Connected arcade machines rely on a suite of networking protocols to enable online gameplay, remote monitoring, and content updates. The most common protocols form the backbone of their communication and management systems.

The Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the fundamental suite for most network communications. It ensures reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data streams between machines and central servers. This is crucial for online leaderboards, multiplayer functionality, and downloading new game software or patches.

For situations where speed is more critical than perfect accuracy, the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is often employed. It is a connectionless protocol that minimizes delays, making it suitable for real-time elements in networked multiplayer games where a dropped packet is less detrimental than the latency of retransmission.

On the management side, the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is widely used for remote monitoring. Arcade operators use SNMP to track the health and status of machines on their network. It can provide valuable data on machine uptime, error logs, coin box levels, and overall performance, allowing for proactive maintenance.

Furthermore, the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and its secure version, HTTPS, are essential. These protocols facilitate communication between the arcade machine and web-based services. This is used for accessing online manuals, fetching cloud-based configurations, processing cashless payments, and displaying promotional content from a remote server.

In summary, the interconnected modern arcade ecosystem is powered by TCP/IP for core connectivity, UDP for real-time game data, SNMP for remote management, and HTTP/S for web services, creating a seamless and maintainable player experience.