How to Buy an Arcade in GTA 5: A Comprehensive Guide
Owning an arcade in Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) Online is more than just a cool flex; it’s your gateway to planning and executing the Diamond Casino Heist, one of the most lucrative and engaging missions in the game. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of purchasing and setting up your arcade, ensuring you’re ready to rake in the cash and experience the thrill of a high-stakes heist.
## Why Buy an Arcade?
Before diving into the ‘how,’ let’s address the ‘why.’ Buying an arcade in GTA Online unlocks several significant benefits:
* **Heist Central:** The primary purpose of the arcade is to serve as the planning hub for the Diamond Casino Heist. It’s where you’ll strategize, gather intel, and prepare your crew for the ultimate score.
* **Passive Income:** While the arcade games themselves might not be the most profitable business venture, they do generate a small amount of passive income. The more games you own, the more money you’ll earn.
* **Master Control Terminal:** This optional upgrade allows you to manage all your other businesses (e.g., bunker, nightclub, motorcycle club) from a single location, saving you valuable time and travel.
* **Personalization and Customization:** You can customize your arcade with different arcade cabinets, themes, and staff, making it a unique reflection of your personal style.
* **Vehicle Storage:** The arcade comes with a decent amount of vehicle storage, handy for storing getaway cars or personal vehicles.
## Step-by-Step Guide to Buying an Arcade
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to purchase your arcade in GTA Online:
### 1. Meet Lester at Mirror Park
The first step is to trigger the Diamond Casino Heist storyline. To do this, you’ll need to receive a phone call from Lester Crest, usually after you’ve reached a certain rank (typically around Rank 12). If you haven’t received the call, try spending some time in freemode and completing other missions. Once Lester calls, he’ll ask you to meet him in Mirror Park. The exact location will be marked on your map with an ‘L’ icon.
### 2. Visit the Diamond Casino & Resort
After meeting Lester, he’ll instruct you to head to the Diamond Casino & Resort, located in Vinewood. Drive to the casino, and Lester will meet you there. He’ll explain the plan to rob the casino and introduce you to Georgina Cheng, the Vice President of Cheng Holdings.
### 3. Use your iFruit to access the Maze Bank Foreclosures Website
Following your introduction to Georgina Cheng, you’ll be prompted to purchase an arcade. Open your in-game phone (iFruit) and navigate to the internet app. From there, go to the ‘Money and Services’ tab and select the ‘Maze Bank Foreclosures’ website. This is where you’ll find all the available arcade properties for sale.
### 4. Choose an Arcade Location
The Maze Bank Foreclosures website will display a list of available arcades, each with its own location and price. Here are the arcade locations and their base prices:
* **Pixel Pete’s Arcade (Paleto Bay):** $1,235,000
* **Wonderama Arcade (Grapeseed):** $1,565,000
* **Insert Coin Arcade (Blaine County):** $1,750,000
* **Video GaGa Arcade (La Mesa):** $1,875,000
* **Eight-Bit Arcade (Vinewood):** $2,530,000
* **Warehouse Arcade (Davis):** $2,135,000
**Factors to Consider When Choosing an Arcade:**
* **Price:** Pixel Pete’s is the cheapest option, but it’s located far north in Paleto Bay. This can make traveling to the city for missions and setups time-consuming.
* **Location:** The closer the arcade is to Los Santos, the more convenient it will be for accessing missions and other activities. Arcades like Video GaGa, Eight-Bit, and Warehouse Arcade offer better proximity.
* **Personal Preference:** Consider the surrounding area and your preferred style. Some players prefer the quiet countryside, while others prefer the hustle and bustle of the city.
**Recommendation:**
For most players, the **Warehouse Arcade in Davis** strikes a good balance between price and location. It’s relatively affordable and offers easy access to Los Santos.
### 5. Purchase the Arcade
Once you’ve chosen your preferred arcade, click on the property listing on the Maze Bank Foreclosures website. You’ll be presented with a map view of the arcade’s location. Click the ‘Buy’ button to initiate the purchase. The funds will be automatically deducted from your bank account.
### 6. Travel to Your Newly Acquired Arcade
After purchasing the arcade, a new icon will appear on your map indicating its location. Drive to your new property to trigger the next set of cutscenes and missions.
### 7. Complete the Setup Missions
When you arrive at your arcade, you’ll find it in a dilapidated state. Lester will be there to guide you through the initial setup missions. These missions involve retrieving essential equipment and supplies to get your arcade up and running. The setup missions typically include:
* **Stealing the Master Control Terminal:** This is a crucial mission that allows you to manage all your other businesses from the arcade. It typically involves infiltrating a secure location and hacking into a server to retrieve the terminal.
* **Acquiring Arcade Games:** You’ll need to steal or purchase arcade games to populate your business. This might involve raiding a warehouse or completing a delivery mission.
* **Setting Up the Arcade:** Once you’ve acquired the necessary equipment and games, you’ll need to place them strategically within the arcade to maximize income and customer appeal.
### 8. Customize Your Arcade (Optional)
After completing the initial setup missions, you’ll have the option to customize your arcade with different themes, decorations, and staff. Customization options can be accessed through the laptop inside your arcade. While customization is not essential for completing the Diamond Casino Heist, it can enhance the overall experience and increase passive income.
## Customization Options:
* **Arcade Cabinets:** Purchase and place different arcade games to attract customers. The more games you have, the more passive income you’ll generate. Some popular arcade games include: Badlands Revenge II, The Wizard’s Ruin, Monkey Paradise, Race and Chase, Penetrator, Defender of the Faith, Love Professor, and Space Invaders.
* **Themes:** Choose from a variety of themes to personalize the look and feel of your arcade. Themes can range from classic retro styles to modern and futuristic designs.
* **Staff:** Hire staff to manage your arcade and provide customer service. While staff isn’t essential, they can help improve the overall customer experience.
* **Storage:** Your Arcade includes a storage space for vehicles and equipment.
## Preparing for the Diamond Casino Heist
Once your arcade is up and running, you can start planning the Diamond Casino Heist. Here’s a breakdown of the key steps involved:
### 1. Access the Planning Board
The planning board is located in the basement of your arcade. This is where you’ll strategize, gather intel, and manage your crew for the heist.
### 2. Choose an Approach
There are three main approaches to the Diamond Casino Heist:
* **Silent & Sneaky:** This approach focuses on stealth and deception, requiring you to infiltrate the casino undetected.
* **Aggressive:** This approach involves going in guns blazing, using brute force to overcome security measures.
* **The Big Con:** This approach involves using disguises and social engineering to gain access to the vault.
Each approach has its own unique set of challenges and rewards, so choose the one that best suits your playstyle and crew’s capabilities.
### 3. Gather Intel
Before launching the heist, you’ll need to gather intel on the casino’s security measures, vault contents, and staff movements. This involves completing a series of reconnaissance missions, such as:
* **Scoping Out the Casino:** This involves infiltrating the casino and gathering information on security cameras, guard patrols, and access points.
* **Vault Contents:** You’ll need to determine the type and value of the loot stored in the vault.
* **Security Passes:** Obtaining security passes can grant you access to restricted areas of the casino.
### 4. Hire a Crew
The Diamond Casino Heist requires a skilled crew to assist you in various roles, such as:
* **Gunman:** Provides weapons and firepower for the heist.
* **Driver:** Handles transportation and getaway driving.
* **Hacker:** Bypasses security systems and opens doors.
Each crew member has their own unique skills and attributes, so choose wisely based on your chosen approach and desired level of difficulty. The better the crew, the higher cut they will want.
### 5. Complete Prep Missions
Once you’ve gathered intel and hired a crew, you’ll need to complete a series of prep missions to acquire the necessary equipment and supplies for the heist. These missions might involve:
* **Stealing Vehicles:** Acquire getaway cars, drilling equipment, and other essential vehicles.
* **Obtaining Weapons:** Gather weapons, explosives, and other offensive tools.
* **Acquiring Disguises:** Obtain disguises to blend in with casino staff and security personnel.
### 6. Execute the Heist
After completing all the prep missions, you’re finally ready to execute the Diamond Casino Heist. Gather your crew, head to the casino, and follow your chosen approach to infiltrate the vault and steal the loot. Be prepared for unexpected challenges and adapt to changing circumstances as you navigate the casino’s security measures.
### 7. Escape and Collect Your Rewards
Once you’ve secured the loot, you’ll need to escape the casino and evade the authorities. Follow your escape plan, avoid detection, and deliver the loot to your designated drop-off point. After successfully completing the heist, you and your crew will receive your share of the rewards.
## Maximizing Your Arcade’s Potential
Here are some tips for maximizing your arcade’s potential and ensuring a profitable and enjoyable experience:
* **Purchase All Arcade Games:** While the initial investment might seem high, owning all the arcade games will significantly increase your passive income.
* **Complete Daily Objectives:** Daily objectives often involve activities related to the arcade, such as playing arcade games or completing customer requests. Completing these objectives can earn you extra cash and RP.
* **Invite Friends to Your Arcade:** Hanging out with friends in your arcade can enhance the social aspect of the game and provide opportunities for collaboration and teamwork.
* **Use the Master Control Terminal:** Utilize the Master Control Terminal to efficiently manage all your other businesses and streamline your operations.
## Troubleshooting Common Issues
Here are some solutions to common issues you might encounter when buying and setting up your arcade:
* **Lester Isn’t Calling:** If Lester isn’t calling you to trigger the Diamond Casino Heist storyline, try spending some time in freemode, completing other missions, or increasing your rank. Ensure you have completed the Doomsday Heist as that can sometimes be a pre-requisite.
* **Can’t Access the Maze Bank Foreclosures Website:** Make sure your in-game phone is working properly and that you have a stable internet connection. Try restarting the game or clearing your console’s cache.
* **Arcade Not Appearing on the Map:** If your arcade isn’t appearing on the map after purchase, try restarting the game or contacting Rockstar Support.
* **Setup Missions Bugging Out:** If you encounter any glitches or bugs during the setup missions, try restarting the mission or contacting Rockstar Support.
## Conclusion
Buying an arcade in GTA Online is a worthwhile investment that unlocks access to the Diamond Casino Heist and provides a range of benefits, from passive income to customization options. By following this comprehensive guide, you can successfully purchase and set up your arcade, prepare for the heist, and maximize your earnings. So, get ready to dive into the world of high-stakes crime and experience the thrill of robbing the Diamond Casino!