Cabinet options: standard, deluxe, Lego (?!)

This is the kind of story I always love to see, as it shows the ingenuity of arcade fans. Lego enthusiast Ben Fleskes has done some pretty cool things in the past – a multitude of train models, the USS constitution and the Millennium Falcon. But he’s come to our attention this week by doing something extremely awesome, by putting together a fully functional tabletop arcade cabinet. As you can see, the cabinet has a Pac-Man marquee and side-art, and it runs a 48-in-1 JAMMA board with many 80s classics. Check out the video below, and then check out the link for more information.

[Lego table top arcade game] [Discuss on the forums]

Report from Street Fighter IV tournament @ Arcade UFO

At Arcade Heroes, we often say that there’s nothing like standing with another player and competing side by side, and arcade gaming is still the best way to do this. Technology has brought us the wonders of online gaming and voice chat, but the feeling of being able to shake your opponent’s hand at the end of a hard-fought match is something that you can’t replace. As a result, it’s great when we see other people pushing the merits of arcade competition – in this case, Jason Witmer of Accent Online. He attended last Saturday’s two-on-two Street Fighter IV tournament with a friend, and took the time to write up the experience for Accent.

The piece focuses primarily on the author’s experience of the tournament, but it covers the general themes of competitive gaming well. He mentions the anxiety prior to a match, the diversity of the competitors, the unique atmosphere of tournament play, and general sportsmanship and supportiveness of the community surrounding the game. While I’ve never competitively played Street Fighter, these are familiar to me as they are experiences which cut across all kinds of competition, be they sports, martial arts, table top games or arcade games. As a result, it’s an excellent read for anyone who is interested in competitive arcade play at any level.

[Via Accent Online] [Arcade UFO] [Discuss on the forums]

Soap Invaders

In the long line of Space Invaders spin-offs are now these cute little soap invaders for you to scrub away with. If invaders are you’re cup of tea, then give the old tetris blocks a soaking! Pick up this retro soap here for Space Invaders and here for the Tetris variety

[via Arcade Lounge]    [Discuss on the Fourm]

Mutliple Gaming Goodies!

Here a few bits of gaming gear that I spotted this week which we can all add to our list of “Definitely going to buy one of those, but never do”.

Click on the thumbs to enlarge!

A Space Invaders chopping board via Arcade Lounge.  Hopefully this little bugger will stay still while your chopping.

 

Get cosy with a Goomba in this Mario Bros quilt via Wonderland.

 

and this rather unique sewn Atari game box! Also via Wonderland.

look closer…

 

 

[Discuss on the Fourm]

Insert Coin 2009 – UK public arcade expo launches!

It’s a great day for arcade gamers in the UK, as the Insert Coin 2009 expo has been announced! The show will run on July 18th and 19th at the Northampton Saints Conference CentreThe difference between Insert Coin and other arcade exhibitions is that the event is open to the public, with a great deal for any enthusiast to enjoy. The show will contain over 100 video games and pinball machines set to freeplay, including some that are extremely hard to find in the region, such as the hot fighting game Street Fighter IV, Cave’s new shoot-’em-up Death Smiles, and the cult Japanese fighter Melty Blood: Act Cadenza ver.B2. Additionally, nine tournaments will be running throughout the weekend taking in various genres and offering prizes for extreme displays of skill.

As well as being able to play games, enthusiasts will be able to bring and buy arcade PCBs and parts, attend tech talks and order games and cabinets from suppliers attending the show. Of course, if you’re lacking the kind of room or cash to make your dream arcade at home there will be arcade T-shirts and posters for sale too. Finally, if you’re feeling lucky there will be a raffle for two candy cabinets imported from Japan, an excellent prize for any fan of arcade games.

Tickets are available now and cost £10 for an under-16s weekend ticket, £15 for an adult day ticket or £23 for an adult weekend ticket. If you are interested in attending or exhibiting, visit the Insert Coin 2009 website (link below). Expect more news about the event in the weeks and months ahead, which we’ll be bringing to you right up until we hit the show floor. Until then, hit the post break in order to read the full press release!

[Insert Coin 2009] [Discuss on the Forum]

Exercise-based arcade opens in Rockford, IL

Video games often come under fire from health police for being a sedentary activity, most recently in a UK television advert for a government backed health campaign which caused a bit of controversy. However, this is something that the Gymnastic Academy of Rockford hopes to combat by opening the new XRCADE. The arcade is full of games which require physical activity to play, such as dancing games and motorised climbing walls. It’s always nice to see attempts to relate fitness to kids on their own level!

[WREX: Workout arcade opens in Rockford] [Discuss on the Forum]

Space Invaders Piggy Bank

There’s a certain irony of a Space Invaders cocktail cabinet piggy bank. So much money put in to them back in the day, but now you get to save the coins this time around!

[via JeanSnow]     [Discuss on the Forum]

Joystick Coat Hanger

Brought to you buy our friends at Surface Tension is this super smart arcade joystick coat hanger. They will be available for purchase in the near future and you can even choose the colour of the joystick balls!

[Discuss on the Forum]

A look back at JAMMA 1986

GameSetWatch posted a very interesting arcade article today they call “The RePlay Files: A Trip to the 1986 JAMMA Arcade Game Show”. JAMMA is still held in Japan every year, but it’s always cool to take a look back at what it was like ‘back in the day’. 1986 would be two years after the video game market crash in the US, which crash didn’t affect Japan really due to the way the markets worked at the time. Of special interest to Sega fans, this is the show where Sega introduced OutRun to the market and as you’ll read in the article, the game caught quite a bit of attention there, which was a sign of things to come for the rest of arcades. The article we’re linking to is part I, they will be posting a second part shortly which takes a look at more of the games seen at the show which is sure to induce some kind of nostalgia for any of us who played some of these games from the late 80’s.

The info comes from the arcade trade magazine RePlay, which is still going strong today and is one of the magazines worth picking up if you’re interested in getting into the arcade business. Hit the link below for the article.

[The RePlay Files @ GameSetWatch] [Discuss on the Forum]

Asteroids Watch

From the genius that brought you the Pong watch comes this rather cool asteroids time piece. Video after the break.

Please note; game is not playable…… DAMN!

[via Oh Gizmo]    [Discuss on the Forum]