OVIEDO, Fla. — While millions around the world play the popular video game Fortnite, old school game players have few places to turn to for human interaction. Arcade Monsters in Oviedo is looking to bring a human interaction back to gaming.
- Arcade Monsters to hold grand opening in Oviedo next month
- Retro video game store north of UCF
About 25 years ago, while hanging out in his father's arcade in New York, Adrian Ravelo challenged Andy Rodriguez to a game of Streetfighter.
Now in 2018, the two not only still play the popular game from the 90s, but are now co-owners of Arcade Monsters in Seminole County.
“He came up with the idea of, you know, 'What do you think of opening our own arcade?'," Rodriguez said. "I thought it was a great idea with his aspect of what he wanted to do.”
The collection of games ranges from the 1970s to the late 90s and early 2000s. It's a catalog that's value is worth nearly half a million dollars.
“It's American pop culture, we are trying to preserve these games," Ravelo said. "It was a great part of our history as a nation, and for this to be lost, it would be so lost. So we are just trying to preserve it."
Fixing these machines is no easy task. Fortunately for Adrian and Andy, Adrian’s father, Humberto has seen it all, and has helped restore several of these machines that are now more then 30 years old.
“I have provided a hand," Humberto explained. "I did some work that needed to be done to help the repairs, and I helped with other boxes to get them renovated.”
They have everything — pin ball machines, Dance Dance Revolution, Donkey Kong, and of course Mrs. Pac-Man.
They arcade also will sell food, beer and wine, and have a store selling vintage goodies.
The grand opening for Arcade Monsters will be December 14.
The arcade is located in Alafaya Square, at Alafaya Trail and Alafaya Woods Boulevard in Oviedo, just a few miles north of UCF.