# This Arcade is a fully-functioning, see-through, arcade machine! **Source:** RetroRalph **Type:** video **Published:** 2022-05-04 **Duration:** 6m 28s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SPrJV7aVoo --- ## Analysis RetroRalph attends ZapCon 2022 in Jose Mesa, Arizona, showcasing vintage arcade and pinball machines. The video highlights rare cabinets including a transparent-sided Golden Axe machine, classic electromechanical games, and modern arcade experiences like Mockstorm and Star Wars Battle Pod. Ralph expresses growing interest in pinball and notes Electric Bat Arcade's significant role in organizing the event. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] This is Jon's first time bringing his own machines to a conference — _Direct statement at end of video: 'It was my first time bringing my own machines to a conference, and it's really rewarding to see people enjoying the games.'_ - [HIGH] Electric Bat Arcade played a huge part in organizing ZapCon — _Explicit statement: 'With Electric Bat Arcade playing a huge part in the show, I knew pinball was going to be front and center.'_ - [HIGH] Mockstorm was released in 2013 by Bandai Namco — _Stated directly: 'It's a combat flight simulator called Mockstorm. It was released in 2013 by Bandai Namco.'_ - [MEDIUM] Star Wars Battle Pod is fairly common compared to Mockstorm — _Ralph states: 'Star Wars Battle Pod is fairly common, but I had never seen this version of the game.'_ - [HIGH] Ralph is morphing into a pinball guy despite arcade gaming being his primary passion — _Direct quote: 'Look, arcade games will always be where my heart is at, but if you haven't branched out, go to your local arcade or barcade and check out some pinball.'_ ### Notable Quotes > "When anything retro enters a room, it's hard for someone like me to miss it." > — **Jon (RetroRalph)**, early > _Sets the tone for his passion for retro gaming and motivates the entire video_ > "Every game is different, and I didn't know it years ago, but nowadays, I'm sort of morphing into a pinball guy." > — **Jon (RetroRalph)**, mid > _Personal growth narrative showing crossover appeal between arcade and pinball communities_ > "The whole entire side of the cabinet is see through, dude. Yeah you can see all of the inside the monitor the PCB the monitor chassis this is so cool." > — **Jon (RetroRalph)**, mid > _Highlights the custom transparent Golden Axe modification that is the video's centerpiece_ > "It was my first time bringing my own machines to a conference, and it's really rewarding to see people enjoying the games that I gave the necessary TLC to." > — **Jon (RetroRalph)**, end > _Personal milestone reflecting community-driven content creation and machine restoration culture_ > "Everybody comes together to share their passion for gaming. We together, collectively, are keeping retro gaming alive." > — **Jon (RetroRalph)**, end > _Articulates the shared purpose and community value of conventions like ZapCon_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Jon (RetroRalph) | person | Content creator on RetroRalph YouTube channel specializing in retro arcade and pinball gaming; attended ZapCon 2022 with restored machines | | ZapCon 2022 | event | Retro arcade and pinball convention held in Jose Mesa, Arizona; organized with significant involvement from Electric Bat Arcade | | Electric Bat Arcade | organization | Pinball and arcade venue that played a major role in organizing and hosting ZapCon 2022; known for supporting the pinball community | | Rudy | person | Associated with Jon's operations; helped transport machines to ZapCon via U-Haul trailer; found playing pinball during the event | | Golden Axe | game | Arcade cabinet modified with fully transparent side panel, allowing visibility of internal components (monitor, PCB, chassis); featured at ZapCon | | Stunt Cycle | game | Vintage arcade game at ZapCon; Jon previously reviewed the at-home version on his channel | | Video Pinball | game | Hybrid mechanical/video game shown at ZapCon; described as unique and unusual by Ralph | | Polybius | game | Arcade machine at ZapCon featuring Oregon state stickers and high attention to detail; not operational during Ralph's visit | | Legends of Valhalla | game | Pinball machine at ZapCon that caught Ralph's attention; displayed in Game Room Goodies area | | Mockstorm | game | Combat flight simulator arcade cabinet released in 2013 by Bandai Namco; features immersive pod design with air blowers, vibrating seats, and 180-degree wrap-around projection screen | | Star Wars Battle Pod | game | Large arcade cabinet with similar design to Mockstorm; featured at ZapCon; described as fairly common compared to Mockstorm | | Jose Mesa Convention Center | organization | Venue where ZapCon 2022 was held in Jose Mesa, Arizona | | Bandai Namco | company | Game publisher; released Mockstorm in 2013 | ### Topics - **Primary:** Retro arcade gaming culture and collecting, Pinball gaming and community crossover, Custom arcade cabinet modifications, ZapCon 2022 convention coverage - **Secondary:** Arcade machine restoration and preservation, Immersive arcade experiences (motion simulators), Electric Bat Arcade's community role ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Ralph expresses enthusiasm and genuine appreciation throughout the video for the convention, machines, community, and the cross-pollination between arcade and pinball culture. Minor embarrassment expressed about enjoying modern arcade experiences alongside retro focus, but overall tone is celebratory and community-affirming. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Content creators like RetroRalph bringing personally restored machines to conventions, demonstrating growing integration between YouTube content creation and live event participation (confidence: high) — Ralph states it was his first time bringing machines to a conference and found it 'really rewarding to see people enjoying the games' - **[event_signal]** ZapCon 2022 successfully brought together retro arcade and pinball communities in Arizona with Electric Bat Arcade providing organizational support (confidence: high) — Multiple explicit references to ZapCon's scale, diversity of machines, and Electric Bat Arcade's central role in organization - **[sentiment_shift]** RetroRalph expressing growing interest in pinball despite identifying primarily as arcade-focused, indicating successful crossover appeal between communities (confidence: high) — Explicit statement: 'I'm sort of morphing into a pinball guy' and recommendation to arcade fans to explore pinball --- ## Transcript Hey guys! Welcome back! It is the night before ZapCon and I'm still working on the War of Final Assaults. The video card's kind of the Achilles heel of this thing, so I need to make sure these things stay cool during the conference, because they're gonna be on, like, the whole time. In the morning, Rudy's coming, we're gonna grab the trailer from U-Haul, load up these things, and bring them down to the Mesa Convention Center, and then Saturday, ZapCon begins. When anything retro enters a room, it's hard for someone like me to miss it. The games, the people, all here to enjoy a piece of arcade and pinball history together in the same room, connected as things were in the heyday of arcades. And when there's a party like ZapCon happening, you know only the truest of arcade and pinball fanatics will be there. ZapCon 2022 took place in Mesa, Arizona, and I was in attendance. It's a breath of fresh air to be somewhere so close to home and feel so alive. I'm fueled by the passions of everyone walking around through these doors and playing these games. There's tons of retro everywhere and the atmosphere in the room is infectious. There's a bunch of machines up front which are really really retro. The one that catches my eye the most is Stunt Cycle. This game is really cool. I actually did a review on the channel of the at home version. It's just the handlebars and the game is actually in it. It's a console. There's a lot of wild stuff here. Like look at this thing. It's called Video Pinball. I've never seen anything like that before. Seawolf is one that does show up from time to time, so I think that one's a more well-known one. And then you got ones like this where it sort of mechanical and a video game at the same time so lots of really cool stuff I don know Skydiver This game Gunfight That looks really cool and very old It's a Midway game. These are cool. These are a little bit before my time, so they're pretty neat to see. Space Invaders, obviously, we all know. Guided Missile. Blue Shark. And then this is really neat, this little pub table thing. Very, very retro and very, very cool. So speaking of unique things, Polybius, man. It's not on right now, but look at this. Look at the attention to detail you got. The State of Oregon stickers. I can never say that, but this is freaking badass. This was here another year, but I got to play this when it's on. Okay, so I've been walking around, and Rudy is like MIA, so I got to try to find him. He's usually playing pinball, but I have a sneaking suspicion I know where he is. I knew you'd be in here! I know where he is! Uh, okay, Rudy. Have fun, buddy. With Electric Bat Arcade playing a huge part in the show, I knew pinball was going to be front and center. In the Game Room Goodies area, I took a liking to Legends of Valhalla. Pinball is a different breed than arcade gaming. Every game is different, and I didn't know it years ago, but nowadays, I'm sort of morphing into a pinball guy. Look, arcade games will always be where my heart is at, but if you haven't branched out, go to your local arcade or barcade and check out some pinball. Oh my lord! It's a me and Mario. You know what cool about this Well first of all it Golden Axe so Golden Axe is super cool but check this out for a minute The whole entire side of the cabinet is see dude Yeah you can see all of the inside the monitor the PCB the monitor chassis this is so cool Anyways, that's the kind of stuff that you can see here at ZapCon, like rare, weird things. Like, obviously that's not an official Golden Axe, but it's pretty damn cool. There are so many games here that span from the Bronze Age to the Golden Ages of arcade gaming. It's pretty impressive. But there was one I kept going back to that surprisingly was rather current in comparison. Honestly, I feel a bit embarrassed being a retro guy at heart, but this thing was pretty damn awesome. It's a combat flight simulator called Mockstorm. It was released in 2013 by Bandai Namco Games. And it's identical in design to Star Wars Battle Pod. I had to stop for a minute because for a smaller regional conference like this one to have two big games like this, it was a real treat for attendees of the show. Star Wars Battle Pod is fairly common, but I had never seen this version of the game. Naturally, with its size and scale, people gravitated toward it, and there was often a line to play it. So is it worth the wait in line to play it? Totally. The game incorporates air blowers and vibrating seats to immerse the player in the game, but that's not all. The pod design is actually using a projection video system with a wrap-around 180 degree screen that really brings you into the action. Look, I know it's not retro, but I couldn't help myself. As a kid who grew up watching Top Gun any chance I get to pretend to fly a fighter jet I in I know you guys know what I talking about Well Zapcon it been a blast You brought a lot to the table as did everyone else That's one of the best things about cons like this. Everybody comes together to share their passion for gaming. We together, collectively, are keeping retro gaming alive. Sharing our passion for retro arcade gaming and pinball, and that's something to be proud of. It was my first time bringing my own machines to a conference, and it's really rewarding to see people enjoying the games that I've given the necessary TLC to. Many of these games are classics, classics that are being shared with a new generation, and that's definitely a win in my book. All right, guys, well, ZapCon 2022 is a wrap. We're going to get these machines out of here. This was so much fun. And thank you to Electric Bat for allowing us to come here, share these fun games with everybody. And we'll see you next time. We'll see you next time. _(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 2571eaac-10c5-48f2-b49b-4904546c3390*