We are well and truly in the thick of trade show season now, with IAAPA coming up in a few days and the Japan Amusement Expo just wrapping up. The former will inevitably have more major announcements and new product showcases relevant to us in terms of releases for the West, but as there is always a good interest in what Japan is doing and at least some new games here, this full recap post serves to cover that.
Thanks to all those on the AH Discord server (e.g. Nsm, and Ted, who also gets a special thanks for drafting this up) who have been following the events there closely and providing any relevant information, in absence of being there. Any last minute updates will be added too, so check back if some do appear…
Japan Amusement Expo 2024
For a quick refresh on Japan’s Amusement Expo if you missed previous coverage, it is the reformatted replacement for JAEPO, their industry’s main trade event since 2013. That didn’t get held for a couple years following COVID, and after one final JAEPO was held in February 2023, the Japan Amusement Industry Association (JAIA) announced they would be reworking the show to try and improve attendance.
This has involved renaming it to simply “Amusement Expo” and moving from the further out Makuhari Messe center to the more central Tokyo Big Sight, as well as a more concerted effort behind side events for the general public. As mentioned before though, they have also been holding it unfortunately close to IAAPA in November, and that looks to be happening for a third time next year… despite one or two complaints.
Bandai Namco Amusement
Bandai Namco Amusement’s booth contents aren’t all that different to last year’s showing, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have new arcade games to check out – most of these still haven’t been released yet (or are just about to). Also, not for the first time there were some strong hopes and rumors that Maximum Tune 7 would finally be announced too… but it looks like that’s been held back yet again. At least two games here will definitely be reaching Western shores though, including two confirmed for IAAPA.
Taiko No Tatsujin
Though a fully fledged new version of it was not shown off here, Taiko is first up in this post for a couple of reasons. Bandai Namco does have some new things for it in Japan – they revealed that new, higher quality drum surfaces will be available soon, alongside sound separators for multiple cabinets. But more pertinently to us, just before the expo kicked off it was finally confirmed on Bandai Namco Amusement Europe’s website that the game will be receiving its official US-only launch at IAAPA. That looked likely considering the November timeframe we were given back in July, but it’s good to have that clarity now.
GoldStorm Pirates
Hot on the heels of our Q&A on the game with Steve and Josh from BNAA and BNAE, and just before its own official launch to the Western arcade industry at IAAPA, GoldStorm Pirates is also being shown off here as its release is finally in sight for the East too. We’ve mentioned before how some cabinets are already reaching Namco’s own Japanese locations, with the full JP launch next month, but while we’re here it’s worth noting another test for it has landed in the States at the Round1 in Fox Valley Mall, IL, where an Animal Kaiser Plus and Bandai Gachapon Shop have also popped up (thanks to Ryte for that info).
Bike Dash Delivery
Unlike GoldStorm, Bike Dash Delivery is a title that hasn’t been so relevant of late. It did get tested out in Japan several times, and even once out West by Round1USA (where it apparently did “merely okay”), but things have been quiet on the release since Spring. That has changed now though with it reappearing here in a more finalized capacity. Just before the show started, Bandai Namco even quietly posted out a good look at how the game plays with its first official trailer. The only question is, will this be at IAAPA? It isn’t part of BNAE’s aforementioned booth preview, but perhaps they want to drop a surprise or two on us still.
Idolm@ster Tours
One work that most likely won’t be releasing out West any time soon is this one. Though the name doesn’t carry much weight outside Japan (besides among its dedicated fans), Bandai Namco’s Idolm@ster series is one of their bigger original arcade IPs from the 21st century, with this game returning it to where the property got its start in the 2000s. Originally announced way back at the last JAEPO in February 2023, it has been through rigorous testing since then, and serves as BNA’s centerpiece here. By all accounts it got a lot of attention, though whether it will be a success on its Spring 2025 release remains to be seen:
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Elsewhere on Bandai Namco’s own booth, they also had a new instalment in their popular Fishing Spirits videmption series. They have tried bringing it over on occasion, both in arcades and on console, so perhaps this will get a shot outside Japan too. Besides that, there was a big area for their new-style Clena cranes (which also released overseas when they were still known as Clenaflex), and a hefty push of their business sustainability values – e.g. featuring actual Namco amusement center staff helpfully manning the booth.
The Taiko and Wani Wani Panic kiddie rides we first saw at the AAA and GTI shows in China were there too, though from the looks of things these won’t be released in Japan (despite having Japanese text here).
Their subsidiary for limited sales of American and Chinese products into Japan, Bandai Namco Technica, was additionally around again. They interestingly brought the flatscreen model of Adrenaline Amusements’ Drakons Realm Keepers and a new Minions darts game from TouchMagix, both of which will be at IAAPA, and what now feels like the fourth or fifth version of what was originally made by Leon Amusement as Top Gun (which JET released as Quick Shot, and Electrocoin as Skill Shooter) – Top Shooting.
exA-Arcadia
exA-Arcadia made a show of force here, after not attending the first reformatted expo last year. All of their new games were announced pre-show in an exALive stream, which was covered on AH a couple days ago now, but some got their first hands-on appearances as part of their space on the show floor. At least a couple more were expected to be revealed… however, it looks like these are being held over now.
Earthion EXA Label
exA’s version of Yuzo Koshiro’s new indie Mega Drive shooter looks like it was one of their most popular titles, judging from official Sega historian Yosuke Okunari’s praise and this guy in an MD jacket playing it:
Asuka 120% Exallent
This new version of Asuka 120% appeared in a more final form here, after originally being announced at EVO Japan 2024 in late April. Though the game is nearer completion it won’t be out until next year.
Airgallet EXA Label
Airgallet EXA Label was revealed just before Asuka 120% at Shooters Fes 2024 in early April. This has art from Toaplan original Junya Inoue, as well as an arranged Keio Keishi OST. It should be landing soon.
Bunny Bomber Blast!
Besides Earthion, another new exA release shown off was Bunny Bomber Blast!, on the left here with it and Airgallet. This is a new indie effort, coming from Hiulit’s Game Studio and fuses Dig Dug with Bomberman:
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Alongside the above titles, exA had a fuller range of existing games on hand, including some in their new ARC-32 cabinets that can be seen in the booth shot. For a full rundown of those check out this exafan.jp post, but a couple examples worth noting are Batsugun EXA Label‘s new 1.5 version, and Vanguard Princess R has returned after a bit of uncertainty with the rights situation (that’s all been resolved now).
Virtually all of these games (and two further new ones that will appear only in a private capacity) will of course be at IAAPA next week, where exA are also returning with a booth of their very own once more after a year out. Again it initially looked like those unannounced two would be revealed at AM Expo, but it was never 100%, and things did not come to pass. They will get there eventually though…
Konami
Unlike last year, Konami did not hold their Konami Arcade Championship tournament event on the same day at the show’s venue. Whether that has something to do with 2023’s furore among overseas DDR players being barred from participating is unknown – but they still had some things going on at their own booth this year, this time promoting other competitive aspects of their rhythm games.
Gitadora Arena Model
The main new focus of their own was of course the new Arena model of Gitadora, following its recent location tests in Japan. The version showed off here did have a few software differences, although there is no sign on if Round1USA will be getting these. For now, Konami have been attempting to push the cabinets in Japan with their stage event involving Bemani Pro League team members and a photo area:
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Though it was announced in advance, a big surprise for some who haven’t been following things closely is that Konami will be selling Raw Thrills’ Minecraft Dungeons Arcade into Japan. This has been tested by them a number of times over the past year, and the indications are that it will do well there – a recent Round1JP financial report even singled it out as a new game being rolled out to all locations.
In the event that it doesn’t become a success there though, Konami have got their own card game more hyper-focused on Japanese tastes, Monster Retsuden Oreca Battle 2. The tests of that earlier this year grabbed a lot of attention, alongside those for the recently-released Dragon Ball Super Divers by Bandai Namco… although it sounds like the latter isn’t doing as well as expected out of the gate.
Sega
Sega’s booth here looks like a real grab-bag of variety, with even their Dartslive side business getting its own corner. However, a lot of focus is again on their newest UFO Catchers, medal games, and photo booths for Japan. One of said medal games seen on a screen below might actually be releasing out West soon via Sega Amusements, having been recently spotted on test in London, but still…
Initial D The Arcade
One of the exceptions to the above is Initial D The Arcade, long yearned for by core fans in the West but blocked since the 2000s by differing casual tastes and network complexities. The latest version of it is being pushed heavily with a main stage event surrounding its current new team-based tournaments, which revitalize that side of things (official competitive events for it have gone on for years, but always only 1v1).
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Some of the other varied things going on at Sega’s booth have included a nicely-organized Arcade Game History area. As well as the classics (Daytona, HOTD, After Burner) and vintage non-video pieces like their 1960s SEGA-1000 jukebox (spot the familiar face on the records above it), they also put up a big wall of flyers featuring fan favorites like Gunblade NY, and a timeline of major releases.
(I’ve long thought that we should be doing this for our shows here; if not by a company, pay a collector to set up a nice area like it… or anyone who cares about the legacy of these games)
Meanwhile for something actually new, there was their curious new Paw Patrol kiddie ride, which sets itself apart from the pack with a card vending feature and some basic gameplay, similar to a few older examples made by Sega. It’d be much more neat to see that concept applied to one of their own IPs again like Sonic, especially considering that’s been resurging in popularity among kids of late…
Taito
Taito have had smaller booths at even Japanese trade events for some years, but they usually always pack a lot into them, with at least one or two interesting new things. The only coin-op examples of those here are an already released game and the new prize machine Getter Spin G (the Wahlap import version of which has been spotted on test in the US recently via Round1), though there is more besides.
Street Fighter 6 Type Arcade
Initially it looked like this was going to be a no-show, but Taito simply brought Street Fighter 6 Type Arcade out on the general public day only. That makes sense as it released last December, albeit just in Japan and at Round1USA locations as mentioned before. Nonetheless, it doesn’t hurt to promote the community side of the game as they have also done, especially with this fun lineup of hosts:
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The rest of Taito’s booth was largely dedicated to showcases of their recently-opened location-based entertainment centers, such as Bootverse, Rakugakids, and Exbar. One highlight of their new facility concepts shown off was this – Space Invaders Strike. Baseball might seem like an ‘out there’ thing to cross the game over with in an immersive reality room, but that’s what Taito have done with it:
It also looks like they had an imported kiddie bicycle game from China localized into Japanese, though there isn’t much detail on that one out there. If you want to see several different photos and videos of Taito’s cute Bub mascot costume though, check here, here, and here… would be cool if that came along with the personnel they’re dispatching to check out the IAAPA show floor next week.
Capcom
After continually downsizing their arcade businesses and entrusting Taito with major games like SF6 Type Arcade, Capcom have been hit and miss with turning up for Japan’s trade events, with no booth presence at the last few JAEPOs. They did re-emerge for the first Amusement Expo last year though, and are appearing again here, even if only with one major video release to speak of…
Onishuma VR Shadow Team
If you missed the focus on this in the show preview the other day, or other sites’ reportage of it, Capcom’s hack and slash adventure series Onishuma is arcade-bound for the first time after over 20 years of being a console concern. This replaces Street Fighter VR, which despite being location tested went out for homes instead. It’s still unclear if this is going to be sold to locations other than Capcom’s own though:
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The rest of Capcom’s booth is less of interest to us with no other new arcade titles, but just to make sure one of their other flagship series wasn’t completely unrepresented, Street Fighter 6 was shown off by them too in a special eSports Club player exhibition match. The point of that seems a little counterproductive, with it being the home version and all – yet that’s how Capcom run themselves now…
For everything else less relevant, there is a decent chance to check in with how Capcom’s location operation business is still going – lots of easy focus on prize games, photo booths and gachapon stores. They do at least leverage some big video game IPs for this a bit, with the likes of Street Fighter and Phoenix Wright receiving more exposure (the latter even got a Joypolis attraction by Sega a while back).
Other Exhibitors + Areas
A number of smaller companies have always attended Japan’s trade shows, though the amount and prominence of them has varied. One coming up on the rails this year is interestingly GiGO – who did attend last time, but didn’t have much to show for themselves yet. Now though, they have got the Breaking Down punching game, and their own GiGO crane machine, which apparently hogged a lot of attention.
Marvelous also showed up with a new original prize game, Try Catch, which looks like it could work out West, as well as their latest kids card battler Pokemon Frienda that launched earlier this year. We’ve said it would go down well elsewhere too thanks to the big license, but that would make things more expensive (and Marvelous haven’t been pushing their Naruto card game over here for very long):
Smaller outfits like Kaga Amusement (who are also making the GiGO crane) sometimes try to bring games from China over; here, they had Air Strike and Surfing League from Ace, whilst Safari Games had Ace’s Skull Of Shadow, plus a shooter from UNIS that looks new. Other Chinese machines on smaller booths were largely the neon cranes, including Dreamfuns’ new Japanese base presence.
Complementing all the booths, one thing that has increased recently with the event reformatting has been public-focused side shows. The most significant of these is the Amusement Music Festival, which ties together all the rhythm game wings of Bandai Namco, Sega, Taito and Konami into one stage concert. That stage was also used for a seminar on arcade industry jobs for students during the first day.
Overall
So that’s a wrap on the Japan Amusement Expo 2024. Despite there being a few interesting new titles on most of the major booths, it’s a slight shame there weren’t really any fresh announcements made from the show itself this time – at least game-wise. But then with exA announcing most things in their pipeline pre-show, and Bandai Namco still holding over the much-rumored next Maximum Tune (if it’s even still happening by this point…), that didn’t exactly leave much to take their place.
Visitor numbers haven’t been released at the time of this being published, but there is a suggestion that they have been good on the business day at least. A lot of that would probably be down to crane machines – we haven’t had much focus on them but pretty much every company did have a new example of those, and a number of Chinese manufacturers with their ‘new wave’ neon iterations were around too. Still, they could be even higher if they just decided to not hold the show mere days before IAAPA…
For some extra coverage by Japanese gaming sites and press, check out the below links:
Which of the new arcade games at Japan Amusement Expo 2024 interest you most? Which would you like to see at an arcade near you?
