Where to start? More like when I suppose. I don't remember. Seriously.
At some point back in my varied coin-op career, I encountered some arcades with debit card systems instead using tokens or quarters. What really got my attention was "time-play" specials during non-peak hours.
These were probably Gameworks locations. I KNOW I saw this available in Newport KY, and probably in Vegas and Schaumburg as well.
As long as I have been running game rooms, and especially since opening my own arcade, I have really wanted to implement one of these systems for myself.
My main idea for boosting sales with a system was to use an All You Can Play special with my music game (Bemani) collection. Both to encourage and maximize play with regulars as well as to encourage traveling players with a more attractive option.
Initial research a few years back suggested a system would cost over $100,000.
Umm, gotta pass on that one, thanks.
Costs have come down and more competition has come on the market since then too.
Those facts have kept me in the market, checking in with some of the makers from time to time over the past couple years.
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2 comments:
The arcade I used to manage used a magnetic card reader system when I began working there. It was nice actually - when they decided to switch over to tokens we weren't very happy because that increased the work we had to do. But that was brought on by an employee or two figuring out how to abuse the system and give their friends thousands and thousands of points on a card. I've been told that the system is more secure now which I'm sure it is but my own computer experience says that nothing is 100% secure. Still, if these systems were affordable, I'd put one in my upcoming arcade. I have heard about RFID tags as a viable replacement for cards -that is one system I need to spend more time looking into.
You have to be careful with any system.
The card systems are definitely more secure than any token system though.
All transactions can be tracked for starters, tied to and traced back to a particular employee.
The smart cards are the ones to watch out for, since data is stored ON the cards and can be easily hacked. The more secure systems store data locally and the card only accesses/authorizes it.
-eric
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