13 replies to this topic

[Johnny's Amusements]

Hi to all members. Just a quick post to introduce myself.I have been interested in gaming machines since the 70s & I am shocked about the state of the Amusement Industry today. Arcades closing down right, left & centre. Hardly any customers in the arcades that are left. What is going on? Why has everyone who used to be quite happy to visit their local arcade suddenly (over the past couple of years or so) stopped playing? Johnny's Amusements used to be massive in Edinburgh & Fife but now nearly all of the arcades are gone.I am currently renting the very last of the Johnny's arcades but if things do not improve then I will seriously have to think about closing for good. I would welcome any suggestions any of you members may have that could improve the situation. I have recently opened a "Retro Section" which is filled with classic old machines from the 70s & 80s.This is starting to generate a little interest, but these old machines are not capable of making any great deal of cash. They are however great fun to play & in my view bring a little "Amusement" back to the arcade.Thanks for reading & if you are interested in the very old type of machines then click the link below to see what is available to play.

[Toddyuk]

Hi to all members. Just a quick post to introduce myself.I have been interested in gaming machines since the 70s & I am shocked about the state of the Amusement Industry today. Arcades closing down right, left & centre. Hardly any customers in the arcades that are left. What is going on? Why has everyone who used to be quite happy to visit their local arcade suddenly (over the past couple of years or so) stopped playing? Johnny's Amusements used to be massive in Edinburgh & Fife but now nearly all of the arcades are gone.I am currently renting the very last of the Johnny's arcades but if things do not improve then I will seriously have to think about closing for good. I would welcome any suggestions any of you members may have that could improve the situation. I have recently opened a "Retro Section" which is filled with classic old machines from the 70s & 80s.This is starting to generate a little interest, but these old machines are not capable of making any great deal of cash. They are however great fun to play & in my view bring a little "Amusement" back to the arcade.Thanks for reading & if you are interested in the very old type of machines then click the link below to see what is available to play.

Nice sig

[Johnny's Amusements]

The problem is todays machine have no fun factor. What is fun about sticking £20/£30 in a £35/£70 JP machine without even obtaining a feature. Even some of the older £25 machines that have been put onto £5 JP can suck loads. I would be happy to play the old machines in your video if it meant I could last an hour with £30. Yeah it's not a lot for you but i keep coming back because you know your money is lasting you then its builds up loyal custom base.

Even if you was to have a section for the new machines it would help towards making some cash. Just don't get 100's of DOND's lol

BTW was that video recorded on a NOKIA N95? sure thats what i saw in the reflection, good cameras on them phones.

I agree entirely.It would be easily possible to last an hour (or more) playing the old machines with a £10 stake. If they are on a decent % payout (which mine are) you can last for absolute ages with only a couple of quid. That is what I want. A lot of people but each one not spending a fortune. Value for money is key as far as I can see. Oh, & yes, It was filmed on a Nokia N95. Great Phone!

[jamesb99_1999]

I will be honest here and say most of the retro machines on your video while nice to see were boring machines I would only play for a very short period.. Retro should include feature rich machines and that will get people in to play them - for example "WATCH FOR MY HIDDEN TREASURES" machines and early Barcrest. I think retro sections in more traditional arcades is a great idea and will get the older people back in myself but again to keep people coming back they can't just be press and wait, press and wait machines.

good luck

[todd1970]

I will be honest here and say most of the retro machines on your video while nice to see were boring machines I would only play for a very short period.. Retro should include feature rich machines and that will get people in to play them - for example "WATCH FOR MY HIDDEN TREASURES" machines and early Barcrest. I think retro sections in more traditional arcades is a great idea and will get the older people back in myself but again to keep people coming back they can't just be press and wait, press and wait machines.

good luck

I agree..whilst these are good machines for thier time i also would find them not very interesting to play..however in no way am i meaning to be condescending to your arcade.

Maybe thats because they are not from 'my era' these were probably out 5 years or so before i got into the fruitys..7th Heaven..Cloud 999 .. Open the Box .. Twilight Zone..etc are machines from my era.

I know a lot of members on here will disagree with me because they machines are 'thier bag'.

Think its hard to find the right balance of machines in any arcade.

However i am in Glasgow..next time im through in Edinburgh i will pop in for a nosey.

[CrAzYbAr]

Myself, I would prefer some £4.80/2.40 with some £6 and 8, as well as older £5s(Maygays such as Fruit Explosion etc) and a couple of newer ones.

[kbos2hm]

i like the machines before they went up to 30p play but i dont like the ultra modern machines theres just no fun in them atall i think the people who make them want to look at ways of making them more fun

[Zoltar]

Hi to all members. Just a quick post to introduce myself.I have been interested in gaming machines since the 70s & I am shocked about the state of the Amusement Industry today. Arcades closing down right, left & centre. Hardly any customers in the arcades that are left. What is going on? Why has everyone who used to be quite happy to visit their local arcade suddenly (over the past couple of years or so) stopped playing? Johnny's Amusements used to be massive in Edinburgh & Fife but now nearly all of the arcades are gone.I am currently renting the very last of the Johnny's arcades but if things do not improve then I will seriously have to think about closing for good. I would welcome any suggestions any of you members may have that could improve the situation. I have recently opened a "Retro Section" which is filled with classic old machines from the 70s & 80s.This is starting to generate a little interest, but these old machines are not capable of making any great deal of cash. They are however great fun to play & in my view bring a little "Amusement" back to the arcade.Thanks for reading & if you are interested in the very old type of machines then click the link below to see what is available to play.

2 words. 1st is ENTERTAINMENT, the 2nd is GAMBLING.

Arcades were once entertainment centers. Places where you didn't feel uncomfortable visiting. Where you could take the kids. low stakes and low jackpots gave value for money and lengthy entertainment. If you won some money, it was a bonus. But if you lost, as long as you got some enjoyment and entertainment, it was accepted. Pinball machines and video games meant that these centers gave the impression that they were offering amusement/entertainment to whoever entered these places, both young and old.

Chasing bigger stakes and bigger jackpots, the industry has shrugged off it's fair and family orientated existence choosing instead to alienate these people and aiming for those who solely play to make a gain financially. Arcades today, make me feel uncomfortable. I feel people judge me as I enter arcades. There's now a stigma with these places. Dark, seedy and unpleasant. People judging me instantly as a gambler, and not someone who is just passing a bit of time playing entertaining games. And lets face it, if you gamble, you either have money to burn, or you're addicted. Sure, the same could be said with the old arcades from years gone by but the industry now serve the interests of the arcade owners. Machines that can eat a day's wage in minutes isn't much fun to play when nothing exciting happens unless you win a prize.

Yesteryear's arcades seemed to serve the public. Today's arcades seem to serve the operators. Gone are the pinballs, the cranes and the videos, to be filled with more machines that have the sole intention of making as much money for their owners in a shortest possible amount of time.

I know for a fact, that I save myself hundreds and hundreds a year in cash that would have gone into the industry if games resembled the entertaining games of the 80's and early 90's. And I'm sure I'm nowhere near being alone in this.

In the 80's, £10 could and sometimes would last an hour or more. Sometimes, I'd not lose my £10. And sometimes I'd maybe even walk out with my tenner and a few pounds on top.

Today, before I walk into an arcade, I know that £10 will be gone in moments and only the greatest of luck would I expect a return on that. Today, I need 10 times that £10 to even stand a chance of getting a small bit of entertainment or even a win. And lets face it, £10 after £10 for no win and no entertainment and all eaten within just a few minutes, tell me, where's the fun in that?

The industry, in the chase to appease operators, simply churn out boring games that blatantly EAT your money. And the average man in the street soon gets frustrated with that and decides that arcades are no good anymore.

[Dougsta]

I've no idea how big your arcade is, but I would say that balance is important. You need some modern £70/£35 machines as some people like to play these. Some retro stuff is good too, but as you say they aint gonna put much food on the table. What about finding some middle ground with £15 or £25 jackpot machines from the 90s/00s too - these machines gave a decent game and will surely have a reasonable cashbox take if played enough. And also bring in some £5 jackpot machines.

It's not just the greedy machines of today that are killing the arcade industry, it's the huge competition from other forms of gambling e.g. internet. Good luck!

[gemini17]

All who reply to you miss the biggest factor of all!!!-We are still v.much in a recession,and few people have dosh to play slots.
It is v.true (as stated in a reply),arcades do not have the right mix of entertainment.U only find this at the coast.
Most high street arcades are now jam packd wth a mix of £35,£70 and £500 slots.
I too voted for the £2/£4 slots,as u did get a much better play and even if you lost u knew u wernt getin raped!!!lol
Most of the new £35/£70 slots as stated,have to hav £s pumpt in to get a board!!!!
To get peoples attention my advice would be promotions matey-Teddys amusements seem to thrive even in these hard times,they give upto £250 just by swipin a loyalty card as well as free promos throughout the day.My local arcade as just startd a 5 for 5 promo-which as proovd popular and attractd new players.
Best of luck wth ya arcade.
Jay

[SUPER7]

Its all about the old skool machines all this new stuff is just a load of rubbish, well thats my view anyway. If you want gain from machines then all these £70ers & £500ers are 4 u!! But if your looking 2 go in 2 a arcade with say £20 and get some amusement 4 your money then its the classics u want!! I started playing when i was 7 that was in...... 1992, started off on the 2p/£2ers use 2 go up there some days with £1.50 & use 2 last hours some days. Then in 94 started on the 5p/£6 still some days only went up there with £3-4 also that use 2 last hours some days, i understand the arcades can earn alot more on these higher stake machines but there closing down every where because every 1 is fed up of doing say..... £2000 in a B3 & not getting a jp or £50 in a £70er without getting a board. I think your doing the right thing of putting a classic section in your arcade, hope it all works 4 u!!

[tommydee]

Its all about the old skool machines all this new stuff is just a load of rubbish, well thats my view anyway. If you want gain from machines then all these £70ers & £500ers are 4 u!! But if your looking 2 go in 2 a arcade with say £20 and get some amusement 4 your money then its the classics u want!! I started playing when i was 7 that was in...... 1992, started off on the 2p/£2ers use 2 go up there some days with £1.50 & use 2 last hours some days. Then in 94 started on the 5p/£6 still some days only went up there with £3-4 also that use 2 last hours some days, i understand the arcades can earn alot more on these higher stake machines but there closing down every where because every 1 is fed up of doing say..... £2000 in a B3 & not getting a jp or £50 in a £70er without getting a board. I think your doing the right thing of putting a classic section in your arcade, hope it all works 4 u!!

Just been fANTASTIC