Taito Arcade Machines & Beyond: FAQ for Venue Buyers (Air Hockey, Ping Pong & Card Games)

What You’ll Find Here

If you’re responsible for buying arcade equipment for an indoor entertainment venue, you probably have a dozen questions rattling around your head. I’ve been dealing with this for about six years — ordering Taito arcade machines, prize counters, air hockey tables, and even the occasional oddball request like a card game rule sheet. Below are the questions I get asked most, answered from the trenches.

1. What types of arcade machines does Taito actually make?

Taito is best known for classics like Space Invaders and Dead Heat, but their current lineup is way broader than you’d think. As of early 2025, they produce:

• Claw machines (crane games) — the bread and butter of Taito Prize. These come in different sizes and prize configurations.
• Mini arcade cabinets — smaller footprint units perfect for bars or waiting areas, often loaded with retro titles.
• Rhythm games — think Dance Dance Revolution style, but with Taito IP.
• Sports-themed cabinets — including air hockey tables (yes, they make those) and basketball shootouts.
• Digital/prize redemption systems — integrated with the Taito Station app.

If I remember correctly, their website lists about 20+ active product lines. But don’t quote me on exact numbers — they rotate models every year or so.

2. How do Taito prize machines work for operators?

Taito Prize machines are typically redemption-based. Players insert coins, try to grab a prize (plush, electronics, etc.), and if they succeed, they get the item. The operator sets the difficulty — claw strength, prize spacing, etc. The surprise for me was how much maintenance affects profitability. A poorly calibrated claw can either be too easy (no profit) or too frustrating (players walk away).

“The 12-point checklist I created after my third claw malfunction has saved us an estimated $2,000 in potential rework.”

Take it from someone who learned the hard way: invest in a preventive maintenance schedule. Five minutes of checking claw tension each morning beats a full afternoon of angry customers and service calls.

3. Does Taito manufacture air hockey tables?

They do. Taito’s air hockey tables fall under their sports arcade category. I’ve purchased two for our venue — one standard 8-foot and one mini 6-foot model. The most frustrating part: the blower motor can be noisy. You’d think a 70-year-old arcade company would have that dialed in, but early units had a hum that annoyed nearby players. Their 2024 revision fixed it. If you’re considering one, ask the supplier if you’re getting the revised blower.

Pro tip: check the puck and paddle quality. The included ones with our first unit were too light. We swapped them for regulation-weight pucks, and player satisfaction went up noticeably.

4. What about ping pong ball games from Taito?

Taito offers a couple of games that use ping pong balls — most notably their ”Ping Pong Fever” ticket redemption unit. It’s basically a mini table where players shoot balls into moving cups. It’s super popular with kids. But here’s something you might not expect: the balls themselves degrade quickly. After about 2,000 plays, they start to crack, causing jams.

“Never expected the biggest expense to be replacement ping pong balls. Turns out, buying in bulk from a table tennis supplier is way cheaper than Taito’s branded packs.” Our ordering time dropped by 40% after I switched sources.

5. How do you play the card game “Screw”?

I get this question from staff every few months — usually when someone finds a deck of cards in the break room. Screw (also called “President” or “Scumbag” depending on where you’re from) is a trick-taking game with a hierarchy. Here’s the gist:

• Players: 3 to 6. Deal all cards evenly.
• Goal: Get rid of your hand first.
• Basic play: The first player leads any number of cards of the same rank (e.g., two 5s). The next player must play the same number of cards of a higher rank (e.g., two 7s) or pass. If all pass, the last player who played leads again.
• Special cards: 2s are wild (can be played anytime to reset the rank to 2). Red 3s (or Jokers) can act as bombs that skip a turn.
• Ranking: 3 is low, 2 is high (or vice versa depending on variant).

“I’m not 100% sure about the exact rules — different groups tweak them. The version above is what our crew settled on after some trial and error.”

If you’re buying a Taito Prize machine that happens to include card‑themed games, the mechanics are totally unrelated. Screw is purely a break‑room tradition.

6. What common mistakes do you see first‑time buyers make?

Two big ones: ignoring power requirements and skipping the warranty check. Taito machines come with specific voltage and plug types (Japanese standard usually, unless you request North American). I ordered one unit without verifying — it needed a step‑down transformer. That was a $400 extra and a week of delay.

Also, check the warranty period. Most Taito cabinets come with one year on parts, but labor isn’t always included. “The most frustrating part of the warranty process: getting them to respond to a claim takes 3–5 business days. Now I build a buffer into my maintenance schedule.”

Seriously, a little preventive work upfront saves a ton of headache. Five minutes of verification beats five days of correction.

7. How do I decide between new and refurbished Taito machines?

This worked for us, but our situation was a mid‑size venue with steady foot traffic. If you’re running a seasonal pop‑up, the calculus might be different. Refurbished units are about 30–40% cheaper, but the condition varies wildly. We bought a refurbished Davis Cup table that looked fine but had a sticky button after three months. The repair cost ate up the savings.

For high‑use games (claw machines, air hockey), I’d lean new. For less popular titles, refurbished is fine. Again, take this with a grain of salt — I’m only speaking from domestic operations. If you’re dealing with international shipping, there are probably factors I’m not aware of.

— An admin buyer who’s made enough mistakes to know better.