May has delivered a busy run of international arcade developments, from major dance-game announcements and trade shows to collectible card battlers, pinball manufacturing and location tests. Here are the key updates for Australian arcade fans and operators.
DDR World and Pump It Up Phoenix 2.0
Konami has revealed Dance Dance Revolution World, a new entry in the long-running rhythm-game series. Only a small number of screens have been shown so far, and no release window has been announced. The project appears to represent the most substantial change to the series in years, following several revisions of Dance Dance Revolution A, which began in 2016.
The international situation remains uneven despite the global-sounding name. In Europe, Electrocoin continues to sell offline-only A20+ cabinets without eAmusement support. Konami’s distribution requirements have also kept the newer machines in the United States largely confined to Round1USA and Dave & Busters. Both operators have shown less enthusiasm for further DDR upgrades in recent years.
Andamiro has answered with Pump It Up Phoenix 2.0. This is a more modest refresh than DDR World: the game remains based on last year’s Pump It Up Phoenix, while adding songs and giving the user interface a blue visual redesign. Pump It Up continues to receive broader overseas distribution than DDR.
May trade-show activity
May began with FIJMA in Madrid, an exhibition primarily associated with Spain’s gambling sector but also featuring amusement equipment. European representatives included Cocomatic with Stern Pinball, Games Mule with UNIS and Ace Amusement, and Global Fun with Sega Amusements and Bandai Namco Amusement Europe.
Before the AAA 2024 exhibition in China, the Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo took place in Riyadh. Exhibitors and suppliers included SEA Expo participants Yuto Games, Epark, Warehouse Of Games, ASI and UDC. Their displays covered products from companies such as Raw Thrills, Wahlap, UNIS and Ace Amusement, along with StepManiaX, Thunder Attack and Big Shot equipment for the UAE market.
UDC is also among six UK companies preparing a smaller event in Saudi Arabia. That gathering may include products first seen at AAA 2024.
IAAPA Asia 2024 is scheduled for the end of May in Bangkok. Although it is one of the smaller IAAPA events, major exhibitors are expected, including Sega Amusements. Attention will then move to Bowl Expo at the start of July, where Raw Thrills is set to debut an undisclosed product described as “super”.
Collectible card-game developments
Card-vending and “kidtainment” products continue to grow internationally. Japan remains a major market, while familiar properties are beginning to appear in overseas testing and releases again. Bandai Namco’s Animal Kaiser has returned, and Marvelous is testing a new Naruto game in the United States.
Bandai Namco’s Data Cardass portfolio is particularly active. China received a new One Piece card battler ahead of Japan, while an Ultraman title is being tested there. At AAA 2024, the Ultraman project was briefly visible.
In Japan, Bandai Namco has announced a significant update to its Dragon Ball card-battle series. The game is still early in development but uses a new three-screen cabinet. Its established licence could give it the strongest chance of reaching Western markets, although any international release would likely be some way off while Bandai Namco focuses on Animal Kaiser overseas.
Konami is returning to the category with Monster Retsuden Oreca Battle. Originally launched in 2012, the card-vending game remained active in Japan for a decade and generated related multimedia projects. Its comeback announcement attracted 27,000 likes on Twitter, while a location test drew a substantial crowd the following week. Konami has also reported positive financial results, but the absence of a major licensed property may make an overseas release unlikely.
Inside Barrels of Fun’s pinball operation
Newer pinball manufacturers are also attracting attention. Barrels of Fun has provided a behind-the-scenes look at its development work. The company unveiled Labyrinth, its first machine, in October last year, and has already generated favourable discussion around the title. The footage also offers clues about the company’s plans for future releases.
Arcade corner: AAA 2024 recap
A recap of the most notable developments from AAA 2024 appears at 10:38 in the latest LBX Collective daily show. The channel also features regular arcade-industry discussion, including Kevin Williams’ Sound Off programme. New episodes featuring this contributor are scheduled every Wednesday.
More arcade headlines
- A discussion about whether arcades need a new name argues that the existing term remains the most practical.
- TowerFall Ascension has become an arcade cabinet at Cidercade Dallas.
- A four-player cocktail-table design raises questions about expanding table-style arcade games.
- Konami’s Castlevania marble pusher is being released across Round1USA locations.
- Valo Motion has reached 100 installations in 91 days.
- A guide to setting up a new pinball machine is useful as more collectors bring machines home.
- Motion Sphere is operating in Brasilia for a limited time.
- Project Neon, an indie shoot ’em up for Neo Geo MVS and AES, is undergoing testing.
- Arcade Archives has marked ten years of releases.
- Bop It Arcade Pirate Mateys brings the toy brand into an arcade setting.
- Hyper Shock combines laser tag with a shock collar.
Home and retro-gaming headlines
- A reassessment of the Sega Saturn highlights its strong arcade ports.
- Minecraft has reached its 15th anniversary.
- Taito Milestones 3 is scheduled to launch in winter.
- Fortnite is teasing a Fallout crossover.
- AYANEO’s Pocket DMG is set to feature an OLED screen.
- Holobike is promoting hologram-based indoor cycling as an alternative to VR headsets.
For Australian collectors considering a home setup, RETROCADE’s arcade-machine buying guide covers the main decisions before choosing a cabinet. Browse arcade machines, compare upright arcades, or explore compact bartop machines for smaller rooms.
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