► One-off Rolls gets retro gaming graphics
► ’70s and ’80s arcade vibes inside and out
► Commissioned by a tech entrepreneur
Ah, the joys of being rich enough to do whatever the hell you want. Witness the Black Badge Ghost Gamer, a one-off Rolls-Royce created by the Goodwood factory’s Bespoke department at the request of a tech entrepreneur.
Mechanically it’s unchanged from other Black Badge Ghosts, which have the V12 engine in a slightly perkier state of tune than the basic version of the entry-level saloon. But the finish, inside and out, is far from standard.
The illuminated treadplates, visible only when the doors are open, are engraved with classic arcade-game prompts – Level Up, Insert Coin, Press Start, Loading…– in retro 8-bit lettering.
The roof lining’s inset LEDs form 80 bitmapped battle cruisers, with a laser-fire effect at random intervals, while the Illuminated Fascia – the bit of dash ahead of the front passenger – features a gunship composed of 85 stars. The rear tray tables are also inlaid with a Cheeky Alien graphic also found elsewhere in the cabin.
Between the rear seats are two stainless steel flying saucers. And the seats are embroidered with Player 1, Player 2, Player 3 and Player 4.
Designer Joshua McCandless says: ‘We immersed ourselves in the 8-bit aesthetic that defined late ’70s and early ’80s gaming – from the games themselves and archive imagery of arcade halls, to original promotional and cabinet artwork.’
Colin is the managing editor of CAR magazine – and the man responsible for production and getting the words and pictures on to the page in an engaging, intelligent and high-quality fashion.
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