So, you opened your new arcade, and you purchased equipment from these manufacturers who make these games, or rides what you chose to be ready made, or customized with your preference. Planning A layout of your arcade is very important. However; most leading arcades cram games and rides as a way to utilize small spaces in shopping malls, restaurants, amusement centers, and even their own establishments, this scheme doesn’t just make it confusing for some people who want to play relevant games that are relevant at one section of an arcade, that also makes it difficult for people who are on wheelchairs.
Having a wide space within your arcade is important as a way for you to reduce all of that cramming. However; leading arcades often do this, and try to cram in more games, or rides to make a profit. However; your arcade doesn’t have to be “profit-based” the whole time. Audience for your arcade with diversity is king!
Accessibility Should Always Go First
ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) strongly recommend ALL arcades have ample space for wheelchair customers, text-to speech programs for the blind, and even other features to ensure you have a diverse audience. Typically, wide hallways, wide doorways, and even other features must be a priority when designing your arcade,–prior to construction, or implementation.
Braille signs must be a priority as a way to help arcade customers navigate parts of your arcade. For this instance; you have a large arcade with diverse games via each department, such as: animal rides, sports, horror, educational, simulation, classics, consumer-generated, physical (with dedicated toys), table games, and even social games. Each part of an arcade must have proper indication devices, or even machines that are dedicated to represent an arcade category.
If your arcade has 2 or more floors; you must have an elevator, and ramp for people to access parts of your arcade.
Wide hallways play a key role for wheelchair traffic, and people who use white canes for accessibility. If you are setting up this arcade to accept parking of white canes, cane boxex needed to be implemented.
Lighting must be bright enough for people to see, especially if parts of your arcade require patrons to use their ears and white canes.
If you have staff; never hire people who are sex offenders, child abusers, animal abusers, corrupt officials, bigots, or any other people who are NOT suitable.
If you have patrons who use assistive devices, such as power chairs, that works the best to ensure wall outlets are functioning, and easy to find. Use tamper-resistant outlets for the best experience.
For White Cane Users
Patrons need to park their canes when playing games, or ride amusement rides. You can make it easier for patrons to park their canes by implementing the following to your arcade:
Include Cane Boxes
You can build your own cane box by purchasing materials from your local or chain hardware store. For example; Lowes. You can buy some wood, tools, and other essentials to build cane boxes. If you were currently building it, ensure it meets the following configurations:
- Proper Height – Your cane box must be set to a proper height to prevent canes from falling out of a cane box. Four feet is a minimum.
- Width of 2inches (or 60 centimeters) – This is necessary to ensure your cane box won’t tip over. If you were integrating a cane box for your arcade’s construction, ensure you add a port to retrive dropped items. You can also build a free standing cane box to reduce costs, ensure it has a slightly wider base to prevent tipping.
- Ensure your box is built with quality materials. You can also sent your pre-made box to a company to be specially treated for making it resistant to insects, fire, and other factors.
- Pint your cane box with bright colors. White is the first color to paint. Add diagonal stripes with a dark color for easier identification. Reflective paint is recommended. You can use lacker to add a shine to your cane box. Light needs to be reflected when there’s dim conditions.
- Always use quality materials when building this cane box.
Cane boxes must be protected against theft. Always post guidelines to prevent others from taking their canes. Adding dedicated “white cane” zones are necessary to ensure visual patrons better understand use of white canes are present. You can post a sign like this:
CAUTION
White cane users may be present, please watch your surroundings.
For Wheelchair Users
Hallways and other places must have extra space for wheelchair users.
Placement Of Your Games Must Rely On Strategic Placement
Don’t put all of the eggs in just one basket! Spread them out, and use your resources wisely. Even if you have large spaces… use them wisely. That way; people can choose where to play arcade games with ease. If you have a game that focus on shooting hoops (basketball), you must have a dedicated room for this sport that uses a dedicated machine for playing arcade games.
If your arcade has driving sports machines; you must have a dedicated room for these machines that are relevant for motorized sports, for this instance; racing games. Your arcade must have other types of motor sports games for this specific department. However; this game is intended for visual audiences who have working vision. Typically, arcades with driving games are common for people who want to play these games without needing to own a car.
If yyou have games that focus on classic games; you must have a classic games room to ensure people find classics that are familiar. You can have these machines that are dedicateded for classic games,–ensuring you have licensing for running these games just incase. If you want to include games from other franchises; you must get licensing first. Also, you can always make your own games from scratch,–if you have a developer team handy.
If your arcade contain rides; you must have enough room for these machines, and they require inspections to ensure safety is in check. Coin-operated stationary rides are available, and they must be located in a dedicated room where these rides can be found.
If you have chance-based games; you need to set a new room for these games. Ball-drop games, and other games that don’t require any skill can be placed there.
With all of these rooms; you got yourself a sorted arcade, and you can find out which part of an arcade is hot on this day.
If you have table games; you should always have a dedicated room per each game what you offer.
Rides Must Have Lots Of Space
If you have a large carousel for children and adults; it must be located at the center of your arcade,–depending on your arcade layout.
If you include virtual rides; you may need to ensure you have ample room for these machines. If possible; line them up on walls, if windows are present; set out essential plants, and ensure your windows are resistant to bullets for the best experiences, that applies to virtual roller coasters… they need some extra room for them to move/wiggle when in action.
If you have a riding hall with plush animals to ride; they must be a large size for adult audiences. Also, they must have enough space to roam.
If you have a maze for riding amusement rides; they must have enough space to roam.
If Your Arcade Has An Initial Foyer
You can put a handful of chosen games to have a quick burst of revenue. This is useful when the rest of an arcade is closed up for a schedule. That will also enable you to have extra amount of money,–even if your arcade is under repairs. Having some plants to beautify your foyer can make it welcoming for people who come to your establishment each day… or night. Adding a vending machine can boost your arcade revenue, however; you must add a recycle bin to cut waste, and help our environment. To make it clear; always have a sign that mandate recycling of waste to cut down pollution, and reduce costs.
A foyer should have a large space for your arcade machines to be easy to use, or easy to find. However; these machines must have a backup source of power, and you must have other sources of renewable energy to keep your arcade’s power active, and plugged in. For this instance; Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) can keep your essential hardware powered during these power outages.
Don’t cram your foyer with irrelevant games and rides; pick out these games that will be there for a long term.
If you have an ATM machine; don’t gouge fees, you should have a set of ATMs that may suit the poor and the rich instead! This is also handy for setting aside your ATM revenue via a savings account for your company. This is also useful for building up a cushion for performing repairs on machines.
If you have change machines; you may need to place it where its easy to access, useful for people who need to purchase from a vending machine, or play arcade games.