Two gaming expos delivered very different experiences in recent weeks. Utah Retro GameXpo leaned towards broader video games and art, while California Extreme 2024 offered a deep mix of pinball, new arcade projects, prototypes, rare machines and familiar classics.
Utah Retro GameXpo
This event was still running when this report was prepared, so the Utah section is shorter. It was not primarily an arcade show, although one room included a small arcade area with three of the new Asteroids Recharged cabinets.
The strongest personal highlight was meeting members of the original Mortal Kombat I and II cast. Master Daniel Pesina was the main conversation, alongside Elizabeth Malecki, the original Sonya Blade, and Carlos Pesina. An autographed Mortal Kombat poster is destined for a spot above an UMK3 machine in a private arcade.
The arcade collection came from Alan-1 and Flynn’s Retrocade, with some machines originally associated with Grinkers, the Idaho arcade venue that closed several years ago.
Playable titles included Bandido, Centipede, Dig Dug, Galaga, Lode Runner, The Real Ghostbusters, S.T.U.N. Runner, Street Fighter II Champion Edition and Wizard of Wor. A Neo Geo MVS six-slot cabinet was mainly running Top Hunter and SVC Chaos.
Rather than spending the whole visit on those machines, the bigger draw was a local enthusiast’s Quake LAN, which provided a satisfying dose of multiplayer nostalgia.
California Extreme 2024
This was the second visit to California Extreme, following an earlier attendance in 2018. The trip was supported by consulting work with Alan-1. The show was especially strong on pinball and appeared to have fewer video games than in 2018, but there was still a substantial amount to play.
A playlist of the California Extreme uploads is available here.
For readers comparing show finds with their own home setup, RETROCADE’s arcade-machine buying guide and selection of arcade machines are useful starting points.
New arcade and pinball releases
Alan-1
Alan-1 presented two upcoming arcade releases: Avian Knights and Asteroids Recharged Arcade. Both attracted strong interest. Owen Rubin, creator of Major Havoc and Atari releases including Space Duel, praised the game and offered suggestions for further gameplay refinement.
A tournament ran through the Major League eSports (MLeS) app, with an Asteroids Recharged cabinet awarded to the highest scorer. Atari producer Jason Polansky also attended and appeared in the prize-presentation video.
Stern Pinball
Stern was attending San Diego Comic-Con rather than exhibiting officially, but a distributor brought several current Stern machines to the show. The lineup included John Wick, JAWS and the newly announced Godzilla 70th Anniversary Edition.
The Godzilla edition uses the same Premium gameplay while adding black, white and red playfield artwork, along with metallic side art. A filmed game became an unusually long and successful session, lasting far beyond the usual few-minute games before the queue encouraged a premature finish.
Pedretti Pinball
Italian newcomer Pedretti Pinball brought its recently announced remake of Fun House. Both the LE and Classic versions were available. The game felt complete and contemporary even without prior personal experience of the original, while the LE’s LED eyes were a particularly effective extra.
Boys Night Out and Doggy Tails
Two unfamiliar machines came from designer Joel Kaiser. Doggy Tails is at an earlier development stage, while Boys Night Out is based on Kaiser’s 2017 independent film Popcorn Landfill. The shot flow in Boys Night Out stood out, although the corkscrew ramp proved difficult to hit.
DSM Arcade
A collector or operator supplied several independent arcade games, including Killer Queen Arcade and Black Emperor from BumbleBear Games, Cosmotrons from Arcadeaholics, and Nidhogg II from DSM Arcade.
Nidhogg II had not previously been played on PC or arcade. Its sword-fighting tug-of-war concept was immediately appealing, and the colourful cabinet made a strong visual impression.
exA-Arcadia
exA-Arcadia was represented unofficially by the Californian import outfit Game Saru, which had also helped showcase several of the platform’s games at EVO 2024. Confirmed titles included Akyrios EXA, Axel City 2, Blazing Chrome AC, Dynamite Bomb!! and Samurai Shodown V Perfect.
These machines were positioned near a sizeable collection of Japanese candy cabinets, including versus configurations, and drew plenty of attention.
Arcade prototypes
Unreleased prototypes are a major attraction at California Extreme. Several games on display had not previously been played in cabinet form, despite their ROMs being available to people interested in emulation.
Marble Madness II – Marble Man
Atari Games’ 1991 prototype Marble Madness II – Marble Man turns the marble into a character and expands the game to three players. The original prototype used joysticks, but the show version restored trackball control from the 1984 game. The trackball felt more sensitive than expected, although fans of the original should find plenty to appreciate.
The later timing and change from trackball to joystick may have worked against the game; it might have had a better chance had it arrived around 1986 or 1987.
Danger Express
Another 1990s Atari prototype, Danger Express, combines the feel of Konami’s G.I. Joe with Midway’s NARC. The shared punch-and-shoot control makes the basic attack feel awkward, but the game remains playable and has strong early-1990s character.
A later release might have suited the concept better, particularly once 3D technology was more accessible. Its structure could have worked in the style of Die Hard Arcade.
Inferno
Williams’ 1984 Inferno combines ideas that recall Robotron 2084 and, more accurately, Crystal Castles. It is easy to learn, enjoyable to play and filled with period Williams sounds and typography.
The 1984 North American video-game crash may have been its biggest obstacle. Released in 1982, it might now be regarded as a classic. A trackball could also have been an interesting alternative to its Q*bert-like diagonal movement.
Warren Davis was also present, entertaining visitors with card tricks. The creator of Q*bert was friendly to speak with, and his book Creating Q*Bert was purchased and read during the flight home. It covers unreleased concepts including USSA and a proposed Highlander one-on-one fighting game, as well as the development of the exceptionally rare Us Vs. Them.
War of the Worlds
Cinematronics’ War of the Worlds reflects the company’s pre-1982 focus on vector games. Its prototypes occupy an unusual position between black-and-white and colour displays, with some versions using a full-colour monitor.
The game is not poor, but its repetitive structure helps explain why it was not released. More varied waves and a mothership-style boss encounter could have improved it. The scaling effects are impressive, although the overall design feels closer to the 1970s than the 1980s.
Midway’s Bio Freaks was another unusual find. The arcade version was not released, even though a console port did appear, and it was played but not filmed.
Rare arcade machines
Beyond prototypes, the show offered genuinely uncommon games rather than merely expensive listings. The rare selection included Canyon Bomber, Computer Space Ball, Fire Truck, Galaxy Ranger, I, Robot, Liberator, Major Havoc: The Promised End, Quantum, Solar Assault Revised, Speed Freak, Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator Captain’s Chair version, Star Wars cockpit and Strikeforce, along with many machines that were not filmed.
More familiar machines
California Extreme also had plenty of common and moderately uncommon games. Other plays included Caveman Ninja, Circus, Krull, OutRun, Reactor, Revenge of Shinobi, Pleiades, Strider, Thunder Blade and Venture.
Some recordings may be reserved for members because many older games already have extensive online coverage, but one final example was included from the show.
Final thoughts
California Extreme delivered an excellent collection spanning new releases, pinball, prototypes, rare hardware and established arcade favourites. Utah Retro GameXpo was less arcade-focused, but its compact game room, Mortal Kombat guests and Quake LAN still made it worthwhile for a broad gaming audience.
For anyone considering a home collection, upright arcades, bartop machines and properly selected arcade parts each suit different spaces and restoration goals.
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