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Episode 39 - Operator Spotlight: Flip a Coin
PodcastAnalysis updated 3d ago46 min listen
Highlights
- Denver area has hundreds of games on location with a massive and fast-growing pinball scene, while Pueblo is about 120 miles south with minimal competition until recently
- AJ transitioned from route operation to 100% dedicated operation at Flip A Coin due to unsustainable split offer (50/50) from bar owner post-COVID
- Flip A Coin Arcade averaged approximately 25 people per tournament without active promotion, considered relatively strong for Pueblo's 100,000 population
- Regional operator splits are shifting beyond traditional 50/50 model, with some operators demanding 80/20 (operator keeps 80%) in certain markets
- AJ operates new games at $1.00/play (some with 3 for $2 bonus), older solid state games at $0.50/play across three balls, no extra balls on tournament machines
- Current new game prices ($7k-$13k+) make ROI calculation critical; at $0.50 per credit on a $12k game, payoff requires substantial play volume
- Flip A Coin Arcade launched its basement bar during COVID timing windows when restrictions eased and liquor license approval aligned
- Players frequently complain about disabled extra balls and tighter tilt settings, viewing them as operator 'rip-offs' despite factory settings being standard
Notable quotes
“it's like when you just buy an le of every stern coming out i really question the judgment”
“if you're the first barcade or whatever in a city where there isn't anything, and everyone's initial impression is games that don't play right and are breaking and stealing quarters and stuff, that's not fun”
“if like here if i have a game go down i'm fixing that shit within like five minutes like I'm not gonna let it go down I'm I don't care if there's people around glasses coming off I'm fixing it”
“people just really don't understand it... people don't really like to say, oh, the sling doesn't work or the slings are weak, because usually that means it's in the player's favor”
“if you have to kick a game around to get a high score, then you're not really that good. And it's not the operators taking something away from you”
“we're all pinball players. But at the same time, fuck those people... we love you. We need you as operators. No, we can't do it without you... But also, you can't do it without us. You want the same thing. It's a symbiotic relationship”
“the old school operator thing across the board was 50 50 meaning 50 for the business 50 for the operator”
“It's entitlement. It's complete entitlement. And pinball players are the worst... They can be, they're the best. We're all pinball players.”
Entities
- COVID-19· event
- Pueblo, Colorado· event|location
- Black Knight· game
- Labyrinth· game
- Mata Hari· game
- Pinbot· game
- Rock (1985)· game
- Twilight Zone· game
- 1UP Arcade· organization
- Bite Me Bakery· organization
- Electric Bat· organization
- Flip A Coin Arcade· organization
- Next Level· organization
- Pops· organization
- Waltz· organization
- Wedgehead· organization
- Wedgehead Pinball Podcast· organization
- AJ· person
- Alan· person
- Alex· person
