Arcade News Roundup: Maximum Tune Turns 20

Here is RETROCADE’s latest arcade and pinball news roundup, covering anniversary tournaments, new machines, prototype footage, industry developments and a busy selection of related headlines.

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Bandai Namco begins 20th-anniversary celebrations for Maximum Tune

Bandai Namco has started marking 20 years of Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune. There is still no announcement of Maximum Tune 7, but new tournaments are being held on version 6RR in Japan and selected regions. Imports are not included in that availability, and few examples are known to have appeared in Western markets.

Bandai Namco’s US arcade division has also been running a Championship on version 5DX+ since the previous month. The anniversary programme includes tournaments celebrating 20 years of Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune and a new Japanese-language YouTube channel for the celebration. The anniversary timing also corrects an earlier assumption that the series began in 2021.

Eight-player Sega Indy 500 setup heads to auction

Operators and collectors who remember the large “special attraction” Indy 500 installations at GameWorks may be interested in this eight-player setup currently at auction.

The machine is located in Fort Myers, Florida, and was described as clean and functional. Bidding stood at $1,700 when reported, although that amount was expected to rise before the auction ended. Its physical footprint will be the main consideration: a commercial arcade may have room, while many private games rooms will not.

For Australian readers comparing more manageable driving options, RETROCADE’s racing arcade range provides a practical alternative to a full-sized commercial attraction.

HEXA Pinball launches with Space Hunt

French manufacturer HEXA Pinball has entered the pinball market with its first game, Space Hunt. France has not traditionally been a major arcade or pinball manufacturing centre, making the company’s arrival notable.

The game’s colour scheme may recall Spooky Pinball’s Thermonuclear Annihilation, although that comparison may be visual rather than thematic. Two models are planned, with the starter version priced at €8,900—roughly US$10,000 before freight. Shipping is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of the year, but distribution beyond France had not been confirmed.

Pinballnews’ launch report and coverage from Knapp Arcade provide additional background. The official Space Hunt product page outlines the planned models.

Readers interested in digital tables can also compare RETROCADE’s virtual pinball machines.

Big Shot gets an operator flyer

JET’s BIG SHOT videmption game, first shown at Bowl Expo, now has a promotional flyer. It may be a straightforward document, but flyers remain useful references for operators assessing new attractions.

The game was available at the time of reporting. However, JET had not yet added BIG SHOT or its smaller companion, Quick Shot, to the company’s online game catalogue.

Project Neon targets Neo Geo MVS

Project Neon is an in-development vertical shoot ’em up for Neo Geo MVS hardware. Its development progress was unclear, but the footage showed a sharp-looking project for owners of the platform.

The game also prompted thoughts about Earthion, the new Genesis/Mega Drive title. A conversion for Sega’s Mega Play or Mega-Tech coin-op platforms would be interesting, although no such version has been announced.

Original Drakons footage highlights free-roaming play

New footage of the original Drakons arcade prototype shows its unusual control concept. Players could guide a dragon, or drakon, around the environment off-rails instead of following a fixed route.

The idea looks entertaining, although the game was thought not to have performed strongly commercially. The footage was filmed one-handed while the other hand controlled the machine, but it still offers a useful look at the yoke controller—an input device with enduring appeal among arcade fans.

Arcade1Up order cancellations raise concerns

One customer bought an Arcade1Up system during a sale, then received an apology email one or two days later explaining that overwhelming demand had led to most orders being refunded. The customer ultimately chose an AtGames Legends system instead, despite having had better experiences with Arcade1Up on previous occasions.

A separate video examines other issues emerging around the company, at a time when competitors such as iircade are also struggling. The concern is not the home-arcade concept itself, but commercial venues choosing home systems instead of buying commercial-grade arcade machines.

Anyone weighing a home cabinet against a full-size machine can consult RETROCADE’s arcade-machine buying guide.

Atari revisits Lunar Lander on consoles

Atari is bringing Lunar Lander back to consoles rather than announcing a new arcade release. The teaser did not show gameplay, but it suggested an expanded interpretation of the original concept. Whether that approach could work in an arcade remains an open question.

Watch the Atari-focused discussion and teaser.