Star Tech Journal

STAR*TEcH
Journal
June 1996
Do WORKING P1N GAMES AFFECT EARNINGS?
Dave Grossman
Games Consultant
New City, New York
Do well maintained pin games affect earnings significantly enough
to justify the extra expense to the operator?
From my own experience, in a
big location ( more than 5 pins),
it absolutely does. These are the
places that have loyal pinheads
and often are homes to leagues.
Game maintenance is critical as
the serious players will get turned
off and look for other
places to play.
few other minor problems. The
Theatre of Magic was unplayable
with a severe lean to the right, a
broken trap door, a non-register-
ing trunk and hocus pocuses, and
a black playfield. After quite a
few hours of work, I had both at
100%. Clean, fast, and
fully functional. I
stopped in during my
This may exclude
"ft
that to an average
next school break (2
places that get such
months later) and
player,
they
put
money
in
if
high traffic that they
asked if it helped earn-
don't need repeat play-
ings. Much to my dis-
because they like the look and
ers as there are enough
may, the owner told
feel of the game.,,
newbies plunking in
me he noticed no big
tokens to more than
difference in earnings
make up for it. These
-maybe a few dollars a
are extremely rare, though, and
have found that in locations with
week. Nothing he considered sig-
even these places could stand the
less skilled pinball players (and
nificant!
added customer satisfaction of
thus, less loyal) proper mainte-
nance makes almost no differ-
working machines.
2) In the recent past, my attempts
ence at all (in immediate weekly
to turn Jake's (an arcade I helped
Proof that well maintained pins
earnings that is, not overall in the
manage at school) into a place
in these larger locations can be
arcade).
that made money on pinball, the
found in that most mall arcades
result were about the same.
I have two examples that (unfor-
don't have much success with
When I put our No'Fear in per-
tunately)
back
this
up.
fect
condition, for example, earn-
pins. But look at the Galleria's
ings were still only about $50 a
Cyberstation in Atlanta and
1) a local pool hall/arcade con-
week.
you'll find quite high pin earn-
tracted ·me to get 2 pins (Star
ings due to impeccable mainte-
Trek:TNG and Theatre of Magic)
It seems that to an average
nance. The difference in play is
into perfect condition. Prior to
player, they put money in if they
the difference in game condition.
my work, the Star Trek:TNG had
like the look and feel of the game.
no working guns, was mis-lev-
In a smaller location, however,
eled, had a black playfield, and a
it varies. Some small locations
... continued on next page
have loyal followings. In these
situations, the loyal players make
up a large portion of the earnings
pool, so keeping them happy is
important. Give up maintenance
and you'll likely lose half your
weekly cashout. Unfortunately, I
seems