Update on my arcade, The Game Grid (8/29/08)

It’s been a little while since I did an update on how my arcade is going and I’ve had a few people ask about it so here we go.

We finally got a sign put up a week ago, something that should have been completed two months ago when we opened but was delayed due to waiting on approval from the mall, the city along with production and a few other things. It certainly hasn’t helped that I didn’t have such visibility until now but I’m glad it’s finally taken care of. Unfortunately it is already falling apart, one of the buttons that was on the box broke off and disappeared over the past weekend, which I am not happy about. They are supposed to get it fixed, but I have to wait, yet again.

Another thing that hasn’t helped is the fact that our air conditioning has not worked since we opened so basically we’ve gone the entire summer without AC. I have been fighting to get it fixed and fortunately I am not going to pay for the repairs but that has meant that I have had to sit and wait and watch people go out the door when it’s sometimes hotter inside than it is out. It also has made it uncomfortable to be there all day but also about a week ago that was finally fixed after the entire unit was replaced. That certainly has helped make it pleasant to be inside for once.

I have had some great regulars that come in just about every day and part of that is due to the PC LAN. But it is working out like I planned – they play both the PCs and the arcades and in some cases they have been exposed to arcade titles that they never would have cared about otherwise.

Hit the post break for my musing on game earnings, games breaking, marketing, school starting and what to do next.

ArcadeUFO opens today

I have to admit that I have never seen so many people excited for one arcade to open before but we have mentioned ArcadeUFO before and as of today they are officially open. They are open in the Austin area and as part of the fuel to the hype behind them they have both Tekken 6 and Street Fighter IV available already. We wish them the best and if you live in that area be sure to drop by and give them your support!

[ArcadeUFO mainpage] [Discuss on the Forum]

The Retro Remakes 2008 Big Compo looks to make a 'Game For Helen'

One area where arcade titles have tread before is that of making a game that can be played by people who may have a disability that prevents them from enjoying games otherwise. Atari Games did it with San Fransisco Rush 2049 and I have heard of a few other games using similar features. I’m happy to report that a competition will begin on September 1st where the goal is to design an arcade title – which can be anything that you’d find in an arcade whether it’s a video game, pinball, air hockey, pool, cranes, etc. – that can be “[bring] games to those who cannot play arcade type games using conventional controls due to disability.” For first prize they are giving away a nice laptop computer that is worth £1200! That and you’ll feel great working on such a project as well.

Hit the post break for the full rundown on the compo including some tips and links for those interested in getting started and good luck to those who enter!

Also [Retro Remakes Compo Website] [Discuss on the Forum]

The Retro Remakes 2008 Big Compo looks to make a ‘Game For Helen’

One area where arcade titles have tread before is that of making a game that can be played by people who may have a disability that prevents them from enjoying games otherwise. Atari Games did it with San Fransisco Rush 2049 and I have heard of a few other games using similar features. I’m happy to report that a competition will begin on September 1st where the goal is to design an arcade title – which can be anything that you’d find in an arcade whether it’s a video game, pinball, air hockey, pool, cranes, etc. – that can be “[bring] games to those who cannot play arcade type games using conventional controls due to disability.” For first prize they are giving away a nice laptop computer that is worth £1200! That and you’ll feel great working on such a project as well.

Hit the post break for the full rundown on the compo including some tips and links for those interested in getting started and good luck to those who enter!

Also [Retro Remakes Compo Website] [Discuss on the Forum]

Coin-Op TV interviews SFIV producer Yoshinori Ono

Coin-Op TV has an interview up with SFIV producer Yoshinori Ono taken from Comic-Con 2008. In it he discusses the effect that the fans had on making the game come together in the first place along with other tidbits on the development of SFIV. Check out the video below to enjoy.

[Discuss on the Forum]

Man assaulted over high score on arcade game

Sometimes people need to learn how to chill out, as is the case with this story out of Lancashire, UK. Here’s the story from This Is Lancashire:

TWO thugs brutally attacked a young man in a nightclub — because he beat their arcade game score.

Gareth Fitzsimmons had been using a games machine on which players pay £1 to thump a punch bag three times.

But when he beat the score set by two men nearby they set on him.

Mr Fitzsimmons, aged 22, from Great Lever, suffered a shattered jaw after being repeatedly kicked in the head.

That game would be Dragon Punch, or one of it’s clones, a game where you pull a punching bag down and hit it as hard as you can. The harder the hit, the higher the score. It’s a game that earns ridiculously well and it can be found in many locations all over the world but unfortunately I’m sure that anti-gaming heads will use this one example of a violent act occuring with a video game involved while ignoring the fact that these kind of games are played hundreds of times every day without such incidents following them up. Victim picture on the right

[Discuss on the Forum]

The Stinger Report's Crystal ball returns – top ten anticipated games of 2008/09

About a year ago we had a glimpse into The Stinger Report’s uber crystal ball about future releases and now it’s back to give you their Top Ten Most Anticipated International Arcade Releases for 2008/09. Personally you might have some other releases you are anticipating more but it’s safe to say that there are a number of people looking forward to all of the following releases. And here they are:

Top Ten Most Anticipated International Arcade Releases 2008/09

10. ‘Maximum Tune 3 DX’ (Namco Bandai Games)

9. ‘DJ Max Technika’ (Andamiro)

8. ‘2009 Golden Tee LIVE’ (Incredible Technologies)

7. ‘Dance Dance Revolution X’(Konami Digital Entertainment)

6. ‘BlazBlue’ (ARC System Works / Aksys Games)

5. ‘JUBEAT’ (Konami Digital Entertainment)

4. ‘GTI Club – Super Mini Festa’(Konami Digital Entertainment)

3. ‘Castlevania: The Arcade’(Konami Digital Entertainment)

2. ‘Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion’ (Namco Bandai Games)

1. ‘Street Fighter IV’ (Capcom)

No surprises about SFIV right? I hadn’t heard of a new TKN6 update and would love to see more about CastleVania.

[Discuss on the Forum]

The Stinger Report’s Crystal ball returns – top ten anticipated games of 2008/09

About a year ago we had a glimpse into The Stinger Report’s uber crystal ball about future releases and now it’s back to give you their Top Ten Most Anticipated International Arcade Releases for 2008/09. Personally you might have some other releases you are anticipating more but it’s safe to say that there are a number of people looking forward to all of the following releases. And here they are:

Top Ten Most Anticipated International Arcade Releases 2008/09

10. ‘Maximum Tune 3 DX’ (Namco Bandai Games)

9. ‘DJ Max Technika’ (Andamiro)

8. ‘2009 Golden Tee LIVE’ (Incredible Technologies)

7. ‘Dance Dance Revolution X’(Konami Digital Entertainment)

6. ‘BlazBlue’ (ARC System Works / Aksys Games)

5. ‘JUBEAT’ (Konami Digital Entertainment)

4. ‘GTI Club – Super Mini Festa’(Konami Digital Entertainment)

3. ‘Castlevania: The Arcade’(Konami Digital Entertainment)

2. ‘Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion’ (Namco Bandai Games)

1. ‘Street Fighter IV’ (Capcom)

No surprises about SFIV right? I hadn’t heard of a new TKN6 update and would love to see more about CastleVania.

[Discuss on the Forum]

The Xbox 360 Arcade Station T2 is legit UPDATED with Microsoft's response

We’ve been looking at the T2 Arcade Station for a while now, it turns an Xbox 360 into a coin-operated device and while there have been questions about it’s legality that had gone unanswered, the company who created the system, Quasimoto Interactive Inc now says that they have obtained authorization from Microsoft Corp. to go ahead with the product. While MS has yet to release a press release about it, my sources are saying that one will be out soon and they are confirming that this is indeed a legitimately licensed product.

It should be interesting to see what kind of effect this will have in arcades, while it’s true that the 360 install base is fairly large there is the social arcade appeal and the fact that players could get a chance to play the full versions of certain games like this before buying them.

UPDATE: I have received an update from Microsoft and here is what they have to say about it: Microsoft does not support or endorse such a product. We suggest you direct any questions to Quasimoto Interactive.

Also on the page for the XBOX Arcade Machine it says at the bottom ” This Web site is not endorsed, sponsored or affiliated with Microsoft, xbox or any other affliates or business partners.”

So are we back at square one again?

[Discuss on the Forum]

The Xbox 360 Arcade Station T2 is legit UPDATED with Microsoft’s response

We’ve been looking at the T2 Arcade Station for a while now, it turns an Xbox 360 into a coin-operated device and while there have been questions about it’s legality that had gone unanswered, the company who created the system, Quasimoto Interactive Inc now says that they have obtained authorization from Microsoft Corp. to go ahead with the product. While MS has yet to release a press release about it, my sources are saying that one will be out soon and they are confirming that this is indeed a legitimately licensed product.

It should be interesting to see what kind of effect this will have in arcades, while it’s true that the 360 install base is fairly large there is the social arcade appeal and the fact that players could get a chance to play the full versions of certain games like this before buying them.

UPDATE: I have received an update from Microsoft and here is what they have to say about it: Microsoft does not support or endorse such a product. We suggest you direct any questions to Quasimoto Interactive.

Also on the page for the XBOX Arcade Machine it says at the bottom ” This Web site is not endorsed, sponsored or affiliated with Microsoft, xbox or any other affliates or business partners.”

So are we back at square one again?

[Discuss on the Forum]