A gaming machine called iiRcade was launched with a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign here in June, and it seems pretty radical. This arcade machine can be a full-size or bartop arcade machine and will cost sponsors approximately $ 400 after funding. This crowdfunding campaign raised more than $ 100k more than its goal with 44 days to go, that’s no small thing in an economic situation like the one we are here in the summer of 2020.
The hardware is called iiRcade. It is an “immersive arcade game” machine “reinvented for your home”. The machine has a large screen, large speakers, and two joysticks with red and black buttons. It will be released with licensed titles like Double Dragon, Space Ace, Dragon’s Lair, Gunbird, Oddmar, Dead Effect 2 and Riptide GP RENEGADE.
This game console is “small enough for home, but big enough for the full arcade game experience.” Below is a demo of what Double Dragon looks like to the player playing an iiRcade. This demo was released in May 2020.
Below, you’ll see a demo of the console as a kind of “preview” of what’s to come. This video was released on June 17, 2020.
Earlier this week, iiRcade CEO Jong-Wook Shin announced all the details about the launch of the Kickstarter campaign. This video also features Colin Trethewey of PRMediaNow.
This arcade machine features a 19-inch 1280 x 1024 screen powered by a 1.8Hz Hexa-core CPU, 800Mhz Quad-core Max GPU and 4GB dual-channel LPDDR4X RAM. It will run a custom operating system and play audio with 100 watts of sound from stereo speakers.
Two players can participate in the game experience as the console ships with two 8-way “premium arcade joysticks” as well as “6 premium arcade buttons per player”.
– 19-inch 1280 × 1024 LCD screen
– Dual 100 watt stereo speakers
– 1.8GHz Hexa-Core CPU
– Maximum quad-core GPU of 800 MHz
– 4GB LPDDR4X dual channel
– 64 GB of storage
– 2 premium 8-way Sanwa-style joysticks and buttons.
– WiFi 802.11ac
– 4.2 Wireless Bluetooth Headset Holder
– HDMI output
– Premium MDF wood cabinets
This console works with Wi-Fi 802.11ac, fast Internet, as well as Bluetooth 4.2. According to its creators, “iiRcade enables faster and more widely compatible Bluetooth connectivity for various connectivity applications.” There are a pair of 3.5mm headphone jacks, or you can connect with Bluetooth headphones.
There is an HDMI output port so you can show what you are playing on both the console screen and secondary screen at the same time. Why? Who cares!
Depending on the level of support, this arcade machine will come pre-packed with a series of preloaded games. You will also be able to purchase a variety of games from the iiRcade marketplace at prices ranging from approximately $ 3 to $ 15 (on average).
Preloaded games may include Dragon’s Lair, Double Dragon, Beach Buggy Racing, Gunbird, Thunder HOOP, Maniac Square, Snowboard Championship, Power Balls, Twin Brats, and Fancy World (Earth of Crisis!)
This crowdfunding campaign appears on Kickstarter and includes a $ 300 level for early investors. You’ll find versions of the iiRcade Bartop arcade machine and available Arcade Stand extensions (depending on when you visit the campaign). Prices go up a couple of hundred dollars, depending on the question.
If everything goes according to plan, this campaign should be building iiRcade machines in September 2020 and sending Kickstarter backers starting in October 2020. Cross your fingers, everything works smoothly!
