Game on at Sun Peaks Fun Factor

Do you remember sinking quarters into your favourite arcade machines in days gone by?

Whether you enjoy chasing high scores on the pinball table, competing against a friend, or just playing games for fun, a newly opened video-game arcade in Sun Peaks is looking to recreate those classic memories, while offering some low-cost, all-ages entertainment.

As the owner of Mountain High Pizza, Ryan Schmalz is no stranger to the small business scene in Sun Peaks, and he’s branching out this season with the opening of the Sun Peaks Fun Factor Family Fun Centre in the Fireside Lodge.

Schmalz, who owns the retail location, said the departure of his long-term tenants saw him with an opportunity to try something new.

“With winter fast approaching, I needed to do something with the location, and I also wanted to come up with something that the community would enjoy,” Schmalz said.

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Teaming up with Fun Factor in Kamloops, Schmalz organized to bring a number of arcade machines to Sun Peaks.

“There’s some new games, some retro games, and the always popular and timeless pinball machines. We tried to make sure we had a game for every taste, whether you want a shooter, a racer, a fighter or something else.”

Classics such as Ms. Pac-Man, Street Fighter II, and Time Crisis are all on display, along with a foosball table, some racing games, and a variety of pinball tables.

Schmalz said he was also conscious of creating something families could enjoy.

“It’s great for families to be able to have some kind of low-cost entertainment, outside of the ski slopes. With the swimming pool closed for winter, this could fill some of that void and give families another option.”

The Sun Peaks Fun Factor Family Fun Centre is completely automated, with a machine at the front door providing tokens for purchase which can be redeemed at any of the arcade machines. The arcade is open from 11 a.m. til late, seven days a week.