It’s game time – 1UP Arcade powers up in Morningside this weekend
Anyone that grew up walking distance from an arcade (or corner store with Street Fighter) should take a seat – this isn’t going to be your run-of-the-mill nostalgia trip. 1UP Arcade is bringing arcade gaming back into vogue with a communal space boasting more than 50 machines from Fatal Fury to Rave Racer. If you’ve got an itch to beat some high scores, 1UP Arcade will be pressing start on Saturday May 13.
You don’t have to be a die-hard Tekken fan to agree that gaming is best enjoyed with other people. Even in the modern age of console gaming, it kind of sucks being player one without a player two to have your back (or to take on head-to-head). The arcade was once a spot where the community gathered to compete for glory in the high-score stakes and also enjoy the company of some like-minded individuals. Arcades have become an antiquated rarity these days, but 1UP Arcade is set to bring the golden age of gaming back into mainstream consciousness when it boots up in Morningside. The brainchild of Stephen Holmes, 1UP Arcade is Australia’s largest free-play gaming arcade – one part community space and one part living museum, with scores of restored arcade machines from the 80s and 90s enticing fans of shoot-‘em-ups, side scrollers and racing games.
Upon launch, 1UP Arcade will have between 50 and 60 machines online and ready to play, with upwards of 75 games at your fingertips. Stephen has sourced all machines from collectors and importers, restored with loving care using original parts. From Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Double Dragon, 1UP Arcade will have games plucked from your early childhood, as well as some rare titles that cannot be found elsewhere. Die-hards will want to get their hands around the joysticks of Demon Front, a specialty Resident Evil arcade machine and more. New games will be added every week, with a workshop on site ensuring all machines are operational with minimal down time. 1UP Arcade operates on a free-play basis – simply pay for your session (one day will only cost $15) and go wild without worrying about carrying around a pocketful of change. The coming months will see 1UP Arcade host tournament nights, theme nights and wiring classes for those looking to repair a machine of their own at home.
1UP Arcade will be open on Lytton Road from Saturday May 13. Check out the Stumble Guide for opening hours and more information.