Arcade News Round-Up: John Wick Pinball, Omen of Sorrow and More

The latest arcade and pinball news includes a first look at Stern’s John Wick machine, the immediate release of Omen of Sorrow: Arising Chaos, fresh location tests, classic television footage and several industry updates.

For Australian operators and collectors, the stories also highlight the changing arcade landscape: digital videmption hardware, PC-based location testing, online pinball features and new ways to preserve arcade history.

For more coverage, browse the RETROCADE arcade news blog or explore the arcade machine buying guide when planning a home or commercial setup.

John Wick pinball teaser arrives

Stern Pinball is preparing to reveal its new John Wick pinball release on Tuesday. The machine is based on the film franchise, although it was not yet clear whether the theme would concentrate on the first film or cover all four movies. Using the full series would make the most sense for a larger pinball release.

A teaser has already appeared, including on Insider Connected machines. Stern’s connected platform is being used here as an effective way to promote an upcoming table directly through existing pinball hardware. A preview is included below.

The announcement also matches information circulating about Stern’s next couple of machines. If those reports prove accurate, the company may soon move into another particularly ambitious property, although no further details were available.

Omen of Sorrow: Arising Chaos is available now

exA-Arcadia has released Omen of Sorrow: Arising Chaos, a one-on-one fighting game previously available on PlayStation 4 and in arcades through NesicaXLive2.

This edition improves on the earlier release with upgraded visuals, quicker response times, new voice performances and artwork by Junny, known for work on Tekken. The result is described as the strongest-looking game released for the exA platform so far.

Artwork packages can depend on the distributor used to order the software, including packages created specifically for the ARC-1 cabinet. Japan and Europe also operate through their own exclusive distributor arrangements. The direct exA order listing shows one available package.

This is not a pre-order: the release is available now. The game was intended for a future purchase, although a backlog of projects and numerous broken machines made that difficult. Failed components can cost approximately $300–$500 or more each.

Location-test updates from Japan and the United States

Several arcade games are currently returning to testing or appearing in new trial locations. Bandai Namco Amusement is especially active in Japan, with Bike Dash Delivery back on test after further small changes to its cabinet design.

Bandai Namco is also testing Tekken 8 in Grigio cabinets running the PC and Steam version at Japanese locations. The setup includes an exposed PC box, a practical arrangement for a test but one that would be difficult to imagine in many Australian venues, where equipment security is a major consideration.

In the United States, Team Play is testing a new version of the successful videmption title Fishbowl Frenzy. This revision removes the physical components and is entirely digital, potentially reducing both acquisition and maintenance costs.

An early, unfinished version of Angry Birds Boom! has also been filmed during testing. The available footage gives an indication of the game before development is complete.

The Asteroids Recharged test previously mentioned at an arcade in Utah is temporarily paused while Alan-1 prepares a cabinet with software fixes and additional features. The replacement will be the two-player model, and the venue will also test the two-player version of Avian Knights.

These developments are a useful reminder that location tests can involve meaningful changes to cabinet design, software and player count before a wider rollout. Operators considering new equipment can also compare formats in RETROCADE’s arcade machine range.

Starcade episodes reach YouTube

The classic television game show Starcade has begun officially uploading complete episodes to YouTube. The format could occasionally become awkward when younger contestants defeated adults, but that unpredictability was part of its appeal.

Full episodes are available through the official Starcade YouTube channel. The videos cannot be embedded here, but they provide an opportunity to revisit the show and compare its presentation with modern arcade content.

A proposed revival of the programme has not yet appeared. For a contemporary arcade-focused alternative, Arcade Animals is available on YouTube.

April arcade releases and exA-Arcadia coverage

A video recap covers arcade titles released during April, including corrections to several earlier details involving UNIS products. The channel also recently passed 18,000 subscribers and marked the milestone with a complete playthrough of DoDonPachi Exa Label Mode.

A broader 2024 release list remains useful for tracking new arcade and pinball software across the year.

The New Zealand Story remake announced by Commodore

Commodore, the brand associated with the Commodore 64 and Amiga computers, is working on a remake of Taito’s The New Zealand Story. The current company that owns the Commodore name was not involved with the original business during the 1980s and 1990s, but it has been pursuing both new games and new hardware.

The new hardware is currently available only in Europe, with the company considering the United States market in the future. A video report on the remake follows.

There is no expectation that this remake will appear in arcades, although that possibility cannot be completely ruled out. The original game stars a kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird, a detail that is easy to overlook when revisiting the title.

The New Zealand Story’s arcade history remains a useful reference for the Taito original.

Arcade history book continues research

A major arcade history and trivia book is still in development. The project is intended to cover every major video arcade company from 1971 to the present, combining historical chapters with questions and answers.

The work began as a trivia collection, but the need to verify poorly documented or inaccurate information led to a much larger research project. After eight months, it was still less than half complete, with research continuing alongside regular employment.

The book will be divided into sections covering the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Most chapters will focus on individual companies such as Atari, Bally/Midway, Sega and Nintendo. Release-month charts will appear at the end of each company chapter.

Additional sections will examine technical subjects including vector monitors and laserdisc systems, along with major events such as the United States video game crash of 1982–1984. Research for the crash chapter challenges the common claim that E.T. was the principal cause.

Industry figures who experienced the period have reviewed some first and second drafts. Future additions may include creator profiles covering the people behind important games, their favourite titles and other short facts.

The trivia collection originally contained 1,200 questions. Once the historical research and writing are complete, many questions will be revised, with the total potentially increasing to 1,500 or more. The project is being written without AI assistance.

More arcade and gaming headlines

• Andamiro is working on a Star Wars project, possibly a new coin pusher following its Marvel-branded machines.
• StepManiaX receives content update number 50.
• Crowdfunding is helping restore a Japanese arcade damaged by fire.
• The Galloping Ghost expansion continues to grow.
• Footage from PinFest 2024 is available to watch.
• The Golden Tee 2024 Missouri Open was streamed live.
• Skate or Die! homebrew pinball offers a new take on the classic property.
• A former Sega amusement theme-park location has been documented.
• Taito has released Rastan Saga for Arcade Archives.
• The original pre-Sega version of Columns for HP-UX has been found.

Super Nintendo World continues to attract attention, although a dedicated Nintendo arcade featuring the company’s historic arcade games would be a welcome addition.

Home-gaming headlines

• Sony reversed a positive trend for Helldivers 2 on PC by requiring PSN sign-ups, prompting more than 100,000 negative Steam reviews.
• A developer involved with PSVR2 was affected by layoffs at Sony.
• Sega Saturn Shiro examines the Rad Mobile port.
• A former Oculus leader offers a post-mortem on VR.
• Apple Vision Pro is finding traction among enterprise users.
• A fan-made remake of The Revenge of Shinobi is coming to Sega Saturn.
• The limited Tempest 3000 rerelease for NUON DVD players arrived early as a pressed release rather than DVD-R media.
• Stranger is an upcoming game teaching Korean language and culture.
• The mini Dance Dance Revolution console is now available.
• Dreadnought Assault is an upcoming shooter for Atari 7800.

That rounds up the latest developments. Supporting local arcades helps keep location-based gaming visible, while home collectors can maintain the tradition with carefully selected arcade cabinets, virtual pinball machines and dependable arcade repair services.