South Melbourne Game Studio
We build arcades that hit different.
RetroPulse Collective is a game and IT studio crafting neon cabinets, browser games, and installation-grade arcade software from our workshop on Albert Road.
Who we are
A workshop, a codebase, and a wall of CRTs.
Half game studio, half arcade hardware lab.
Founded in 2016 above a laneway in South Melbourne, RetroPulse Collective pairs Unity and TypeScript engineers with cabinet fabricators. We ship playable builds, then bolt them into hand-wired cabinets with genuine arcade buttons and marquee lighting. Every project ships with source, schematics, and a maintenance runbook.
- In-house cabinet fabrication
- Unity, WebGL & native builds
- Open handover: source + schematics
We sweat the milliseconds and the millimetres.
Input latency under 16ms, colour-calibrated panels, and control layouts tested by actual players before launch. Whether it's a WebGL leaderboard game or a two-player bartop for a Fitzroy venue, we tune the feel until it plays like 1987 and runs like 2026.
By the numbers
Games & cabinets shipped
Building in South Melbourne
Target input latency
Players on our leaderboards
Selected work
Cabinets, builds & installations.
Filter by what we made. Every piece below is a real project shipped from the Albert Road workshop.
Neon Bartop Duo
Two-player bartop cabinet with RGB buttons for a South Wharf whisky bar.
Pulse Runner
WebGL endless-runner with live leaderboards, built in 6 weeks.
Foyer Wall of CRTs
12-screen interactive lobby installation for a Docklands studio.
Upright Classic Reissue
Full-size upright cabinet restored and re-loaded with a custom shooter.
Chiptune Rhythm
Native rhythm game with a hardware button-panel controller.
Festival Freeplay Zone
Pop-up freeplay arcade of eight networked cabinets for PAX Aus.
What we do
Everything from first sketch to final marquee.
Custom Cabinet Fabrication
Hand-built bartop, upright, and cocktail cabinets in our workshop. Genuine Sanwa buttons, tempered marquee glass, and CNC-cut ply. From AUD $4,900 per cabinet, 4–6 week build.
Game Development
Original arcade games in Unity, WebGL, or native. Design, art, sound, and leaderboards included. Prototype sprints from AUD $12,000; full titles quoted per scope.
Retro Restoration
We rescue and re-wire classic 80s and 90s cabinets — new panels, recapped boards, and calibrated CRTs. Assessment from AUD $350.
Event & Venue Installations
Freeplay zones, networked tournaments, and interactive lobby walls. Delivery, on-site setup, and pack-down across Victoria.
Leaderboard & IT Backend
Managed leaderboards, telemetry, and remote fleet updates so your cabinets stay online. Hosting and monitoring from AUD $180/month.
Workshop Hours
Studio visits by appointment, Monday to Friday 9:00am–5:30pm AEST. Saturday cabinet pickups 10:00am–2:00pm.
From our players
What clients say after launch day.
The bartop RetroPulse built for our whisky bar has become the reason people stay for a second round. Rock solid every single night since install.
Marcus D.
South Wharf, VIC
They shipped our WebGL game in six weeks with a live leaderboard that just works. Handover included every asset and the source — no surprises.
Priya S.
Docklands, VIC
Our 90s upright was a wreck. They recapped the board, fitted a new CRT, and it plays better than I remember from the arcades as a kid.
Ben T.
Fitzroy, VIC
Good to know
Questions from first-time cabinet owners.
A standard bartop runs 4–6 weeks from approved design; full uprights take 6–8 weeks. Timelines depend on artwork sign-off and button/panel stock. We give you a firm date once the deposit and design are locked, and we send progress photos from the workshop each week.
Yes. We deliver and install anywhere in Victoria ourselves, and crate for freight to the rest of Australia. Interstate customers get a pre-shipment video walkthrough plus a remote setup call so everything powers on right the first time.
Absolutely. Full source, art files, and schematics are handed over at project close as standard — no licensing lock-in. We can also stay on a monthly retainer for updates, new content, and leaderboard hosting if you'd rather we keep maintaining it.
We do. Bring it to 36 Albert Road for a AUD $350 assessment and we'll quote the restore — panels, wiring, recapping boards, and CRT calibration. Most restorations land between AUD $1,200 and AUD $3,500 depending on condition.
Our Festival Freeplay package. We bring networked cabinets, run setup and pack-down, and staff the zone if you need it. Pricing is per-day and scales with cabinet count — get in touch with your dates and headcount for a quote.
Get in touch
Tell us what you want to build.
Cabinet, game, restoration, or event — send the details and we'll reply within one business day with next steps.
Phone
+61 3 9699 5607Workshop
36 Albert Road, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Email
[email protected]Hours
Mon–Fri 9:00am–5:30pm AEST