by MATTHEW NASH

Sequim Gazette

Gaming enthusiast Dan Kerber, owner of Rock Plaza Fun Center, hopes families and young people connect with his new Sequim business.

His arcade boasts 30 machines, ranging from air hockey tables to retro and new games that let the player drive, dance, play pinball and everything in between.

“The Fun Center gives people a place to gather,” Kerber said.

“I’ve seen kids with their parents and they are having a kick, but it’s not just the kids; the parents get a kick out of it, too. It’s a great environment to bond with your kids and have fun competition playing games like air hockey. It’s quality time.”

Fun Center transplanted to Sequim after a year in Port Angeles because Kerber said Rock Plaza provides him space for his original vision.

“It’s a nice, clean environment,” he said. “I had more of a ‘Chuck E. Cheese’ theme in mind when designing this.”

Kerber said he has space for twice as many games and an area for birthday parties and special events. He plans to expand in a few months with more video game machines.

Kerber said the center is affordable fun for families.

“The other day a family of four had 20 bucks and played for an hour together,” he said.

Players buy tokens to play, with each game costing one to four tokens.

One game in the arcade that takes four tokens is Kerber’s own creation — “Virtual Assault.”

The interactive system uses a small monitor screen attached to a toy gun to replicate in-game action. If a player moves left, the game moves left and so forth.

“There’s no arcade game in the world like it,” Kerber said.

The system plays popular titles like “Call of Duty,” which can be changed out.

Some of the arcade games in the center play several titles and are changed weekly.

Kerber plans to incorporate redemption games, which dispense tickets for prizes, at a later date.

Before venturing into his own business, Kerber worked in software development.

He’s a self-described hard-core gamer and got hooked early with the Commodore 64 video game system and Coleco Adam home computer.

Until recently, he played most of his video games on a home computer but plays current video game systems like the Playstation 3 at home, too.

Kerber said video game systems of today might have better graphics than older arcade games but they definitely don’t have the same feel.

“There’s a huge difference between having a joystick in your hands and standing up than sitting on your couch home alone,” he said.  

Rock Plaza Fun Center offers three party packages, which can include tokens and reserved seating, and/or unlimited use of an air hockey table. Snacks, drinks and ice cream are available for purchase.

Contact the center at 808-8808 for pricing details.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.