Atari’s BREAKOUT Returning To Arcades As A Videmption Game

(Via Replay Magazine)

UPDATED: Updates below in red

40 years ago, Atari released a game that I personally consider to have been at the forrefront of the “Golden Age” of gaming – Breakout.

It has been a while since we’ve seen the iconic Atari logo gracing a brand new game in the arcade. I don’t need to get into the whole history of the company but the news today wasn’t entirely expected. Atari (not Atari Games) will be found in arcades once again thanks to the licensing of one of their famous titles.

The “New” Breakout

For those unfamiliar with the manufacturer, Coastal Amusements has been a strong promoter of “videmption” style games for many years. I first came across them when they brought Sea Wolf back to the arcade scene. Now, they have announced that they have licensed Atari’s Breakout as a videmption title. As you can see from the image below, the game will use a spinner control just like the classic of old.

As you can see from this picture, the game uses their 65″ screen cabinet that was designed for other mobile-to-arcade ports that they have been doing such as Subway Surfers and Temple Run 2. This design was introduced last year at IAAPA 2015. Coastal calls this cab its “Video Game System” or VGS for short (very close to the old title for the Atari 2600, the “Video Computer System”).

UPDATE: Coastal Amusements responded to my inquiry today. To answer several questions about the game:

Breakout is a combination of the original Breakout and Breakout Boost plus added software.

 

It will be available in kit form for Coastal’s VGS cabinets with software and graphics sometime after initial release.

 

Yes,  it is a Spinner/knob controller.  No to joystick.

 

Breakout is Ticket Redemption only at this time.  Operator can turn off ticket dispenser but this will not deactivate the ticket scoring options in the game. This may come at a later time.

 

Available in thirty days (Editor’s note: End of October)

This answer changes the Original Post here. For now this is ticket redemption only. They might release something like what Galaga Assault has, a non-ticket amusement mode built into the game. But this will likely depend on demand.

Breakout: The Ticket Redemption Game

From the release that Replay sent out, here is how the gameplay is described:

The iconic game is updated in a new ticket redemption format, which will challenge players to break as many bricks as possible while keeping the ball from draining. Features will include special bricks to give players a multi-ball mode, instant tickets for certain actions and all sorts of good and bad power-ups to keep the game interesting and challenge every player. The “Catch a Falling Star” feature allows players the chance to win a big bonus for even more tickets.

Judging by that and the image of the game above, this is most likely a modification of Atari’s Breakout Boost that was released to mobile a few years ago.

I will update this post as new info is received. I also will be attending IAAPA 2016 where this game will be available to play.

What are your thoughts on this upcoming release?