Arcade Newsbytes: MajorMega, exA-Arcadia and More

Arcade news accelerated in late February, bringing updates on a mystery cabinet, Bay Tek Entertainment’s purchase of MajorMega, exA-Arcadia hardware, StepManiaX, new sports games and the passing of influential designer Mike Jang.

This round-up also covers upcoming trade shows, employment news, virtual reality business conditions, arcade-history research and a selection of industry headlines.

The mystery cabinet at Dave & Buster’s

A blurred machine spotted at the new Dave & Buster’s venue in Schaumburg, Illinois, initially looked like an unidentified location-test game. The venue replaced a former GameWorks site, an area known for hosting test units, and the cabinet appeared to have a monitor on a stand and a seat behind the player.

Further investigation established that it was an unofficially modified Guitar Hero Arcade cabinet rather than a new Raw Thrills release. Raw Thrills launched Guitar Hero Arcade in 2009, while this conversion appears to use a very large screen in a professionally finished new cabinet. Such a conversion is unusual for Dave & Buster’s, although the former GameWorks location had previously commissioned special conversions, including Super Monkey Ball Ticket Blitz.

Bay Tek Entertainment acquires MajorMega

Bay Tek Entertainment has expanded its amusement portfolio by acquiring MajorMega. Bay Tek previously acquired Skeeball in 2016, and the new deal gives the company a stronger position in location-based virtual reality.

MajorMega’s Spongebob Squarepants Dynamic Duo VR attraction appeared in Bay Tek’s booth at IAAPA 2023, after previously being shown at the Creative Works booth. MajorMega’s other VR product, HyperDeck, was also displayed there. The change first appeared to be a distribution arrangement, but the acquisition suggests Bay Tek was impressed by the company’s products. It also raises the possibility of a future Skeeball VR attraction.

exA-Arcadia expands its communication and event presence

exA-Arcadia has launched exALive, a livestream format intended to present announcements and platform information in a style comparable to a Nintendo Direct. The first broadcast was held in Japanese and scheduled primarily for viewers in Japan. It included information about Touhou Scarlet Diabolique Fantastica, the platform’s progress, available games and its input-lag-reducing JVS dash standard.

The standard supports compatible Sega Lindbergh, Namco Noir and Taito Viewlix cabinets. The presentation also teased two upcoming exA Label titles.

Further plans include official exA-Arcadia appearances at Amusement Expo and EVO. The platform also received a larger showcase at the 2024 GENESIS Super Smash Bros tournament, where Game Saru brought officially purchased exA hardware and games. The expanded display gave a large competitive-gaming audience an opportunity to try titles that are not commonly seen.

Remembering Atari designer Mike Jang

Mike Jang, one of Atari’s most prolific industrial designers, has died. His work spanned the company’s early period in the mid-1970s through the 1980s, helping shape cabinets for games including Stun Runner, RoadBlasters, Star Wars and Missile Command Deluxe.

Jang continued designing after Atari’s 1984 collapse. One of his most widely encountered later creations was the seat first used for San Francisco Rush, which other manufacturers adopted for arcade racing machines. The design used a new plastic-moulding process, with neon-green components originally supplied for Kawasaki helping ensure a reliable supply of matching parts.

Concept artwork from this and other Jang designs created between 1978 and 1991 has been made available for research through Stanford Libraries. His influence remains visible across decades of arcade hardware.

StepManiaX reaches more Round1 locations

Rhythm game StepManiaX is expanding to additional Round1 locations in the United States after testing at a small number of venues during the previous year. Some machines have already appeared, although their placement has not always been ideal. Dave & Buster’s has also installed the game at one or two newer venues.

European developments have been mixed. Belgium received its first location with a StepManiaX cabinet at the S’pace bowling alley in Malmedy, while a UK installation arrived and disappeared within a few weeks after Bandai Namco removed the machine and the entire arcade area from its new Cross Store in Brighton.

IAAPI, DEAL and new sports attractions

India’s IAAPI exhibition was scheduled for the following week, with DEAL in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, due the week after. LAI Games indicated that it would debut Smash DX, a new racing game, at IAAPI. Touch Magix also announced a presence at DEAL, although its release did not identify a completely new title.

ICE has introduced two sports-themed attractions. Double Dribble is aimed at children and recalls Sega’s compact Sonic basketball machines, while Quarterback Pro uses American football as its theme. Both can be configured for amusement-only operation or redemption play.

Team Play seeks an assembly and engineering technician

Team Play Inc. advertised for an Assembly and Engineering Tech in Elk Grove, Illinois. The role requires electronics skills and the ability to prepare technical documentation, and it is an on-site position rather than remote work.

VR business conditions remain difficult

A review of 2023 game performance, with particular attention to pinball, was delayed after illness kept the presenter from speaking for three to four weeks. A separate, non-scientific poll of VR amusement-centre operators suggested business conditions had been challenging since September or October 2023.

The responses appeared to come mainly from businesses focused on VR equipment rather than family entertainment centres that offer only a few VR attractions. Several VR arenas, including Hologate, MajorMega HyperDeck and similar systems, had reportedly been offered for sale since the end of 2023.

High capital costs remain a concern. Systems priced at roughly $50,000 to $100,000 are particularly exposed when amusement businesses face an economic downturn or the normal ebb and flow of trade.

A new history of the video arcade industry

Research has begun on a sourced history covering all 50 years of the video arcade industry. The planned book will be organised by decade, with chapters focused on major companies.

Industry veterans have been contacted for information and feedback. The 1970s section is complete, while research into the 1980s is progressing slowly because source material must be carefully checked and cross-referenced. Additional original documents are sought, including memos, charts and other uncommon records. Missing issues of Play Meter from the late 1980s are of particular interest.

More arcade and gaming headlines

• XEEN Corporation has been acquired by an XR company. XEEN provided development support for recent Japanese arcade releases from Bandai Namco and Sega.
• Arcooda published a video showing its arcade gun-game pedal assembly.
• Bandai Namco Amusement Europe released new game trailers.
• New Jersey venue Eight On The Break received attention as one of the longest continuously operating arcades in the United States.
• A feature examined pirated versions of Street Fighter II in China.
• Osaka arcades were highlighted as beneficiaries of renewed interest in retro gaming.
• Other items included virtual arcade ambience, famous arcade machines appearing inside video games, interviews with former Sega engineers about early VR projects and Virtua Fighter 3tb Online running on APM3 at a competitive event.
• Marvelous was reportedly testing a Pokémon-themed kids arcade title, while a rare Tokimeki Memorial arcade control panel appeared for sale.
• New code was released for JAWS pinball. Keri Ann Hoskins, known for roles connected with NBA Jam, Mortal Kombat and Galactic Tank Force, celebrated her birthday.
• It has been 12 years since Midway filed for bankruptcy. Warner Bros. owns the Atari Games and Williams intellectual property as well as Midway’s catalogue.

Console and home-gaming notes

• Hop Top, an arcade-inspired game, was announced for Steam.
• Players criticised the new Atari Presents reissues.
• Death Crimson 2 received an English fan-translation patch.
• Sega developers said the company’s new Sapporo studios have contributed to better working lives.
• Bandai Namco cancelled five games in development while promising stricter quality control.
• Rosebud, an AI game-making service, opened a waitlist.
• Sony tested PlayStation VR2 support on PC.
• An NES homebrew conversion to a Steam PC release was also discussed.

For Australian enthusiasts considering a home setup, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide covers the practical decisions involved in choosing a cabinet. Browse the latest arcade machines, compare space-saving bartop arcades, or explore racing arcades for driving-focused play. Owners planning maintenance can also find arcade parts for repairs and upgrades.