Welcome to Newsbytes, our semi-regular series of posts at AH that covers the quicker pieces of news from around the arcade industry. Quite a few things have bubbled up outside of IAAPA, although we still have a lot to cover from that show – so stay tuned this next week, as we’ll finally be catching up there. For the other non-IAAPA items (e.g. new details on the future of Wangan Midnight and Bike Dash Delivery from Bandai Namco), keep on reading…
Bandai Namco Teases New Wangan Midnight & Bike Dash Delivery
When Japan’s Amusement Expo came and went last month with nary a single mention of any major new development for Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune yet again, a few people were surprised. For something that has been heavily rumored by numerous sources as early as 2021, the seventh instalment in that series has definitely been taking the long route in getting there. There are a number of apparent reasons that have caused several delays here (COVID disruption, operators rejecting a highly expensive cabinet design, 6RR+ being made as a stopgap, among others) but either way, things have seemed very uneven on it.
Today, we can at least say there is official confirmation of something moving in the series. Midway through last week’s livestream for the final of 6RR+’s latest championships, Bandai Namco showed a very basic, Japanese text-only trailer revealing that there is a “new project” currently in the works. Yet besides an official account for future updates and the information that it would be helmed by one of its long-standing producers and directors (Kazuhiro Maeda), that was it – no more. It’s not even certain that this will be Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 7 specifically after all. Whatever it is though, it does sound significant…
Meanwhile, for a much more detailed look at another new project that Bandai Namco have in the works, an in depth trailer for Bike Dash Delivery was posted by them only on Twitter/X in advance of the aforementioned Amusement Expo. Although it was already linked in our coverage, this piece of news got kind of lost in the November trade show shuffle with IAAPA inbound. Just for convenience and more visibility, it has now gone on our channel with some adjustments and translations (it was only in portrait):
Why BNA JP aren’t making this more prominent by simply cross-posting it on their own official arcade channel isn’t clear – not doing that leaves the door wide open for others to get more views on YouTube reuploads, some of which can be much more poorly done than the above. GoldStorm Pirates has had several of those since last year, though that one is at least on there officially now.
Also for those who are wondering or haven’t seen the footage from their booth yet, Bike Dash Delivery was not brought to IAAPA by Bandai Namco. However, as well as appearing at their Amusement Expo it is on test in Japan again, so it likely isn’t cancelled altogether. Do check back for our full site coverage of BNA at IAAPA soon too, as that might have some more concrete answers…
Spooky Pinball Unveils Evil Dead
Another piece of news that has been slightly drowned out by the IAAPA show blitz is Spooky Pinball’s reveal of their new Evil Dead. Why they didn’t unveil this during Pinball Expo, I’m not sure (perhaps it just wasn’t ready-ready yet), although their market isn’t really the operator who has been focused on the stuff out of IAAPA. Still, after watching this trailer, I come away with the impression that this is Spooky’s highest quality game yet, so it sucks that they couldn’t have a preview at PE… the game has already sold 500 units nonetheless, so it’s certainly becoming a big hit with Spooky’s audience:
New APM3 & NesicaXLive2 Titles
exA-Arcadia may be dominating in new joystick arcade video games, but there are still a few small titles being made outside of them on Japan’s digital distribution platforms. A major supporter of Sega’s APM3 has been Success, and in the absence of their delayed Cotton Rock N Roll 2 (which should be launching for it and exA next year now) they recently revealed two more titles. One that suddenly came out late last month was Shimensokas, a little-known puzzle game that was first slated to release for Examu’s eX-Board in 2009 before being cancelled. For a more well-known name, next May brings Sonic Wings Reunion, the first release in Video System’s shooter series since the 1990s. This won’t be APM3-exclusive though, with PS5, Switch and Steam versions. Success are pulling out all the stops for it at least, with original developers on board, and this big announcement stream from the Taito barcade Exbar Tokyo Plus:
It’s also worth noting that Sega themselves have now pushed a version 2.0 update for Virtua Fighter eSports (known to us on consoles as Ultimate Showdown) on the platform, which forms the basis for their new Virtua Fighter 5 REVO refresh on Steam. Meanwhile, AM2’s retro counterpart Virtua Fighter 3tb Online celebrated its first anniversary in operation on APM3 at the end of November.
Then for Taito’s NESiCAXLive2, there is the upcoming Super UFO Fighter Plus, an updated version of Phoenixx‘s cutesy neon action 1v1 battler. That first released for Switch and PC a few years back, and its new arcade edition was announced right after our last Newsbytes. Though the controls of this one sound very simple (movement and just two actions), that can lend it the “easy to learn but hard to master” factor, and the vibrant art style certainly stands out, drawing upon retro UFO Catchers. Those should also make it fit right into an actual arcade setting, whenever it launches (only “Winter 2025” has been said so far).
Of course, all of these titles will mainly just be found in Japanese arcades and not any others (only Super UFO Fighter Plus may be pushed to some official NXL2 cabinets at Round1USA). Meanwhile, following their major booths at Amusement Expo in Japan and IAAPA in the US, exA-Arcadia haven’t made any more big announcements just yet – aside from beginning to test Batsugun EXA Label 1.5 in Japan now.
EAG 2025
December offers something of a breather in trade show season, before the new year brings in some more. First and chief among those will be the UK’s EAG next month, which is promising to be its biggest since its first edition way back in 2010. Granted, this will be largely down to it now hosting two new subevents that aren’t arcade-centric – the London Casino & Gaming Show, and Social Immersive Entertainment Expo. The latter is of some relevance though, featuring a few companies more from our side of things; particularly Sega Amusements, whose booth will cross over into it and have some new developments. Expect some good coverage of this from our two UK correspondents (Kevin Williams and Ted Haydon)…
Chunithm Verse Releasing In Japan
The latter part of the year has typically always brought forth new versions for Sega’s two major rhythm games in Japan, Maimai and Chunithm, and once again the latter is getting one with the latest Chunithm Verse. Being pushed to cabinets this month, it does the usual refresh of its song list and presentation, as well as some slight gameplay tweaks. Some have also just celebrated the tenth anniversary of its original location tests in 2014… time certainly flies (we reported on those from afar, of course).
Headlines
A Full Reveal Of DSM Arcade’s Perfect Pour Will Take Place In The Next Two Weeks – Stay tuned!
Dave & Busters Dallas’ Maimai DX Test Ends, After Much Cabinet Transport-Related Delays – This of course wasn’t at IAAPA; one thing to note is that it will indeed likely just be a R1USA limited exclusive, and that even if it isn’t, it did take Taiko nearly two years after its first tests to finally appear at the show…
GoldStorm Pirates Gets Its Page On Bandai Namco Amusement Europe’s Site
TV Coverage Of Japan’s Amusement Expo, Bike Dash Delivery & Space Invaders Strike
Polaris Chord Is Getting A Big Content Update Soon – But will it make the game more popular?
Taito’s Tetote X Connect Goes Offline – The Creator Of It (And Sega World Drivers) Is Sad
Konami Officially Launches Raw Thrills’ Minecraft Dungeons Arcade Over In Japan
If House Of The Dead And VR Agent Had A Baby: Zombie Jail/Frenzy From Oculeap
A Myth Busted: Namco’s System 22 Didn’t Actually Use Evans & Sutherland Technology
“Double Dragon Neo”, A New Neo Geo Game Apparently In Development
Stern Updates 23 Pinball Codes In Anticipation Of Pinball Cup
Sega’s Virtual On Celebrates 29 Years Since Its Completion
Wahlap Releases A New Corporate Promo Video
China’s AAA 2025 Confirmed From May 10-12 – May actually be attending these Chinese shows soon…
Inowize’s Latest QBIX Game, Mummy Twist – Got to watch this at IAAPA, but didn’t have the chance to play. I took some brief footage but we’ll see how usable it is once I get to it
More New Trailers For Tokyo Joypolis
[Console Headlines]
Super Nintendo World Has A Very Taiko-Like Donkey Kong Attraction – possibly owing a debt to Donkey Konga too…
Taito’s Night Striker Is Returning Thanks To M2 – this looks awesome, and an arcade version would be even cooler
New Dynasty Warriors Prequel Coming From Koei Tecmo
The Sega Saturn Celebrates 30 Years Since Release – And So Does PlayStation
Pandamonium Reviews CAVE’s Proto-Initial D Game
Burning Rangers Director Wants To Make Another
AQUAPAZZA: Aqua Plus Dream Match Comes Home
Classic Sport Driving Is A New 90s Inspired Racer
The Atari 7800+ Is Now Available, Along With Several New Games
That’s it for this Newsbytes – we hope all our US readers have had a happy Thanksgiving. Which of the above stories (e.g. the new Wangan Midnight and Bike Dash Delivery previews) interested you most?
