13 replies to this topic

[nails]

I live on the south coast and rarely go upto London, but yesterday i had to for an interview to takeover a high roller london arcade at a premier spot . It was on my field trip that i needed to look in-depth at AGC locations within London, the types of players (ie Chinese in china town, middle east in paddington etc.) and it was then i realised that london arcades are TOTALLY different from any other inland AGC or seaside amusements.

Obviously they would differ from seaside, but the difference to other adult gaming centers was, to me, amazing.

Now, a typical AGC in my minds eye, would be a balance between the b3's (the £500 jp rainbow riches of this world) and the hi-lo techs. throw in a few cat c games and bobs your auntie right? well not in london. Row upon row of magic games are seen, magic games ii, iii and combinations of £35, £70 and indeed the b3 version magic games lotto with upto £500 jackpot. if i was to say there was 40 machines in a particular AGC, id expect to find 16+ magic games, a mega bars, a couple of compendium b3s, then a shed load of bar-x machines. if there was a manufacturer that had a new machine, say astra pure gold for example, id say off the top of my head that only 1 in 20 london arcades would site it. crazy? well the logic behind is that the money is so thick and fast, they want machines like magic games ultra hot, and mega bars, that will take the money like no tomorrow.

I was asked to guess the profit (not turnover) for the particular unit and was surprised that the answer was half my estimate. given the straight range of machines im more than confident of boosting the bottom line for them. machines like the IT box (and fat spanner clones) just sat there gathering dust (as did a good 10 machines in my professional opinion) and need to be changed immediately.


Are there any other users here who live in london and can share some knowledge as to why magic games are so popular in london?

[Taylor525]

I live on the south coast and rarely go upto London, but yesterday i had to for an interview to takeover a high roller london arcade at a premier spot . It was on my field trip that i needed to look in-depth at AGC locations within London, the types of players (ie Chinese in china town, middle east in paddington etc.) and it was then i realised that london arcades are TOTALLY different from any other inland AGC or seaside amusements.

Obviously they would differ from seaside, but the difference to other adult gaming centers was, to me, amazing.

Now, a typical AGC in my minds eye, would be a balance between the b3's (the £500 jp rainbow riches of this world) and the hi-lo techs. throw in a few cat c games and bobs your auntie right? well not in london. Row upon row of magic games are seen, magic games ii, iii and combinations of £35, £70 and indeed the b3 version magic games lotto with upto £500 jackpot. if i was to say there was 40 machines in a particular AGC, id expect to find 16+ magic games, a mega bars, a couple of compendium b3s, then a shed load of bar-x machines. if there was a manufacturer that had a new machine, say astra pure gold for example, id say off the top of my head that only 1 in 20 london arcades would site it. crazy? well the logic behind is that the money is so thick and fast, they want machines like magic games ultra hot, and mega bars, that will take the money like no tomorrow.

I was asked to guess the profit (not turnover) for the particular unit and was surprised that the answer was half my estimate. given the straight range of machines im more than confident of boosting the bottom line for them. machines like the IT box (and fat spanner clones) just sat there gathering dust (as did a good 10 machines in my professional opinion) and need to be changed immediately.


Are there any other users here who live in london and can share some knowledge as to why magic games are so popular in london?

I remember when I went in 2008, they were filled with DONDs...

I thought they were no different to seaside arcades (minus the pushers/grabbers) although last time I went, it was 2010/2011.. so may have changed a lot since then.

I presume tho that gaming centres WOULD be different in City's to say seaside resorts, Arcades in seaside resorts would need to appeal to more the 'family' based person in some respects. It's the Adult Gaming centres near by that would have to match. The AGCs in London perhaps would appeal to the 'buisness' man type as people dont go to london for 'amusments' like they would like Brighton for example, that would be into the good old PartyTimes and so...

Having said that, AGCs in Manchester are like seaside resorts, LoTecs, B3, C, etc... I wouldn't have thought all London centres would be the same tho

[Bencrest]

I can tell you the machines in my local AGC because they never change (seriously)

They've got a Jackpoteers on £25 / 30p, a DOND Walk of Wealth on £35 and a Let's Play DOND on £70.
Astra Top Slot on £25 and a Party Time on £25 (both stand-up 3 players), a 4 player Hokey Cokey on £25 with the tiny little cabinets (look sweet, but a pain in the arse!!)
A Bullion Bars on £25, normal 3 player stand-up.
A £25 Big 7s, £25 Bar X, £25 Magic 7s (all in Casino cabinets), and a £70 'random' thing by Concept Games, all I know is it's got XXX, BAR and I think cherry wins.
A £70 Astra Pure Gold,
A single multigame cabinet machine with Ultra Hot and all that stuff on it, the Eastern Europeans seem to like it, but the English players normally steer well clear.
An Elvis B3 (Rio cabinet), and then a couple of 777 cabinets, one is multi-stake down to 25p and I believe the other one is now a £1 / £2 switchable?
Some usual Astra multigame B3 cabinets, no idea what they are called.

... and that's about it. My knowledge is it a bit off these days because I barely gamble any more, whereas I used to know the machines inside and out.

It's got to be about the quietest arcade ever. I've been in probably 3 times in the past 6 months, and most of the time it'll be me, and at the most 3 other people, often just 1, and sometimes just me. Mind you there's often one of those people on a B3, so presumably that's what keeps the arcade afloat.

Does make me laugh that they still have a Jackpoteers though, machine nearest the window. I used to play the same one when I was 16. Now I'm 27. In that time they've replaced one of the reels (it used to have a hole on one of the blue sevens, I think it also had number 5 on it for the trail - that had a piece of white paper with a 5 drawn on it to cover the large hole!!), and sorted out the coin mech so it actually takes coins (it used to reject about 50% of £1 coins).

Edited by Bencrest, 30 November 2012 - 03:13 PM.

[Taylor525]

Now that you mention that, There's one near me that has a BWB Squids in, and BWB Adders n Ladders.. Used to have Blazing Trails, but thats gone now

[monk3yboy1985]

there are 2 arcades near me both situated in the high street which both have pretty much the usual b3 rio elvis and rainbow and the odd 777 with multi games then the bar x's in there variances and then some £5 jackpots party time,wipeout,smokey bikin,beaver uncovered etc etc.

both do matchplay at 3pm everyday one does £5 matchplay the other £10 matchplay so i generally go in with a tenner get the matchplay in one whatever i win (if i win) then go to the other to get the £5 match in there.

[nails]

i was quite surprised, shocked actually at the range of games. I'll put it down to the afuence of the area. those who perhaps live in poorer areas are far more likely to find 10p and upwards machines, compared to rich environments where maximum stake goes.

A good comparison is horse betting. London takes 99% win only bets compared to `up north` where E/W bets are far more common place.

Given the reigns im going to change whats on offer, heres a breakdown -

12 magic games
8 bar-x
2 a-serve
1 games warehouse+ 1 play points (these are my first to bw thrown into the thames)
assortment of lo-tech projects like find the lady/joker poker etc all on a miserable 10p/£5
carrabian cash x2
mega bars
giant jackpots
2 x magic games lotto
astra locomotion
divas wheels
rainbow riches 3 player
few more

i need to check the machine amount to verify the 20% or max 8 b3s i can have, but certainly would plum for the barcrest triple 777 compendiums with progrssive pots. even mega bars do a progressive now!
much to my disgust i`d have a dond or clone, but no players machine.

divas wheels are w*nk as is the 3 player rainbow riches - who thew hell would want to buy one at £17k anyway ??????

[mart1711]

I use a couple of agc's on the edgware road on a weekly basis as its where i work. Similar machine layout to what you have said.. They do like sit down bar x a lot too.. And rows of what would be bar x that have sunglasses and coke cans as symbols instead!! The asian players do not like the barcrest style of games, period.. Always use magic games and bar x.. There are two 777's that go basically unplayed whilst there is a chameleon with haunted house etc that they seemingly cant get enough of!!!

[hurricane]

In my local theres:

1x Elvis B3
1x Slotto Double Action B3
1x Monkey Business Gold B3
1x World of Games B3
6/7 Bar X's £25/£35
2x Pound Stretcher £70
1x Random Gold £70
2x Big 7's £5
2x Red Bar £5/£25
4x Bar X's £4/£5
1x Magic 7 £5
1x Classic DOND £5
1x Cassino DOND £5
1x Captain Jackpot £70
1x Carribian Cruise £70
1x Mr Moneybags £70
1x The Spice is Right £5
1x Reel Good Times £5
1x Red Hot Knights £5
1x Thunderball £5
1x Jack in the Box £5

Edited by hurricane, 02 December 2012 - 01:01 AM.

[CrAzYbAr]

Some of the games on Magic Games are very simple in terms of graphics and gameplay. They are also very rapid in the way they can chuck stuff out. Given the demographic in the area I'd say they would be a big hit. Suprisingly, I would have thought they'd use the Bar-Xs but I suppose a video screen is more enticing. Also with it being Admiral some of the time and related to Novomatic, it wouldn't surprise me that these games are rolled out over the continent, so any Eastern Europeans etc will see a familiar game in the arcades here.
Got to remember a lot of the time with Chinese/Japanese players, they have no opportunity to play with cash in their country, so hard money going into and coming out of a machine is a buzz enough. Therefore, simpler games, well known, rapid turnover of credits and you have a winning combination. All you need then is enough machines to satisfy people!

Up here in Hull I'm hard pressed to find many Magic Games but both arcades in Kingston have them when I'm at home. They're often the ones that you can rely on having someone sitting playing them.

[stevedude2]

They're just simple games to understand and therefore the Chinese and Europeans love them, as CrazyBar says above. Ultra Hot is especially popular - a straightforward, random, high percentage game that is surprisingly relaxing to play and familiar throughout Europe, and which is hard to get up and walk away from. People would sit for hours or even days on the same unit, recycling their money chasing sevens or 9-fruit wins. There was nothing like it in the UK at the time and it was very addictive - £8 for one line of fruits? £80 for a full window? You can't lose surely... Only Bar-X 10's and Magic 7's from Electrocoin gave you anywhere near the same excitement, and of course the pre-game gamble which allowed you to stake £1 a spin effectively for quadruple awards was very attractive.

Edited by stevedude2, 02 December 2012 - 03:32 PM.

[nails]

They're just simple games to understand and therefore the Chinese and Europeans love them, as CrazyBar says above. Ultra Hot is especially popular - a straightforward, random, high percentage game that is surprisingly relaxing to play and familiar throughout Europe, and which is hard to get up and walk away from. People would sit for hours or even days on the same unit, recycling their money chasing sevens or 9-fruit wins. There was nothing like it in the UK at the time and it was very addictive - £8 for one line of fruits? £80 for a full window? You can't lose surely... Only Bar-X 10's and Magic 7's from Electrocoin gave you anywhere near the same excitement, and of course the pre-game gamble which allowed you to stake £1 a spin effectively for quadruple awards was very attractive.

bang on the money there steve, the original program with its 25p play and whopping £160 run for the 7`s was what grasped me. doing the 7`s run and hitting another jackpot for the £320 run is what hooked me.

the game is now available via astra on their a-serve cabinet as a b3 game. time will tell on the popularity.

[mabby2000]

I have been looking for the ultra hot on the original program... they seems to have disapeared off the face of earth.... i'm sure a few arcades still have these on the original program...?

[nails]

snap, AMG had a few a while back but i couldnt buy one at the time. if i ever get the files i`ll stick them on the repro

[mabby2000]

Oh yeah i have heard of amg.... Guessing they won't sell to the public?!