ARCADE WATCH
Keeping an eye on the coin-op gaming scene
We don’t get the opportunity to talk about new arcades opening in the UK very often – and business has been difficult for established operators over the past 18 months – so it feels good to report that The Pixel Bunker, based at Milton Keynes’ National Film & Sci-fi Museum, made its successful debut on June 4.
The arcade hosts nearly 100 machines, with a good spread across genres and time periods. Vintage pioneers such as Karate Champ, Galaxian and Asteroids nudge up against mid-’80s classics including Commando, Shinobi and R-Type, as well as a selection of driving games such as Buggy Boy, Power Drift and Ridge Racer. It’s great to see Atari’s 720°, Toobin’ and Peter Pack Rat in the same place, too.
The arcade is currently open from Tuesday to Sunday, with three play sessions of three hours each per day. The team recommends that you book in advance in order to secure a slot via the arcade’s website (www.thepixelbunker.com).