New screens of Justice League: Heroes United (Updated with pricing info)

We have received a couple of new screenshots of GlobalVR’s new Justice League: Heroes United arcade brawler title, which you can see in full view by clicking on the thumbnails below.

In addition to those we have a little info on the location testing of the game. So far the verdict on the game : “People love playing it”. If anyone out there has had a chance to get their hands on the game we’d certainly like to hear your thoughts on it and perhaps we’ll hear HeavyElectricity’s thoughts on the game next week (thanks for the correction HV)  when he visits ATEI. As I said before, I’m very curious to see how this plays, I always loved games like Die Hard Arcade and Dynamite Deka so I’d like to see how this compares and where it stands out. Also, I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but it is a yellow label game so I don’t know of any arcades that won’t carry those.

UPDATE: – A couple of distributor sites are now listing a price for JL. BMI Gaming is listing the standard version of the game at $3975 and the deluxe at $7975 , with the prices going up to $4275 and $8275 after a sale they are having; BHM Vending is listing the standard version of the game at $4600, deluxe at $9000. Prices always vary between distributors but it’s good to see the standard version of the game below the $5000 mark.

[Discuss on the Forum]

The Pinball Blog's "Pinball Heroes"

They say that imitation is the finest form of flattery and Nick over at The Pinball Blog makes no bones about that when it comes to a new column which he has begun running entitled “Pinball Heroes”. In addition to giving the work we do here at Arcade Heroes credit for the idea, Nick went on to say:

I really wanted to make these interviews last a while but I just can’t help myself. I’ve already interviewed pinball designers Steve Ritchie and John Trudeau, pinball-book author Gary Flower, Pinball Hall of Fame owner Tim Arnold and Rec.Games.Pinball legend ‘LTG.

These guys must have answered thousands of the same questions over the years so some of what I ask is a little off the beaten track. Basically I’m trying to start a bun-fight among industry legends!

Thankfully I’ve got several more interviews lined up. I’ve stepped away from the keyboard and will try to publish just one a week from now on! I love what you guys do here on Arcade Heroes and what better way to thank you than to plagiarize your name in creating Pinball Heroes!

We certainly appreciate it but even more so we appreciate the interviews themselves, it certainly is fascinating to hear some of the thoughts these guys have about pinball. He may even do a Pinball Villians column at one point, which could be interesting. Check out the Pinball Heroes interviews over at thepinballblog.com.

[Discuss on the Forums]

The Pinball Blog’s “Pinball Heroes”

They say that imitation is the finest form of flattery and Nick over at The Pinball Blog makes no bones about that when it comes to a new column which he has begun running entitled “Pinball Heroes”. In addition to giving the work we do here at Arcade Heroes credit for the idea, Nick went on to say:

I really wanted to make these interviews last a while but I just can’t help myself. I’ve already interviewed pinball designers Steve Ritchie and John Trudeau, pinball-book author Gary Flower, Pinball Hall of Fame owner Tim Arnold and Rec.Games.Pinball legend ‘LTG.

These guys must have answered thousands of the same questions over the years so some of what I ask is a little off the beaten track. Basically I’m trying to start a bun-fight among industry legends!

Thankfully I’ve got several more interviews lined up. I’ve stepped away from the keyboard and will try to publish just one a week from now on! I love what you guys do here on Arcade Heroes and what better way to thank you than to plagiarize your name in creating Pinball Heroes!

We certainly appreciate it but even more so we appreciate the interviews themselves, it certainly is fascinating to hear some of the thoughts these guys have about pinball. He may even do a Pinball Villians column at one point, which could be interesting. Check out the Pinball Heroes interviews over at thepinballblog.com.

[Discuss on the Forums]

Paul's Billiards and Arcade opens in Ocean City, MD

A small new arcade has opened in Ocean City Maryland and even though it is still relatively small (with 2 pool tables and 19 arcade games total, which includes redemption and pinball) it has already gained a following with the locals. They even have an unofficial mascot, with a dog named Ralph and patrons are requesting more games, including a Nintendo Wii setup.

We wish the best of luck to the success of Paul and his new small business, it’s always good to see new arcades opening up because it has the effect that I have talked about before – the more arcades that are out there, the more customers arcade makers have to sell to, which sales should translate into more development and in turn more enjoyment for players who get more games.

[Info and pic via Delmarvanow.com] [Discuss on the Forum]

Paul’s Billiards and Arcade opens in Ocean City, MD

A small new arcade has opened in Ocean City Maryland and even though it is still relatively small (with 2 pool tables and 19 arcade games total, which includes redemption and pinball) it has already gained a following with the locals. They even have an unofficial mascot, with a dog named Ralph and patrons are requesting more games, including a Nintendo Wii setup.

We wish the best of luck to the success of Paul and his new small business, it’s always good to see new arcades opening up because it has the effect that I have talked about before – the more arcades that are out there, the more customers arcade makers have to sell to, which sales should translate into more development and in turn more enjoyment for players who get more games.

[Info and pic via Delmarvanow.com] [Discuss on the Forum]

Namco Bandai mentions arcades in their plans for profitability

This is a minor thing I know but it would be quite easy for Namco to gloss over their arcade division and say that they expect all their profits to come from console gaming but in a report I just found online discussing Namco’s plans to pull in $144 million for the fiscal year ending in March, they mention arcades as playing a role in that profitability. Overall they hope to double their profit margins over the next three years and with part of that plan including arcade machines, we’ll certainly be seeing more games in the future but the question is how many will be comign out of Japan? Unfortunately the article only goes on to talk about their console efforts afterwards but I thought that it was interesting for the point to be made that arcades are playing a role int he profitability of companies like Namco instead of being a drain on them.

[Via Guardian.co.uk] [Discuss on the Forum]

Initial D5 website updated

Sega Japan has updated the site for Initial D5 to include more info, screenshots and a promotional movie. It’s unclear exactly what is all new here (I am sure that hardcore fans of the game already know) but there is a new mode that involves online play that will only be used for a limited time and a new course for players to enjoy. The game certainly looks good for a Lindbergh powered game (I guess they still are holding off on using Europa for more than SR3) and hopefully we’ll find out soon when this will see a wider release.  

[Initial D5 Japanese site] [Discuss on the Forum]

Big SFIV tourney in Japan with a rumor on SFIV Arcade updates

The console release of Street Fighter IV is fast approaching but in Japan the arcade version is not being completely overshadowed, with a big SFIV “convention” that included a huge arcade competition, a look at the console version of the game with the new arcade style joysticks,  some SFIV cosplaying and we’re told some rumors that there will be an update shortly for the arcade version of the game in Japan to include the two new characters that are going into the console version. We’ll see how that pans out but in the meantime, check out the detailing article on Famitsu.

[SFIV Convention – Famitsu] [Discuss on the Forums]