Arcade gaming has gone through quite an evolution over the decades, and a new documentary is looking back at the people, games, and innovations that helped shape more than a century of gaming history. Titled Arcade Dreams, the documentary will be available on Digital and On Demand beginning November 27 through Uncork’d Entertainment.
A trailer for the documentary has been released, offering a preview of its celebration of arcade gaming’s history and the personalities who helped make it what it is today. Check it out in the embed above!
Directed by Zach Weddington (Viva Amiga: The Story of a Beautiful Machine), Arcade Dreams takes viewers on a journey through arcade culture, from the penny arcades of the early 1900s and the golden age of pinball to the explosion of video games during the 1970s and 1980s. The documentary also explores today’s arcade renaissance, examining how the culture has continued to evolve with modern technology, including virtual reality.
Produced by Rock Steady Media, the team behind the documentary Viva Amiga, Arcade Dreams features interviews with several influential figures from the history of arcade gaming and pinball. Among those appearing in the documentary is legendary video game designer Eugene Jarvis, whose credits include arcade classics like Defender, Robotron: 2084, and Smash TV. The film also features Roger Sharpe, the pinball icon who famously helped overturn New York City’s ban on pinball machines.
Other notable interviewees include George Gomez, the designer behind the iconic Tron arcade cabinet, and Gary Stern, founder of Stern Pinball. Brian Colin, co-creator of Rampage, and gaming culture personality Imoto Arcade also make appearances.
The documentary features cinematography by Emmy Award winner Bill Winters, whose credits include Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and Martha. Berge Garabedian, CEO of JoBlo Media, is an executive producer under his JoBlo Movie Productions banner.
Uncork’d Entertainment will release Arcade Dreams on November 27, when the documentary will become available to rent or purchase through Amazon, Apple, and other digital and On Demand platforms.
For anyone who grew up spending time in arcades, collecting pinball memories, or discovering classic video games, Arcade Dreams promises a nostalgic look at a gaming culture that has survived more than a century of technological change. Will you be watching? Let us know by leaving a comment below.