Nostalgia and Appeal
The most significant features associated with arcade game machines are the nostalgia and unique appeal they carry. From the 1970s to the 1990s, arcade game machines were one of the biggest sources of entertainment for many young people. Living in a no-smartphone, no-home-console era, the arcade game machines carried numerous youthful memories. In recent years, with retro culture on the rise, arcade games once again returned to people’s sights. Whether it is the classic “Space Invaders,” “Pac-Man,” or “The King of Fighters” series, these games attract not only the attention of older players but also allow many young people to experience the fun of retro games.
This can make such feelings of nostalgia play a role in guiding the emotional resonance of events. Dring corporate events, many employees born in their 80s and 90s would be drawn instantly to familiar machines of arcade games, participating in games and sharing childhood memories with colleagues. Such emotional resonance helps in breaking down barriers between colleagues, bringing them closer and making the atmosphere of the event more relaxed.
Data also proves the value of arcade game machines in events for their nostalgic appeal. According to one market research agency, retro games appeal to 35% more people than general interactive games in events; the satisfaction rate in events where arcade game machines are available is as high as 87%. This proves that, indeed, one of the important roles of arcade games is to increase event participation with their nostalgic appeal.
Creating Interactive Experiences
The interactive experience created by an arcade game machine is unparalleled. It doesn’t matter if it is a classic single-player or a recent multiplayer battle mode; the arcade game design can introduce extreme levels of engagement and interactivity. Interactivity can elevate engagement and the interest of participants in events to an entirely new dimension.
Arcade machines can also be set in an event site for participants to have an immersive experience. People can actively operate the games themselves instead of just watching or being part of a passive event. For instance, it could be done in exhibitions or any big events where the organizer may prepare several classic arcade game machines for the participants to try and allow them to relax in the tight schedule of the event. At the same time, several multiplayer battle arcade games, like “The King of Fighters” or “Street Fighter” series, can attract people to watch the competition and create a good atmosphere for interaction.
Real data can prove that arcade game machines are effective in enhancing participation. According to the feedback from a certain game exhibition organizer, participants’ average stay time in that area was about 20% longer than the time spent in other areas. That is how arcade game machines can improve events’ interactivity and enable participants to stay at events longer, enhancing the overall effectiveness of events.
Promoting Social Interaction
One more striking feature of arcade games is their ability to promote social interaction. Several arcade games have competitive or cooperative modes, hence providing a great avenue for interaction between strangers. Setting up some competitive or cooperative arcade games at corporate events or social gatherings can quickly bring participants closer together, eliminating unfamiliarity.
In some annual meetings of companies or team outings, quite a number show colleagues teaming up around arcade game machines to compete or go through levels together. This naturally breaks the serious atmosphere of the usual office environment to allow colleagues to enjoy relaxed gaming time away from their work roles. Additionally, in some multiplayer games, cheers and shouts when cooperating or defeating opponents often raise enthusiasm in the surrounding atmosphere, making the event venue even more lively.
A survey of corporate events indicated that with the arcade game machines, the rate of interaction and communication depth are increased by 25% for team-building activities. The evidence further confirms that unique arcade games can really promote social interaction and team collaboration.
Customization and Branding Opportunities
Arcade game machines can also add to the participation and interactivity of any event while offering more branding opportunities for the events. Most arcade game machines can be customized to meet the theme or brand requirements of the event. The outside design of the machines can include the brand’s logo, color, or particular elements that may fit, and game content can also be modified to meet event theme requirements.
Some companies use customized arcade game machines to promote their brands during exhibitions or product launches. One company, in launching a new product, had come up with a mini-game about the product’s characteristics and embedded it into the arcade game machine so that participants could learn about the product features through gaming. In this way, the company added fun to the event and, unconsciously, deepened participants’ impression of the brand in the course of entertainment.
This form of branding promotion of the arcade game machine is more vivid and interesting compared to traditional advertising; the participants are more likely to accept it and remember it. According to a certain survey, in exhibitions that use customized arcade game machines, the brand memory of the exhibitors increased by about 40% in the audience. That proves arcade game machines, as a tool for branding, can raise brand exposure and recognition while boosting participation.
