My Story

Looking to build your own arcade machine from scratch? Here’s how it all started for me and why Arcade Revival was born to help others do the same.

Building my first arcade machine was an unforgettable experience. I still remember the late nights spent piecing it together, feeling the anticipation of finally playing those classic games that defined my late 80’s & 90’s.

Rewind back to that era, there was a local Milk Bar in the town I lived in in New Zealand. At the back of the shop was a large space filled with arcade machines, and I can still picture the visual and sound stimulation of all the games lighting up the room. Some standouts for me in that room were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Simpsons, Snow Bros, Galaga and Pac-Man to name a few. 

Mum would give me a few 20c pieces which would last about 5 minutes, and I would spend the rest of the time (right before I had to return home for dinner) watching others play, dreaming of having these machines at home.

Now, 30 years later, I get to relive that joy and share it with my friends and family. The experience of building my own arcade machine brought back that childhood wonder, and I loved the process so much that I’m thrilled to share it with you. Through these plans, you can bring your arcade dreams to life, too!

Christmas morning 1992 — young boy (me) playing Nintendo with father, surrounded by NES boxes and retro gaming setup, capturing the nostalgic roots of Arcade Revival.
Christmas morning 1992 — I vividly remember this day unboxing my NES. The spark that started Arcade Revival those 30+ years ago.
A Nintendo, my Dad, and a living room full of joy.

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