Types of Arcade Equipment
Arcade machines are a great way to entertain guests and relive nostalgia. Whether they come in classic, full-size upright cabinets or more compact cocktail or bar-top models, multi game arcades provide fun for everyone.
Multi game arcades can have hundreds or even thousands of games to keep guests entertained. However, choosing the right machine depends on several factors.
Control panel
The control panel is a crucial part of any arcade video game cabinet or multicade. It is designed to accommodate various types of mechanical and electrical components. Its design is determined air hockey game machine by the type of games that will be played and the personal preferences of the player. It should be durable and attractive. It should also be easy to clean. It should be made from high-quality materials, such as fiberglass and plywood.
The standard panel comes with an octagonal gated joystick, six action buttons and a precision trackball. It is ideal for playing classic arcade games such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. However, it is not suitable for fighting games. It may register unwanted inputs and the joystick might feel too springy or feel like it has a dead zone in the center.
Adding an overlay to the control panel is a good idea for the purpose of explaining what each button does – especially utility buttons (player select, 1-up, etc). This can be done in several ways: by printing it out at home on an inkjet printer or having professional work done.
Monitor
The monitor is the video display for an arcade game cabinet. It is connected to the JAMMA standard wiring system and displays the game’s graphics and score. A typical monitor includes a control panel with buttons and switches, a marquee that displays the game’s name, and a power supply.
Most arcade games are played on a CRT (cathode ray tube) monitor. These monitors have a wide aspect ratio and are very heavy, but they produce good-quality images. They are also less expensive than modern LCD monitors. However, they can suffer from screen burn-in.
CRT monitors require a high voltage to drive the electron beam that creates the image on the screen. As a result, these components are Shooting Game Machine stressed and can fail prematurely due to aging. A common step in the repair of classic arcade cabinets is “recapping”, which involves replacing certain capacitors to restore or maintain the integrity of these components.
Some video gamers are purists and only use a vintage box monitor for their arcade machines. Others prefer a newer flatscreen monitor for their home arcades. While there are many options available, deciding which type of monitor to buy can be complicated.
Coin mechanism
A coin mechanism – often called a mech – is essential if you want to charge people for playing your games. It ensures that the correct price is charged for a game credit, stores cash in a cash box and releases the game accessories (usually the balls) to the player once payment has been made. We offer both mechanical and electronic mechs, which are simple to install and will bolt right onto your cabinet.
Electro-mechanical games use a combination of electronics and mechanical actions from the player to move items contained within the cabinet, including light gun targets, bells, relays, motors and solenoids. They are an intermediate step between fully electronic games and traditional mechanical ones.
The simplest coin mech consists of a horizontal slot with a slope behind, with a bit of wire running down each side. The weight of a coin triggers the switch when it drops down the slope. You’ll need to choose a pulse value for the smallest coin you plan to accept, such as one pulse for a quarter.
Cabinet and side panels
The cabinet is the housing within which an arcade game’s electronic hardware resides. Its shape varies from a simple symmetric perpendicular box to more complicated asymmetric forms, and may have side art or marquee. It also houses a monitor and the control panel. There are three main types of cabinets: upright, cocktail, and sit-down.
Upright cabinets are the most common type of cabinet. They are usually six feet or two meters tall and house the monitor at eye level. They can have a marquee above the monitor, or the name of the game in text printed on a transparent plastic that allows the graphics displayed on the monitor to show through.
Modern upright cabinets use LCD monitors, which are easier to repair and offer better compatibility than CRT panels. They are usually smaller and lighter than the original cabinets, which makes them more portable and able to fit in homes and schools. However, they lack the authentic arcade look and feel of a vintage cabinet. A few older cabinets still have CRTs, but they are generally used in locations that require a smaller footprint or are not suitable for home use.
