{"id":11288,"date":"2018-03-24T22:04:39","date_gmt":"2018-03-24T22:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/?p=11288"},"modified":"2018-05-07T17:14:21","modified_gmt":"2018-05-07T16:14:21","slug":"nickelrama-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/2018\/03\/24\/nickelrama-1\/","title":{"rendered":"NICKELRAMA #1"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the days immediately prior to the start of the Texas Pinball Festival 2018 we visited a number of pinball locations in the greater Dallas area, starting with NickelRama.<\/p>\n

\"NickelRama<\/a>
NickelRama\u00a0#1 in Garland, Texas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s a little confusing because NickelRama\u00a0actually has two locations.\u00a0 This is the original one and it’s located in Garland, Texas.\u00a0 The newer second location is also in Garland, so we can’t even refer to this branch as “the Garland one”.\u00a0 Instead, we’ll call this NickelRama #1.<\/p>\n

\"Nickelrama<\/a>
NickelRama\u00a0#1 in Garland, Texas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The NickelRama\u00a0arcade concept is a mix of pay-to-enter and pay-to-play.\u00a0 Entry to the arcade costs $3.50 per person, regardless of age.\u00a0 You can get a slightly better group rate or a pre-paid party rate of $59.95 for up to 25 guests along with a row of tables and chairs to use.<\/p>\n

However you get in, the games are then paid for using nickels (5\u00a2 coins).\u00a0 That’s not to say the games are all priced at 5\u00a2 or even priced the same though, because different games use a different numbers of nickels.\u00a0 The pinballs, for example, cost four nickels per game (20\u00a2), which is pretty cheap if you can play enough games to recover the initial entry fee.<\/p>\n

You aren’t expected to bring dozens and dozens of nickels with you though, since cups of 100 nickels are available from the entry desk at face value of $5 each.\u00a0 You can’t ‘cash-in’ any you might have left over when you leave, but of course they are just regular coins and so usable in most locations.<\/p>\n

Inside the d\u00e9cor is clean but minimalist.\u00a0 The walls are plain, as is the floor.\u00a0 The lighting is slightly dim but neither dingy nor obtrusive.\u00a0 The overall look is of a regular retail unit packed full of arcade games.<\/p>\n

So, what about the games on offer?<\/p>\n

\"Games<\/a>
Games at NickelRama\u00a0#1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NickelRama\u00a0has an impressive selection of new machines – both big sit-down arcade games and redemption-style ones – to appeal to all ages.<\/p>\n

\"Driving<\/a>
Driving games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kids<\/a>
Kids games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Fruit<\/a>
Fruit Ninja and Jurassic Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Giant<\/a>
Giant Space Invaders and Pac-Man priced at $0.30 per game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Redemption games seemed to be very popular, with dozens of kids wandering around holding armfuls of tickets trying to earn enough for their desired prize.<\/p>\n

\"Redemption<\/a>
Redemption skill games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"More<\/a>
More popular titles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The ever-popular redemption counter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thankfully, NickelRama\u00a0has a decent pinball selection too.<\/p>\n

\"Mixed<\/a>
Mixed in with the arcade games are the pinballs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In fact, NickelRama\u00a0#1 has a dozen of the latest titles from Stern Pinball and Jersey Jack Pinball.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The first row of six pinball machines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first row contains:<\/p>\n