Back in the good old days, a kid could spend hours in the arcade feeding coins to a hefty machine in the elusive pursuit of a spot on the high-score board. Fast forward about 20 years, and a person is hard-pressed to even find a local arcade. Once a regular fixture of malls everywhere, the arcade - the social Mecca of gaming in the 1980s - has become something of a rarity. Unable to compete with rapidly advancing home gaming systems, most arcades were forced to close their doors by the late 90s. But Fun Company LTD is looking to turn the tables by bringing a little piece of the arcade into the home.
Best known as a producer of cabinets for arcade gaming machines such as Golden Tee and Silver Strike, Fun Company has created the Matrix Arcade Entertainment and Media Center for homeowners nostalgic for the glory days of video arcades. The invention is a combination entertainment center, computer station and old-school arcade game that stands nearly 6 feet tall and weighs in at 315 pounds. Individuals can use the machine to play classic arcade games, surf the Internet or watch TV. The Matrix Arcade features a 32-inch LCD widescreen display, ideal for gaming or watching movies, and it also can be decked out with a Windows Vista home PC with a 300-gig hard drive and a DVD player/burner. For quick conversion from entertainment center to work station, the machine has a pull-out drawer equipped with a keyboard and mouse.
While users can easily access old games through from the Internet or various software bundles, the Matrix Arcade actually recreates the sensation of playing a game at an arcade. The Matrix Arcade features classic two-player controls (i.e., joysticks and buttons), a trackball, as well as buttons on each side so that it can be used a pinball simulator. Most importantly to gaming enthusiasts, the Matrix Arcade includes 39 licensed games – with titles such as Space Invaders DX, Dungeon Magic and Elevator Action Returns. The system is configured to play over 6,800 original arcade games and compatible with emulators for Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis and Atari 2600 – so users can dramatically increase their game library with a little bit of work. Individuals also can hook up Playstation, X-Box, Wii, or any other modern gaming system that contributed to the death of the arcade.
Additional features of the Matrix Arcade include: four USB ports to plug in iPods, digital cameras and gaming accessories (like controllers or racing wheels), Jukebox software, a high-quality speaker system with sub woofers, and a remote control for operating all the different components from a couch. PVR functionality enables users to record shows from TV, and the computer works with both wired and wireless networks. With a design that mimics the artwork for the movie “The Matrix” and an optional quarter slot, the cabinet itself is intended as a modern throwback to the heyday of the arcade. Though no price is listed for the Matrix Arcade, it’s safe to guess the machine falls under what most people would consider “pretty expensive”. But, for those who spent every free second of their formative years in an arcade playing “Centipede” or “Missile Command”, the Matrix Arcade could be worth every quarter.
The Matrix Arcade Entertainment and Media Center is available through Fun Company Ltd only. Interested individuals can refer to the Fun Company Web site for contact information.
