Interesting comment from location staff

[HammysHangout ( Hammy )]

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

I am not sure what that has to do with stealing his money?

----

Maybe i like to leave free credits in games to get other players to play, your not loosing money, your stealing the money of people who put the credits in the game...IMHO..

Just turn the game off if you "don't want to loose money" because as Norma stated, Electricity isn't free, unless your stealing it from your neighbor.

Your correct, I am playing for "Amusement Only"... However, NOT bragging rights, or high scores...

Also, If the Game has credits.. Maybe instead of just "Plunging the ball" Maybe look over the game, play the ball... Maybe the person playing it got sick of it not playing for shit and it was broke, so they just abandoned the money...

[BigMatt]

I am not sure what that has to do with stealing his money?

I was addressing his second paragraph not the first.

[Ron Donohue]

If an operator believes it is not commercially reasonable to make winning games an option, he or she should turn off that option on the games they operate.  That is their business decision and they have every right to make it.  The potential player will either accept that business decision and play based on those condition  or will not accept that decision and will keep their money in their pocket.   The operator has the right to operate their games as they see fit and time and economics will tell if that strategy works.  As long as the policy with respect to free games is clearly indicated on the game, the player can make an informed decision.

If the game is set up (by the operator) and labeled in a way that indicates that players have the opportunity to win free games, then if the player achieves the posted threshold level, they should get the game they have earned.  The player has earned the game in accord with the rules posted then they should get that game.  If they do not get a game that they should have earned (based on the rules posted on the game), they have a right to be unhappy.  Again, the operator is under no obligation to allow players to earn additional games, but if they do, the game should award games in accord with whatever replay level is advertised on the game.

 

[DK]

The operator is under no obligation to allow players to earn additional games, but if they do, the game should award games in accord with whatever replay level is advertised on the game.

This actually skews the conversation in a different path.
If there was no way to win a free game (or even match), would it change your opinion to play/not play it? I understand there are a million scenarios but I have actually thought of disabling match, as that was and is an outdated mechanic in pinball (no skill, pure luck).

[pinballcorpse]

The replay threshold combined with the game settings (no extra balls for example) can be set to essentially unachievable levels by even the best players, save for a one in 1000 miracle game.

I didn’t feel the issue was whether or not there were replays awarded.  It was the losing money comment which made absolutely zero sense.

The basic scenarios are this:  1) The credits were paid for already and the player walked away for whatever reason, so no money was lost, or 2) the credits were earned via thresholds, specials, matches etc, which was how the operator set up the game anyway, so again no money lost or 3) a combination of paid and additional earned credits.

A person walking away from credits changes absolutely nothing about the state of the credits on the game or the money earned.

People could have had someone “save their spot” while they went to the bar, restroom, grabbed a smoke, made a call or whatever. They come back and keep playing. Again, no money lost and nothing given away for free. 

And as I said earlier, this was staff, not their personal games, not their personal business location.  So somebody told them to actively be on the lookout do this.

[Ron Donohue]

This actually skews the conversation in a different path.
If there was no way to win a free game (or even match), would it change your opinion to play/not play it? I understand there are a million scenarios but I have actually thought of disabling match, as that was and is an outdated mechanic in pinball (no skill, pure luck).

I do not think it would impact my decision to play or not play a location game.  When I put my money in, I do not expect anything other than the game I paid to play.  Anything else is pure gravy.  I see a game out on route so seldom that I would  put money in just to show my support for it being there.  Probably an outlier, but that is how I see it.

But, others may see it differently, particularly the casual players that match was originally designed to benefit.  Match may be part of what keeps them coming back.  I can not speak for anyone else, but for me, absence of the match feature or free games would not impact my decision to play or not play.

[k7]

i'm surprised no one mentioned the card system. once you do the math, each pinball "paid" game probably costs $2.65 or something like that.

i figured out an amount, i think at dave and busters, and it amazed me how many credits a namco reunion would take to play: at that time, it equated to about $1.38 a game, iirc.

at fun depot, customers swipe cards on machines that don't even function (straight donations to fun depot). that's the key to pure profit.


corpse should have played the game, and laughed when the attendant walked by hours later.

[stf]

For me, to win free game, or a match, is an essential component of the pleasure. It kills the challenge if it's disable. I prefer to pay 1$ with potential replay than 50c without it.
Closest arcade for me is Arcade Odyssey. They have RFM, which I prefer to any of their Marvel Stern. But as it's the only one without the replay, i tend to avoid it.
And yes, to find a free credit is an eastern egg. I tend to play more and end up paying more if I can start the playing session for free.
I understand it can be a psychological barrier to put 4 quarters in a machine, but maybe it's time to upgrade payment options if you really want your pins to perform.
As Chris said, when you swipe a card, you don't really know, or care, what's the cost of one game.
I'm working with vending machine manufacturers, now you can pay with your watch, and more than half of the payment are done in credit card, even for $1.
So, you can charge me $2 a game, as long as i can pay with cc and hope for a replay 

[toastbot]

at fun depot, customers swipe cards on machines that don't even function (straight donations to fun depot). that's the key to pure profit.

I, for one, enjoy the unique challenges that the Fun Despot[sic] provides with their pinball machines.
Want to know what it's like to play a game with no GI lighting?
Only one flipper working?
Shorted out DMD?
Or if you just want to see what a game would be like if it provided zero balls after you start, well, I've got just the place for you!

I mean, why turn them off or service them if the card readers still work?

[k7]

...I mean, why turn them off or service them if the card readers still work?

bingo. and no refund...the true experience is you were able to slide a card into a machine worth $7500, dead. none more dead than here.

now go slide $2.83 of card credit on the galaga that doesn't move left.

[904_roller]

Wow, this conversation is crazy to me. In my 30+ years of pumping quarters into arcade/pinball machines, I have yet to see one just give out random credits for no reason. As Jeff said and maybe others, someone already paid for that credit. So are they really free games.  IMO and experience, If i see a free credit I usually play it. I also will play more if the game is working 100% (hint hint whoever has Sarbez in St Augustine) Fix your damn pinball machines and maybe use something other than the initial 1st run code. Prob earn an extra $20-40 bucks a week from me alone.. I would think the name of the game is to get people playing them to make money. Just my 2 cents..
E

[WannaTheater]

Part of the excitement of playing pinball is pushing for that high score/free credit accomplishment- like during my younger years.  For me it has nothing to do with saving/spending money.  If that is taken away, I most likely wouldn’t be playing those machines.

Retail has the concept of a “loss leader,” where products are sold at less than their value to attract more customers.  While similar, in this case the operator is not selling a product for less, they seem to be taking a paid/earned product away.

What if Publix BOGO policy had the following fine print:
“if you are not going to use/eat that free product immediately, or you are planning to let someone else use/eat that product at a later date, then we have the right to take it back.”
Sure, Publix can remove BOGO all together.  But their marketing/finance department apparently still thinks its a good idea.

I’ve never had machines on location, so my comments are purely opinion based on my thoughts.

[busa32927]

one of the locations i service started with allowing people to leave their free games for others to play until someone abused it.  That person would come in everyday just to play the free games.  never bought anything from the store.  Just would come in daily to see what machine had a free game.  if there was a free one he would play it and then leave.

after his actions were noticed any free credits were removed by the staff.  Eventually the abuser got the hint.  free games are given out by the staff if they have time to some one that is interested and has never played.  If i am there on a service call i can give a person a free game. 

The location still gets new players and they still have fun.

[pinballcorpse]

one of the locations i service started with allowing people to leave their free games for others to play until someone abused it.  That person would come in everyday just to play the free games.  never bought anything from the store.  Just would come in daily to see what machine had a free game.  if there was a free one he would play it and then leave.

after his actions were noticed any free credits were removed by the staff.  Eventually the abuser got the hint.  free games are given out by the staff if they have time to some one that is interested and has never played.  If i am there on a service call i can give a person a free game. 

The location still gets new players and they still have fun.

I personally wouldn't call that "abuse". Cheapskate, yes.

[busa32927]

lol if he bought a soda or something from the store it would have been ok.  but nada .  vep cheapskate is one way to say it lol