iiRcade: Immersive Arcade Gaming At Home
If you look back fondly on the late seventies and early eighties as the heyday of classic arcade games, then check this out. It’s the iiRcade – a powerful, retro-styled arcade machine pre-loaded with 11 games and access to hundreds more.
Sizing and Construction
Our favorite thing about this game cabinet is that you can order it full-sized ($749.00) or bartop sized ($599.00). We like the full-sized version (61 inches by 20 inches) for a classic arcade experience in a man-cave or den, while the bartop version is a perfect gift for gamers with minimal living space. Both versions are designed with safety in mind and are bottom-heavy to avoid tipping. The iiRcade plugs into any standard electrical outlet.
Various backing levels on the Kickstarter page give you access to different finishes and decal options (we’re partial to the Double-Dragon decals). You can assemble the bartop version’s ten panels in 30 minutes with nothing but a screwdriver, while the full-sized version requires only an additional 30 minutes and six more panels.
All versions of the iiRcade are created in a Korean plant with over 30 years of arcade cabinet manufacturing experience. These are not plywood cabinets stuffed with bargain-basement electronics. The manufacturers use only high-quality components: premium wood, durable 8-way joysticks, and buttons that can stand up to repetitive mashing. An upshot is a machine that will handle all the game playing intensity you can throw at it.
A Genuine Arcade Experience…But Better
The iiRcade is built by gamers for gamers and aims to replicate a genuine arcade experience. It has a full volume control, a pause button, an on/off/sleep button, a coin button, and a start button. The interface was designed after careful study of 150 different arcade machines and incorporates plenty of room for two players while remaining small enough to fit easily inside any room in your house.
The machine boots up fast (you can go from off to gaming in 30 seconds), and the menu is clean and easily navigated. There’s even one-touch game purchasing.
Some games, like BombSquad, will go above and beyond the traditional arcade functionality to support up to eight-person multiplayer.
Specs
Let’s talk specs. The iiRcade is not the gaming cabinet of your youth. It sports a 1.8 GHz Hexa-core CPU, 800MHZ Max Quad-core GPU, 4GB Dual-Channel LPDR4X, and customized operating system. Powerful WiFi connects you to the ever-expanding iiRcade app store so you can restock your games after crushing your old ones.
The iiRcade has a 19 inch 1280 x 1024 HD display and supports HDMI-out so you can broadcast your victories to your big screen tv. You can choose to spend a little more money and purchase the 128 GB version for more game storage if you wish.
The sound is just as good as the visuals: 100-watt dual stereo speakers, a powerful amplifier, and sound optimization ensure you can hear every classic beep and bloop. If the kids are in bed, plug your wired headphones into the 3.5 mm jack or connect your headphones wirelessly with Bluetooth.
Game Library
This device is backed by major gaming studios and indie developers alike. The iiRcade will come pre-loaded with 11 games and gives you instant access to a library of 200+ titles. The games run the gamut from classic platformers to modern first-person shooters. iiRcade’s recent partnership with Sony only sweetens the deal.
With powerful specs, retro styling, an expansive library, and a design that slides nicely into any game room, the iiRcade is sure to please the most discerning of gamers.
