IAAPA 2023 showcased a broad selection of arcade games from Wahlap and Amusement Source International (ASI). Wahlap is based in Guangzhou, China, while ASI operates from Texas. They are separate companies, although ASI currently carries more Wahlap products than any other supplier.
Some Wahlap titles are distributed through other companies, including LAI Games for Asphalt Moto Blitz and Dragon’s Bane, and Sega Amusements for Storm Rider 2 and Crazy Rafting. ASI is led by Cory Haynes and also works with manufacturers such as Ace Amusement and Nitto Game on selected non-Wahlap products.
For Australian operators and collectors comparing new releases, the show offered a useful mix of video games, redemption machines, children’s attractions and smaller-format cabinets. It is also worth browsing RETROCADE’s arcade news and gaming coverage for more industry recaps.
Wahlap at IAAPA 2023
Wahlap’s own booth placed Asphalt Moto Blitz DX among its headline attractions. Other games displayed included Wawa Show, Karate Chop, Thunderbolt Shot, Puzzle Monsters and Skip Time. These titles were available in the United States through ASI, which explains why both companies are covered together here.
Thunderbolt Shot
Distributed by ASI, Thunderbolt Shot is an unusual competitive ball-shooting game with a clear connection to the older Crossfire board game and the prototype Atari arcade game. Each player controls a launcher that continuously fires small white pellets. The objective is to push green and red balls into the opponent’s goal.
Its format is quite different from a conventional joystick-based video game, making it a distinctive option for an arcade floor. Operators researching cabinet formats can also compare it with RETROCADE’s range of arcade machines.
Amusement Source International’s booth
ASI had a smaller booth footprint than Wahlap, so it could not display every Wahlap title. Even so, the compact space was filled with machines, with a small area of tables retained in the centre.
Additional Wahlap games on display included Clutch Shoot, Fantastic Train and Go Hero Of Robots. The booth also featured products from Ace Amusement and Nitto Game.
There was not enough footage to give separate coverage to Ace’s Sky Riders DX or Racing Car NOS. A standard version of Sky Riders had been filmed at Amusement Expo earlier in 2023, while Racing Car NOS was described as similar in concept to Hot Wheels, but without that licence.
ASI also presented a “Value Line” of smaller games. Pricing was not recorded, although the range was described at the show as being positioned at low, pre-pandemic and pre-inflation levels. Their compact size and lower cost appeared suited to family venues, children’s areas and operators seeking machines that would not require a major investment. ASI’s wider catalogue was also considered competitively priced.
Go! Hero of Robots
Go! Hero of Robots is an augmented-reality game developed by Wahlap and Taiwan-based IGS. The series had already been operating for more than a decade by IAAPA 2023, although this presentation appeared to be a later version.
Hero of Robots has mainly remained known in Asian markets, reaching other regions through occasional imports. ASI’s involvement could help the game appear in more venues. Its presentation and gameplay are primarily aimed at children rather than adults.
Parkour Motor 2
Alongside Asphalt Moto Blitz DX, ASI offered another new motorcycle racer from Ace Amusement: Parkour Motor 2. Its colourful visual style is aimed towards younger players, but the machine can be played as a conventional motorcycle racing game.
The game includes character progression, with the rider improving through continued play. However, no clear indication of a save system was observed. Australian operators comparing driving attractions can find more examples in RETROCADE’s racing arcade collection.
Zombie Crisis
Zombie Crisis, from Nitto Game, offered ASI another light-gun shooter for venues seeking a zombie-themed attraction. With House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn’s production status unclear and The Walking Dead no longer in production, the zombie shooter category had room for new competition at the time of the show.
The machine could also support ticket redemption, allowing operators to use it as either a straightforward video game or part of a prize-focused venue, depending on the location.
Redemption and family attractions
Between Wahlap and ASI, the IAAPA line-up included a substantial number of redemption games. ASI also had an established relationship with Chuck E. Cheese, which had purchased several standard versions of Ace’s Sky Riders. As a result, Chuck E. Cheese venues were identified as one possible place to encounter some of these ticket-based machines.
Fantastic Train stood out among the redemption titles. Its large cabinet created a strong visual presence, while the game itself made an enjoyable impression.
Stand-out games from the show
Asphalt Moto Blitz DX made the strongest overall impression among Wahlap’s video games, although its distribution was handled by LAI Games. At ASI’s booth, Sniper Strike II was the leading attraction, followed by Ace’s Sky Riders DX and Parkour Motor 2.
These games did not rely on major licensed brands, but their competitive pricing and varied formats gave them potential for operators looking beyond the biggest names in arcade entertainment. For buyers planning a home venue, a commercial site or a compact game room, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide provides a useful starting point, while upright arcade cabinets offer another format to compare.
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