#arcade au

Introducing...

THE AMAZING DIGITAL ARCADE PARTY!

Yeah, that's right, I caved in.

Basically the exact same show except its established lore and setting is more largely inspired by archive compilations of popular vintage arcade games of the 80s and 90s such as Pac-Man’s Arcade Party, as well as the different takes within the sci-fi / fantasy genre by the likes of Wreck-It Ralph, Tron: Legacy, and Infinity Train. 

==

= BACKGROUND (in a nutshell) 💿 =

In an attempt to save their dying business, C&A developed and manufactured the first hybrid arcade game of its own kind that combined other popular arcade games and home console games with virtual reality. However, just as the company’s luck was turning around, numerous lawsuits from game companies by the likes of Nintendo and families were filed against the company for their product, from apparently “ripping-off” Super Mario Bros. in its entirety to causing many children to either inexplicably fall unconscious or suffer from amnesia after the cabinet’s headset was put on. Just then, as C&A announced they’ll be temporarily recalling the product to fix its issues, a shocking discovery was already made by investigators that would soon bring the company to its demise: the game’s AI had gone rogue, and once a human mind dies from losing one of the games in any way, they are either permanently reincarnated as a personified cartoon character of themselves or just straight up die in real-life depending on the outcome.

==

= ART N’ STUFF 🎨 =

(might wanna make a separate masterpost for that in the future but oh well)

NES Ragatha

Pomni and Caine redesigns

==

= Q&As and BOUNDARIES (sort of) 🎙️ =

"Are there any plans to make a full webcomic out of this?" - Uhhhh, mayyybe? I'm not entirely sure, honestly. While there may be a few side comics and artwork from my head I want to get out sometime, I don't really have much plans for this AU that'll be worth telling a full story right now since I feel there is plenty of things that I've yet to figure out and develop in a matter of time, particularly the setting and characters (especially considering the OG show itself has only 2 episodes out as of writing and I only have mobile apps like ibisPaint X to make this all possible at the moment).

"Can I make fanfics and OCs for this AU?" - Of course! I've seen a lot of incredible things from the community, especially in regards to alternate universes, so you're absolutely more than welcome to share whatever's on your mind as long as your heart's in the right place. I can't really guarantee I'll see every bit of it since I do have some personal biz of mine to take care of at any moment, but I'll be happy to reblog them whenever I get the chance. Just tag me and we all good. :)

"Are there any canon ships in this AU?" - Yes. Yes, there are. Well, only BunnyDoll (Jax x Ragatha) to be specific. HOWEVER, you are free to ship whoever you want here! Showtime (Caine x Pomni), ButtonBlossom (Pomni x Ragatha), it's all okay. The choice is yours, a romantic buffet! (Plus, depending on the quality of my writing, I'm not even planning to dwell too much into it for now, aside from the side comics that will.)

==

I had sm fun designing her and love the design of the uniform! I hope you guys like her as much as I do!! ^^

Behold the dreaded Beastlord! Conqueror of kingdoms, master of his minions, and slayer of any sucker who dares to stand in his way

At least...that's how he is when the game is played.

But off the clock? He's just Tom. He may be the Bowser to Edd's Mario (though with a bit of Ganondorf as well) or the Ralph to Edd's Felix, but just because he's the bad guy doesn't mean he's a bad guy. His rivalry with the green-clad hero? Just part of the show.

“Look at this place!” Sirius exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “I can’t believe you’ve never been here, Moony!”

Remus chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “I didn’t exactly have the most adventurous childhood. I was more of a bookworm.”

Sirius grinned mischievously. “Well, today we’re going to change that. Let’s see if you can handle a little fun.”

Remus raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge lighting up his eyes. “Oh, I can handle fun. Can you handle losing?”

With a dramatic flourish, Sirius led the way to a nearby racing game. “Prepare to be utterly demolished!” he declared, sliding into the seat and grabbing the steering wheel like a knight preparing for battle.

“Confidence is key,” Remus teased, taking his place beside Sirius. “But you might want to buckle up. I’m a pro at this.”

As the game began, Sirius immediately crashed into a virtual barrier, his laughter ringing out. “Okay, okay, I was just testing the waters!” He shot Remus a cheeky grin, his eyes bright with mischief.

“Sure you were,” Remus replied, smirking as he deftly maneuvered his car around the track. “I’ll give you this round, but don’t expect me to go easy on you next time.”

“Next time?” Sirius echoed, feigning innocence. “You’re already thinking about a rematch? I love your competitive spirit!”

The game ended with a resounding “Game Over” flashing on the screen. Sirius dramatically flung himself back in his seat, groaning theatrically. “How did I lose to a bookworm?”

Remus leaned closer, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “Maybe you should read up on racing strategies.”

Sirius laughed, nudging Remus playfully. “Touché. But I have a strategy of my own: charm you into letting me win next time.”

“Is that how it works?” Remus quipped, his cheeks flushing slightly. “I’d say you’re going to need more than charm.”

Sirius’s gaze intensified, playful yet sincere. “What if I promise to take you for ice cream if you let me win?”

Remus tilted his head, feigning contemplation. “Ice cream, you say? Well, that might just sway my decision.”

“Excellent! Ice cream it is!” Sirius declared, moving to the next game: a claw machine filled with plush toys. “Let’s see how good I am at winning you something cute.”

“Do you even know how to operate that?” Remus asked, watching as Sirius fumbled with the controls.

“Of course! I’m just… testing it,” Sirius said, trying to sound nonchalant as he missed the plush by a mile.

“Right. Testing your skills,” Remus laughed. “Here, let me show you how it’s done.”

As Remus stepped up to the machine, Sirius watched intently, leaning against the side, his expression a mix of admiration and playfulness. Remus expertly maneuvered the claw, and with a satisfying clink, a small stuffed wolf tumbled into the prize slot.

“See? Easy,” he said, turning to Sirius with a triumphant smile.

Sirius clapped enthusiastically. “Impressive! You’re full of surprises, Moony. What else can you do?”

Remus shrugged, a smirk on his face. “I have my talents. But I’d rather hear about yours.”

“Flirting is my specialty,” Sirius replied, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Watch me work my magic.”

“Is that so?” Remus challenged, his heart racing a little faster.

Sirius leaned in, his eyes locking onto Remus’s. “How about this: if I win the next round of air hockey, you have to agree to go out with me—on a real date, no arcade distractions.”

Remus’s breath hitched slightly, the stakes suddenly feeling very real. “And if you lose?”

“Then I’ll wear a ridiculous hat for the rest of the day. Deal?” Sirius proposed, extending his hand.

“Deal,” Remus replied, shaking Sirius’s hand, the warmth lingering longer than necessary.

As they moved to the air hockey table, tension crackled in the air, playful but charged. Sirius quickly fell into a rhythm, and the game began. Each shot was met with laughter, banter, and a few near misses that had them both leaning closer and closer.

In a final surge, Sirius managed to score the winning point. “Yes! Victory is mine!” he crowed, jumping up in excitement.

“Alright, alright, you win,” Remus said, trying to suppress a grin. “But a ridiculous hat? Really?”

Sirius stepped closer, his eyes dancing with joy. “A hat is nothing compared to the prospect of a date with you.”

Remus felt his cheeks heat again, a mix of nervousness and delight. “You’ve got yourself a date, Sirius Black. Just don’t forget that hat.”

Artfight 2024 #47: Animated HLVRAI AU Mass Attack

This took 22 hours over a span of 3 days. It has over 42 frames, 500 layers, and a total of 10 characters!

AUs and bonuses included are below:

And by that I mean the games still work the same but the game assets and textures have all been re-skinned to make it look ghostly. Like a Halloween special type of thing you would usually find in a mobile game Halloween update but all year round.

The arcade becomes a hangout spot for kids and teens (and also a safe space from a certain clown since he's banned and would get his shit rocked if he's within a 30 feet radius from the arcade).

Sometimes the customers find themselves playing against people who seemed a little bit... off, but it doesn't matter since they're determined to beat this other person's high score and that's all that matters.

(Danny's arcade becomes a hangout spot for living children and ghost children, and the occasional liminal)