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The Midnight Oil Club: A Retro-Futuristic Arcade
Project type
Physical Build, Live Event, Interactive, Holograms
Date
2023
LionTree, a prestigious merchant bank at the center of the world’s largest technology and entertainment transactions, hosts an annual retreat that gathers industry leaders to explore trends shaping the future. Since 2019, I’ve had the privilege of crafting bespoke productions for this event, blending innovation and artistry to create unforgettable experiences.
In 2022, as the world began to reemerge from two years of COVID isolation, the event celebrated the return to social gatherings with a sense of creativity and nostalgia. Among my company’s many contributions that year was The Midnight Oil Club, a custom-designed retro-futuristic arcade that paid homage to over a century of shared entertainment.
The arcade brought together carefully curated vintage machines and cutting-edge technology, all unified by a cohesive Art Deco and Blade Runner-inspired aesthetic. Spanning over 100 years of gaming history, it featured penny arcade machines dating back to 1905 alongside bespoke modern creations that we designed, fabricated, and programmed specifically for the event.
Highlights included:
A Volumetric Fortune Teller: Using AI to generate personalized fortunes, blending holography with vintage charm.
A Hologram Boxing Game: Interactive and physically engaging, this game brought modern immersion to a classic concept.
A Body-Tracking Ski Ball Machine: Enhanced with curved LED displays and holographic elements for a futuristic twist on a beloved arcade staple.
A Hologram NFT Postcard Machine: Guests were rewarded with custom NFT postcards, melding nostalgia with blockchain technology.
Historical Treasures: Included one of the first claw machines ever produced, a classic wooden penny press, a mechanical boxing machine, and a meticulously restored World War II-era French mechanical gambling game.
The arcade wasn’t just about the machines—it was an atmosphere. A bar served era-appropriate themed drinks, while lighting, decor, and soundscapes set a warm yet futuristic mood that invited guests to linger, play, and connect.
