LAI Games brought a broad selection of arcade entertainment to IAAPA 2023, combining newly announced releases with established attractions. The company has maintained a strong presence at Western trade shows, including IAAPA and Amusement Expo.
LAI Games at IAAPA 2023
The newly unveiled games were scheduled for launch in January, with operators able to place orders through their distributors ahead of release. The booth included video games, racing attractions and coin-operated experiences.
Asphalt Moto Blitz DX
Following LAI Games’ arcade release of Asphalt 9 Legends, the company is also handling the arcade version of Asphalt Moto Blitz DX, developed by Wahlap. It is better viewed as a related follow-up than a numbered sequel: instead of driving a supercar, players control a superbike.
The game is supplied as a twin unit with a streamlined motorcycle controller. Its most distinctive physical feature is the rear-wheel lighting, which creates the appearance of a spinning neon tyre. The presentation is highly polished, while four game modes and 15 tracks provide plenty of content for repeat plays.
Grab a few more details over at LAI’s website. The booth also displayed all three versions of Asphalt 9 Legends Arcade.
Air Strike
Positioned at the front of the booth, Air Strike was developed in collaboration with Ace Amusement. It blends aerial combat, racing and motion into one arcade attraction. The game does not offer player-controlled speed, a design choice that may help keep the experience accessible to younger players.
The cabinets were being offered only in twin configurations at the show. Although its visuals are not as advanced as Asphalt Moto Blitz DX, the environments are detailed and colourful, and the observed frame rate was steady.
The motion system was a highlight. It added energy without causing discomfort, and its pendulum swing gives the attraction a point of difference from the air-bladder systems used by many other motion machines.
There are some areas that could benefit from additional refinement. Aiming can feel constrained, particularly when trying to target higher areas, while collisions between the aircraft and scenery need more work. These quirks mean the controls take time to learn. The upper thumb triggers also appeared not to have a function.
Even with those reservations, Air Strike offers detailed environments, effective lighting, vivid colour and consistent performance. For operators comparing attractions, its physical motion may be as important as its graphics. Readers considering a dedicated racing arcade can also compare how different cabinets use movement and controls to create engagement.
Dragon’s Bane
Dragon’s Bane is a fantasy-themed coin pusher made by Wahlap, with a video display that gives the format a more active presentation. It supports one to three players, who fire tokens towards a moving target known as the loot bag.
Hitting the target triggers on-screen events and opens opportunities to win additional tickets. The most dramatic sequence sends a continuous stream of coins towards the loot bag. The cabinet has an appealing design, although the pictured unit is branded “Dragon’s Bane Heroes”, while the product page uses the shorter name Dragon’s Bane.
Cosmic Spire
For a more traditional coin-pushing experience, LAI Games presented Playmore’s Cosmic Spire. It combines coins and marbles with a rotating tower that supplies bonus opportunities.
Where Does Arcade Visual Quality Fit?
One discussion around Air Strike involved the comment that it “looks like a mobile game”. That description is too broad to be especially useful: mobile games range from basic casual titles to technically impressive productions, just as PC and console games vary widely in quality.
Arcades once routinely represented the leading edge of consumer graphics, particularly through the mid-1990s. That has not been the case for more than two decades, and expecting every new arcade attraction to sit far ahead of current consoles and phones is difficult to justify.
Development and hardware costs matter. Adding another $5,000–$10,000 to an arcade machine for 8K resolution, 60 frames per second and ray-traced graphics would not necessarily produce higher earnings for an operator. The same question applies to home hardware, where each new generation does not always deliver the dramatic visual leap once associated with major platform upgrades.
Players quite reasonably want games to look impressive, while operators need attractions that earn their space on the floor. The best releases find a practical balance between presentation, playability, reliability and cost. High-quality graphics remain important, but an arcade game does not need to be light-years ahead of a console or phone to offer a worthwhile experience.
For Australian operators and home enthusiasts, the decision ultimately comes down to the complete package: cabinet design, controls, motion, replay value and the audience a machine can attract. Our arcade machine buying guide provides useful context when comparing different formats, while the Arcade Blog covers more industry and gaming news.
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