Arcade game developers face the unique challenge of designing games that excel in both competitive and cooperative modes. To achieve this, they focus on core mechanics that adapt seamlessly to different playstyles.

1. Flexible Gameplay Systems: Developers create mechanics that encourage teamwork in cooperative mode while allowing for skill-based competition. For example, shared power-ups can benefit allies or be strategically denied to opponents.

2. Dynamic Scoring: Many arcade games use scoring systems that reward both individual performance and team achievements. This keeps competitive players engaged while fostering cooperation.

3. Adjustable Difficulty: Cooperative modes often feature scalable challenges that increase with player count, ensuring balanced fun for all skill levels.

4. Clear Communication: Visual and audio cues help players quickly understand whether they should collaborate or compete at any given moment.

5. Mode-Specific Objectives: Some games implement separate win conditions for different modes, like time attacks for competition and survival challenges for cooperation.

By carefully balancing these elements, developers create arcade experiences that satisfy both competitive and social players, ensuring broad appeal and replayability.