Stinger Report - 03/05/2021

TSR Newsletter | May 3, 2021

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Entertainment’s Rotating Obsession

# 1068

Report Skinny

In The Stinger Report #1068 – This issue covers in detail:

1. [TRENDING NEWS] The important anniversary of the iconic SEGA ‘R360’, is marked in a far-reaching overview of the history of the attraction.

2. [TRENDING NEWS] Looking at the influences that led to the development of the pivotal ‘R360’, and the competition and deployment.

3. [TRENDING NEWS] Proving the game still has an influence on the market, this feature looks at the new contenders to the ‘R360’ throne.

4. [TRENDING NEWS] We also look at some future releases which hope to offer a new lease of life to the active motion simulation experience, which is still influential.

….and much, much more!

To read the full Stinger Report, register for your subscription here.

- The Stinger Report, published by KWP and its director, Kevin Williams, is the leading interactive Out-of-Home Entertainment news-and-views resource, covering the immersive frontier and beyond.

Main Report

Continuing the occasional series and marking important anniversaries in the amusement scene, one of the most iconic and beloved of the SEGA golden age of amusement releases is covered, along with the legacy it has had on the market which is looking to grow once again. This coverage of the golden age of Amusement Machine (AM) development is even more poignant considering recent developments with the corporation.

- You Spin Me Right Round!

It is some 30-years since SEGA Corporation wowed the world of video gaming and released, in November 1990, its pivotal ‘R360’, appearing the following year in the West. At the time, the system was the first of what SEGA envisaged as its “Hi-Entertainment Game series” and would later be described as Mid-Scale amusement (“En-Joint Space”). The ‘R360’ was SEGA’s “Servo Drive Moving System” (SDMS), a super-rolling simulator that offered a unique and active entertainment experience – the name was abbreviated from “Rotate 360”. The company would go on to manufacturer a number of these systems, and would capture the imagination of the 1990s audience. And as we celebrate this 30th anniversary, we are about to see a re-emergence of interest in this intense motion experience.

Where it all began [Arcade Flyers Archive]

The ‘R360’s interconnecting rolling simulator system was not as unique an idea in the amusement trade. The concept of gyroscopic rings used as a human powered attraction was seen in the ‘Aerotrim’ device of the 1960s. The human gimbal systems have a joint life as fairground attraction and physical training device, versions of which would go on to train NASA astronauts. The concept would see a new lease of life launched as the ‘Orbotron’ by Straylight – feeding of industry interest following an appearance in the sci-fi movie ‘Lawnmower Man’.

Extreme exercise and training used by NASA [Aerotrim]

The whole innovative gyro-motion concept would fuel the imagination of the amusement team at SEGA and lead to the creation of the iconic system. Before this, the SEGA AM2 R&D team had experimented with dynamic motion variants of their standard amusement pieces (what were called the “Simulator Machine Series”). These deluxe cabinets would be best illustrated by the 1987 release of ‘After Burner II’ and the innovative motion cabinet (double cradle type) developed for the game. This would prove an immensely popular “flagship” product, acting as an attention-getter for venues, and would lead the AM divisions to look towards centerpiece deluxe cabinet designs as a part of the production of new releases.

After a slew of exotic deluxe cabinets, the AM2 R&D team went on to launch their brand-new gyroscopic amusement motion system in support of their new game, ‘G-LOC: Air Battle”. Within this was launched the R360 motion system, but the team kept developing content for the platform. This came with ‘Wing War R360’, a unique network air combat concept, and ‘Rad Mobile’ based on the street racer. These latter titles would never see mainstream rollout but, eventually, SEGA went on to create a new game release for an updated version of the rotating platform, launching ‘Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram: Special’ in 1999. Only launched as a single attraction for the JOYPOLIS facility, this would become a move for the “Special” amusement developments from the R&D teams, looking away from wider distribution.

The updated R360 deployed in its final colors [SEGA]

Although only intended for Japanese deployment because of the exorbitant price (estimated at $90,000 in 1991) and operational requirements, interest from the Western operation scene to have the system forced SEGA’s hand, and small numbers of units started to find homes in facilities across Europe and North America. The UK was one of the first countries to place ‘R360’ hardware, with London’s iconic Trocadero “Lunar Park” being the first operator of the machine. Of the estimated 150 machines manufactured, at least 30-units would find homes in the West. Sites like SEGA World London (4-units) and Bournemouth (2-units), VirtuaLand Las Vegas (4-units), and even Disneyland Paris (2-units), along with many others. All would come to depend on its earning power, seeing machines moved from site to site. The machine was “revolutionary” and proved a strong draw, if operation could prove “temperamental” at times.

Bournemouth facility popular R360 setup in 1993 [SEGARetro]

The popularity of the platform was so cemented with the amusement audience, but there was no way to revisit using the original hardware for modern application. The hardware was dated, but also its operational configuration was not suitable for modern safety requirements (having been involved in legal action). So, in 2015, SEGA rolled out a totally redesigned version of the platform, called the ‘R360Z’, again for their JOYPOLIS facility, with ‘Transformers: Human Alliance: Special’. The new platform comprised two-seats and a modernized gyro-motion platform. However, this time rather than being developed internally by the AM team, SEGA farmed the platform development off to a Chinese manufacturer.

The JOYPOLIS special attraction [SEGA]

The Stinger Report has covered Chinese attraction manufacturer Golden Dragon, who had shown its ‘HERO’, a two-rider motion system that was identical to the ‘R360Z’. Although never confirmed, it was suggested that this was the manufacturer of the SEGA updated hardware. Many sources also spoke of original plans for the system to have seen a wider rollout in the West – as opposed to the handful made only for JOYPOLIS in Japan. But price and development/operational issues forced the abandonment of this project. With unsold hardware, Chinese manufacturers were seen launching their own variants of this approach. More recently, the two-seat design appeared as a product on the FuninVR website, launching their ‘Space Time Shuttle Flight VR’.

The new interpretation of the R360Z concept [FuninVR]

Other amusement developers also dabbled with the concept of dynamic motion, as with the R360, and attempted their own adaptations. TAITO released its “Dynamic Direct Dimension Burst Out System” in 1991, called the ‘D3BOS’. The two-rider system was a passive experience, using the gyroscopic ring platform, but with a fully enclosed capsule for the riders. Launched just slightly ahead of the R360, the platform was developed as a much more basic entertainment experience with film-based content, rather than interactive games. The company would go on to make an upgraded version of the system (‘Super D3BOS) in 1993. As happened to the SEGA system, the TATIO simulator ended up as a dedicated attraction for the theme park concept run by the company (‘TAITO Cannonball City’) and would never see wider circulation.

The passive film gyroscopic platform [TAITO]

Moving to the present, and the interest in a gyroscopic/dynamic motion experience has not diminished, and recently a renaissance in the approach has been charted.

In the Stinger Report 2019 IAAPA coverage, we charted a number of 360° motion simulator systems that were looking to enter the ring. One of these is EnterIdea, with its ‘AT360’ – what the company has described as “the new wave of hyperreality”. The technology in the ‘AT360’ takes the original idea of the amusement piece and grows it, creating a three-axis VR-ride. Like with the early gyroscopic systems, the ‘AT360’ is being used as a training device, allowing stunt pilots to acclimatize to the high G-loading from their planes’ manoeuvrers.

New interpretation of the gyroscopic platform [EnterIdea]

The other system seen at IAAPA’19 was the ‘Motion Sphere’, by the company of the same name. The system employs interconnecting rings to achieve the spherical powered motion platform, which the company stated could deliver 6DoF sensations and G-forces up to 7G. During the 2019 show, the company demonstrated an example of the ‘Motion Sphere’ representing a Supersport Car experience, but they already have a large library of experiences (cars, motorcycles, flights, etc). The system has already been employed as a promotional system in exhibitions, live events, as well as FECs and theme parks worldwide.

Highly dynamic gyroscopic motion system [Motion Sphere]

Continuing this approach to dynamic motion for a modern audience, we have seen several 360 chair systems using single actuators from China. There are many opportunities that a dynamic motion experience adds to a VR game platform. Numerous Chinese developers have shown their interpretation of a 360° experience, with the most recent plying this approach being entrant EPARK Electronic Technology, who revealed its ‘1080 Iron Warrior’ two-rider VR experience. The developer has also created a one-rider variant of the same motion system, scaled down.

Dynamic motion experience [EPARK]

Another Asian example of the interconnecting ring approach that has been previously promoted comes from Korean IAAPA exhibitor Sangwha, with its ‘GyroVR’. The system uses 720 degrees, three-axis freedom motion platform, and offers VR visuals of a selection of passive ride experiences. These kinds of platforms offer not only an extreme ride for the guests, but also a popular spectator viewing experience. Previously, the system has been used as an exhibition booth attraction during events, such as on the Samsung CES booth.

Extreme 720 ride experience [Sangwha]

Beyond those that were seen at IAAPA’19, there are other 360° platforms looking to break into the entertainment scene. Developed by start-up Eight360, the ‘NOVA’ is a single player simulator, fully enclosed capsule. It uses the company’s own proprietary motion system, that moves beyond the limitations of gyroscopic rings. Able to achieve 360-degree motion, the system has been developed for both training applications and the ability to emulate the motion dynamics of land, sea, air and even space craft, through VR motion experiences and integrated content.

Fully enclosed motion platform moving beyond rings [Eight360]

New start-ups developing dynamic motion systems are constantly appearing, and one of the latest is ‘Roto Loco’ from New World Rides, with a unique interpretation of the extreme VR experience. Their platform providing a full 360-degree rotational envelope for two players, using the latest VR game hardware and physical effects. Developed currently as a fully mobile platform, its is able to be placed in parking lots at entertainment facilities that would normally not be able to accommodate a sophisticated motion attraction. The Stinger Report will be looking more into the growth in interest in mobile immersive entertainment systems, a new trend gaining momentum in the market.

Full 360-degree rotating VR experience for two-players [New World Rides]

The enduring fascination in the original dynamic attraction has continued with the hardware. Recently, an original ‘R360’ would make headlines as an abandoned example of the classic machine would be found decaying at an Irish farm (yet another example of the abandoned amusement troupe recently covered in The Stinger Report). The media scrambled to cover the story that was revealed originally by the “Sega R360 & R360Z Fan Club” Facebook forum, supporting all things related to the rotating marvel, and the legacy it has left behind. It was speculated around 60 units of the original platform were manufactured, and only a handful remain in private collections or as museum attractions. So the sight of an abandoned system caused a stir on social media and saw several editorials written about the abandoned system.

Abandoned, but not forgotten [SEGA R360 Fan Club]

While it is unlikely that SEGA will ever make another R360, the enduring fascination with intense and dynamic motion simulation continues. With such a plethora of different systems available or in development, we can expect to see the successor to the innovative amusement attraction attempt to fill the shoes of this illustrious platform. Hold onto your hats!