/vr/ - Retro Games

If OP is still considering the pay-to-enter, free-play model for his arcade, why not adopt the limited-continue option that console ports of arcade games implicated? It intensities others with the challenge, and will reward the player the better he gets. You can even go the extra distance by having rewards for people that can win the game within the limited continues (i.e. winners who beat the game with all continues, spare continues, no continues, no lives lost). Even players who get really well will draw in crowds like crazy. The strengths-to-weakness ratio will be in your favor.