Stinger Report - 10/08/2020

TSR Newsletter | August 10, 2020

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-- The Stinger Report: Service Message --

The Global Digital Out-Of-Home Entertainment (DOE) Sector covered in The Stinger Report .

Wishing all our subscribers, famlies, loved ones, (and those serving) stay safe and well.

Kevin Williams

Publisher, The Stinger Report (TSR)

Entertainment’s Next Adventure

Part 4 | # 1032

Report Skinny

The Stinger Report continues our new chapter in its long history of reporting on the cutting edge in Out-of-Home Entertainment. In this latest part of the series, we look at the new opportunities for those emerging from lockdown – with the missed sales period, it is important to know what new products are in the mix. In this first of our two-part segment, we revisit out 11th Amusement Expo International (AEI) coverage with the needed updates.

Main Report

We start this first part of our retrospective of the new amusement products that are still available after we emerge from lockdown, and the opportunities to support the business under these trying conditions.

- Let’s do the Time Warp Again!

For many of us, it may feel that we have been living in a perpetual time warp, but the reality is that we are now emerging from our self-induced quarantine, and now need to restart our businesses, and gauge what opportunities lie ahead. Obviously, Stinger Report owner KWP has covered the key operator issues in our operators’ guide, but there is the added element of what other opportunities need to be considered.

At the time of writing, it is now some 153-days since the New Orleans 11th AMOA/AAMA-sponsored Amusement Expo International (AEI). This is the event that would normally act as a buying opportunity for the amusement operator trade, looking at the coming year and the needs to stay relevant and look towards future profits. Well, only a matter of days after that infamous show and the whole global entertainment facility business shut down; and we all are aware of what came next. Now, as we exit this self-imposed lockdown, we need to take stock in more ways than one.

As if encouraging déjà vu, The Stinger Report has recompiled our AEI’20 coverage – and updated it with the latest developments from those companies who exhibited some 153-days ago, in order to help operators reconsider the new hardware opportunities; as well as look at what new investments they may need to consider with the revenue that was failed to be spent back in March – especially as we lead up to a confused Q4 period, that may not have a physical trade event to shape buying considerations. We hope that this information will help:

- Video Amusement

Taking their usual positions at the front of the trade event, the major amusement factory satellites represented a strong lineup that has not changed since lockdown. While the Japanese parents have been releasing new titles for home consumption, the Western selection has stayed solid.

Regarding new and proven releases from BANDAI NAMCO Amusement America and Redemption, the two- and four-player version of ‘DC Super Heroes’ super-pusher was turning heads. Meanwhile new physical play was on offer from the new ‘Joker Vs. Batman: Laughing Madness’ multiplayer air hockey; along with ‘Red Zone Rush’, the NFLPA licensed game. Also presented was the completed production version of ‘Jumbo Jumpin’ – the light effects skipping game previewed at IAAPA’19. BNAA representatives stated that the machine has seen an uptake in sales due to its “touch less” play style – in this post-COVID market. Regarding previously-seen video releases, the company showed ‘Mario Kart Arcade GP DX’, with two-player cabs on booth; and alongside was the ‘World’s Largest PAC-MAN’ system (developed by Raw Thrills). This year marked the all-important 40th anniversary of the corporation’s iconic mascot PAC-MAN, and the company has subsequently pushed branded items and merch based around these celebrations. At AEI’20 the company showed ‘PAC-MAN’s Pixel Bash’, the coin-op cocktail cabinet – now in production after launching at IAAPA’19.

Another well-known exhibitor, SEGA Amusement International (SAI), had a presence at the AEI’20 convention with a wide selection of those third-party products represented across the prize and Redemption scene. Regarding videos, the final production version of the unique four-player shooter ‘Mission: Impossible Arcade’ was on display. While in the video racing genre, there was also ‘ATV Slam’ – the off-road all-terrain racer.

Driving innovation in the prize and Redemption scene, Innovative Concepts in Entertainment (ICE) had the big Videmption release on the show floor for their ‘Monopoly Roll-N-Go’ – a large spinning dice Redemption-style game based on the popular boardgame. The company also injected innovation into a proven formula with ‘Skee-Ball Glow’ – that sees a modern recreation of the over 100-year old amusement classic. Regarding Videmption, ICE had ‘Centipede Chaos’ – developed by Raw Thrills and based on the classic arcade legend. While the sit-down deluxe version was on display, the company also released a new stand-up three player cabinet variant. Regarding the post-COVID market, ICE has released their ‘ICE Game Cleaning Guide’, and are also offering 20-percent off new balls for all their products under these intense cleaning measures.

Another aspect of the current COVID measures is the number of amusement corporations that have increased their consumer product ranges to support the lockdown player base. Several “Home Versions” of popular amusement have gained moment. For example from ICE, as the company was promoting their “Bring Home The Dome” range. Meanwhile STERN Pinball, after its acquisition and prior to the health crisis, has grown its consumer (“Home Game”) range of tables.

Obviously, UNIS with their ’ATARI PONG Coffee Table’ system was pushed initially as a consumer Rec Room style product. UNIS has taken this one step further by launching an at-home lineup. Also released is ‘Bowl Master’, that takes the well-known Videmption title and scales it for home use. And the other aspect of this move is a lineup of titles focusing on games that encourage healthy and active lifestyles. The first of these games is called ‘Elite Games – Trampoline’, a game box and controller that registers the players’ movements, in an “active play” style for younger players.

The deployment of video amusement action in home-scale entertainment has also become incredibly popular through Arcade1Up – with their officially licensed range of miniature cabinets and bartops. The Stinger Report has covered the licensed TAITO and NAMCO content, and appearances at JAEPO and CES. The company is creating a resurgence in classic game play that has been fielded by the current consumer lockdown. This is a level of popularity which is concerning that the amusement trade is not capitalizing from?

Prominent distributor and manufacturer, Betson Enterprises, attended the New Orleans show with a wide selection of video and prize pieces. The new showing from their collaboration with Raw Thrills included the production version of ‘Nitro Trucks’ – the off-road intense racing platform, with striking new cabinet details. Continuing their big LED display classic coin-op recreations, the latest in the line was the new ‘Bust-A-Move Frenzy’, based on the popular ‘Bubble Bobble’ coin-op classic, licensed from TAITO (the Japanese factory represented on numerous booths during the show). Other released titles included ‘HALO: Fireteam Raven’ – now in its two-player theater enclosure cabinet variant. This cabinet and other theater enclosure style systems would later to be one of the first to be seen modified for physical distancing. The company also presented its entry into VR, which we report on later.

Leading amusement powerhouse, LAI Games, continued to roll out the hits, with their new ‘Outnumbered’ social media enhanced video shooter – the tournament feature of the game is finding much interest. In the more conventional physical game lineup, the US buyers had their chance to try ‘HYPERpitch’ – which won an AMOA Innovation Award’. This was alongside ‘HYPERshoot’, all sporting the eye-catching livery and design. Innovation was a factor shaping many designs on the show floor and LAI was one of two manufacturers who had applied the latest tech to a proven classic. ‘Amazing Alley’ is a Mixed Reality application of the alley bowling style piece, using overlay imagery to add to the playing experience.

Exhibiting their extensive range, UNIS Technology presented their interpretation of this game style of adding Mixed Reality to a proven game machine, with their ‘JetBall Alley Twin’, the skeeball style Mixed Reality alley bowler. Another interpretation of MR technology added to strong physical gaming, was with ‘To Tha Net’ – using a video display on the backboard, incorporated into the basketball hoops game (augmenting the experience). Also represented on the booth was the partnership with TAITO, with the AirSoft screen shooting game, ‘On Point’. UNIS also had their own successful VR product to present, which is covered later.

TouchMagix brought their new releases, hot from IAAPA’19, for the amusement trade in New Orleans. These included ‘Ticket Pinball’, a great take on the idea of a digital pinball experience, turned into an “easy-to-understand but difficult-to-master” Videmption platform. Also seen was ‘Space Warp 66’, the game now including a “non-Redemption” amusement mode. TouchMagix has, in the intervening time, released a new Health & Safety video for all its arcade games, that can be played during attract mode, to raise awareness and remind arcade visitors about safety guidelines and distancing norms. On the Valley-Dynamo booth was ‘Jet-Pong’ – a great take on the popular beer pong platform, incorporating digital screens with the physical game, with a unique ball launching and capture system, and an all-round fun and connected platform for the modern audience.

Andamiro USA came to the Orleans event with their physical Redemption and prize range of products. New from Andamiro are its movie licensed two-player ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’, and ‘Ticket Man’, along with a new mallet game ‘Krabby Patty Party’, and compact vending game ‘Soccer Safari’. Regarding videos, the company continues to be the leading Western provider of dancing-stage action with their perennial ‘Pump It Up’ series. Andamiro would later go on to create physical barrier units for application to their existing platforms, to support operators ensuring physical distancing measures in game rooms.

The Adrenaline Amusement booth, during the show, saw great interest in their new four-player version of their Videmption titles ‘Hot Wheels: King of the Road’; the concept can trace its development back to a Two Bit Circus venue prototype last year. Since this AEI, Adrenaline has added a brand new feature to the game, with two cameras incorporated to take snapshots of the player, linking their face with their car in the game, to enhance competition. Also following along their line of successful Videmption based on the Ubisoft license, came the new addition ‘Rabbids & Ladders’. Adrenaline is supporting the amusement trade post-COVID with their new message from the company being “Let The Fun Begin”.

Incredible Technologies was showing the completed version of the unique four-player kids game, ‘Retro Raccoons’ (developed by third party Glitchbit). The game has players take part in mini-games, with the losers encouraged to take a “sip” from their drink held in special holders and tracked by the game. Alongside this, the corporation has its evergreen releases with the latest versions of ‘Golden Tee 2020’ (31st anniversary edition of this legendary platform), and ‘Silver Strike Bowling’.

The popularity of “retro-inspiration” was seen from Polycade, with their ultra-slim wall-mounted ‘Polycade’ multiple-game platform. The two-player system offers a multitude of classic games to play; and the system is now promoting its pay-to-play operated variant, along with the free-to-play platform. As mentioned earlier, Polycade is a company that has been focused also on the emergence of the “Home Version” (Residential) amusement aesthetic with its ‘Polycade Home’. An approach now being considered by other amusement manufacturers under these new market conditions.

- VR Simulators

The importance of new innovation in the Out-of-Home Entertainment and, in particular the amusement scene, was self-evident on the AEI’20 show floor back in March – and while the conditions of business have been impacted over the last few weeks, the interest in VR has not overtly diminished. Alhough operators now must make harder decisions on how best they deploy this popular hardware. During the show, the core genres in this technology for amusement were on show, starting with the attendant-free “Virtual Ride Simulator” category.

Market leader in this application of “Virtual Ride Simulator” has been LAI Games – who had the latest example of ‘Virtual Rabbids: The Big Ride’ on show, now available in three sizes (Standard, Compact and Mini), with the system also offering a new ‘Big Expansion Pack’ including three additional ride experiences to keep the game fresh. With some 600+ units already in the field, this platform was one of the first VR systems to be put back into action in many venues after lockdown, and was seen to be still drawing interest from players. The company having recently released a "Hygiene Kit" containing retrofits to hardware components, to support the remerging market.

Marking a very strong period for the corporation, TRIOTECH came to the trade show in March, with their veteran video ‘Typhoon’ in 10-year anniversary livery and, in support of this, their latest foray into virtual reality with their brand new ‘STORM’. The platform had been launched at the end of last year and was already seeing some 200-unit orders – available initially with the Canyon Coaster interactive virtual ride; and the company offered a sneak-peak at their next Oceanic ride experience that will be released soon to support longevity of the platform.

Breaking into the lucrative “Virtual Ride Simulation” category and Betson Enterprises presented at AEI’20 for the first time, with Raw Thrills presenting a prototype example of their game ‘King Kong of Skull Island’. Offering the two-rider VR experience with interactive elements, the machine was being positioned to be highly competitive in this emerging market, described as a “a cinematic VR experience”. The company has been working hard on completing the production version during the market hiatus and it is expected to be launched fully at the AAMA Gala in September. The creation of a cost effective and versatile two rider VR simulator experience was not a new concept, and one of the first to develop such as system was RILIX – the company came to the New Orleans show with their ‘Rilix Coaster ’ platform, presented in a private hire and vending style operation configuration, and to be placed in high foot-traffic locations. This machine style will be under much scrutiny following lockdown, to gauge public reaction.