This arcade-industry roundup covers ICE’s Dodgeball redemption game, IGS snowmobile racer Hyper Cross, a home coin pusher, Minecraft Dungeons Arcade updates, Stern’s connected features and several mixed-reality attractions.
ICE’s Dodgeball redemption game reaches distributors
ICE’s Dodgeball – Ultimate Arena has begun appearing on distributor websites after an apparent timed exclusive at Dave & Buster’s. Betson was the first listing spotted, while PrimeTime Amusements also has the game available to view. ICE’s own games page did not list it at the time, and other distributors had yet to add it.
This is the first clear look at the new redemption cabinet, which takes its inspiration from the schoolyard sport rather than the comedy film. The concept has some arcade history: Technos released one dodgeball video game in 1987 and a second in 1996.
Rather than putting players in a direct contest with oversized rubber balls, ICE’s machine is a timed tossing game. Players throw balls at pop-up targets and holes, with red and blue teams competing for targets carrying different point values. Scores convert into tickets.
Two cabinet versions are listed. They appear to share the same game, with the main difference being the front fixture; the deluxe version has the more appealing presentation. It was not yet clear whether production units were already shipping or about to ship, although distributor listings indicate that venues could place orders.
IGS reveals the Hyper Cross snowmobile racer
A short, unclear video initially raised questions about whether this was an unauthorised take on Raw Thrills’ Snocross. Further investigation identified the Chinese company Baohui and led to a video unveiling Hyper Cross, a new snowmobile arcade game from IGS.
IGS frequently develops arcade projects as a third-party partner. Hyper Cross has a noticeable visual relationship with IGS’s Speed Rider 3DX, which had already been released in the United States. The new snowmobile game also appeared likely to reach the US, although its distributor was not known.
Baohui’s website states that the company has operated since 1992. Its earlier arcade connection noted here was a 2010 collaboration with IGS on Speed Rider 2. The company appears to be closely involved in cabinet production, which may explain the similarities between the Hyper Cross and Speed Rider 3DX cabinets.
Arcadro’s Coin Pusher 365 targets home players
Newcomer Arcadro has developed Coin Pusher 365, a tabletop coin pusher designed for home use. The bar-top unit includes three coin slots and a payout bay.
Arcadro had already shipped 150 units across Europe and planned to launch a Kickstarter campaign on 23 August 2022. Learn more about the project through the company’s website.
Minecraft Dungeons Arcade prepares Series 2 content
Raw Thrills’ Minecraft Dungeons Arcade received a version 2 update. Files within the update reference the Hidden Depths and Echoing Void areas, along with new subjects for the Series 2 cards.
There was no obvious change during play, suggesting that the update mainly prepared content for a later release. The new material was expected to unlock over the following months as Raw Thrills introduced the Series 2 cards. Pre-loading the files should make the eventual update faster, although improvements to combat, crafted weapons and pets were still hoped for rather than confirmed.
The Series 1 cards’ pet content was also demonstrated in a separate video.
Stern expands Insider Connected
Stern continued updating its Insider Connected service. One operator- and player-friendly addition was the Mobile ID card.
Home users also gained access to a new teams feature.
Bandai Namco teases the next Tekken
Bandai Namco teased the next Tekken instalment during EVO 2022. It was not confirmed whether the project would be called Tekken 8 or whether it would receive an arcade release.
Arcade operators have faced difficult economics around recent fighting-game launches. In the United States, Tekken 7 briefly received arcade support, but the reported cost was about $14,000 because operators had to purchase a new pair of cabinets. With the more content-rich console version expected within a year or less, many operators chose not to take the financial risk. The game also did not launch in Europe, including at Namco’s UK locations.
A separate Namco video highlighted an arcade art gallery dedicated to Valkyrie No Densetsu.
BattleKart combines real karts with projected game worlds
BattleKart offers a mixed-reality karting format that combines physical go-karts with projected tracks, game modes and on-screen effects. The result resembles a real-world kart racer without using the Mario Kart licence.
Around five years earlier, Meleap had presented an augmented-reality go-karting concept, but later appeared to concentrate on its arena business. BattleKart’s format demonstrates how physical attractions can provide video-game-style variety without placing players inside headsets. Similar systems have appeared in arcade form, though they had not yet expanded widely. BattleKart’s YouTube channel shows the system in action.
Virtual reality has made a stronger earnings impact for operators so far, particularly through VR rides. However, mixed-reality attractions may offer broader possibilities by keeping players connected to a physical play space. Similar concepts have appeared in arcade form, though they had not yet expanded widely.
Sega lists SMARTS augmented-reality darts
Sega Amusements listed the SMARTS Augmented Reality Darts system in two versions: one with projection mapping and another without it. The projection-mapped version uses a plain white smartboard surrounded by high-density white foam panels. Graphics are projected onto the dartboard and surrounding area, with sound adding to the presentation.
The interactive version without projection mapping is controlled through a touchscreen interface. Both formats use real steel-tip darts and bristle dartboards from Unicorn.
Distributor information indicated that the systems could be configured for commercial or non-commercial use, but an hourly usage fee applied in either setting. Multiple game styles were supported, although the available modes were not specified; traditional formats such as 501 and cricket were considered likely.
More arcade and gaming headlines
- The 2022 Asia Amusement & Attractions Expo took place, although further details were still pending.
- AVS Companies began shipping the VAR Box VR arcade system.
- A Roger Sharpe biopic was scheduled to debut at a film festival in October.
- Konami’s Beatmania IIDX 30 Resident began testing in Japan.
- Jubeat Ave. direct-capture footage appeared online.
- exA-Arcadia store signs were showcased.
- A reproduction of the Mitsubishi MA7054 chip was documented for repairs involving certain older arcade boards.
- Bandai Namco published its first-quarter earnings report.
- A celebration screen was discovered in Atari’s Crystal Castles source code.
- A live-action Pac-Man film entered development.
- Atlanta was expected to provide a test for the number of eatertainment venues the market can support.
- Console: Red Letter Media received Super VHS, while a secret two-player mode was discovered in Nintendo’s Super Punch-Out!!.
- Console: Dig Dug joined Arcade Archives, and an experiment explored making a shoot-’em-up with AI.
For Australian players and operators, these developments show the range of modern arcade hardware, from redemption games and racers to connected services and projection-based attractions. Browse RETROCADE’s arcade news and features, explore the selection of arcade machines, or use the arcade-machine buying guide when planning a home or commercial setup. For older cabinets, RETROCADE also offers arcade repair and maintenance support.
Leave a Reply