Barrels of Fun Launches Barrels Reserve, a Collectors' Club That Guarantees a Shot at Every Game

Barrels of Fun launched a collectors' club today, Barrels Reserve, built around a single promise: members will always get a chance to buy the company's machines, even the ones that sell out fast. Membership is $75 a year, and signups open today.

The centerpiece is an insurance policy against missing a release. If a new Barrels of Fun machine hits its edition sell-out number within the first seven days, club members get a second seven-day window to place an order. Brian Savage, Barrels of Fun's chief business officer, told Kineticist the company builds beyond that sell-out number to fill those member orders, so any customer who wants a new game has a chance to buy one.

There's a catch worth knowing before you join: you have to be a member before a game launches. Barrels of Fun says it switches off new memberships just ahead of each machine announcement and turns them back on once the reserve window closes, so signing up after a reveal won't get you into that game's window.

The buy guarantee isn't the only draw. Those who join also get invitations to members-only events — private gamerooms at industry shows, launch parties and factory events, and meet-and-greets, some carrying an additional cost. They also get exclusive merch, discounts on other merchandise, members-only content, and an annual Barrels of Fun collectible item. The membership runs a year from the day you sign up and is open to U.S. customers only. Barrels of Fun bills the club as exclusive, but there's no cap on the number of members.

Savage framed the club as a response to the demand for Winchester Mystery House, the company's current machine, which sold out quickly and left some would-be buyers without a game. Boutique runs are small, and on the most-wanted titles, plenty of buyers get shut out. Barrels Reserve asks $75 a year to change that.