EAG 2024 brought UK and European amusement operators together at London’s ExCeL from 16 to 18 January. The exhibition featured new video games, redemption attractions, pinball machines, virtual reality experiences and products aimed at family entertainment centres.
The show floor appeared busier than in the previous two years, suggesting that the regional amusement sector had largely moved beyond the disruption caused by COVID-19. Industry coverage also described record attendance, an optimistic mood and strong interest in the future of FEC and amusement operations.
EAG 2024 highlights
Bandai Namco Amusement Europe
Bandai Namco Amusement Europe presented a booth layout similar to its North American showing at IAAPA 2023, with particular attention given to the Raw Thrills, Adrenaline and JET Games products it represents in Europe. Adrenaline’s LCD version of Drakons: Realm Keepers was a notable difference. The configuration should offer a lower price than an LED-panel version and may also be easier to source.
Advertising at the booth promoted a new Animal Kaiser game that was not physically present. It was expected to arrive in spring and appeared to be a European exclusive, at least initially. A reported price of $4,000 could make the title particularly attractive if it is eventually offered in other markets.
Raw Thrills’ latest version of Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR was also listed for a spring launch.
JET Games appeared on the stand, alongside Triotech’s Super Blaster multi-game.
The line-up also included Raw Thrills’ Halo: Fireteam Raven and Play Mechanix’s Pulp Fiction.
Crown Direct, Deith Leisure and Harry Levy
These three established European distributors shared a booth featuring products sourced from several amusement manufacturers. Deith previously had Sega ownership and supported the company’s UK presence, while Crown Direct and Harry Levy have long supplied attractions from manufacturers around the world.
The display included Bay Tek’s Goatz-N-Ropes and Toilet Bowl Toss, plus VR 360 Action’s Crazy Speed cabinet.
Another Hot Wheels-inspired driving game was also shown.
A multiplayer sniper attraction completed the group’s selection.
Electrocoin
Electrocoin displayed DanceDanceRevolution A20+ in its offline configuration, creating a rhythm-game contrast with StepManiaX elsewhere at the exhibition. The company had not yet received its latest A20+ cabinet shipment, so the machine on display had been taken from its Funland arcade in London.
As Stern Pinball’s European representative, Electrocoin also presented JAWS, giving regional operators an early opportunity to examine the machine.
JNC Sales
Following the European introduction of Zombie Crisis at EAG 2023, JNC Sales promoted Weapon, another light-gun game from Chinese developer Nitto Game. It is a target-shooting video attraction in the style of Big Shot, Bullseye and Skill Shooter. Five levels are available, and the game competes as a video title rather than a videmption product.
JNC also showed Derby Day, a mixed digital and electromechanical redemption attraction built around horse racing. It follows the format of Sega’s Zombies Ready Deadly Go while using a classic derby theme, and it was also developed by Nitto Game.
Sega Amusements International
Sega Amusements International occupied a long section beside a large black curtain. The presentation was more compact than Sega’s IAAPA booth, and some titles previously promoted for EAG—including Drone Racing Genesis and VR Agent—were represented only through flyers and advertising boards.
Apex Rebels made its formal European debut with two machines rather than the four shown at IAAPA. The smaller deluxe cabinets remained on test at Gravity Max in Wandsworth, South London. Hyper Cross was available in two-player form, while Bop It! Arcade appeared as a single machine rather than a two- or four-player deluxe model.
The final production version of Asphalt 9 Legends VR shared attention with Apex Rebels. Sega’s wider European operation was also prominent, including Sega Prize displays with new Tetris and Sonic Prime prizes, Sega Total Solutions and the Sacoa cashless card system developed through a recent partnership.
Despite the limited floor space, Sega continued promoting titles that were not present, including the Asphalt Moto Blitz logo visible on an advertising board.
UDC, Ace Amusement, TouchMagix and Wahlap
UDC used a larger stand to present returning products alongside new attractions that had not appeared at IAAPA. Ace Amusement’s Wave Riders X-Treme recalled mid-1990s water-racing games such as AquaJet and JetWave. The product page provides further details.
A second new Ace attraction, Super Drill, used a virtual digging concept reminiscent of Mr. Driller and Dig Dug. It was unclear whether the machine would operate solely as an amusement game, although that is the expected format. Ace’s Chinese-developed products commonly leave that option open. Sega’s Japan-only medal pusher Hori A Tale was noted as another recent digging-themed example.
StepManiaX DX stood near the show entrance, with Kyle Ward and the Step Revolution team present. Representatives and an alien mascot from Babylon Park locations distributed free play cards. Babylon Park has traditionally promoted Pump It Up, but that game was absent from EAG despite its recent new version and European representation by Bandai Namco.
UDC also displayed redemption and videmption products from TouchMagix and Wahlap, although photographs of those machines were not available.
Quick hits from the show floor
Instance Automatics presented almost the full UNIS line-up previously seen at IAAPA 2023, including the video-only Bigfoot Mayhem.
Retro Arcade Specialists brought pinball rarities including Barrels of Fun’s Labyrinth and Homepin’s This is Spinal Tap.
Pinball Heaven displayed Jersey Jack Pinball’s Elton John and The Godfather, American Pinball’s Galactic Tank Force, Spooky Pinball’s Scooby-Doo! and Stern’s Venom. Pulp Fiction was planned for the stand but remained held in freight for most of the exhibition.
Cosmic Leisure showed Chinese-developed attractions including an air-hockey table and several crane machines.
Video tours of the exhibition were also published by Namer Merli and Pinball News.
EAG 2024 offered a broad snapshot of the European arcade trade, from new light-gun and VR games to rhythm platforms, redemption attractions and pinball. For readers planning a home setup, RETROCADE’s arcade-machine buying guide can help compare options, while racing arcades and virtual pinball machines cover two of the show’s most visible categories.
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