A Proposal for a Wreck-It Ralph Arcade!

There hasn’t been a good track record for arcades for Disney.  For the longest time, 1977-2015, there was Starcade next to Space Mountain at Disneyland.  Then, there was the Atari Adventure arcade in the center of the Disneyland Hotel lake, there was a path down to the arcade, so it was literally an underwater arcade!  There was the DisneyQuest arcade at Orlando which opened in 1998 and closed in 2017.  It expanded to Chicago in 1999 and closed in 2001.  Next, was an almost pop-up arcade, Flynn’s Arcade, tied to Tron: Legacy (2010) as part of the ElecTRONica festival at Disney’s California Adventure.  It opened in 2010 and closed in 2012.  It was tested out at San Diego Comic Con in 2009.  The arcade featured Space Paranoids, the arcade game from the film, which you could play for free.  I remember seeing the Fix-It Felix Jr. arcade game from Wreck-It Ralph (2012) at the D23 Expo, but could never get around to playing it.  

Space Paranoids, DCA, 2012, photo by the author.

I would put Litwak’s Family Fun Center & Arcade that was in the Wreck-It Ralph film at Pixar Pier.  Alternately, it could be in a remodeling of Tomorrowland, then it could also be themed to Tron (maybe next to a smaller version of Tron Lightcycle Power Run?) or in a remodeled Fantasyland which has no games.  It would feature three Fix-It Felix, Jr. arcade games, I also hope there is a Sugar Rush Speedway game, that are featured.  Then, there are several sections, Classic Games like Space Invaders, a Marvel Super Hero and Star Wars game section, and then a Tron section with Space Paranoids.  For the Classic Games section, there is a screen that shows scenes from the Wreck-It Ralph film. I don’t know what games are available, but I would like to see Pong, Space Invaders, Asteroids, Pac-man, and Centipede.  Also, Tempest, Battlezone, Frogger, Dig Dug, Pitfall!,  Q*bert, Paperboy, Burgertime, and Root Beer Tapper.  

Then, Dragon’s Lair, Space Ace? (which was not in the Wreck-It Ralph film), Dance Dance Revolution X2, and I would like to see the Disney Tsum Tsum arcade game.  Possibly, Joust, Defender, and Ms. Pacman which were not in the film.  Also, pinball machines, Whack-a-Mole and other games that you can win tickets like Skee Ball and Basketball Hoops.  Next, is the Marvel games which may have a screen showing Marvel cartoons on the Disney XD channel, Ultimate Spider-Man and possibly past cartoons like The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and the games if possible; Marvel Super Heroes, Spider-Man: The Arcade Game, X-Men, Captain America and the Avengers, I don’t remember this one, and Marvel vs. Capcom 2.  The Star Wars section if it is approved would have a screen showing clips of Star Wars: Rebels and possibly Star Wars: Resistance.  I would actually like the Lego Star Wars cartoons if they can be authorized since they are more in line with the family audience.  I would like to see the several cabinets of the original Star Wars arcade game, sit down cabinet if available, the Star Wars Trilogy arcade game, the Return of the Jedi arcade game, and also the Star Wars: Battle Pod.  

Fix-It Felix, Jr. Basic Fun! game, photo by the author.

Then, there is the Tron section.  I would imagine there is a screen showing the original Tron (1982) and Tron: Legacy (2010).  The games there would include the original Tron game, at least 3 cabinets, Space Paranoids would be featured, and also the Discs of Tron.  Part of the  concept for this arcade is not simply the arcade itself.  There could be competitions held for the video games in the various sections to win prizes.  There is a small merchandise area selling Flynn and Tron t-shirts, light cycle toys, and identity discs.  Also, backpack, hats, and jackets that were issued for Tron: Legacy.  This also extends to the Star Wars and Marvel sections.  Shirts of all of the classic video games and I hope the mini arcade games from Arcade Classics.   Also, there should be a food service area.  I’m thinking pizza, but for some reason pizza at Disney parks is greasy and unappetizing.  If there is a way to make pizza with fresh ingredients and possibly healthy pizza, fun and themed to Tron or Wreck-It Ralph, then pizza would be best.  If not, I would hope there is sandwiches that could also be fresh.  This arcade is not meant to be ported to malls or franchised.  It would be specific to Disney parks.  

#WreckItRalphArcade, #PixarPier, #FlynnsArcade, #Tron