I bought my first Arcade1Up cabinet about three years ago, and the very first time my taller friends came over to play, every single one of them hunched over like question marks. That is the moment I realized the stock counter height just does not work for standing play, and that a riser kit is … Read more
I spent the last three months testing arcade stools next to my Arcade1Up cabinets, my buddy’s cocktail table, and even a bartop build in our shop. What I learned: not all stools match the cabinet height, and cheap padding ruins long sessions faster than you think. After comparing 8 stools across licensed and budget brands, … Read more
Fighting games live and die by the millisecond. A half-frame of input lag or a loose joystick can cost you a combo, a round, and bragging rights at your next local. After spending weeks testing eight different arcade cabinets and pitting them against my regular fight stick setup, I learned one thing fast. Not every … Read more
There’s a moment from my childhood that I keep coming back to. My dad slipped a quarter into a Pac-Man cabinet at the local pizza shop, and I watched his score climb past 80,000. He scribbled his initials in permanent marker on the high score screen, and I remember thinking nobody in town would ever … Read more
When I set out to build my basement arcade, I ran into a problem that plagues tons of homeowners: low ceilings. The standard dream of standing in front of a towering arcade cabinet quickly falls apart when your basement ceiling sits at around 7 feet or lower. Full-size arcade machines for basements with low ceilings … Read more
Walking into the world of Stern pinball means facing one question almost immediately: which version do you buy? If you are comparing Stern Pro vs Premium vs Limited Edition pinball machines, you are already asking the right question. The answer shapes your gameplay experience, your wallet, and potentially your long-term collector value. Stern has used … Read more
I’ve spent the last three months living with premium pinball machines, dropping quarters on my own time, and yes, moving 250-pound cabinets through my garage to write this. The hardest truth about Jersey Jack Pinball machines worth the price? JJP doesn’t actually sell their flagships on Amazon. That left me with a real problem. Anyone … Read more
I have spent more evenings than I care to admit standing in front of spooky pinball cabinets, hands cramping on the flipper buttons, watching the high score roll past my name. The best horror themed pinball machines are not just games, they are interactive haunted houses built into a 250-pound cabinet, dripping with themed art, … Read more
I have spent years exploring coin-operated entertainment, from classic arcade cabinets to full-size pinball machines. When friends ask me about adding a pinball machine to their home for their kids, the conversation always goes the same direction. They want something fun, durable, and age-appropriate without spending thousands on a commercial unit. The best pinball machines … Read more
Finding the best pinball machines for competitive tournament play means looking past the flashiest artwork and zeroing in on what actually wins matches. After spending weeks reviewing game code, tournament rule sets, and shop-quality builds, our team pulled together 8 machines that show up on real IFPA and PAPA lineups. Tournament play is its own … Read more