Go back to a simpler time in life when nothing weighed on your shoulders, and you could take over the world. A time when you could walk inside of a mall with your ride-and-dies and make a beeline for the flashing lights and cacophony of sounds that are the siren’s call of the arcade. Free Play Florida is an event happening November 22nd through November 24th at the RP Funding Center that recreates that adrenaline rush of tossing quarter after quarter into your favorite games.
Be it Turtles in Time, Mortal Kombat, or some of the real classics like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Burgertime or if you’re paddle addict and love the chaos of pinball then all of your arcade memories can be relived and new ones made here. Aside from the arcade cabinets of yesteryear and the slaps and chimes of pinball you can also play through the literal history of console and PC gaming.
The beauty of this event is that you can relive these moments, create new memories, and share with your children, significant others, and friends those same emotions you felt “way back when”. For three solid days you can play hundreds of games – as much as you want – all for the price of admission. And bonus: you don’t have to weigh down your pockets with quarters or tokens.
Besides games you can also shop a select number of handpicked vendors selling artwork, vintage toys, retro games and other goodies; view panels on the history of gaming, gleam tips from the pros, or learn about the technology, art, and psychology behind gaming, and meet special guests within the industry from designers and voice actors to YouTubers who collect or talk about the games they love to play. There is also an area to play games in development along with plenty of music, parties, and games.
Free Play Florida is in its 11th year providing this family friendly event. It is the main fundraising arm of Byte Amusement, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the goal of promoting gaming as not just a fun activity but one that is steeped in the arts and sciences, creating hundreds of STEM and STEAM careers.