Arcade games are experiences we’d pay to play for the fun alone. They give us an opportunity to do things we can’t at home, and compete against friends and strangers in imaginatively developed tests of skill. This is the basis of arcade games, but some take these ideas a step further.
Evolving the idea of play for fun is the inclusion of ticket rewards for player performance. While not included in every arcade or game, these systems have nonetheless remained a key part of arcade games for well over a century, and they’re still going strong. So, why is it that such classic systems remain so widely used today, and what modern forms have they taken?
The Modern State of Play
While traditional video arcades aren’t as popular as they once were before, arcades that provide ticket rewards are stronger than ever. Many of their games have evolved to include more electronic elements, but the core principles remain the same.
Perhaps more notably, other entirely software-driven gaming experiences are now offering the same kind of reward-based gameplay. Arcade games online rewarding players with virtual tickets like Wheel of Winner Link&Win and Mines maintain that old school appeal with the convenience of modern tech. Playable over mobile and desktop systems, these services develop arcade ticket potential to the next level, and they’re only getting better.
Turning Back the Clock
The very first of what would lead into the modern arcade ticket machines trace back to the late 1880s. These took the form of a kind of proto slot machine, where players would insert money, and spinning reels would reward prizes. Though cash payouts in these machines didn’t exist until the Liberty Bell slot machine of 1899, the first version could reward players with tokens they could exchange for rewards.
Skill-based variant arrived in the decades that followed, with claw machines being the biggest standouts. These started to gain major attention in the 1930s with machines like the UFO Catcher, with later ideas like Japanese Roll Ball, and more commonly Skee-Ball alleys, taking the concern to the next level.
“Skee Ball” (CC BY 2.0) by Benimoto
Measurable Rewards
While we don’t know who came up with the idea of tickets for a reward, we do know the concept was a stroke of genius. After all, people already enjoyed playing these games with no rewards, with the challenge and potential for competition being enough.
Being rewarded tickets gave players a return on investment and a direct measure of their achievements. Not only was being the best recorded on a scoreboard, but you were also returned tickets commensurate with your skill.
After collecting their tickets, the enticing ticket trade-in counter then showed players what was possible if they stayed active. Many of the larger items weren’t feasibly possible to claim in one day, but the promise of bigger payoffs kept players wanting more. As a kicker, the ability to choose your prize from several different options provided a real sense of control. Whether you wanted a piece of candy or a physical object you could keep at home to remind you of an enjoyable time, the choice was yours.
“tickets” (CC BY 2.0) by ladytechnology
Arcade tickets combined with skill games is a combination create a combination too good to ignore, and unlike other forms of entertainment, it’s unlikely to vanish over time. The benefits for players and developers are too great to be eliminated, it’s more a question of what imaginative creators will come up with next. Whether online or in person, these are exciting possibilities for any players to enjoy and remember.
Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.
