phish race >> how do you typically set up DMD and more recent SS games for route?

how hard? open outlanes? tight tilts? setting changes? etc...

pricing?

thanks for the info.

Thanks for all the info phishrace!

I am currently looking into the logistics and now seriously examining how to go about routing games. A few of us are trying to find a single location to put 4 to 6 games. We want to make a spot worth actually playing in town (opposed to the few bars with 1-2 barely working pins).

Thanks again for the info. It provides a really good template of things to think about.

One machine on route will never make you money, if that is your goal.

Insurance, licensee fees, effort, maintainence... All adds up quick. need to split your time and up front costs over multiple machines if you even want to break even. Location pinball does not make dollars unless you own the location and run a barcade sort of place. Then the cash comes from no split and drinks.

We now have 2 spots. Players are both casual and regulars. Either way the costs do not add up for doing it.

It takes LOTS of effort to keep games playing well on route and you need to want to do it for the side benefits. Things like making new friends, seeing new people get it, running monthly competitions are whatmake it worthwhile for me. The coin drop is not enough in madison to do much more besides pay for costs, even that is a stretch. You won't be making enough to even come close to making it worthwhile to buy a new 5k game unless you enjoy playing your own game on route and sharing with others. I did not believe all the experienced operators last year when I was asking the same questions. Now i have 7 months experience and can say that they were 100% right. If you can find a spot with NO split then it may make you enough to do something worthwhile... Really depends on location as i know spot hots spots in the right cities are bumping, but still plan to spend tONS of time of a hobby enveavor.