Here is a fresh round-up of arcade, amusement and pinball developments, covering new coin-operated games, home-arcade news, operator updates and notable anniversaries.
Coastal Amusements prepares Bullseye Crack Shot showcase
With Bowl Expo taking place in Orlando the following week, arcade manufacturers were preparing to present their latest products. Among the more recent additions was Bullseye Crack Shot, a China-made game developed by Ace Amusement that had previously been seen at the Park Avenue Open Day in the United Kingdom.
The twin-cabinet attraction combines shooting-gallery scenes with more action-focused gameplay.
Its eventual release in the United States was not yet certain. Coastal Amusements has previously shown games including Bridge Man, Bumper and Slide Up without ultimately taking them forward. RePlay reported on the Bowl Expo debut, suggesting the show may have been an opportunity to assess operator interest before a final decision.
iiRcade announces bankruptcy and store closure
iiRcade, a home-arcade company often compared with Arcade1Up, reportedly emailed supporters to announce that it was declaring bankruptcy. The online store was scheduled to stop operating on 21 June.
At the time, the announcement had not also appeared on the company’s website or social-media channels. The short notice raised questions about customer communication and whether a last-minute acquisition might still be possible. Reports also indicated that users were being encouraged to load unauthorised ROMs onto the system, a controversial way to conclude the product’s story.
Although iiRcade was generally regarded as better built than Arcade1Up, the format was not designed for the demands of a commercial arcade. For operators, durable hardware is only one part of the equation; a home-focused machine must also generate enough revenue to justify its floor space. For Australian buyers comparing cabinet formats, our arcade machine buying guide covers the practical considerations.
Bandai Namco teases new arcade projects
Bike Dash Delivery
A trademark filing provided an early glimpse at a Bandai Namco Amusement project titled Bike Dash Delivery. No gameplay details were available beyond its arcade classification, leaving plenty of room for speculation. Possible comparisons include Gaelco’s Radikal Bikers, Namco’s Prop Cycle and the earlier Downhill Bikers. The finished game could instead take a completely different approach, such as a top-down endless runner built around bicycle deliveries.
Irodori Kassen Nagemakuru
Footage from Japan also showed a new Bandai Namco ball-toss game called Irodori Kassen Nagemakuru undergoing testing. The title’s precise translation was unclear, but its physical, ticket-focused format could potentially suit a localised videmption release in Western markets, possibly with an associated licence.
Meanwhile, Bandai Namco Amusement America launched the Online Champion Match for Maximum Tune 5DX+. Qualifiers ran until 8 July, with exclusive name plates available. Players could enter at participating Maximum Tune 5 machines using an account linked to a BANAPASSPORT card.
Final Vendetta heads to Neo Geo MVS
Bitmap Bureau opened pre-orders for Final Vendetta on Neo Geo MVS. The beat ’em up followed the company’s earlier modern MVS release, Xeno Crisis, which was also made available on other retro-console platforms.
The game could be played on contemporary consoles, but an MVS cartridge offered a genuine arcade-oriented way to experience it. The Neo Geo MVS version was available to order here.
House of the Gundead receives testing updates
More venues were beginning to receive Enter the Gungeon: House of the Gundead cabinets. Shipment of one ordered cabinet was expected by 17 July, with delays partly attributed to testing at the earliest locations.
That testing resulted in hardware and software changes intended to improve the finished machines before wider distribution.
Storm Rider 2 gets an operator-focused video
Rather than relying only on traditional printed flyers, arcade manufacturers increasingly use video presentations to reach operators. Sega Amusements and Wahlap used this approach to promote Storm Rider 2, helping venues assess the game before deciding whether to install it.
Valo Climb adds Short Circuit
Mixed-reality company Valo Motion introduced Short Circuit for Valo Climb, its projection-mapped climbing-wall platform. The attraction sits somewhere between arcade entertainment and physical activity, making it suitable for family entertainment centres and gyms as well as conventional amusement venues.
Arcade Animals joins the upcoming game-show line-up
A video presentation offered the available introduction to a new arcade game show titled Arcade Animals.
Bay Tek upgrades Big Bass Wheel and Ticket Monster
Bay Tek highlighted new LED upgrade kits for two of its high-earning FEC attractions: Big Bass Wheel and Ticket Monster. The upgrades were mentioned on LinkedIn, while the corresponding product pages had already been updated.
Space Invaders reaches 45 years
16 June marked 45 years since the arcade release of Space Invaders, one of the medium’s defining franchises. The anniversary is a reminder of how strongly a simple shooting concept shaped arcade culture and the wider video-game industry.
Other arcade and pinball headlines
- Galloping Ghost announced further expansion through the acquisition of 19 parcels along Ogden Avenue.
- Players reported long queues for the JJ Robot crane at Dave & Buster’s, prompting discussion about whether it could become a major attraction.
- The VipeR VR ride appeared at IAAPA Expo Asia in Singapore.
- Zero Latency VR was announced for a New York axe-throwing venue.
- New code was shown for Halloween pinball and Ultraman, while Stern also emailed updates about Foo Fighters and Godzilla code.
- Dave & Buster’s outlined plans for market dominance.
- Inowize announced a QBIX installation in New York.
- Players and developers continued to discuss input-lag improvements for games running on Sega’s APM3 platform.
- Taito revealed that it once operated hot-dog stands.
- A rare 1980 Sega Samurai cabinet was found and restored.
- The official materials book for Galaxian 3 was uploaded online.
- Taito’s 1998 puzzle game Land Maker received a fan-made English translation.
- A video explored the rare video-pinball hybrid Varkon.
- Research highlighted the importance of older adults as part of the video-game audience.
For more coverage of machines, restoration and the wider arcade scene, visit the RETROCADE arcade blog. Home players can also browse upright arcades or compact bartop arcades.
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