April can be a quiet month for arcade news, particularly after the major trade shows. This week’s roundup is therefore a compact collection of announcements, event information and update notes for arcade fans and collectors.
A new Crazy Taxi is in development
Sega is reportedly working on a new Crazy Taxi, although the available information points towards consoles rather than arcades. The project has not been confirmed for coin-operated release, and Sega’s arcade development operation in Japan has reportedly been reduced considerably.
The last new arcade entry was Crazy Taxi High Roller, released in 2003. The game is relatively obscure, and it is unclear whether it ever received a console version. Crazy Taxi High Roller remains an interesting part of the series’ arcade history.
An arcade release for the new game would be a welcome surprise. UNIS previously attempted a similar driving attraction with Crazy Ride, although its availability in the United States is unclear, reportedly because of similarities to Crazy Taxi.
Zapcon 8.2 returns to Mesa
Arcade collectors and players near Mesa, Arizona, had a convention to look forward to on 30 April and 1 May 2022. Zapcon 8.2 was scheduled to bring arcade and pinball machines together for its first event since the beginning of the pandemic. Find out more here.
For Australian readers interested in building a collection at home, RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog and arcade machine buying guide cover the practical side of choosing and setting up a cabinet.
Interstellar Team cabinet revealed
Chinese company Superwin has shown a new cabinet image for Interstellar Team, an environmental light-gun shooter. Its presentation recalls Halo: Fireteam Raven, but the game itself is an original project. At this stage, there is no confirmed information about the game’s quality or a North American distributor. It may receive more attention at IAAPA 2022.
Mark Struhs joins The Really Big Crane Company
Mark Struhs has left Raw Thrills and moved to The Really Big Crane Company. He was a long-standing sales contact for Raw Thrills and a familiar figure at arcade-industry trade shows, particularly events attended by his former employer.
The Really Big Crane Company has also appeared at a range of industry shows, so visitors can expect to continue seeing Struhs at future events. The company’s website provides more information about its new direction in the arcade industry.
Why is Maximum Tune 6RR absent from North America?
The question of why Maximum Tune 6RR has not appeared in North America was addressed in the accompanying video discussion. The regional availability of the Maximum Tune series remains a recurring topic for arcade racing fans.
Driving-game enthusiasts can explore RETROCADE’s racing arcade collection for more information about home machines built around the racing and simulator experience.
Pump It Up XX update 2.08.0 launches
Update 2.08.0 for Pump It Up XX has now reached arcade machines. It was teased as an April Fools’ announcement, but the fourteenth update for PIU XX was genuine. Reports indicate that players have responded well to the new songs, with the game attracting noticeably more play.
More arcade and pinball headlines
- exA-Arcadia rolls out a new game version information section.
- A review of Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silverball.
- Stern Pinball shares an impressively themed cake.
- Sega releases Chunithm New Plus in Japan.
- A discussion asks whether AfterBurner Climax could receive a re-release in this style.
- Gaplus arrives on Arcade Archives.
- A history of Simulmondo, Italy’s first software house.
- Konami makes a name adjustment for its 50th anniversary.
That is the latest selection for now. Keep following the RETROCADE arcade news feed for further updates and commentary on arcade design.
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