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This article is next in the series of guides to help operators of amusement and attraction venues adjust to the changing landscape after the COVID-19 pandemic. Below you will find an overview of the unique needs of the game room, and in-particular the various categories of game hardware, and the best practices to keep the players safe and happy.
Note – General Rules for Cleaning
Protect: Ensure wearing appropriate equipment, and place signage
Inspect: Ensure the condition of the area, may need additional attention
Clean: Use appropriate cleaning materials, based on policy and guidance
General Layout – Game Floor
- Ensure no clustering
- Place clear signage, and infographics
- Spacing on floor to show paths and distancing
- Sanitization stations (hand wash)
- Ensure the cashbox or card-swipe is clean
- Counter-tops and handrails (hard touch area)
- Also follow Operator Priorities Guidelines
Categories of games/machines
- Category: Payment Kiosks
- Appropriate space between machines
- Wipe down of touchscreen and card swipe
- Category: Redemption/Prize Machines
- Appropriate space between machines
- Ensure buttons levers and frontage is clear
- Category: Cranes/Pushers
- Appropriate space between machines
- Ensure buttons, levers and glass frontage cleaned
- Category: Skeeball/Basketball
- Appropriate space between machines
- Wipe down balls
- Operate at minimum ball count
- Category: Pinball
- Appropriate space between machines
- Wipe down buttons and plunger (ball shooter)
- Wipe down playfield glass and surround
- Category: Vldemption
- Appropriate space between machines
- Those machines using large touchscreens ensure wipe down
- Category: Table Games
- Appropriate space between machines
- Edges and player space wipe down
- Pucks and paddles wipe down
- Category: Video (Driver)
- Appropriate space between machines
- Ensure the seat is wiped down
- Ensure steering wheel and gear level cleaned
- Category: Video (Shooters)
- Appropriate space between machines
- Ensure the gun interface and cable
- Ensure wipe down where the gun sits
- Category: Video (Uprights)
- Spacing (if side by side cabs use partitioning)
- Ensure the control panel and joystick/trackball/buttons cleaned
- Category: Video (Dancing Stage)
- Appropriate space between machines
- Ensure the control panel cleaned
- Special attention to the handrail
- Category: Video (Deluxe Enclosures)
- Appropriate space between machines
- Signage that only members of same party play
- Special attention to game interface and seats (and structure near player’s face)
- Category: Virtual Reality
- This is a complicated genre of hardware that need special treatment, a best practice guide to keep the customer and hardware safe has already been created
- Refer to Hologate safety standards
- Category: Simulators/4D Theaters
- Removal of queue-line, and clustering round machine
- Wipe down of seats, as well as belts and restrains
- Refer to TRIOTECH Guidelines
- Category: Vending Machines
- Appropriate space between machines
- Ensure the control panel is cleaned
- Ensure dispenser is cleaned
- Special comments
- Ensure all the machines cashbox or card-swipe are clean
- If your machines have a stool, always pay attention when cleaning
- Ensure that all prizes for prizes are cleaned, including those on display in the price center
Final Observations
These are basic rule-of-thumb guidelines, to help operators plan a regime to address the cleaning and operation needs. At all times refer to the CDC, local authorities and manufacturers own guidelines that can be found online for the official position.