Review Fix chats with Michael Ware, founder of Dream Arcades to find out about the personalized Arcade cabinet creators and what makes their models special ones.
For more on Dream Arcades, click here.
Review Fix: For those who don’t know who you guys are, what do you guys do?
Michael Ware: We build PC-based arcades for home or corporate use. Our machines are built with real arcade quality parts but are powered by a PC. The machines have a custom menu and can play PC or emulated games.
Review Fix: Can you tell us about your different machines?
Ware: We carry 5 standard models, ranging from our 4-player sit-down arcade to a monster 40-inch model. We also offer an upright with a 21-inch monitor and small footprint, as well as larger versions with 29 or 32-inch screens.
All of our machines feature our Retro-reload software, which makes finding and adding additional titles as simple as typing the game’s name. Once the customer clicks to download a title, our software automatically locates and configures it, as well as adds it to the menu complete with animated screenshot.
Review Fix: How can these machines be personalized?
Ware: We have our own CNC, so we can build just about anything a customer asks for. However, the majority of our customizations are artwork. We can completely skin an arcade, and even have an artist for custom artwork. We do lots of corporate arcades like this, but we’ve done things like put photos of our customer’s kids as superheroes or video game characters on the arcade.
Review Fix: What other custom work can do you guys do?
Ware: We have a programmer and engineer on staff, so we can do write custom games, or even design hardware. We’ve done hardware designed for the XBox 360, and games ranging from a Pac-Man clone to hunting light-gun game titles.
Review Fix: Bottom Line, why should someone own one of your machines?
Ware: Our products are designed to be simple to use, but still has customization and hackable as possible. We offer phone, chat, and e-mail support for the life of the product, and we really stand behind what we sell.
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