Eighty-four pinball machines and 110 game machines are ready for play at a dollar a game in the 8-Bit Roundup arcade, located in the Big Four building at the Calgary Stampede. The retro arcade, now in its second year, offers visitors an escape into nostalgia with vintage games and classic CRT screens.
Nostalgia and Community at the Big Four
Chance Johnson, the creative mind behind 8-Bit Roundup, said the games are as original as possible, featuring old-school CRTs and vector monitors that cannot be emulated with modern technology. “If somebody wants to relive that moment, or if somebody wants to share that moment with their children or their grandchildren, we provide that for them as well,” Johnson said.
Johnson, a self-described arcade collector, enthusiast, and restorationist, has been passionate about the hobby for over a decade, amassing a collection of 60 arcade cabinets. When offered the space last year, he aimed to create more than just a nostalgic experience—he wanted to boost foot traffic for local food vendors in the lower Big Four hall. “My mandate was to help increase foot traffic in the lower Big Four,” he said. “When the doors are closed on the outside, it looks like a utility storage building. A lot of people don’t know it actually still runs, but there are a lot of small businesses down here.”
A Wide Selection for Every Gamer
The arcade features a diverse range of games, from old-school classics like Asteroids and Centipede to family-friendly titles such as Simpson’s Bowling and Street Fighter. Johnson noted that turnout hasn’t been as high as last year, but visitors are still enjoying the blast to the past.
Michael Morrell, a visitor, lit up when he saw the retro pinball machines. “I think it’s a super fun thing to have here. I just love these retro games, all the different eras and all that stuff,” he said. Others, like Finn Hamilton, are learning the games for the first time. Hamilton’s dad was showing off his Street Fighter skills for his three sons. “It’s nice that we get to see something from the past, my dad here is teaching me up on the games. We teach him at home, but here he gets to really show us who he is,” Hamilton said.
Community Effort Behind the Arcade
Johnson leaned on his network of retro connections to make the arcade happen. Arlen Smith, owner of Pin-Bar, supplies the pinball machines. Retro Oasis Escape Rooms and Arcade provided roughly 20 arcade cabinets both years. Death Save Pinball and Calgary Women’s Pinball have hosted tournaments two years in a row. Other organizations involved include Nightwave Arcade and Nitro Pinball. Johnson emphasized that it’s more than an arcade—it’s a team effort.
