Arcade machines are built to take a beating, but even the toughest cabinets eventually develop issues. Whether you are running a home arcade with a handful of classics or managing a route of coin-operated games, knowing how to fix common arcade machine problems saves you time, money, and frustration. In this guide, our team walks … Read more
When I bought my first arcade cabinet back in 2018, I made every mistake in the book. I skipped inspections, ignored a sticky joystick, and let dust pile up inside the control panel. Two years later, that cabinet was on the fritz more than it was playable. The fix wasn’t a bigger repair budget; it … Read more
If you have ever walked past an old Pac-Man or Donkey Kong cabinet and noticed a faint maze outline glowing on the screen long after the game was paused, you have already seen CRT burn-in on arcade monitors in the wild. I have spent the last several years restoring vintage cabinets here in our shop, … Read more
Shipping an arcade machine is not like shipping a piece of furniture. These cabinets weigh anywhere from 200 to 500 pounds, house fragile CRT monitors or LCD screens, contain sensitive circuit boards, and often represent thousands of dollars in collector value. One bad drop on a liftgate can crack a screen, snap a joystick mount, … Read more
Shipping an arcade machine is one of those costs that catches buyers off guard. You find the perfect cabinet on eBay or at an auction across the country, and then you realize the shipping might cost as much as the machine itself. I have been there, and so have thousands of collectors on Reddit and … Read more
Arcade machines are expensive because they are commercial-grade gaming cabinets built with heavy-duty materials, specialized hardware, and licensed content, all produced in low volumes for a niche market. Unlike a home gaming console that gets mass-produced by the millions, an arcade cabinet is essentially a piece of commercial furniture with industrial controls, a built-in display, … Read more
How much does an arcade machine cost? Arcade machines range from $120 for a basic countertop unit to $19,000 for a top-tier commercial racing rig. For most people reading this, the realistic sweet spot sits between $300 and $4,000 for a quality home arcade cabinet, while serious commercial machines typically run $5,000 to $15,000+. I … Read more
If you have ever cracked open an arcade cabinet and wondered what that metal box with cooling vents actually does, you are not alone. A power supply is the part that takes what comes out of your wall outlet and turns it into something your arcade board, monitor, and lights can actually use. Without it … Read more
Arcade games in the 1980s cost 25 cents per play for standard titles, with premium games charging 50 to 75 cents. That quarter was the universal currency of the golden age of arcades, and a single coin typically bought you 3 to 5 minutes of gameplay. Adjusted for inflation, that 25-cent play in 1980 is … Read more
If you ever fed quarters into a Pac-Man cabinet, you have probably wondered why old arcade machines cost 25 cents to play. The answer comes down to a balance between player affordability and operator profitability. A single quarter was the largest coin most kids and teens could carry in their pockets, and at the same … Read more