Arcade machines traditionally handled difficulty through built-in hardware and software mechanisms rather than player-created modifiers in the modern sense. The primary method was through Dip Switches (Dual In-line Package) located on the machine's circuit board. These physical switches allowed arcade operators—not typically players—to adjust game parameters such as difficulty level, number of lives, bonus life frequency, and time limits. This was a commercial consideration rather than a player customization feature, designed to maximize revenue by balancing challenge and player engagement.

Some machines featured service menus accessible via specific button combinations or keys, but these were still operator-focused. True player-created difficulty modifiers emerged through hardware modifications, where technically skilled players would physically alter circuits or reprogram EPROM chips to change game behavior. This could include making games easier or harder than intended.

Modern arcade emulators and preservation efforts have digitized these original DIP switch settings, allowing players to toggle difficulty options digitally. However, the original arcade paradigm maintained strict control over difficulty adjustments to preserve the intended commercial and gameplay experience. The concept of player-driven difficulty balancing, common in modern games, was largely foreign to classic arcade design philosophy where difficulty was a fixed part of the manufactured experience.