RETROCADE
RETROCADE
Dave & Busters plans to acquire Main Event for $835 million, bringing two major US family entertainment brands under one company.
Rare Heavyweight Champ footage, Pac-Mom changes, PolyRetro, new pinball and arcade discoveries headline this international retro-gaming news roundup.
Amusement Expo 2022 showcased new pinball, arcade, racing and VR products, while revealing how operators were weighing cost, space and post-pandemic supply issues.
The #NoticeMe Game Jam produced five winners, but adapting indie games for coin-op play demands clear controls, fast starts, replay value and personality.
Two new exA-Arcadia software kits, NOISZ ARC⌖CODA and Shadow Gangs X, open for pre-order with vertical-screen and two-player arcade action.
A compact arcade news roundup covering Sega’s new Crazy Taxi project, Zapcon 8.2, Interstellar Team, industry moves and game updates.
A practical look at arcade game purchasing, the role of retro titles, machine performance and why operators may retain lower-earning games.
New exA-Arcadia pages reveal teaser footage for Shinorubi Pink Label and Jamjam’n Jelly EXA LENTE, alongside updates on other upcoming arcade releases.
Konami’s Super Punch Mania and Dance Dance Revolution Stomp bring boxing and dance mechanics to Round1USA’s latest video redemption line-up.
Samurai Shodown V Perfect is heading to exA-Arcadia with revised localisation, new artwork, balancing changes, 4K support and one-frame input lag.
Bandai Namco’s Pac-Man Battle Royale Chompionship update covers June shipping for the standard cabinet, eight-player upgrades and the deluxe model’s venue exclusivity.
Seattle’s GameWorks prepares to reopen, Dave & Busters updates its machines, NeoTRIS reaches Neo Geo MVS, and Golden Tee changes its cabinet package.
Golden Tee PGA Tour officially begins wider shipping after a limited soft launch, with operators now sourcing their own 55-inch 4K displays.
Team Play’s Carnival Wheel combines a two-sided RGB LED wheel with varied bonuses, linked play for up to 16 units and a carnival-themed presentation.
May 2022 brought Shadow Gangs X to exA-Arcadia, Wicked Tuna to selected venues and early Pac-Man Chompionship shipments for commercial arcades.
From free-play retro rooms to major FECs, these May 2022 openings show how arcade venues were expanding across North America, Europe and Asia.
Raw Thrills and Betson have released eight advertising kits for arcade operators, covering titles such as Halo: Fireteam Raven and Super Bikes 3.
Motion Sphere’s Star Wars Sphere combines X-wing missions, Microsoft Flight Simulator content and a powerful motion platform for family entertainment centres.
Top Gun: Maverick enters Dave & Busters as a four-player motion-based VR attraction, reviving interest in licensed location-based arcade experiences.
LAI Games is upgrading Virtual Rabbids: The Big Ride with 5K HTC Vive Pro 2 headsets, RTX graphics and next-generation D-Box motion hardware.
E.T., Marble Madness II, Music Diver, Ghostbusters VR Academy and more feature in RETROCADE’s latest arcade and pinball news round-up.
Jersey Jack Pinball’s Toy Story 4 brings Pat Lawlor’s design, film characters, connected features and two premium editions to home pinball.
Storm Rider 2 testing, Noisz Arc+Coda’s exA-Arcadia launch, Stern leaderboards and ICE’s Dodgeball Ultimate Arena headline this arcade news round-up.
A London venue tour reveals how arcades, VR, bowling, hospitality and competitive socialising were reshaping amusement entertainment after lockdowns.
Build a full-size arcade cabinet with this detailed guide covering MDF construction, controls, monitor mounting, painting, wiring and final setup.
GIGA SHOT brings four-player shooting, an 86-inch screen and air-powered weapons to the arcade, but its ambitious hardware currently outshines the software.
Sega Amusements and 501 Entertainment announced SMARTS Darts AR, combining projection mapping, automated scoring and social competition for entertainment venues.
Three sports arcade releases stand out: Incredible Technologies’ Arcade Collection, VRStudios’ Football Frenzy and Andamiro USA’s Bobblehead Baseball.
JAEPO 2023 brought Japan’s arcade industry back to an in-person trade show, with new games from Bandai Namco, exA-Arcadia, Konami, Sega and Taito.
Touch Magix’s SpaceWarp 66 v4.0 update adds two-player linked play, letting operators connect cabinets for live competition in redemption or amusement mode.
Bowl Expo 2022 promised an unusually busy arcade line-up, with new redemption games, VR attractions, racing-style experiences and major amusement exhibitors heading to Las Vegas.
Atari’s 50th anniversary provides an opportunity to revisit the company’s arcade history, from Computer Space and Pong to later racing titles.
VRsenal pairs Rhythmatic 2’s new rhythm gameplay with the compact Monolith VR cabinet, targeting lower costs and improved reliability for arcade operators.
Bowl Expo footage, GiGO’s Japanese arcade strategy, Football Frenzy, StepManiaX and major arcade, pinball and gaming headlines in one round-up.
Raw Thrills’ Fast & Furious arcade racer brings dual 65-inch displays, motion hardware, licensed supercars, new tracks and QR-based accounts.
Samurai Shodown V Perfect is headed to a two-location Japanese test with restored fatalities, new Shiroh Ohno artwork, revised balance and low input lag.
A concise arcade news round-up covering SFGE 2022, a secret Atari Asteroids test, Mr. Do redemption, Transformers VR, Japanese updates and TRON’s anniversary.
exA-Arcadia details two ambitious shoot ’em ups: a voiced Touhou remake and a heavily expanded P-47 Aces revival with four-player modes.
Pinball Brothers reveals Queen, a music-driven table with Champions and limited Rhapsody editions, live concert recordings, custom lighting and three-flipper play.
UDC’s Galaxy Rangers, Dream Ball and Slime Busters bring fresh arcade concepts to Europe, while DDR A3 sightings add international rhythm-game news.
Galaxy Rangers moves towards US arcades, Astro Ninja Man EXA begins testing in Japan, and Bandai Namco trials gashapon machines at Round1USA.
Touhou Perfect Sakura Fantastica brings the celebrated Touhou shoot ’em up series to arcades with exA-Arcadia enhancements, new content and limited kits.
Major Havoc gets its missing ending, UNIS unveils TekyGo!, Firestone stops amusement lending, and Japan delivers fresh arcade updates.
July 2022 brought new arcades, bowling venues and family entertainment centres across North America, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.
Free-roaming VR is reshaping location-based entertainment, combining untethered movement, team play, haptic feedback and compact venue design for modern audiences.
Nidhogg II reaches coin-op, LAI Games tests a possible Asphalt 9 VR cabinet, and Zombie Bowling adds a zombie twist to family arcade play.
ICE’s Dodgeball, IGS Hyper Cross, Coin Pusher 365, Minecraft Dungeons Arcade V2 and mixed-reality attractions lead this week’s arcade industry roundup.
P-47 Aces Mk. II updates NMK and Jaleco’s aerial shoot ’em up with four-player support, three modes, new stages and a more accessible difficulty option.
Big Buck World Championship XV arrives at Joe’s Live in Chicago on October 14–15, with qualifying, a junior tournament and family-focused arcade entertainment.
A fresh arcade news roundup covering P-47 Aces Mk. II, redemption game testing, Stern pinball badges, Far Cry VR and Magic Girl.
Sega’s IAAPA Expo Europe 2022 showcase featured Solar System, AR Darts, VR Agent and Shipwreck, plus major licensed arcade attractions.
UNIS’ IAAPA Europe Expo 2022 preview includes Emoji Roller, Star Crusaders II, Power Puck Fever, new cranes and merchandisers.
New arcade games reach testing, EXA opens pre-orders, Playbox expands to four players and operators confront high energy costs across Europe.
Stern Pinball has teased a James Bond machine, raising questions about its featured 007, George Gomez’s involvement and the project’s place in pinball history.
Samurai Shodown V Perfect returns to arcades through exA-Arcadia with three kit options, restored features, collector extras and a September 2022 launch.
Bandai Namco refreshes its commercial Pac-Man line-up with Battle Royale Chompionship Deluxe and the redesigned basketball game Pac-Man Baller.
IAAPA Expo Europe 2022 brought arcade distributors, VR developers and amusement manufacturers to London with new redemption, sports and mixed-reality attractions.
Polycade adds Tanuki Sunset and STRIPES, with new tournaments for both games and a possible expansion of the platform’s hardware range.
The latest arcade news covers leaked James Bond pinball images, Dave & Buster’s Middle East expansion, Al Kress, repairs and Tekken 8.
IAAPA Expo Europe 2022 showcased new VR simulators, redemption attractions, pinball, racing games and arcade hardware for the European market.
MotoGP VR has appeared in location testing at Dave & Buster’s, offering a headset-based take on Raw Thrills’ serious motorcycle racing simulator.
Stern’s James Bond 007 pinball machine is built around Sean Connery, with Pro, Premium and limited LE editions plus a forthcoming 60th Anniversary model.
September 2022 brought new arcades, arcade bars and family entertainment centres across the USA, UK, India and Australia, with pinball and prize venues included.
September 2022 delivered fresh exA-Arcadia shooters, Stern’s James Bond 007, Samurai Shodown V Perfect, Sniper Strike II and Polycade’s Stripes.
Raw Thrills updates Injustice Arcade with Series 4 cards and offers a closer look at the Fast & Furious Arcade cabinet ahead of IAAPA 2022.
Golden Tee PGA Tour Club House Edition brings the golf arcade experience home in Deluxe and Standard cabinet formats, with pre-orders now open.
Raw Thrills has revealed new footage, cabinet colours and gameplay details for Fast & Furious Arcade, alongside updates on production and shipping.
From Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. to Mario Kart Arcade GP and VR, trace Mario’s complete journey through Nintendo’s arcade history.
Raw Thrills announces Big Buck Hunter Championship XV livestreams and shares new Fast & Furious Arcade images, locations and availability details.
Inowize’s QBIX is a compact, unattended six-player attraction using interactive screens, projection effects, wind and a vibrating floor instead of VR headsets.
Big Buck Hunter’s 15th world championship, a new Pokémon ball-toss machine and the latest pinball, racing and arcade industry developments.
October 2022’s location watch surveys new arcades, pinball bars and family entertainment venues opening across North America, Europe, New Zealand and beyond.
Bandai Namco tests Dead Heat Unleashed, Pinball Expo 2022 delivers extensive footage, and new arcade, pinball and gaming headlines emerge.
Sega’s Drone Racing Genesis swaps the steering wheel for a joystick, combining linked multiplayer, selectable drones and four colourful courses.
Fury Solo brings VRstudios’ single-player Football Frenzy experience to IAAPA 2022, offering operators a compact, unattended sports attraction.
exA-Arcadia heads to IAAPA 2022 with the modular ARC-1 cabinet, low-latency hardware, new games and a 31-title exhibition line-up.
Bandai Namco’s Dead Heat Unleashed location test reveals eight tracks, a Maximum Tune-inspired cabinet design and an unusual buy-in bonus.
Sega previews Drone Racing Genesis and Storm Rider 2, revealing colourful drone racing, motion-based motorbike action and upcoming IAAPA 2022 appearances.
TouchMagix showcased its Carnival Cups Crane and linked Mega Blaster and SpaceWarp 66 DX games at IAAPA Expo 2022 in Orlando.
LAI Games is taking Asphalt 9 Legends VR to IAAPA 2022, adding first-person racing, a pursuit-focused Hunted mode and a third arcade cabinet design.
A detailed IAAPA 2022 preview covering arcade cabinets, redemption games, pinball, dance platforms, VR arenas and mixed-reality attractions in Orlando.
Bandai Namco has revealed the Dead Heat Unleashed cabinet, detailing its linked racing, reactive LED lighting, Ultimate Heat system and ten-car lineup.
Adrenaline Amusements and Electronic Arts revive Need for Speed in arcades with a four-player racer featuring takedowns, boosts and LED-heavy design.
Raw Thrills showcased a new Halo: Fireteam Raven cabinet, MotoGP VR, Minecraft Dungeons Arcade Series 2 and Fast & Furious Arcade at IAAPA 2022.
Minecraft Dungeons Arcade expands to 98 collectible cards with Series 2, the Hidden Depths level, and three more stages planned for future updates.
Enter a planned giveaway for a physical Nintendo Switch copy of Cruis’n Blast signed by Eugene Jarvis, with one to three raffle entries available.
Toaplan’s influential shooter Batsugun is returning to modern arcades as Batsugun EXA Label, an enhanced worldwide release for the exA-Arcadia platform.
IAAPA 2022 showcased new arcade games, redemption machines, pinball tables and VR attractions, from compact skill games to enormous theme-park experiences.
Spooky Pinball’s Scooby-Doo! Where Are You? brings the classic 1969–70 cartoon to pinball with three editions and a 1,969-unit production limit.
IAAPA 2022 updates, Ridge Racer preservation, Michael Jackson footage from Sega’s AS-1, new rhythm games and the latest arcade-industry headlines.
December 2022’s Location Watch visits new arcades, barcades and family entertainment centres across Australia, North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
From Atari 2600 to ZX Spectrum, these 2022 homebrew projects brought arcade classics, reinterpretations and ambitious conversions to older hardware.
Taito’s 70th year, the 1983 crash, landmark arcade games and Sega NAOMI’s 25th anniversary make 2023 a notable year for arcade history.
Astro Crow’s Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes brings the unusual Basque sport to arcades with colourful visuals, two cabinet formats and competitive multiplayer action.
Arcade operators entered 2023 amid strong FEC trading, rising costs, new game releases and hard lessons from a failed second location in Utah.
Stern Pinball’s James Bond 007 60th Anniversary Edition brings every Bond actor to a Keith Elwin-designed playfield limited to 500 machines.
EAG 2023 brought new racing, redemption, rhythm and immersive arcade attractions to London, including releases from Bandai Namco, Sega, ACE and Raw Thrills.
EAG 2023 showcased European arcade distributors, redemption equipment, pinball and new video games, offering a remote look at the commercial amusement market.
Bay Tek’s QB Throwdown appears in location testing, combining two-player football throws, projected graphics and a large ticket-game cabinet.
Taito’s officially licensed Ice Cold Beer remake is scheduled to ship from February 2023, bringing modern hardware to the classic electromechanical arcade experience.
RETROCADE