Interesting comment from location staff

[pinballcorpse]

I noticed an attendant on location (uses card readers) pressing the start button on games to clear any unused credits.  He would just launch all the balls and let them drain. 

I asked him why he was doing that and he said, and I quote- “So we don’t lose any money”.

My response was: You are not losing any money. Further, sometimes leaving a credit on the machine entices someone new to play pinball.

The next comment was “here, you can play this one and save me the work of having to deal with it.”

It seems that this was instruction given to him: If you see a blinking start button and nobody on the game, make sure it is cleared of credits so we don’t lose money.

Just thought it was odd. 

[NormaJ]

Or just turn off replays maybe...?

Here's a better idea: Turn games on only when someone wants to play. You won't lose money on electricity. Bonus tip: unplug it.

[Marshall]

Here's a better idea: Turn games on only when someone wants to play. You won't lose money on electricity. Bonus tip: unplug it.

Norma,
You are so right! 
Venues love to do this when they have live music, then complain that pinball doesn’t earn... because nobody turns them back on after the show, and they often stay dark for days (or weeks).


Jeff,
I always leave credits on games after a route stop. DEFINITELY entices new players and rewards the curious onlookers with a ride through the box of wonder they just saw under the hood of.


Go ahead, Try it. The first one’s free...


And they say pinball is addicting. 

[DK]

Norma,
You are so right! 
Venues love to do this when they have live music, then complain that pinball doesn’t earn... because nobody turns them back on after the show, and they often stay dark for days (or weeks).


Jeff,
I always leave credits on games after a route stop. DEFINITELY entices new players and rewards the curious onlookers with a ride through the box of wonder they just saw under the hood of.


Go ahead, Try it. The first one’s free...


And they say pinball is addicting. 

I agree 100%, with the exception if you know Eric Stone is there/will be at the location in the next 24 hrs. If you don’t agree you don’t like making any money on route

[BigMatt]

Sorry but as an operator I don't want people walking up to free credits. They can easily turn them off to avoid this

[NormaJ]

Sorry but as an operator I don't want people walking up to free credits. They can easily turn them off to avoid this

My mom loves to tell the story of me walking up to every pinball I ever saw and pressing the Start button to see if I could get a free game. I have to say that without the opportunity or "chance" to play for free I probably would not have stuck with the game from then until now. I used to love absent-minded players! But venues purposefully plunging free games so that someone else won't have fun? Seems counter-productive to me.

[BigMatt]

My mom loves to tell the story of me walking up to every pinball I ever saw and pressing the Start button to see if I could get a free game. I have to say that without the opportunity or "chance" to play for free I probably would not have stuck with the game from then until now. I used to love absent-minded players! But venues purposefully plunging free games so that someone else won't have fun? Seems counter-productive to me.

Your way of thinking is counterproductive to my wallet and Erics, without people paying to play Pinball wouldn't exist and we're not in the business of placing machines so people can play for free especially nowadays when people still want to 50 Cent game

[NormaJ]

Lol. I was hoping you would say 25c per game! I'm getting old now.

Of course I will always love Nickelrama. All the new Sterns are set on 4 coins per game (and, yes, they're nickels!) But they won't transform your spare nickels back into dollars. (Darn.)

I have a lot of empathy for operators. You put this expensive thing out there for total strangers to beat up. People do evil things to it and you have no one around to blame. Then you have to hope the venue even cares you are taking up space in their building. I used to be disappointed when I saw a pin or videogame off at a pizza place or something. Most of the time I suspected it really worked. I never had the courage to reach around, turn it on and find out.

And I confess I used to be one of those who secretly tried to extract free games by any means necessary. (i'm reformed now!) But I know a lot of people don't care about the value you operators bring.

I still love finding free games!

[ratsflif]

Man, I leave free credits up all the time at Vector.  I tell people all the time to look out for blinking start buttons.  I guess it's just depends on your business model...

[pinballcorpse]

I’m all for operators making money and I don’t mind paying to play. I’ll pay to play in tourneys ad nauseam even if I don’t need to keep trying to qualify and that cost more than 50 cents a game.  I just enjoy playing.

My philosophy is that I am supporting the event, or in this example, location pinball. 

I also happen to enjoy sharing and helping people in general and I take satisfaction in earning enough credits to let someone else have some free fun. I like seeing little kids get excited that they “found a free game”. That’s what the blinking start light is doing, enticing a response.

If the game is setup on credit for replay thresholds and credit for board scores as well as specials and matches, it could be a long session of a good player “playing for free” if they get on a roll.  (I think DK called this the Eric Stone effect).  Seems the wear and tear on games from a good player would be more concerning than a newbie coming up and double flipping for 10 seconds a ball. 

It is just surprising a location doesn’t want me to leave credits, and would rather me potentially play on and on with credits I earn than leave free games for others. (And no Eric Stone wasn’t there to scoop up my scraps )

[BigMatt]

Hey guys we get it. But machine prices have skyrocketed, and are basically double the price now vs the 90's at 50 cents a game, but people complain at buck a game, so 50 cents is still the sweet spot. And at 50 cents a game at almost double the NIB price something has to give-as in free games. I disable them

[Doublekick]

So your telling us your punishing the player that plays your game and gets a match or beats the high score, etc,etc
By disabling them. You will never get rich on operating games period especially now days with prices. I use to operate games 20 years ago and it was more for people to enjoy more then anything. I had a regular job and I moved here and most of the games on location here are garbage so I wouldnt even bother with them.

Hey guys we get it. But machine prices have skyrocketed, and are basically double the price now vs the 90's at 50 cents a game, but people complain at buck a game, so 50 cents is still the sweet spot. And at 50 cents a game at almost double the NIB price something has to give-as in free games. I disable them

[SpineyNorman]

I've often walked or been called away from a machine and left paid credits for someone else to use, the op who resets that machine just stole my money IMHO.

If I reach free credit scores and/or match a machine and don't receive the expected reward I will NEVER touch that machine again so the op looses way more than they gained.

[BigMatt]

So your telling us your punishing the player that plays your game and gets a match or beats the high score, etc,etc
By disabling them. You will never get rich on operating games period especially now days with prices. I use to operate games 20 years ago and it was more for people to enjoy more then anything. I had a regular job and I moved here and most of the games on location here are garbage so I wouldnt even bother with them.

You're* and yes, because players are cheap and wont pay a buck, even when they're in a venue that charges 8 bucks a beer.

[BigMatt]

I've often walked or been called away from a machine and left paid credits for someone else to use, the op who resets that machine just stole my money IMHO..

If I reach free credit scores and/or match a machine and don't receive the expected reward I will NEVER touch that machine again so the op looses way more than they gained.

Then you are a sourpuss player. You are paying to play the game "for amusment only" bragging rights, high scores, if playing for free games and credits try a casino.
Just my take