How Much Does It Cost To Buy An Arcade Machine?

July 19, 2019

When buying an arcade machine, there are many things to consider; and the cost is definitely one of them. Whether you’re buying an arcade machine for your living room, games room or even a bar, one thing that will ‘unfortunately’ always play a role in your buying decision is price.

So, let’s take a look at the types of arcade machines available, how much you can expect to spend on them, and what you can get for your money.

Stand-Up Arcade Costs

Typical Cost: £995.00 – £4,795.00

Stand up arcades just scream ‘RETRO GAMING!’ There are countless examples of stand up arcades being a crucial part in gaming across many famous films and TV shows. Be it Bart having a ball at the Noise Land Video Arcade in The Simpsons, or the famous Wild Gunman scene featuring Marty McFly in Back To The Future 2, wherever there is retro gaming, there’s a stand-up arcade.

Back to the Future 2 – Wild Gunman Scene

The Cabinet

The popularity of stand-up cabinets is no doubt down to the ability to personalise their look. Unlike a sit-down table, a stand-up cabinet provides ample space to add colours and recognisable gaming designs. You can even have a design created especially for you; making your purchase even more special. Dependant on the manufacturer, you can often expect to pay additional extras for personalisation.

The Software

Although the look and feel of an arcade machine are exciting, the real fun comes when you get to the software. The software within any arcade determines its capabilities in terms of what games can be played and the arcades compatibility with other, more modern consoles. The more complex and capable the software, often the higher the arcade machine cost.

Sit-Down Arcade Costs

Typical Cost: £995.00 – £5,995.00

Sit Down Arcades are just awesome! Often found in ‘hip’ pubs and other quaint little establishments throughout the country, these creations regularly allow us of a certain generation to relive some of the old school classics. Despite being synonymous with retro games such as Frogger and Space Invaders, a sit-down arcade machine can also be customised with a variety of options such as specialist controls and additional accessories to suit the more modern gamers among us.

The Cabinet

Although there may not be as much space for funky, bespoke graphics on a sit-down arcade cabinet, that’s not to say that you can’t have some fun with the graphics. Personalisation can be added to the stand/footer of the arcade, as well as the tabletop that sits around the screen. As with a stand-up cabinet, the more personalisation you add, the more the cost is likely to rise.

The Software

Software for sit down arcade machines is mostly similar to that of their stand-up counterparts – it’s a case of you get what you pay for. The more you’re willing to invest in the technology that powers your new games machine, the more functionality you can expect.

Virtual Pinball Machine Costs

Typical Cost: £5,995.00 – £11,995.00

If you dream of owning a selection of classic pinball machines but don’t quite have space or the finances to invest in multiple machines, then a virtual pinball machine could be perfect for you. We regard the King-Pin Virtual Pinball Machine as the pinnacle of virtual pinball – and starting at £5,995.00, any ‘pinhead’ is bound to be interested.

What’s Your Budget?

At Bespoke Arcades, our stock in trade is manufacturing and selling arcade machines. However, despite this, we still urge anybody who is looking to buy any new gaming device or software to set a realistic budget when designing and buying their machine.

Before making a purchase, or even taking a look at what’s available on the market, it’s always a good idea to have a rough idea of how much you want, and more importantly, can afford to spend.

What Can You Get For Your Money?

No matter what your arcade machine budget, there is no doubt a variety of options available to you.

Up to £1,000

A budget of up to £1,000, you’re most likely going to be looking at a simple, no frills arcade. But, don’t let this deter you, basic looking arcade cabinets still come equipped with an excellent catalogue of classic games for you and your friends to enjoy.

£1,000 – £3,000

With a budget between £1,000 – £3,000, you can start to add some real customisation to your machine. Begin selecting some additional extras, certain games, personalisation and start looking at nu-gen console integration.

£3,000 – £5,000

If you’re spending between £3,000 – £5,000 on an arcade machine then you can really get creative. Get your cabinet design bespoke to your needs, ensure your favourite new and classic games are within the software capabilities and find the add-ons that make playing the classics even more enjoyable.

£5,000+

Anything above £5,000 then WOW, you’re really in business. A budget like this allows you to take some time to think about what exactly it is that you want, then find somebody to make it happen. Design, software, nu-gen integration – the gaming world really is your oyster.