 20% revenue growth potential
Regular Updates
It’s also important to update your arcade frequently so as not to lose any new players, and you need to make as much money as possible. This doesn’t just mean software updates, but new games and features.
Schedule Software Updates
Exclusive software updates are needed to eliminate bugs, enhance games, and add new content. Set changes in your schedule to minimize the impact on them (off-peak times). For example, game updates every two months have been shown to reduce downtime by up to 30% and help provide the best experience.
News on New Games and Features
To keep your arcade customers coming back, you need to change up your game lineup regularly. Add new games every quarter. Combine player feedback and performance data to choose the games you think are most likely to become hits. Sales data confirms that new games can increase overall arcade revenue by 12.5% to 25% within the first month of release.
Seasons and Themes Keep Players Engaged
With this feature, you can take advantage of seasonal trends and popular themes to get your game ready for the current event or holiday. Plus, it’s always good to have players excited about future endeavors. Player engagement increased by 50% during events due to the changes brought about by seasonal updates.
Listen and implement player feedback
Use data analytics to monitor which games are popular and alert certain games that are underperforming. By analyzing not only the players, you can also adjust the menu based on the players’ preferences, changing with each new influx of insights, thereby maximizing the return of the machine. Adjustments based on analytics may increase player retention by 20%.
