014 - Trials

This month on Open Coin Door, we recap a packed Memorial Day weekend at Reclaim Arcade, including the massive Stars & Stripes pinball tournament that drew 78 players and some of the region’s top competitors. We discuss tournament logistics, streaming challenges, and whether a new budget-friendly mobile streaming rig built from prepaid burner phones could change how and where we broadcast pinball events in the future. We also dive into the possibility of hosting fighting game tournaments, the success of Saturday night Emo Night, moving pinball machines across multiple houses, and the ongoing balancing act of running an arcade, organizing events, and building a community around gaming.

It's the May edition of Open Coin Door and we've been everywhere — Vegas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and somehow back alive. This episode, we break down our wild adventure streaming the pinball tournament at PinFest in Allentown: a buy-sell-trade pinball festival where the peanut guy moved, the internet barely existed, and one of us ended up in a maintenance closet on the phone with a stranger trying to save the stream. We also go deep on Scorbit — the platform quietly connecting old pinball machines to the internet — including live tournaments with real cash jackpots, how NFC login actually works (and where it doesn't), and why Jersey Jack is still the villain of this story. Plus: a fully functional Windows 98 PC with flying toasters is now in the building, shoutout to Branden.

In this episode of the Open Coin Door podcast, we’re catching up on a wild few weeks at the arcade, from launching Pokémon Pinball (and dealing with immediate game-breaking issues) to diving deep into the evolving world of pinball tech and player experiences.We talk about: • The highs and frustrations of new pinball releases (and support… or lack of it) • Why Pokémon is dominating play counts despite the hiccups • The future of connected pinball with Scorbit and real-money tournaments • A surprising deep dive into 3D printing and how it’s changing repairs, customization, and even trophies • Behind-the-scenes of major events like Fools Fest and what it takes to run them smoothly • Plus upcoming tournaments, arcade events, and what’s next for Reclaim ArcadeIt’s a mix of arcade ownership realities, pinball nerd talk, and some big ideas about where this industry is headed.

In this episode Tim and Collins talk about the challenges of balancing events in the space that can be controversial or disruptive. When is the right time to say no, and when is the time you need to stand up and say yes? We also talk about an upcoming food show and some of the ideas and inspiration we're looking for was we develop future food specials. Thanks for listening!

We rang in the new year here at Reclaim Arcade with a fantastic sold out event, but then had no idea what was in store in the weeks to come as we prepared to celebrate our 5th year anniversary and weather the ice storm that came down on Fredericksburg. The roller coaster of this business never stops, hear all about it in this week's episode!

In this episode we talk about the ups and downs of the holiday season and seasonality of the arcade business in general and the challenges that come with trying to find a balance between investment and keeping the lights on. We also talk about some of the fantastic events we've had recently and ones still to come. Thanks for tuning in!

In this week's episode of the Open Coin Door podcast we talk about how tough situations with customers are handled amidst fun events (and discuss a bit about how one was handled recently at another arcade). We also give you an exclusive sneak peek on a new addition to the menu we are testing in the kitchen right now. Thanks as always for watching!

Halloween Emo Night blew up. The arcade was packed, the costumes were incredible, the specialty cocktails and jello shots sold out fast, and the energy was unreal. We recap the night, introduce our new Mixtape Karaoke format, and get ready to head down to North Carolina for our second Flippers pinball tournament.

It’s spooky season at Reclaim Arcade! Tim and Collins crack open some pumpkin beers and catch up on a jam-packed October full of events — from metal bands and goth dance parties to Halloween drag shows and late-night horror movies. They also dive into new food specials like the Sunrise Smash Burger and tease the ultimate comfort food crossover: the Smashed Mac & Cheese. Plus, hear about vinyl DJ nights, creative collaborations, and the latest pinball upgrade that’s got everyone talking.Reclaim Arcade Event Calendar: http://reclaimarcade.com/events/Galagino Ideaspace Presentation: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG1_H7lPJA/ukfN6Yrh7pXxh4lasmUjrw/edit?utm_content=DAG1_H7lPJA&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

After a bourbon-fueled trip to Louisville and a dive into the world of barrel picks, the hosts return to talk live music, Emo Night surprises, and the challenge of keeping momentum with weekly shows at Reclaim Arcade. From new band discoveries to Halloween plans and beyond, it’s a mix of travel stories, event recaps, and a look at what makes their community thrive.