Why Did I Buy the Cabaret Version of Switch ‘N’ Shoot?

The “cabaret” form factor is not a common one for arcade games made in the modern era. With the “bigger is better” mentality infecting our industry, uncovering even a normal-sized cabinet from a major manufacturer is like finding a needle in a haystack.

So when DSM Arcade announced the cabaret version of Switch ‘N’ Shoot in 2020, it was quite the little novelty relative to its contemporaries. The only catch was…well, it never saw an official release. Arcade operators at large wouldn’t get opportunity to buy that $999 beauty.

Until now, apparently — seeing as how I’ll be the first person to put one into the public. As you may recall, I recently announced that Switch ‘N’ Shoot would be coming to my route, specifically at Know-a-Guy in Murray. Little did I know from the outset that it would ultimately be this shrunken variant.

That’s because I initiated the deal with Dan Fessler of DSM Arcade under the impression that I would purchase a standard cabinet, which would have admittedly been flashier but at four times the price. I knew darn well the level of financial responsibility that would entail, yet I was committed to bringing a unique experience to western Kentucky.

Shortly before the standard cabinet was set to enter production, Dan proposed to me that I instead acquire the last of two cabarets he had ever produced, the first of which had gone to a “Switch ‘N’ Shoot super fan” some time back. After consulting with my fiancée, we agreed that it would be a much more attainable investment at this financially trying time in my life. (Hey, we all have to start somewhere.)

Would I have wanted the larger version? Absolutely, as it was already space-conscious enough so suit my needs. Even so, the software is the same across both versions, so pragmaticism won out in the end.

Rest assured that, if all goes according to plan, I’ll upgrade to the bigger model in the future. What I intend to do is move the cabaret to Basement Bar Collectibles once I can afford its replacement at Know-a-Guy. Beyond that, when I can replace the cabaret at Basement Collectibles, I hope to move it to a restaurant lobby or somewhere similarly lacking in square-footage. (I like to ponder this crud years in advance.)

For now, though, I hope you’ll still be just as willing to engage with Switch ‘N’ Shoot despite it being littler than usual. The title is, in my eyes, every bit as fun no matter how it may be presented. Plus, I’ll be the only person in the commonwealth of Kentucky to have it.

I’ll keep you informed regarding all things Switch ‘N’ Shoot right here on my blog. If that’s not enough, follow me on TikTok for daily updates.