Retro Game Vibes – with a Hoppy Twist
For this unique activation, we helped HPA (Hop Products Australia) create a custom arcade experience that mashed together two of their great loves: beer and classic games. Drawing inspiration from the iconic 1980s shooter Galaga, we built a full mini arcade game – joystick, buttons, flashing lights and all – except with one key difference: this version had hops in its DNA.
Beer Meets Blasters
The goal was to create an engaging, playable experience for events and trade shows – something you could walk up to, immediately get the vibe, and have a laugh while learning about different hop varieties. The game ran on a tablet, cleverly tucked inside a custom-built arcade cabinet, complete with classic arcade controls wired to the hardware. No touchscreens here – just old-school button mashing.
Pixel Style, Modern Vibes
Visually, the game leaned into chunky pixel shapes and retro graphics, but modernised them with sleek lighting effects and crisp animation. Everything from the explosions to the spacecraft trails had a bit of visual punch, balancing nostalgia with polish. Players controlled a little pixel spacecraft flying through deep space, fending off wave after wave of enemy attacks. Classic stuff – but here’s the twist: along the way, players could pick up powerups, each one themed after a different hop flavour. Each powerup boosted firepower or shield strength, just like in a classic arcade game, while sneakily educating players on hop profiles and beer characteristics.
OTT Boss Mayhem
Each round built to a big finale: a multi-stage boss fight against a giant robotic creature with writhing tentacles. It was part alien, part brewing beast – over-the-top, just hard enough to be satisfying, and a visual spectacle all on its own. Think dodging laser beams while weaving through waves of robot tentacles. It was the perfect payoff.
More than a Game
In the end, this wasn’t just about making something fun (though it absolutely was) – it was about connecting a product to a feeling. One joystick tap at a time, HPA Galaxy brought beer knowledge to life in the best way possible: through pixels, powerups, and pure play.