With fewer than 20 days to go before IAAPA 2023, an unconfirmed possibility has emerged: Air Strike Warplane could be among the arcade games shown at the event. For now, its appearance remains a rumour rather than an official announcement.
What is Air Strike Warplane?
Air Strike, also called Air Strike Warplane on the European distributor page, is a sit-down aerial-combat arcade game. The cabinet uses a swivelling motion base and can link at least two units for competitive play.
Players select an aircraft and pilot, then fly through stages while shooting down enemies to earn points and tickets. Details remain limited, although a manufacturer video offers a look at the game’s presentation and apparent gameplay.
Game Art is connected with the video, but Game Art doesn’t list the game on their website and instead directs attention to its YouTube channel. The title could also have been made or developed by another company, such as Ace Amusement.
The available cabinet image shows a large sit-down machine with a marquee incorporating a spinning propeller and what appear to be 43-inch HD screens. Its controls use a yoke-style layout with two joysticks, each fitted with a trigger.
Some of the artwork appears to reuse material from the older Blazing Angels Arcade, although the rest of the cabinet design appears original.
Could LAI Games bring it to the United States?
The strongest clue comes from an LAI Games teaser for IAAPA 2023. The preview showed four games planned for the trade show, including a machine that appeared to feature aerial combat. Comparing that teaser with the Air Strike Warplane cabinet suggests they may be the same game.
The user interface is not identical in every detail, which could indicate changes made for LAI Games’ presentation. However, the speed gauge appears to match, as do the second-place graphic and its font. The game environment also looks consistent between the two images.
If the teaser is not Air Strike Warplane, the similarities would be notable. The IAAPA 2023 show was expected to provide the answer, assuming the machine appeared at the event.
Readers assessing this type of sit-down cabinet can browse RETROCADE’s arcade machine collection for broader cabinet options, or explore the upright arcade range for a different format. The arcade machine buying guide covers practical considerations such as space and controls, while arcade parts may be useful when planning maintenance. For more industry coverage, visit the RETROCADE arcade blog.
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