NERD Arcade

Hi Michael, welcome to NE, it’s great to finally have you in the magazine, can you introduce yourself to our readers? Hi, I’m Michael, just a local lad from the North East ( North Shields) almost married with 6 children and a dog!

You are one of the guys behind the fantastic NERD ARCADE, but for anyone that hasn’t been before, what exactly is NERD ARCADE? Yes! Me and my business partner Michael Coxon Co own Nerd Arcade. A retro haven inclusive to all, we have over 30 original retro arcade machines from the 80s & 90s, we have a chill out area where you can relax, have a cuppa and chat about all things geeky. We also sell all manner of geeky merchandise including manga/ anime figures, magazines, retro video games, consoles and more!

And what options do people have at NERD ARCADE? For only £8 you get 2 hours play on all of the arcade machines which are set to free play giving you plenty of time to complete house of the dead or get the fastest lap on our ridge racer dlx We offer meal deals with the local cafe next to us. You can hire out the arcade for any event such as birthday parties, stag, and corporate. Please get in touch you’d like to know more.

How did it all come about? Basically, I’ve been admin for a retro facebook group called North East retro den for a few years now and my passion has grown from collecting video games to arcade machines.

You feature some classic arcade machines, but is there any specific arcade that you really want to get your hands on? As it happens NBA Jam has been one I’ve been wanting for a while now and I’ve just this week managed to get my grubby mits on one!

What is the best part off running NERD ARCADE? I’d say playing the games but to be honest it’s meeting like-minded people who share our passion which excites me more.

You also host the very popular NERD Fright Fest event at The Boilershop in Newcastle, what can people expect and why should they buy tickets for it? Nerd Fright Fest. Possibly the most entertaining event you’ll find in the North East for all the family We have a Ghostbusters ECTO1 car, Jurassic Park jeep, Gremlins movie set, North East Legion Star Wars costuming group, North East Ghostbusters cosplay group with green screen, over 40 traders selling all manner of geeky and spooktacular merchandise. A dedicated gaming room full of new and retro consoles to play on, retro arcade machines all free to play.

Cosplay competitions and gaming tournaments with epic prizes to win like a Nintendo switch console! And we will be raising money for the Cash For Kids charity on the day.

Running these kinds of events can be a bit of a nightmare, can you tell us what goes into organising a NERD event? Roughly 6 months prep for each event. After nerd Fright Fest there is no rest! We start preparing for Nerd

fest 2023 and so on.

The event will be raising some much needed money for Cash for Kids, what was your reason for supporting this charity in particular? We believe in 2022 no child should go hungry or without warm clothing or live in fuel poverty. We will always do what we can to help disadvantaged children in the North East.

How can people buy tickets for it? Tickets are available now from Eventbrite here https://www. eventbrite.co.uk/e/nerd-frightfest-tickets-323333949547?aff=eb dssbdestsearch and outlets such as nerd arcade, Retro Bay Cafe and That Retro Game Shop, also available on the door on the day at the Boiler Shop Newcastle.

When you are not hard at work at NERD ARCADE what do you get up to in your spare time? Spare time?? Never heard of it haha

Tell us three random facts about yourself? I’ve been in a movie on the big screen (as an extra). I’ve cycled from the West Coast to East Coast of England in a day. I don’t like tomatoes.

the next couple, so Sega or Nintendo? Nintendo.

Playstation or Xbox? PlayStation.

What would you say is your favourite game of all time? Mario 3.

Where can people follow NERD ARCADE and keep up to date with offers and events? Nerd Arcade on Facebook and North East retro den 1 on Instagram