Dream Arcades Takes '80s Nostalgia to a New LevelDream Arcades is the largest manufacturer of non-coin-operated arcade machines in the world. Last year the company broke $1 million in sales."Nostalgia sells," says co-founder Michael Ware.
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Dig Dug. Centipede. Asteroids. They're just three of the 1980svideo gamesthat kept many a Gen Xer hanging out in dark arcades on sunny days. Now they're among the more than 500 titles that Dream Arcades loads into '80s-style game consoles designed for the home or office.
"Nostalgia sells," says Michael Ware, who co-founded the Rancho Cordova, Calif.-based company with wife Michelle. And business is booming.Dream Arcadesis the largest manufacturer of non-coin-operated arcade machines in the world. Last year the company broke $1 million insales; for 2013 so far sales are up 20 percent, thanks to a growing number of residential customers and corporate orders from the likes of Google, Microsoft, Apple and Disney--demonstrating the universal desire for a kick-ass rec room or break room.
The consoles, which come in a variety of models starting at $1,899, can be customized with personalized artwork, lighted trackballs and joysticks and even unique games (one financial-services firm made a memorable request for "Catch Bernie Madoff"). They ship standard with 140 to 145 games (all licensed by Dream Arcades) but can be upgraded with game packs that run between $29 and $179.
