Arcade1Up Ms. PAC-MAN Head-to-Head Arcade Table

What This Is

A cocktail-cabinet arcade: the screen lies flat under a glass top and two players sit across from each other.

The Furniture Argument

A full-height cabinet announces itself. A cocktail table is a low table with a glass top that happens to be an arcade machine, and it survives contact with a decorated room in a way a seven-foot cabinet does not. In a living room, a finished basement or anywhere the space is shared, this is often the only version that actually gets to stay.

Face To Face Changes The Games

Head-to-head seating means the screen flips orientation for each player's turn. It is a more conversational way to play than standing shoulder to shoulder, and it is the reason these were in bars originally.

Reflections Are The Real Drawback

A horizontal glass screen reflects whatever is above it. A ceiling light directly overhead will sit in the middle of the picture, and so will a window. Put it away from direct downlights, or on a dimmer, and the problem disappears. Discover it after installation and you will be moving furniture.

Get The Seat Height Right

Comfortable play needs chairs that put your forearms level with the control deck. Dining chairs are usually close; a low sofa is not. Worth checking with the chairs you own before deciding this is the one.