Buying & Support
Arcade Machine FAQ for Operators and Distributors
These are the questions we usually hear before an operator chooses a machine, plans a new arcade floor, or places a first order.
There is no single answer that works for every venue. A shopping mall arcade, bowling center, trampoline park, and large FEC can attract very different players.
The answers below are based on what we have learned from operators, distributors, technicians, and real projects in more than 75 countries.
Choosing the Right Arcade Machines
Start with the venue, not the catalog.
We normally look at your floor space, player age, location type, payment system, prize setup, budget, and the other attractions already inside the venue.
A good machine mix for a shopping mall arcade may not suit a bowling center or trampoline park.
Tell us how your location works, and we can help narrow the choices.
A new FEC usually needs a balanced game mix, not a floor filled with machines that offer the same experience.
Depending on the venue, the mix may include claw machines and prize merchandisers, ticket redemption games, basketball and sports games, video games, shooting games, multiplayer attractions, kiddie games, and a small number of larger anchor pieces such as VR or other premium attractions.
Each category plays a different role. Some machines attract attention from a distance. Some keep groups playing together. Others provide longer play time, visible prizes, or a reason to visit the redemption counter.
The right mix depends on your target age group, floor space, budget, payment and redemption system, staffing, and the other attractions already inside the venue.
Jiuyou does not manufacture every category listed above, but we can help you review the overall mix and identify where our prize, capsule, shooting, and redemption machines may fit.
There is no useful answer based only on the number of square metres.
Machines also need player circulation, sightlines, electrical access, prize-refill access, and enough space for technicians to open doors and carry out maintenance.
It is usually better to begin with a smaller, balanced floor than to fill every available space with machines that compete with each other.
Start with machines that are easy to notice, quick to understand, and efficient with floor space.
Compact prize machines, capsule games, one-player redemption games, and selected two-player machines often make sense for smaller locations.
We also look at cabinet height, entrance and door access, service clearance, and whether one machine blocks the visibility of the games around it.
Game Mix, Revenue and Payout
It depends more on the venue than the machine itself.
Player age, location, price per play, prize value, payout settings, machine position, and uptime all affect revenue.
A machine that performs very well in a family entertainment center may not achieve the same result in a shopping mall or bowling center.
We prefer to understand the location before calling any machine the “best earner.”
Prize machines are usually easy for new players to understand because the reward is visible and immediate.
Redemption games make more sense when the venue already has a ticket or points system and a well-managed redemption counter.
Many successful locations use both.
The right balance depends on how your guests like to play and how your prize operation is managed.
Start with local spending habits, prize cost, the machine experience, and the price of similar games in your market.
A higher price does not always mean higher revenue. A lower price does not always create more play.
We recommend starting with a reasonable setting, tracking the results, and adjusting one variable at a time instead of changing the price, payout, and difficulty together.
Many Jiuyou prize and redemption games include operator-adjustable settings, but the available options vary by machine.
Depending on the product, settings may include prize frequency, ticket payout, guaranteed-win intervals, game difficulty, score targets, or high-score reset conditions.
The product page and machine manual should explain the exact controls available for each model.
Ordering, Consolidation and Customization
Many standard Jiuyou machines can be ordered from one unit for testing.
A sample order is useful when an operator or distributor wants to evaluate the gameplay, prize setup, payment system, and local player response before placing a larger order.
Pricing, production time, and customization options may be different for sample and volume orders.
Yes. This is common when an operator or distributor buys different machine categories from several factories.
We can collect the packing dimensions and weights from each supplier, prepare a suggested container-loading plan, and help coordinate the loading schedule.
Usually, all machines are delivered to one consolidation location before loading. In many projects, buyers choose the factory supplying the largest part of the order because it reduces local transport and handling.
However, the final location should also consider factory distance, export arrangements, storage space, loading equipment, and the freight forwarder’s plan.
Loading and coordination charges vary. Some factories may help without an additional loading fee when they are supplying most of the machines. Others may charge for unloading, storage, forklift use, labour, repacking, or container loading.
We recommend confirming these costs with every supplier before arranging delivery to the consolidation point.
Before loading, we will need the final packing size, gross weight, packing method, delivery date, and contact person for every supplier.
Yes, but the level of customization depends on the machine, order quantity, and the type of change required.
Cabinet artwork, distributor logos, venue branding, instruction stickers, payment-system openings, and printed gameplay instructions are usually the easiest items to customize.
Gameplay instructions can normally be translated into the language used in your market.
The software interface is different. Most Jiuyou machines use English software as standard, and we do not normally develop a new software language for a small order.
Software translation may be considered for a large-volume project, but it requires separate technical evaluation, development time, and testing.
We confirm each requested change before quotation because changing artwork or printed instructions is much simpler than modifying software, gameplay, or the mechanical structure.
Most machines can be prepared for common commercial payment setups, including coin acceptors, bill acceptors, card readers, free play, physical tickets, and e-ticket signals.
The exact wiring and signal requirements should be confirmed before production.
Sending us the payment-system manual, wiring diagram, or interface specification early helps avoid changes after the machines are completed.
Certification, Production and Shipping
Certification depends on the machine and destination market.
Many Jiuyou products are available with CE and UKCA documentation.
UL-compliant materials or preparation may be available for selected North American projects, but this is not the same as every machine being supplied with full UL certification by default.
We confirm the exact certification requirement before quotation and production.
Production time depends on the model, quantity, customization, payment system, and current factory schedule.
A standard machine order is usually faster than an OEM project, large-volume order, software change, or certification-related build.
We will confirm the estimated completion date before the order is finalized rather than giving the same lead time for every project.
We can provide the packed dimensions, gross weight, CBM, packing method, and estimated container-loading quantity for each machine.
For shipment documents, we normally prepare the commercial invoice, packing list, and other export documents required for the order.
Your freight forwarder should confirm destination customs requirements, import duties, taxes, and local clearance procedures.
Check the voltage, plugs, entrance and door dimensions, unloading method, floor access, electrical points, payment system, internet requirements, and service clearance.
Prize machines should also have suitable prizes ready before testing.
For large or heavy cabinets, confirm that the unloading equipment and the route from the unloading area to the final position are suitable before delivery day.
It is much easier to solve an access problem before the container arrives.
Maintenance, Spare Parts and After-Sales Support
Every commercial arcade machine needs regular attention.
Typical work includes cleaning, checking buttons and sensors, inspecting motors and moving parts, clearing prize or ticket paths, checking fans and power supplies, and watching for unusual noise or movement.
Small problems are easier to fix when they are found early.
A machine that is ignored until it stops completely usually creates more downtime and a more difficult repair.
We normally suggest keeping three types of parts:
- Consumables used during normal operation
- Common replacement parts such as buttons, sensors, motors, belts, switches, and power supplies
- Game-down parts that can stop the machine from operating or earning
The recommended list depends on the machine.
A capsule machine with moving mechanical parts does not need the same spare-parts kit as a shooting game, ticket redemption machine, or prize merchandiser.
Before shipment, we can recommend a practical spare-parts list based on the models and quantities in your order.
Keeping a small number of the correct parts is usually more useful than buying many parts you may never use.
Send us a clear description, photos, and a short video showing the problem.
Our technical team will help identify the likely cause and guide your staff through the basic checks.
If a part has failed, we will confirm the part number and arrange the appropriate replacement or repair plan.
Clear videos usually save more time than a long written description.
Lifetime support means we continue providing technical guidance for the machine after the standard warranty period ends.
It does not mean every replacement part and shipping cost is free forever.
Warranty parts, paid replacement parts, freight costs, consumables, and damage caused by incorrect operation are handled according to the machine, order terms, warranty period, and cause of the problem.
We prefer to explain this clearly before the order rather than leave the meaning of “lifetime support” unclear.
Distributor and Long-Term Cooperation
Yes. We work with distributors, FEC operators, route operators, arcade owners, and entertainment companies in different markets.
For distributor cooperation, we usually want to understand your territory, customer base, service capability, expected product range, and sales plan.
A good distributor relationship is not only about the first order.
Technical support, local follow-up, spare parts, and continued product development matter as well.
Exclusivity is considered case by case.
We normally review the market, expected purchase volume, sales plan, after-sales capability, existing customers, test period, and the level of promotion the distributor can provide.
We do not believe a market should be blocked by an agreement if neither side is actively developing it.
A useful exclusive agreement should protect the distributor’s investment while also giving both sides clear responsibilities and targets.
Branding options may include distributor logos, combined Jiuyou and distributor branding, market-specific stickers, manuals, artwork, and selected promotional materials.
The arrangement depends on the machine, order quantity, market, and cooperation terms.
We prefer branding that protects both the local distributor’s investment and the original identity of the product.
Support can include product manuals, spare-parts lists, troubleshooting guidance, photos, videos, product training, marketing materials, and early information about new machines.
For larger projects, we can also discuss payment-system preparation, machine mix, container planning, trade-show samples, and market-specific product adjustments.
The most useful support usually starts with understanding how the distributor plans to sell, install, and service the machines.
Still Not Sure Where to Start?
Tell us about your venue, floor space, player group, payment system, market, and the types of machines you are considering.
We will help you narrow the options before asking you to choose from a long catalog.
Guangzhou Jiuyou Animation Technology Co., Ltd. builds arcade machines for FECs, shopping mall arcades, distributors, and commercial amusement venues worldwide.
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Guangzhou, China
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