In the golden age of arcades, game balance was crucial for maximizing revenue. Unlike modern online games, arcade cabinets couldn't receive live patches. Instead, operators collected direct player feedback through coin intake metrics and observation. High score tables revealed player skill progression, while machines with declining earnings indicated potential balance issues. Developers used this data to create revised ROM chips that adjusted difficulty curves, enemy patterns, and resource distribution. These updated chips were physically distributed to arcades for cabinet maintenance teams to install. Some advanced systems like Sega's System 16 allowed operators to manually adjust difficulty settings and bonus life frequency through dip switches based on local player skill levels. This feedback loop ensured games remained challenging enough to require repeated plays yet accessible enough to avoid frustrating newcomers—directly tying player behavior to profitability through mechanical data collection and physical hardware updates.