Sega Begins Shipping Showdown Special Attraction

About a month ago we reported that the standard version of Sega’s latest video arcade driving title Showdown began shipping and today I received a press release from Sega Amusements stating that both versions are now available for venues to get their hands on.

We first heard about Showdown last year and among the initial news was that they were offering something we hadn’t seen in a little while, a “Special Attraction” format for the game. They came close to that with motion versions of Sega Rally 3 and HUMMER but OutRun 2 Special Attraction was the model that always grabbed the most attention from operators. The first news about Showdown Special was that it was going to ship with a unique curved display, which I got to see first hand at IAAPA 2014.

I thought it was a neat idea for the display but it was not without fault.  I heard a bit of murmuring about that from other attendees – the screen was very grainy in that you could see the black spacing between the pixels. As such that became more of a distraction than the pro of the panoramic immersion. The talk about that overlooked some of other aspects of the special version of the game – it was shipping as a 4 cabinet package that has a huge marquee setup with two TVs to show the current action, each seat has a swivel motion mechanism that offers some convincing feedback and they all have a unique dashboard that had a small LCD “radio”. I thought the game was fun with the focus on demolition derby style racing as opposed to straight track races that we usually see and the graphics are top notch as well.

Either way, Sega ultimately decided to ditch the curved screen tech and the final version of the game instead ships with “65” HD LED displays”. Everything else sounds to be the same and for big venues with equally big budgets, this looks like it could take the place of any aging Special Attraction setups to still be found out in the wild.

In fact, that is how Sega is promoting this model with their press release below. It is interesting that they mention the historical aspect of arcade racing titles with Atari’s Gran Trak 10, which is a game we’ve mentioned on the blog here more than once.

If you have had a chance to play Showdown already, what are your thoughts about it?

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Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Peter Gustafson
Day Phone: (224) 265-4281
Email: peter.gustafson@sau.sega.com
42 Barwell Business Park│Leatherhead Road│Chessington, Surrey│KT9 2NY│United Kingdom
P (847) 364-9787 │F (630) 860-7775
www.SegaArcade.com
SHOWDOWN’S SHOWING UP!
SEGA’S NEW SHOWDOWN SMASH-EM-UP DRIVING GAME IS SHIPPING NOW
London, UK 25 February 2015 – SEGA announces Showdown is shipping now!
About Showdown
Racing games are a popular format for video games – have been since 1974 when Atari introduced “Gran Trak 10”. Almost every racing game since has been confined to a track with the goal of getting to the finish line faster than your opponent. That’s all fine and good but it’s starting to feel a bit “Been there, done that”… SEGA decided it’s time for a change.
Building on their extremely successful partnership with Codemasters, (the team that brought us GRID) SEGA proudly introduces Showdown – a no-holds-barred, smash-the-other-guy-to-smithereens tour of motorized mayhem. In Showdown, the object is less about beating the other guy to the finish line as it is, well…. just beating the other guy to pieces. The only rule? Be the last car running. To get there, you’re gonna need to leave more than just a few marks.
About Showdown Gameplay
Ever wanted to know what it would be like to drive in a Demolition Derby? If you answered “yes” than Showdown is the game for you. Showdown gameplay puts you at the controls of one of 20 different high-octane wrecking machines. Your job is to unleash your inner mayhem in one of four different arenas:
 Race Off – Sure, it’s a race to the finish line but there aren’t many races where drivers are encouraged to leave a trail of destruction and wreckage in their wake.
 Demolition – Take the rule book and burn it. Your job is to smash, bash and crush your way in a Take-No-Prisoners, Last-Person-Standing, Battle-Royale of Attrition!
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 Knockout – What happens when you hold a demolition derby on a platform 40 feet off the ground with no fences to keep you from being pushed off the edge? Pure anarchy, that’s what.
 Crossroads – Throw a bunch of high-speed Instruments-of-Annihilation on a wide open track with multiple figure 8’s and you know what you get? T-Bones and we’re not talkin prime aged beef….

“Showdown lets players unleash that primal desire for wanton destruction without having to call an insurance agent to find out if the damage is covered,” said Sega Amusements President and COO, Paul Williams. “You’ll need to keep your head on a swivel or you’re going to find your car pounded to bits in short order by your opponents. This is not a game where ‘letting the other guy in’ will score you any points. This is every man for himself!”
To see actual video from the game click on these two links.
Showdown Video No. 1     Showdown Video No. 2
About Showdown Cabinet Configurations and Player Controls
Showdown is being released in two distinct cabinets.
 Showdown Motion-Based, 4-Player Special Attraction
 Showdown 42” Deluxe Single Player Sit-Down
“Location Based Entertainment Center, (LBE) operators have been asking SEGA for a new attraction game since we stopped producing the extraordinary OutRun 2 Special,” continued Williams. “The growth of this market segment and their desire to offer their guests unique, signature experiences led us to the development of Showdown Special Attraction.”
In Showdown Special Attraction, players are seated in front of their own massive 65” HD LED display that takes in your entire field of vision.
Showdown Special Attraction includes a long list of impressive features including:
 A Signature LED Lit Surround Marquee including 2 huge HD displays that show player’s real time reactions during game play and exciting Showdown TV during attract mode.
 Translucent rear fascia panels.
 4 Player positions linked for incredible head-to-head action.
 Pivot Motion Technology Cabinet Design. You’ll feel like you’re part of the action when the cabinet sways side to side as you careen around turns or find yourself unlucky enough to get T-Boned by one of your “friends”.
 An authentic dashboard with race ready working dials, warning lights and switches. There’s even a 5.1 surround sound system that blasts the roar of the race at you from all sides and an actual working “Wreckage Radio” you can tune to some of the highest energy rock stations you’ve ever heard!

In Showdown 42” Dlx, you get all the gameplay action of the Special Attraction in a footprint that allows access to a great many more locations. Perfect for pizza-cades, movie theatres, bowling centers, big box retail and more – Showdown 42” Dlx. will attract players in a way no driving game has been able to for a long time.
About Showdown – Assembled Dimensions
 Showdown 4-Player Special Attraction: D88” x W366” x H113”
 Showdown 42” Deluxe Single Player Sit-Down: D71” x W51” x H81”

About Showdown Availability
Both the Showdown Special Attraction and 42” Dlx are available for immediate delivery. Check with your local Authorized SEGA Distributor or SEGA Amusements Sales Representative to find out when they’ll be showing up in your area.
About SEGA Amusements
Serving markets across the globe, SEGA Amusements is a wholly owned subsidiary of SEGA Corporation, Japan. SEGA Amusements is an industry leader in creating state-of-the-art interactive video, photo-tainment, self-contained merchandisers, kiddie rides and redemption games. Products range from single-player upright video games, to self-contained merchandising games, to multiplayer attendant operated simulators.