One of the best things about working at an arcade was the (basically) unlimited tokens. Whether I got them by repairing machines (if it didn't hit the coin box it was free game - literally), trading in free token passes included with each bi-weekly paycheck or just scooping out handfuls from behind the counter, I would be hard pressed to be tokenless any given day of the week.

I probably beat 90% of all the games in the arcade at any given time (not including things like pinballs or tetris-y stuff or crap-ticket games). The Metal Slugs, the Street Fighters, the House of the Deads, the racing games and top-scrollers -- all notches on my belt. Not that I mean to brag - I'm sure most could have similar belts given unlimited coins.

You ever been affraid to play a game because they guy on the machines kicks so much ass your turn would be over before you understood the buttons!? Not when you have unlimited coins! Even if your game is over in seconds you have 500 more credits where that came from - even the worst player gets lucky sometimes ;)

There is a downside to the whole bottomless token pocket. As a kid I used to go to the arcade with my father and I could make $10 worth of quarters last 3 hours easy. I would walk around the arcade, surveying the games, deciding which of them looked cool enough to earn my money. If I died quick, that was it -- next game. I couldn't have a game swallowing my money to fast, I needed my fun to last.

But now the economy of a single game has been completely blown away. Unlimited tokens meant that any game could be beat if you had the time. I could burn through $10 bucks in 10 minutes if properly motivated (why must driving games cost so much?).

In a way I'm forever spoiled. But damn, it was worth it.