Wangan Midnight Speed Ignition Tests and Arcade News

Japan’s arcade scene has had a busy late-March run, with location testing for Wangan Midnight Speed Ignition, new rhythm-game releases, a Portal pinball table, fresh fishing and pinball machines, and replacement hardware for classic gun cabinets.

Wangan Midnight Speed Ignition begins location testing

Bandai Namco has started the first location test for Wangan Midnight Speed Ignition in Japan. Although photography and video were reportedly restricted, plenty of pictures got their way out onto Twitter/X anyways, offering an early look at the game and its hardware.

The project appears to be a substantial departure from Maximum Tune. Its visual direction, setting and overall world are brighter and cleaner, while the established story mode has been replaced by a “Grand Prix”. The playable cast is also new, and characters appear to provide commentary and instructions during play. Additional Japanese notes can be seen here.

The test footage suggests that spoken guidance can occur at several points, although the audio is not always easy to hear.

Speed Ignition runs on Bandai Namco’s new “Advanced Enma” engine. Its VISION cabinet is a complete redesign, with the name representing “Vibration + Immersive + Sound + Image + Operation >> New”. A further mystery is a possible force-feedback or horn mechanism built into the steering wheel; the available information remains limited.

Early reactions have been divided. Some observers have even wondered whether the game could follow the short-lived path of Gundam Pods Mk. II, but that conclusion would be premature. A longtime Maximum Tune producer has pointed out that location tests exist to gather feedback and refine a project. This is not necessarily the finished version, and player responses may still influence development.

Portal arrives as a Multimorphic pinball table

Valve’s Half-Life 2, Left 4 Dead and Counter-Strike have all received Japan-only arcade adaptations. Portal has now joined that wider coin-op legacy through a new Multimorphic pinball table for the P3 platform.

The table is an upgrade in mechanical ambition for P3, adding more devices to both the upper playfield module and the lower field above the LCD screen. Pinball News has a detailed breakdown of the revealed features.

Portal was being shown at the Texas Pinball Festival. Multimorphic does not appear particularly focused on promoting its games to operators through events such as Amusement Expo, but individual locations can install the machine. Broad commercial distribution may therefore remain limited.

Gitadora Arena and The Idolm@ster Tours reach Japanese venues

Late March is traditionally a busy release period in Japan ahead of holidays such as Golden Week. Konami has begun deploying the new Arena model of their Gitadora drum-and-guitar rhythm series.

The Arena cabinet uses three displays: one landscape screen in the centre and two portrait screens positioned to the left and right. It launches with a special “Delta” edition of the current Galaxy Wave update, which has been running since April last year. Round1 and the flagship GiGO venue already have multiple units, prompting renewed speculation about whether Konami could be preparing another push into Western markets.

Bandai Namco is also preparing The Idolm@ster Tours, the latest arcade revival of its Asian idol-group property. The game was announced at JAEPO 2023 and has undergone an extended testing period before its Japanese launch on the 26th.

The Idolm@ster Tours combines rhythm play with collectible card mechanics, although the card system appears to be the primary attraction. Only seven songs are available at launch, with additional music promised through future updates. The property is more specialised than Taiko no Tatsujin, making a Western release uncertain; a trial through one of Bandai Namco’s Cross Store venues seems more plausible than a broad rollout.

Sega is scheduled to release the newest version of its Ongeki rhythm game on the 27th.

Turner Pinball announces Merlin’s Arcade

Boutique manufacturer Turner Pinball, previously promoting Ninja Eclipse, has revealed its second original machine: Merlin’s Arcade. A detailed report is available here, while the complete game information is published on Turner’s website.

The artwork and lighting use a vivid fantasy style that recalls the visual approach of Medieval Madness alongside newer interpretations of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Production numbers are limited, and the machine is priced at the same level as Stern Pro and Premium models. Its long-term quality is difficult to assess without more owner feedback, although the game on display appeared well made.

Turner’s decision to pursue an original theme is notable in a market where licensed properties dominate. Original concepts can be harder to sell, particularly in pinball’s challenging location environment, but they may still help broaden the medium’s creative range.

Sega ships Big Sea Fishing

Sega Amusements is shipping Big Sea Fishing to arcade locations. Developed by SEA, the company associated with Hot Racers, the fishing video redemption game builds on a familiar format used by similar UNIS products.

Its additions include a two-screen presentation, power-ups and animated 3D fish that move across the displays. The On Target shooting-range game, also sold by Sega, was expected to ship around the same period following IAAPA, although a separate announcement had not appeared.

Arcooda opens orders for replacement arcade pedals

Arcooda has opened pre-orders for a commercial-quality replacement foot pedal designed for Time Crisis 1, Time Crisis 2, Time Crisis 3, Time Crisis 4, Razing Storm and Crisis Zone. It can also be used with suitable home arcade installations, making it relevant to operators and Australian collectors maintaining older cabinets.

Two versions are available. The Arcooda Pedal Assembly includes RGB lighting and is listed at $249 after the pre-order period. The Arcade Pedal Assembly version is listed at $199 after pre-orders close.

Used Time Crisis pedals were observed selling for approximately $116–$160, while the availability of new replacements was difficult to find. The final comparison for Australian buyers will depend on international shipping. The RGB version carries a $50 premium over the standard model.

Amusement Expo 2025 video updates

Coverage from Amusement Expo 2025 includes regular videos from booths featuring Stern, Bandai Namco and Alan-1, alongside footage of Top Gun Maverick, Maimai DX and Cyberpunk 2077: Turf Wars.

The Cyberpunk 2077 video has attracted the most views so far, helped by attention from mainstream games media. Many comments have been critical of the gap between expectations and the current presentation, but the game still has several months of development remaining. Further polish and attention to player feedback could change the final result.

Maimai DX has also generated substantial interaction from viewers.

More arcade and pinball headlines

Home and retro-gaming headlines

Sony’s unreleased space shooter for the Nintendo/SNES PlayStation platform.
Jeff Minter discusses the new I, Robot and returning to Atari.
PaRapper the Rapper was originally pitched to Sega.
Sonic the Hedgehog receives an official canon timeline.
Sega plans a Shanghai store following its pop-up.
A widely criticised game is coming to Steam.
The developer behind the Dreamcast Doom 64 port is bringing Wipeout to the system.
An Xbox 360 USB modification method has emerged, with limitations.
An ASCII-focused developer reveals a new RPG for Steam wishlists.
The Super Mario Bros. anime film is available on YouTube in remastered 4K.

For Australian collectors following new cabinets, racing hardware, pinball and restoration projects, the RETROCADE Arcade Blog is a useful place to track further developments. Readers planning a home installation can also consult the Arcade Machine Buying Guide, browse racing arcades or explore arcade parts.