What is a kiosk?

A demo kiosk is a store fixture built to let shoppers play a console before buying it. The console maker usually designed and shipped them, and stores got them for free or bought them through a display program. Some big chains, like Target and Kmart, also built their own.

They were never sold to the public. When a new generation came out, most were thrown away, sent back or sold off at closing sales. That is why so few survive.

How they worked

• Locked hardware. The console sits behind a clear cover or inside the cabinet, and a key opens it.
• Tethered controllers. Steel cables or armored cords kept controllers from walking out the door.
• Timers and demo modes. The NES M82 reset after a set time. Later systems ran special kiosk software that cycled demos and trailers.
• Special software. Stores ran Not For Resale cartridges, demo discs, and on newer systems, demos loaded by the console maker.
• Kiosk consoles. Some kiosks used modified consoles. The Wii U CAT I unit only reads kiosk discs, and the Xbox 360 used a kiosk box to switch into demo mode.

Finding one today

• Ask store managers when a new console launches. Old fixtures often get tossed during the reset.
• Watch store closing sales and liquidation auctions.
• Check local marketplaces. Kiosks are heavy to ship, so many sell locally.
• Join collector groups and forums, where kiosks change hands between collectors.
• Tell people you are looking. Plenty of kiosks sat forgotten in a stockroom or garage for years.

Before you buy

• Is the key included? Without it you may be drilling locks.
• Are the controllers and their tethers there?
• Does every light work, including the header and any tubes?
• Is the screen original? Check for burn in and a stable picture.
• Is the console inside a retail unit, a kiosk unit or a dummy?
• Are any plastics cracked or missing, and is the original signage there?
• Ask for photos of the front, both sides, the back and the screen powered on.

Moving one home

• Bring a second person. CRT kiosks especially are much heavier than they look.
• Take out the TV or monitor and the console before moving the cabinet.
• Measure doorways and stairs first.
• For long distances, freight shipping on a pallet is safer than parcel shipping.
• Wrap the plastics and signage separately. They are the hardest parts to replace.

Keeping it running

• Old fluorescent tubes and ballasts wear out. Many collectors swap in LED replacements.
• Clean plastics with mild soap and water. Harsh cleaners can strip decals.
• Screen burn in is permanent, so run a screensaver or turn the display off when you are not playing.
• Keep it out of direct sunlight to slow yellowing.
• Save every original part, even broken ones. They help with repairs and resale.

Kiosk words

NFR

Not For Resale. Cartridges and discs made for store demos.

Demo disc

A disc with playable levels and trailers from several games.

Header

The lighted sign on top of a kiosk, also called a marquee.

End cap

The display space at the end of a store aisle. Some kiosks were built to fit there.

Tether

The cable that locks a controller to the kiosk.

Dummy console

An empty shell on display while the real console hides inside, like the Wii's RIS 901.

Burn in

A ghost image left on a screen that showed the same thing for years.

Kiosk mode

Special console software that runs demos and resets itself.