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5 Game Rentals That’ll Take Your Party to the Next Level

by with No Comment Carnival Game Rentals

Here’s a theme idea for your next party: Classic Arcade. It’s so easy to rent pinball machines, commercial arcade games, and dancing, racing, and other carnival games from Joystix! Our catalog will show you all of your options—and there are hundreds to choose from. A bit overwhelmed? Don’t worry—we have 5 suggestions to get you started.

1. Pacman arcade games
There’s no need to buy your own Pacman game for sale because you can rent one (or three) from us. Try the Pac Man Arcade Party Countertop—a smaller version of a full-size arcade game. Don’t let its size fool you, because it has a ton of classic games including Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaxian, Galaga and more!
You can also rent the cocktail version—a blast from the past that we lovingly rebuilt to look and feel like the original. Your guests will have hours of fun reliving their childhood with this game.

2. Pop A Shot
It was in 1986 when Pop A Shots became the most popular arcade basketball game. Bring the nostalgia back at your next party by renting one from us! Our all-steel-frame Pop A Shot is the real thing—not like those flimsy plastic models you might have seen elsewhere. It’s height-adjustable for kids and adults. The high score stays on the display for other guests to challenge!

3. Ping Pong Table
We also offer competition-style, full-size ping pong tables for rent. Aside from being fun for everyone, our ping pong tables are also easy to move. Simply fold it up and go.

4. Mario Kart DX
This brand-new masterpiece from Namco is arguably better than Mario Kart Arcade GP2 with its new courses, karts, game modes, and features. The LED lit rainbow cabinet and 42-inch HD monitor will light up your venue. This model has three game modes: Co-Op, Versus, and Grand Prix—your guests will love it!

5. Golf Challenge
Designed for avid golfers, as well as people who have never hit a golf ball in their life, this crowd favorite comes with its own heavy-duty frame and vinyl canvas. The Velcro-receptive backdrop ensures that the Velcro practice balls stay where you hit them. It’s compact and inexpensive to rent. Use it indoors or outside—wherever the party takes you. Set up takes only five minutes!

Talk to our staff today if you are interested in renting other games, from pinball machines to music and dance games. If you want it, we probably have it. After all, Joystix is a leader when it comes to arcade game rentals. We also offer new pinball machines for sale as well as refurbished and rebuilt classics. You can see our full catalog on our website. Contact us if you have any questions!

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FX Air Hockey: How to Play and Win Every Time

by with No Comment Foosball Table Games

Games are among those games that anyone can simply play and enjoy—no prior training or practice required. In fact, a lot of people seem to have a natural talent for these games and become instantly good at them. The dynamics of play are so simple that anyone can participate without any real background or knowledge of the basic rules.

That said, frequent practice will definitely help you become a better player in foosball or air hockey. If you want to know more about the ins and outs of air hockey, then you have come to the right place! Read on to get started with the basic rules of the game and some useful tips you can use to get better and win consistently.

The Basic Rules of Air Hockey

Players each have a mallet with which to hit the puck. Other iterations of the game allow two mallets per player for double-fisted moves.

The puck can be struck using any part of the air hockey mullet. However, it should never be “topped.”

Who serves is determined by the side in possession of the pack or the player scored upon. Scores are counted whenever a player hits the goal, although more specific scoring rules also apply, depending on the type of game being played.

Players shouldn’t go beyond the centerline of the air hockey table on their respective sides. After each game, players ought to switch sides to make things interesting and keep the game unbiased.

Only one time-out is allowed per game and shouldn’t go beyond 10 seconds. Time-outs are only applicable when the puck is in your possession.

How to Play Air Hockey Like a Pro

A good air hockey move has a lot to do with the way that you hold your mallet. There is a right and wrong way to hold an air hockey mallet—and it’s not just about gripping it comfortably, palms on the rounded top. While this grip does feel comfortable, it doesn’t offer much speed and accuracy. The optimal way to hold a mallet is with your ring finger and forefinger on either side of the paddle and your middle finger placed back. This provides optimal control of the puck’s action.

Now that you know how to best hold your air hockey mallet, you can begin learning about offensive strategies that can help you consistently. A good offensive strategy is also your best defense in air hockey. By making it increasingly difficult for the other side to score, you create a strong defense and set yourself up for an even stronger offensive strategy.

Be prepared with skilled shots and master basic tactics like the straight shot and the bank shot—these are excellent score shots, basic as they may be if you know how to time their use. Defend the goal at all times and learn how to track the puck with your eyes and not your hands so you can be in a constant defensive position.

Where to Get Air Hockey and Foosball Tables

Joystix Games is your one stop shop for video game rentals and other table games for sale. We specialize in a range of retro arcade game cabinets along with rec-room classics like foosball table games and even carnival games that you can buy or rent for your own entertainment room or your retro-themed parties.

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Pinball Tips: How to Play Like a Pro

by with No Comment Pinball Games

Pinball has been popular since the 1930s, combining bright lights, exciting sounds, and high levels of dexterity in one of the most thrilling and enduring games of all time. Even today, pinball machine rentals are everywhere—including in amusement arcades and places where you would typically find these retro gaming cabinets. New pinball machines for sale are also coming on to the market as more people become devoted to the game, many of them pursuing the competitive play. Does this sound like you? Do you want to compete and rank better in tournaments?

Learning the right skills is important if you want to get serious about playing the game. Honing your skills is all about continuous learning. Luckily, professional players are always generous with their tips and tricks, as well as their strategies. Below are some great insights to help you achieve pinball greatness:

  1. Compete.

Competitive play is one of the best ways to push yourself into getting better at pinball. Participating in actual matches and tournaments puts you in competitive mode and pushes you to rise above the adrenaline-filled and spirited environment where you are racing to be better than everyone else.

Competition turns ‘good’ players into really ‘great’ pinball players. When you go up against other people, you are training yourself to handle the pressure of being in a contest (whereas your local arcade only challenges you to break high score records). Competing with players who are better than you will help you push yourself harder and work more to enhance your skillset.

  1. Observe.

Tournaments are great avenues to watch the best players in action. As well as competing, another great way to improve your skills is to observe how the pros play. Watching experts will help you gain more insight into the game and let you learn strategies and tactics that you can use in your own play. Observing other people will also help you learn more about your very own techniques and style because you will come to realize that there’s more than just one way to play the game.

  1. Train.

Just like any sport or game, you wouldn’t get very far in your journey without training and practice. Use your practice time wisely—whether it be in your local arcade or right at home, with your own pinball machine.

One thing that you should keep in mind when it comes to training for pinball is that not all machines are the same. This is why it pays to prepare yourself to be adaptable. Don’t get too comfortable playing one machine because the techniques that work for that particular machine may not be as effective on another.

It is important to learn how to tweak your moves, techniques, and strategies to match the playfield you are on. Practicing basic shots and honing certain skills will get you far, but you should always be prepared to adapt to any playfield, especially during competition. Through it all, do not forget to have FUN in the game. This is probably the most important aspect of playing. After all, pinball was created to be a lighthearted and fun game for all.

Joystix Games offers a range of pinball games for sale, including classic machines that have been restored and carefully reconditioned to their former glory. Our collection boasts titles that date back to pinball’s heydays (the 70s and the 80s), as well as new pinball machines for sale from the most popular franchises in different genres (movies, TV shows, music, and sports). If you are looking for pinball machine rentals or arcade games for sale, Joystix Games is definitely the place to go.

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Steps to plan a Carnival themed corporate party

by with No Comment Carnival Game Rentals

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey

Have you been nominated as your company’s party planner? If so, have you been asked to plan an event celebrating a significant milestone in your company’s history?

As the quote by Oprah Winfrey mentioned above notes, celebrating meaningful milestones is an essential part of living life successfully, with positive consequences. The more you celebrate your life, the greater your motivation to push through to the next milestone will be.

For the purposes of this discussion, let’s assume you have decided to plan a carnival themed party to be held outdoors. Not only is this event a celebration of your company’s milestone, it is also a celebration that winter is over, and summer is on its way.

Below are several steps to help you plan the perfect party.

Ask people for help

Part of planning a party is to ask people to help you. It is probably a good idea to form a committee of people who are keen to assist with the event planning and who are interested in helping. It’s vital to note that this committee must be able to make decisions quickly and not debate individual points over and over again. Otherwise, the party planning phase of the event will never end.

Draw up a budget

Because you have already chosen a theme, the next most important aspect is to draw up a budget. You do not need a massive budget because carnival games and foods are fun, exciting, and relatively cheap, so they fit easily into most budgets. It is not necessary to buy the games; all you need do is to contact a carnival game rental company.

Decide on the activities and games for the event

When planning what games to offer, it is vital to consider who will be attending your party. Are your company’s employees plus their families going to be invited? Or, are the invitations limited to just employees and coworkers?

The rationale behind this consideration is that your choice of games is dependent on the age of the attendees.

Figure out what food and drink to offer

It is not necessary to be concerned about catering for the event. Carnival foods like hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, snow cones, and cotton candy are simple to make, especially when you rent the right equipment. Additionally, it is not expensive to prepare these foods, adding to the manageability of the budget. It is also totally acceptable to only offer non-alcoholic drinks, including water (still and sparkling) and sodas. Finally, it’s also a good idea to hire outside caterers instead of just renting equipment and attempting to make the food yourself.

An important point to be aware of is that it is important to take special dietary needs into account when planning the food and drinks. If children are invited, you will need to cater to them as well.

Choose a venue

The final step in the planning of your party is to choose a venue. Again, the venue is dependent on both the weather and the number of people that are expected to attend. If the event is being held in the summer months, it might be a good idea to hold the event outdoors in a park or on a field. Be sure to get permission from the owners of the land before you arrive at the venue.

Final thoughts

Planning a complex, convoluted event is not necessary. A simple party is all that is needed for a successful celebration. Therefore, when deciding what food, drinks, and games to offer, keep things simple so that the focus remains on the reason for the event.

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How to Throw an Awesome Party with Arcade Game Rentals

by with No Comment Arcade Games

You can’t get more retro 80s than classic arcade video games. When thinking of an awesome party theme for your next event—be it a birthday party for the beloved boomer in your life, or a throwback soiree to show Gen Z kids the social fun they missed—renting commercial arcade games is something worth a try. It’s great for all ages!

The beauty of classic arcade video games is in their universality. They are simple games with far less complex lores and storylines, simple controls, and quick gameplay. For anyone who grew up in the glory days of the arcade, these video games conjure up nothing but happy, adrenaline-filled memories of trying to make it on the high score roster, beating the games, and scrounging for more quarters so you can play just a little bit longer.

Are you thinking about throwing an arcade-themed party? There are several ways to go about renting or even buying commercial arcade games and machines.

Joystix Games offers classic arcade video games for sale and for rent, making them the perfect source for the arcade classics people have grown to know and love. They are among the country’s largest retailers of new and classic pinball machines and other arcade games and favorites that are sought after by enthusiasts, collectors, and hobbyists. You may rent arcade games from a huge inventory of new titles and even refurbished classics like Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Frogger, and other hard to find titles.

An arcade-themed party could also use some music and dance games to get your guests’ moving, or perhaps some carnival games for a feel-good and nostalgic time. Carnival games make perfect party games because they let your guests win all kinds of exciting prizes. You may likewise stir up everyone’s competitive nature by setting up table games or perhaps put them in a head to head racing action. If you are expecting active guests, let them burn their energy with sports games.

Arcade game rentals offer a great many opportunities to throw a memorable party for your friends, colleagues, or family. Whether you choose to rent or buy games, classic arcade video games are fool-proof additions to any event.

Companies like Joystix Games even feature a special showroom that can be rented for parties. Joystix’s showroom is fully equipped and ready to host almost any type of event. It features an entire range of games that can be tailor-fitted to match your theme—all in a fun and professional atmosphere. An adjoining lounge can likewise be accessible to party-goers who want to share precious moments over wine, craft beers, bourbon, or their favorite drink.

Joystix also offers exciting rental packages to help make creating your arcade game repertoire easier. From classic arcade to pub and sports games, carnival games, and 80s and 90s classics, you’ll find no shortage of commercial arcade games to choose from and rent at Joystix.