Fun-E-Ball has always been one of my favorite arcade games.
Let me be more specific: It’s not one of my favorite arcade games I’ve ever played but rather one of my favorites I’ve ever owned.
This is interesting because I typically despite prize redemption of any kind, yet Fun-E-Ball does things fairly. Instead of betting odds to win a bouncy ball, players basically operate a glorified vending machine by guiding said ball through a maze with no lose-state.
Even better, you have the opportunity – not chance – to win a second ball for free by skillfully maneuvering your first ball onto a bonus elevator slotted within this maze. I’ve done it once or twice in my day, so I’m sure some enterprising kid can do it, too.
Where am I going with this? Oh, right, the lead: I’m combatting back-to-school blues by promoting Fun-E-Ball at Wilcox Arcade at Trends N Treasures in Murray, Kentucky.
Everything I’ve heard anecdotally from other arcade operators suggests that the start of school results in slower earnings, which is why I took it upon myself to create the 30-second commercial you see above.
You may have also noticed the new LED light strip I affixed to the rear of the cabinet to attract the “TikTok brain” generation. I mean…they put those things behind their television sets, so why shouldn’t I put them behind my machines?
The bottom line is I don’t want people to forget Fun-E-Ball exists once their schedules become packed again, nor do I want to “rest on my laurels” in general when it comes to getting more eyes on my route.
(Speaking of which, it is, in fact, a route again, seeing as how I just landed a three-head candy machine at Basement Bar Collectibles in Murray, Kentucky, with actual video games arriving in the near future. Don’t worry; this subject will earn its own full article when I can type it.)
But yes, part of this promotion entails leaning heavily into the “attitude advertising” I’ve always imbued into Wilcox Arcade. I like what I call “family-friendly edge,” as seen in such cutting-edge properties as Sonic the Hedgehog and Toonami. I’m not trying to outright offend anybody – just ruffle a few feathers here and there.
Fun-E-Ball was probably an odd choice for this specific stand of marketing since its userbase skews fairly young, though I like to keep things consistent around here. I may play around with targeting other audiences going forward on a game-by-game basis.
With all that being said, I sincerely hope you consider visiting Wilcox Arcade by the entrance of Trends N Treasures off South Main Street in Murray, Kentucky.
Skycurser, the anticipated game No. 2 for my route, is currently at my house for a little doctoring. I've identified the problem – a dead PC – and believe wholeheartedly I’ll be able to fix it in no time flat. (Famous last words?)
One thing I’ve debating is whether it’ll still end up at Trends N Treasures or not. After all, it’s not really aimed at the older crowd who frequent that establishment, whereas it would be pretty much spot-on at Basement Bar Collectibles. As long as I have something to put it in its place, I don’t think moving Skycurser elsewhere will hurt anybody’s feelings.
Thanks kindly to finacée Jordan Harrell for participating in another one of my harebrained promos. She’s quickly becoming more of the face of Wilcox Arcade than I am.
And that, my friends, is a wrap. I look forward to sharing more in the next article.
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