We brought five games to stand S1903 at IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 in London: Ball Tower, Star Cube, Bubble Bump 2 Player, Treasure Rush and Capsule Rock. It was our fifth time exhibiting at the European show.
There were new visitors to meet and familiar faces returning to the stand. Alongside the games themselves, we talked about ticket settings, sourcing capsule prizes and running machines in locations where staff are not always nearby.
Before the show: visiting UK arcades
We arrived a few days early to visit some of our UK distribution partners and local arcades. Our partners talked us through their work with operators, from installation to supporting machines already on site. Those visits gave us a closer look at what happens after equipment leaves our factory.
Coin pushers were hard to miss. In the venues we visited, they occupied a good amount of space, with plenty of people playing them. Simulators and ticket redemption games were also common, while traditional claw machines made up much of the prize-machine selection we saw.
In a few locations, we spotted machines made by Jiuyou. Seeing them on a working arcade floor is different from seeing them in our showroom. We could look at where operators had placed them, the space around them and the games standing alongside them. We took photos and notes before heading to the exhibition hall.
Five shows, more familiar faces
Each European IAAPA show has been different, but we now recognise more people when they stop at our stand. Some first met us at an earlier exhibition. Some have since become customers or distribution partners. Others return to see what we have been making.
It is a good feeling to recognise someone in the crowd, then hear what has happened at their venue since the last conversation.
This year, three machines led to particularly interesting discussions.
Ball Tower: the appeal of a simple game
Ball Tower drew plenty of attention. It is a ticket redemption game with a clear sequence: press the button, watch the ball travel upward and see where it lands. There are eight regular ticket holes, an eight-light bonus-progress system and a top ticket wheel.
We spent time discussing ticket settings. One experienced UK operator also made a point that stayed with us: in his experience, simple games can be very good earners.
He was talking about his experience of operating games, not predicting what Ball Tower would earn. Still, we understood the point. On a busy arcade floor, someone may only watch one turn before deciding whether to play. Being able to follow the action matters.
Visitors responded to the cabinet's appearance as well as its gameplay. Having the machine there meant we could demonstrate a turn and answer questions as people tried it.
Capsule Rock: where do the capsules come from?
Capsule Rock first appeared at our Guangzhou AAA show in May. In London, it attracted visitors who already knew traditional gacha-style capsule dispensers. Here, the player has a different task: watch the moving capsules and time an action to try to win one.
Some visitors remembered our older Crazy Capsule Toys (Drop A Winner) machine. That gave them a point of reference, but the conversations soon moved beyond gameplay.
Where could they get suitable capsules? Some visitors told us that sourcing capsule prizes locally was not as straightforward as they would like. They asked whether Jiuyou could help arrange supply from China.
We also discussed cabinet locks. Some operators place machines in locations where their own staff are not nearby throughout the day. They wanted a stronger locking arrangement for that type of operation.
These are questions worth taking back to the team. An operator may like the game and still need to work out prize supply and cabinet security before placing it in several locations. These requests are points for our team to review, not upgrades we are presenting as already completed.
Treasure Rush: hearing from existing operators
Treasure Rush was making its second appearance at IAAPA Expo Europe. Its cabinet and monster-target gameplay still attracted attention, but a number of visitors already knew the machine.
We have customers running Treasure Rush in Europe. Some shared encouraging feedback about its performance in their locations, and we have received repeat orders from customers who bought it before.
One machine will not work equally well in every venue. But hearing from someone who has operated it tells us something different from a first impression at a booth. We want to know how it fits into their floor, how staff find the day-to-day operation and where they need more support.
After London
We came home with people to follow up with and practical questions to work through, particularly around capsule supply and locking arrangements for different placements.
Five European IAAPA shows have not given us one answer about what every operator wants. They have made the differences between venues more apparent. That is a good reason to keep visiting those venues as well as meeting people at exhibitions.
In 2027, we plan to return to IAAPA Expo Europe in Vienna, Austria. We hope to bring new machines and catch up with more familiar faces.
If you are considering one of the games we showed in London, tell us about your venue, how it is staffed and the prizes or ticket system you use. That gives us a useful starting point for discussing the machine and its setup.