I used to work at a family entertainment center that had a large redemption operation, and I was always amazed by the number of people who would complain about the cash value of the prizes they could take home by redeeming their tickets. Parents would call it a rip-off, arguing that they could go to Wal-Mart and buy the same prize for 10% of what they paid for the tokens. So quickly do they forget about the 2 hours they just spent running around with their kids having an excellent time playing dozens of arcade games (that cost tens of thousands annually to operate and maintain)

As for the person posting this article…. You’re aware that many places – our shop included – ARRESTS people who do that…

People trying to STEAL from arcades is why there are so few arcades left… If you don’t mind being the kind of person who puts people out of business, making them unable to feed their families, then go right ahead. Remember, when you have no arcades left in your area, that you’re a reason why..

(And by the way, maintenance costs on arcade machines is quite high, just so you know)

both can be hacked.

First, for the weigh, you can make the tickets heavier by dipping them in salt water. let dry, and scrape obvious residue off.

Second, for the muncher, simply drill a hole in the center of a folded (VVVVVV) string of tickets. The counter for the muncher simply counts the holes it sees. when you double the holes, you double the output. Authentic tickets are also unnessisary.

But when we catch people using illicit tokens it’s ban-city. It’s not even that hard, look for somebody who walks in, then starts playing out of their pockets. Usually they have leftover tokens from a previous visit, but sometimes they brought tokens from the local Chuck-e-Cheese or somewhere else.

And furthermore, just bringing in your own tickets won’t work either. Not only are they barcoded, but it’s also really obvious. The games dispense them by ‘biting’ them with a spoked wheel, leaving a track of perforations along the tickets. They’re customized to our location too, and finally. If I see anybody walking in with a perfect, mint stack of tickets; ban city. People fold them, bunch them, mess them up and tear them when they carry them around the arcade.

Any arcade operator that pays attention can see these sort of cheap tricks, and at any rate, what’s in it for you? Some sort of sleazy satisfaction that you’re screwing the arcade? It’s not easy to run an arcade, you know. We’re not here so much for the games as for the people. I put a lot of effort into maintaining my employee’s customer service and helping people have the best time they can have. Arcades are about people and socializing. Friendly competition. If you don’t like it, then go home and play X-Box.

“‘Hack’ an arcade by buying cheaper tokens.”

Show me the hack part?