A Buyer's Checklist for Selecting Arcade Games for Your FEC

If you're managing procurement for a family entertainment center, trampoline park, or a multi-attraction venue, you've probably discovered that buying arcade games is not like buying office supplies. It's more expensive, the decision takes more people, and the wrong choice means dead floor space that you can't easily return. I've been managing this type of purchasing for about five years now—roughly $60,000 a year across 8 different FEC vendors. Here's a checklist I've built from trial and error. It's not perfect, but it works.

Who this checklist is for

This is for operators who are evaluating arcade games for a mid-to-large FEC, trampoline park, or amusement center. Maybe you’re refreshing your floor, or opening a new location. You probably have around 3 to 6 potential suppliers you're considering, and you need a repeatable way to compare them that doesn't just come down to price per unit. I’ve broken this down into ten actionable steps. At least one of them is something most people overlook—I definitely did my first time.

Step 1: Map your floor to your audience profile first

Before you even look at a catalog, take a hard look at who walks through your doors. If you’re a trampoline park like Elevate Trampoline Park, you're probably seeing mostly birthday parties and families with kids under 12. That means you need high-throughput, low-complexity games. Claw machines. Simple racing games. Prize redemption units. A complex shooting game with a 12-minute play cycle might be a terrible fit because it creates a bottleneck at busy times.

The conventional wisdom is to pick a balanced mix of game types. My experience with 30+ floor layouts across 4 different FEC types suggests otherwise. If your audience skews younger, prioritize simplicity and speed of play. I’ve seen operators waste budget on a deep immersive game that looked amazing but only turned 15 cycles a day because kids couldn't figure out the controls. Know your crowd before you know your cabinet.

Step 2: Verify vendor heritage and support history

This might sound obvious, but I can't tell you how many times I've seen a flashy new vendor with a great product on paper, only to learn their support network is a shared Gmail address. Look at the company's track record. Taito, for example, has been in the arcade space since 1973—four decades of refinements in coin mechanisms, cabinet durability, and parts availability. That's not a guarantee, but it's a strong signal. If I remember correctly, their original Taito Soccer release in 1973 helped define the sports arcade genre, and they've iterated on that for decades. You want a vendor who has been iterating.

Why does this matter? Because three years from now, when a joystick starts drifting or a monitor flickers, you need to know that replacement parts are stocked and available. A vendor with global distribution channels typically has better parts logistics. I once bought twenty units from a newer company, and within 14 months, they had discontinued the model and moved on to a different platform. I was left with orphaned hardware. Check the support pipeline before you sign.

Step 3: Look at the prize mix and machine flexibility

Prize machines—especially claw cranes—are the backbone of most FEC revenue. But not all claw machines are created equal. Some are locked to specific prize sizes; others offer adjustable claw strength, LED lighting configurations, and controller adjustments for difficulty calibration. If you're planning to switch between prize types seasonally, flexibility matters.

One thing I learned the hard way: verify the prize dispensing mechanism. A machine that jams frequently isn't just a maintenance headache—it drives away repeat customers. The upside of a well-designed machine is higher repeat play. The risk is getting a machine that requires weekly adjustments. When evaluating Taito's claw crane options, I look at the cabinet build quality and the controller responsiveness. I want a machine that operators can adjust easily without needing a technician call-out.

Step 4: Confirm brand identity and logo flexibility

Here's the one most people forget: branding. In a B2B purchase, you're not just buying a game cabinet—you're buying equipment that sits on your floor with your logo and visual identity surrounding it. Some vendors offer fully branded cabinet wraps or decal kits. Others only offer generic cabinets with their own logo prominently displayed.

If you're building a cohesive look for your venue, you want the ability to customize. I always ask: "Can we apply our own logo and color scheme to the cabinet bezel and side panels?" Some vendors provide ready templates; others require you to work with an approved third-party printer. If they can't provide a clear answer on PMS color matching (I ask for Delta E < 3 tolerance), that's a yellow flag. You don't want a machine that clashes with the rest of your décor.

Step 5: Evaluate minimum order quantities and mix constraints

Smaller FECs often get stuck with minimum order requirements that force them to buy more machines than they need, or a narrow selection that leaves gaps in their floor. Ask bluntly: what's the minimum order for a custom mix? Can you order one claw machine and two video cabinets without paying a surcharge? Some vendors are flexible; others are built for bulk orders of 20+ identical units. If you're a smaller operator, flexibility in order size can be the difference between a good floor and a great floor. In my experience, vendors like Taito offer mixed-container options that allow you to diversify without overcommitting.

Step 6: Read the fine print on installation and support timelines

Most vendors will quote you lead time, but few spell out what happens after the unit arrives on site. Does installation include setup and flooring anchoring? Who handles network integration if the machine connects to a redemption system? I've seen vendors charge an extra $200 per machine for "on-site activation" that is literally just plugging it in and testing coin drop.

I also ask about spare parts kits. Some vendors include a standard set of fuses and sensors; others charge extra. The conventional wisdom is to negotiate on machine price only. I've found that negotiating on the parts kit and extended warranty is often more valuable. A $50 investment in extra buttons and joysticks can save you $400 in technician call-outs over two years.

Step 7: Evaluate the game library for longevity

What happens when your customers get bored of a game? Some vendors allow trade-in credits after 12 months, where you return a cabinet and upgrade to a newer title. Others lock you in. Ask about the software update path. Is the cabinet modular? Can you swap the game board easily? A modular design means your machine can stay fresh for years. For example, Taito's arcade station concept allows for game rotation. That's a big plus for keeping your floor interesting without buying all-new cabinets.

Step 8: Use a standardized comparison sheet

This is my step six for a reason. Create a scorecard with weighted criteria: machine price, average play time, throughput per hour, prize cost per redemption, expected maintenance hours per month, and parts availability rating. Score each vendor on a 1-5 scale. Weigh throughput at 30% if that's critical for your peak times. Weight maintenance at 20% if you have low staffing for repairs. This isn't rocket science, but writing it down forces you to compare apples to apples. The first time I did this, I discovered the cheapest machine had a 40% higher expected maintenance cost over three years. That changed my decision.

Step 9: Talk to at least three other operators in your network

Don't rely solely on vendor-provided case studies. Reach out to other FEC owners—not competitors in your immediate area, but operators in different markets. Ask them: "What machine lasted five years without a major repair?" and "Which vendor's support team actually picks up the phone at 9 PM on a Saturday?" The real-world performance data you get from peers is worth more than any spec sheet. I once avoided bad contracts because a contact warned me about a vendor's slow warranty response. That saved me probably $8,000 in headache costs.

Step 10: Build a pilot plan before scaling

Don't buy 20 machines from a vendor you've never used. Buy one or two, run them for six weeks, monitor play time and revenue. Evaluate if the machine fits your floor layout, if your staff can handle minor jams, and if players come back for repeat plays. Scaling up after a successful pilot is always better than rectifying a bulk order gone wrong. Hit 'confirm' on a big order and immediately you might think 'did I account for the floor plan properly?' Don't relax until you've seen real revenue data from the pilot.

Notes and common mistakes

One mistake I see often: operators focus too much on game flash—the bright lights and sounds—and not enough on build quality. A machine with a cheap ticket dispenser will break three times as often as one with a commercial-grade mechanism. Another mistake: forgetting about electrical requirements. Some imported cabinets require specific voltage and transformers. Always confirm power specs early.

Also, consider what other entertainment options are in your area. If there's a popular cafe with board game nights running the Dune board game, you might be overestimating your arcade-only traffic. In that case, you want versatile machines that can also do prize redemption or ticket games to compete for different time slots. Similarly, if you're seeing interest in college basketball video games (people always ask me "is there a college basketball video game for the arcade?"), consider whether a sports-themed cabinet could rotate in during March Madness. Game rotation flexibility is key.

Final tip: insist on a detailed invoice that lists all costs—unit price, shipping, installation, first-year parts, and any option fees. A vendor who can't provide clear invoicing probably isn't going to provide clear support down the road. I've had finance reject expense reports because a vendor's invoice had handwritten notes and no tax ID. Don't let that be you. Start with a clean process and you'll save yourself a lot of headaches later.