Our Favourite Arcade Machines for a DIY Home Barcade.

Our customers range from private event holders, corporations, schools, and families. Recently, we're proud to supply a condominium management executive who wanted to build a gaming room in his condominium. He contentedly gave us his customer review of The Men's Cave based on a few questions. We sold him a Crown VI Pool Table along with a VDarts Mini Plus.   1. How do you go about selecting the types of game products for your residents? A few factors were considered when we started shortlisting the different games we wanted.a) Does the new item add value to the property? What kind of image does it portray to prospective buyers as well as current residents? b) Is the game appealing to a larger age group of residents? Does it fit the demographics of the property?c) Are the games we are shortlisting able to fit the space and budget constraints that we have?d) What kind of maintenance regime and cost are we adopting along with the new game?So it was important that the selection needed to fulfil the above criteria.   2. What made you decide on purchasing a pool table for the common space in the condo? The pool table was aptly fitting well into our above criteria. It adds an upmarket value to the property. It allows for play at any time of the day. It appeals to people of a good age range, from young adults to seniors. It also came in various size options where we were able to select the right table that would fit into our allocated room. And a good pool table guaranteed longevity and lower maintenance cost.   3. Could you kindly tell us more about your experience during the showroom tour here at The Men’s Cave? When I first visited TMC, I wasn’t very sure of what to expect as I was fumbling to understand the various options I had at hand when selecting the games. But Mr Gabriel ensured me that I was right at home. It was indeed a very good learning experience as well as an eye-opener into the work of recreation gaming. For a start, he explained the pros and cons associated with the options I already had in mind and took the time to understand the kind of environment and usage we are expecting. He was immediately able to recommend various options that suit my needs. It was an added advantage that the TMC showroom had almost every type of item I was looking for, and even more. For example, the various types of pool tables on display had ample space for firsthand tryouts, and that provided a direct experience of its texture and touch. It really simplified the shortlisting of options. I was encouraged to lay my hands on almost every item in the showroom and experience the joy they brought to the player. It felt very personalized and by the end of the visit, I left better aware of the options at hand. It was more assuring that this awareness was not purely based on reading alone, but was also based on how they looked, felt like and were played.   4. If money isn't a factor to consider, how would you have built the game room for the condo differently? I do not think I would have built it any different, as the items we shortlisted and bought were very reasonably priced and still were of the highest quality that we expected. I didn’t feel that I had to cut down on my expectations in order to meet the budget. If anything, I would have opted for a greater range of items to be placed at various parts of the condo if there weren’t any other restrictions. Eg: Foosball Tables, Basketball Hoops, and Outdoor Table Tennis Tables are some of the options I would like to add in the future.   5. Which products are the more popular ones amongst the residents in your common space? The pool table and the electronic dartboard are major hits amongst the residents. While the pool table brings in a sense of familiarity to the players, the dartboard offers a very easy and intuitive way for new players to get hooked to the game. I have even proposed and installed another dartboard from TMC at my office for my colleagues to enjoy a relaxing game of darts in between the busy work schedule.   Wondering what you should get for your man cave, office or game room? Read our product reviews to have a better idea. Alternatively, this article on building your game room should help you!

  One of Stern’s Cornerstone game, the Stern Mandalorian Pinball Machine has been met with exceptional levels of hype by casual and pro players alike due in part to the success of the Disney+ series. As such, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on it to try it out for ourselves the moment it reached our showroom.  A visual beauty in person, there are so many aspects to the Mandalorian model that we felt showed Stern’s ingenuity as one of the last major pinball makers in the US. As such, the first article in this review series will start by looking at the three major components that can make or break a pinball machine’s immersive experience: artwork, audio & visuals, and overall playfield features. This is our Two Parts special series where we take you on deep dive into the Mandalorian Pinball machine. Enjoy! Artwork The first thing that most people will notice, comic artist Randy Martinez does great in his comic-style interpretation of the Mandalorian, the backglass and sides following this signature style rather than using heavily edited images of real actors as seen on Stern’s original Star Wars machines. This definitely makes it a much more stunning and refreshing sight to the eyes, especially in real life. Furthermore, the hand-drawn playfield art also adds a warm, personal touch that builds to an adventure and intergalactic experience that really feels so well integrated with The Mandalorian theme.    Audio & Visuals Theme integration for the Stern Mandalorian Pinball Machine was really something that stood out for us and we probably have to go back to 2019 Keith Elwin’s Jurassic Park for something just as good. We were already entranced when we heard Stern would be using The Mandalorian’s original soundtrack by Ludwig Görranson and it did not fail to delight us through our play experience, giving us an epic sense of adventure, excitement, and eagerness even as you plunge your first ball. To guarantee that you’re kept on your toes, different original audio tracks are also used during different modes to distinguish them, generating a different type of excitement for each adventure as you play through and complete the different missions, encounters, and hunts. Timed so well to the playfield’s light and visual effects, it practically makes you feel like the Mandalorian himself! Fans of the series are also in for another treat in the audio department—all call outs and voice narrations have been specifically recorded by Mandalorian actor Carl Weathers, who plays bounty hunter and ally Greef Karga. Can you imagine having Greef Karga telling you to look out over at the right ramp! Or him telling you “This is not the way,” when you’ve scored badly? An unexpected ally: Bounty hunter Greef Karga is here to help all his fellow bounty hunters (players) on their missions and narrate their thrilling sagas from across the galaxy. Playfield Features Lead designer Brian Eddy also did a great job with making sure everything on the playfield is a delight for the best of fans. Your unmissable companion throughout all your adventures, the custom Grogu figurine situated at the top left corner is always with you throughout each shot and can even help you. When you trigger the ‘CHILD’ rollover switches, Grogu can offer the players powerful buffs and assistance throughout certain parts of the game. The Grogu toy isn’t stingy or small by any means either and is often the first thing that you will notice when you walk up to the machine. [caption id="attachment_10447" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] More than just decoration: Let Grogu help you on your missions when you trigger all 'CHILD' rollover switches![/caption] On the other hand, there is also the detailed and beautifully sculpted Razor Crest ship placed in the middle of the playfield with flaming ember lights that flash from its rear exhaust. Another eye-catching custom model, the Razor Crest—much like Grogu—is also a unique target that allows players to start the game’s own Razor Crest modes. [caption id="attachment_10448" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] A unique highlight: The mini-upper playfield features one flipper and six stand up targets for some interesting game development, giving you access to a completely different style of play, as the mini-playfield with enhanced flipper strength results in a challenging stage of play as the ball ricochets unpredictably through the mode.[/caption] Brian Eddy also puts a well-placed scoop that is accessible from both lower flippers and an integral part of the main gameplay as it grants players access to the Foundry and Missions area. This is accompanied by three buttery-smooth, fast-flowing ramps that are a signature Eddy style that encourages smooth and fast-paced gameplay. While not as tight as those found in a Keith Elwin’s title, they are nevertheless fun and satisfying to hit, providing a great feature to the game.  With bright, fluorescent colours and lights that would draw anyone to it out of curiosity, the Stern Mandalorian Pinball Machine does well to balance these three aspects and create an overall satisfying yet immersive game. And now, on to Part II of our special deep dive, where we explore the incredible gameplay modes and design that brings the Mandalorian cinematic experience to life in the pinball machine.   At The Men's Cave, we review, curate, and strive to provide quality content and inspiration on the coolest games from all around the world. If you enjoyed this article, why not show your support by signing up for our newsletters (at the bottom of our homepage) and we will keep you updated on the latest insider articles. 

Have you ever heard of the term ‘barcade’? If you haven’t, a barcade is exactly as it sounds: the combination of both a bar and an arcade all wrapped up in one convenient location. Barcades usually favor stocking more classic retro games than modern ones—think pinball machines, old Daytona racing games, and other classic arcade staples in the 90s—while serving you snacks and your favourite boozy beverage of choice on the side. For me, the barcade is the arcade’s older brother, cooler and more refined while still loving the same things, with a penchant for alcohol after growing up.   While barcades seem like a novelty concept considering how most trends come and go in today’s brand of living, The Men’s Cave team beg to differ.  The barcade experience appeals and interests us because it represents how we as adults never really grow up and are simply kids at heart with more adult-like tastes. It caters to the notion that you don’t have to be in a specific age group just to be able to enjoy games that you used to love—and still do—as a child.  This is the same type of spirit The Men’s Cave has constantly strived its best to capture within the products and services we provide for our customers. It’s also this spirit that drives our enthusiasm to help people create their own one-of-a-kind ‘man cave’ that will allow their homes to be both a place of respite and enjoyment. Therefore, it feels fair that we look along the same vein at barcades since it provides a similar experience but in a more public setting. Perhaps a man’s cave is just your own private and personalised barcade within the reaches of your own home? The notion is difficult to dispute.  [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Beercade Headquaters in Chicago.[/caption] The barcade is pretty much a childhood playground with alcoholic treats and finger food! Much like a man cave, the barcade provides sanctuary for the young at heart while giving you a fun and relaxing place to chill and just be yourself regardless of whether you’re there with company or not.  For many of us at a certain age, drinking becomes less of a rite of passage into adulthood—the first time you get to drink legally as an adult—and more of a pastime, a way for people to socialise and forget their worries for a temporary moment. It is what replaces the joy of gaming as we grow up because it’s deemed as ‘more appropriate’ for the working adult. However, the TMC team disagrees on such a thing, which is where the barcade comes in.  As the name suggests, alcohol and games are things that can both go hand-in-hand, especially as we grow older. Growing up doesn’t mean we have to let go of one thing for another and the barcade concept is proof of that, having thrived over the past few decades and is still going strong. It’s not reshelling your childhood memories to you but rather, barcades allow you to continue enjoying the same things while catering to the older you.    Fun tip for you: Barcades are probably the only place where drunk driving is allowed and actually encouraged by both friends and family (as long as it’s within the premise!) Still, not all barcades are created equal. Some only provide specific types of retro games instead of having a more general range, while others might put more emphasis on their alcohol section and provide drink pairings with the games they have to allow for a more immersive experience. Regardless of the different types of barcades there are, one thing’s for sure: No barcade is complete without a wide plethora of classic childhood games! Even if you’re unsure of what kind of barcade would suit you, there’s at least the guarantee that you’ll have tons of fun trying out all the games and drinks each of them will have to offer. If any of this has managed to tickle your interest, you can check out this list of barcades in Singapore to visit or plan your next social gathering at: click me! However, do bear in mind that the barcade is a concept that isn’t tied down to a specific location. By the end of the day, the most important thing about a barcade is not in having a fancy location or all the latest gadgets, it’s the joy and memories you make while you’re there, combining an adult palette for booze and an unwavering love of video games and other classic childhood games.