Arcades

**Slotto** · 1st January 2006, 09:47 PM

Hi folks!

I’ve just discovered this site while surfing around – what a great site!

I’ve got a question that one of you guys may be able to answer…
Why is it that in when there are two (or more) arcades in the same area that one will always be busy while the other one is empty? I’ve seen it a couple of times recently. Yesterday (Saturday) I was in Harrow and went into the Nobles arcade which was really busy with around 20 players in. I then went to the ‘Leisure Exchange’ arcade just up the road and it was empty. What is it that these other players know that I don’t?

**anfield road** · 1st January 2006, 10:52 PM

Better machines?

**kidgloves** · 2nd January 2006, 04:02 AM

A number of things can make an arcade popular or not. The staff being polite, the decor and machines being kept in good order, the free drinks and snacks, the promotions. If people think they are being trodden on in terms of bad service or poor machine payouts, they won't come back.

**Thor2007** · 2nd January 2006, 02:15 PM

Machine payouts being the main reason people will go back, any half serious player anyway.

The place can be a pit as far as I'm concerned as long as the money rolls into my pocket.

It's funny someone should bring this up, this is what is currently happening in a seaside town very near here. One arcade (very large) is almost always empty - staff are arseholes, poor payouts, machines faulty with lights out etc, if a machine crashes you're waiting half an hour on it getting fixed. It's a bit of a joke really.

In contrast, just down the road is a much smaller arcade with up to date machines, many customers (so when u hit something it's ready only a few days later), friendly staff and the owner actually valuing his customers.

**Slotto** · 2nd January 2006, 02:47 PM

Yes I think you could be right about the staff. The Nobles arcade staff (all women) were friendly and offered me a drink the first time I asked for change. The ‘Leisure Exchange’ staff (both blokes) ignored me when I arrived and just left me to get my own change from the change machine – it wasn’t like they were busy either!

As for the % payouts I’ve no idea which arcade was better – thou’ judging by the level of custom in Nobles I’d guess that they could have their machines set on a higher %

**gb74** · 3rd January 2006, 01:20 PM

I travel the country on business and always stick to Noble organsation arcades (Nobles / Sun Valley). Guess it's just a familiarity thing - they're all exactly the same........
The arcades and the machines are always well presented and the staff are usually good. However, as Christopher said, all this means shit unless the machines are set to a decent payout. From how I read it, Nobles machines are usually set quite well % wise. (although they do seem to have a nasty habit of having a few machines in each arcade on a dire % - in one of the ones close to home one of the techies pointed the finger at the party time arena, pile of shite anyway so gets well avoided)
The main thing that i see when going in dozens of Nobles during the course of a year is how busy they almost always are, so you know theres always loads of money going through the machines which must be good.....

**AllOrNothing** · 3rd January 2006, 06:44 PM

i actually know harrow, and i think the main reason people steer clear of leisure exchange is cos it used to be a regular arcade (daytona, tekken etc) with a small awp section, and the staff got soooooo fed up with the kids coming and goin i think it made them permanently moody, so when they converted to an all fruity arcade they were stil in the wrong frame of mind. Its kind of like a half-arsed effort towards bein a real arcade.

Never actually bin in tho other one, but as far as i can see its ur run-of-the-mill good old fashioned arcade

**stew** · 4th January 2006, 09:53 AM

Going down for a look today

Stew

**Slotto** · 4th January 2006, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by AllOrNothing

i actually know harrow, and i think the main reason people steer clear of leisure exchange is cos it used to be a regular arcade (daytona, tekken etc) with a small awp section, and the staff got soooooo fed up with the kids coming and goin i think it made them permanently moody, so when they converted to an all fruity arcade they were stil in the wrong frame of mind. Its kind of like a half-arsed effort towards bein a real arcade.

Never actually bin in tho other one, but as far as i can see its ur run-of-the-mill good old fashioned arcade

Yes, you're right about the leisure exchange being a mixed arcade with videos and stuff with kids being allowed in. I remember going in last year in the summer before they changed it to all fruit machines - It was like a drop in centre for the local chav's

They still have tv's hanging from the ceiling play sky sports with the staff just sitting around watching.

I can understand Nobles being more attractive - I was just surprised that it was so busy while the leisure exchange was empty.