How a score becomes another game
A replay award is a machine’s way of turning a strong score into another paid-for turn—without requiring the player to insert another coin. The game tracks the score against a replay threshold set for that particular machine. Once the score crosses it, the machine adds a credit to its internal counter. The player can then use that credit to start another game.
The knock is the audible part of the reward. A solenoid—a coil that produces a brief mechanical movement when powered—drives a striker against the cabinet, making the award unmistakable even in a noisy arcade. The sound also tells nearby players that someone has earned a replay.
A reward tuned to the room
The threshold matters. Set it low, and replays come often, keeping players engaged but reducing the number of paid starts the machine receives. Set it high, and the reward may feel out of reach. Operators could adjust replay settings to suit the game and the audience, while players learned which scores were worth chasing.
That makes a replay more than a bonus: it gives a skilled player a concrete target and a public signal of success. The next game is not guaranteed to be easier—the free credit simply removes the need to pay for that start. A sharp knock can therefore turn one good run into an immediate challenge: can the player earn another?
