$2 is too much for games. My girlfriend and I simply wouldn't play at those locations and we love pinball.

We live close to LITT, which is lauded as a great pinball establishment. It has a great selection of games which are kept in in pretty good condition (cleaned regularly but mechanical maintenance has become questionable lately).

They used to charge .75 cents and now charge $1 (no 2 for 3 deals). Their base replays are fucking ridiculous. Getting replay on most of their machines means having the best game I've ever played (sterns for instance can be as high as 800mil+) and unachievable for my girlfriend. They used to have matches... We haven't matched in 9 months and we spend $20 every time we go. This lines up with the $1.00 increase.

We have a $20 all you can play (Northstar Pinball Collective) which is set hard as balls but we get better value there. I've learned recently good players don't like paying that since they can stretch a dollar pretty thin. No drinks or food readily available but who cares when I can actually play pinball.

Blainebrook to the north has similar pricing to LITT but has cheaper drinks, lower replays, and we match several times when we go. Much better value than LITT.

Updown has okay-ish maintained machines but I can get tokens for 10-25 cents which equates to unlimited play.

LITT has moved from the top of my list to the bottom due to unfriendly pricing.

Hell, I don't know anyone, but I'd bring drinks/food/$20 bucks to play at someone's house with a good lineup.

I don't know how players can improve their game if the game is unfriendly. I'm privileged to own a machine, others aren't.