We’ve got a couple of items to discuss today, stuff that I meant to get to earlier in the week, but a failed monitor on my Galaga Assault (and several other tech problems) have been soaking up some of my “free” time (that’s in quotes because I have pretty much none, ha). We’ll start with the proper arcade release then discuss the console port.
Jamjam’n Jelly EXALENTE Available Now
If you’re into shoot ’em ups (“shmups” or “STGs” depending on your preference), particularly from the “cute ’em up” subgenre, then a new experience is available in arcades through the exA-Arcadia platform in Jamjam’n Jelly EXALENTE. This one has been in development for the past four years, so it’s been a journey, but for now, it is only available in arcades. I’ve played it a few times and really enjoyed what I played, which makes it a little tough to decide between this and Earthion EXA LABEL (which is also a great game)… <insertWhyNotBoth?memehere.gif>.
You can order from your preferred exA sales source, where it MSRPs for under $1400, and get it shipping now. Not having a console port at this time is also a nice bonus, which brings us to…
Fast & Furious Arcade Is Driving Onto Consoles
The other story today is the one you’ve probably already heard about: following the ports of Cruis’n Blast, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Big Buck Hunter, Raw Thrills’ Fast & Furious Arcade is now coming to home consoles (Switch *and* Xbox/PlayStation this time, unlike Cruis’n), as Fast & Furious Arcade Edition.
I have mixed feelings on this, but I am surprised that this port has happened so close to the release of the production version (which is still available). If it were Super Cars, then I think that would be easier to swallow, but that said, driving games don’t seem to be impacted in the same way that joystick games do when they take the arcade-to-console route (there’s some impact from what I’ve observed, but the game still earns so it isn’t drastic). Note that this isn’t Raw Thrills doing the porting but GameMill Entertainment (who does not exclusively port arcade games to consoles either).
I would still really like it if there was some way figured out to add the extra console content to the arcade versions (extra tracks/vehicles/levels at least) and offer it to operators as a reasonably priced DLC.
No date has been given yet, but it will launch on the Xbox Series S + X, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. Not sure why they aren’t also targeting Switch 2 on that.
One thing I’m quite curious to know however – how do other operators feel about this? I assume that if the earnings don’t drop hard, you’ll be indifferent. The arcade version also has the hardware extras, like the dual screens and for the DX the motion base as well. Perhaps it could have the effect of the console release boosting the arcade one, but I haven’t personally witnessed that effect yet. It’s a hard thing to measure really.
What do you think of today’s two pieces of arcade news? Would you like to play either of these games?
