Like clockwork, the IAAPA Attractions Expo opened this year to a stream of excited buyers, manufacturers and exhibitors. Many were eager to try out the latest equipment or to hawk their wares, and initial reports from the show seem positive. At the end of the day on Monday, Nov. 15, 21,100 buyers were registered to attend the show with a total registration of 32,400.
A slew of new video games are on the floor, from Raw Thrills'
Walking Dead Arcade and
Cruis'n Blast to Sega's
Daytona remake and
Target Bravo shooter. Bandai Namco made their U.S. debut of their wildly popular racing series with
Maximum Tune 5, a driver that lets players track their stats and customize their cars through a card system.
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Jack Guarnieri shows off how the smart phone integration works with his company's new pin, Dialed In! |
New on the pinball scene was Jersey Jack's Pat Lawlor-designed
Dialed In!
with a new pinball play concept: The game lets the player use their smart phone to interact and track statistics. Through JJP's app, the player can stand away from the pin and control the flippers using their smart phone, while spectators can interact with the game by activating different aspects to help (or hurt!) their friend's game play.
Ticket redemption pieces were seen throughout the show room floor as well. LAI's
Let's Bounce got a lot of attention due to its size and eye-catching appeal of the game's multitude of lights. Jennison Entertainment Technologies brought several new ticket games as well, including
Rockin' and Rollin' and
Jersey Wheel, a game they collaborated on with Bob's Space Racers.
Plenty of similar sights greeted the veteran show goers, but advances in technology as well as some new concepts may have surprised many. Virtual reality systems are present throughout the Expo, everything from Zero Latency's full VR arena system to UNIS' new
OMNI ARENA to full on theme park rides where players are outfitted with goggles to make flying through the air even more exciting.
Escape rooms were also a popular, new addition to the show floor. Several companies, including Creative Works who recently announced a big move into that attraction, were displaying what can be done with the new, race-against-time concept. (Look for a
RePlay feature on this early in the new year.)
The best part of it all? It's been impossible to see everything there is to offer in the first two days! The show continues until Friday, and
RePlay will have coverage in our December issue.
