Within the arcade enterprise, there has all the time been a barely busier time for trade expos and arcade commerce present occasions, historically spanning from Fall to round late Winter/early Spring with the Summer time lull in between. As its dimension has shrunk in some facets for the reason that outdated ‘golden age’, that has develop into much less pronounced over time. However for one motive or one other, this early a part of the season has in more moderen years turned more and more frontloaded and busier than ever – there at the moment are at least 4 main arcade commerce occasions taking place over the course of the following three months, and some smaller ones in-between.

It may be laborious to maintain observe of every little thing occurring, however right here at AH we have now tried to deliver all of it collectively in a preview for the season forward… plus some early glimpses of latest video games we’d get to see at them, from quite a few titles which have been on check of late. Do bear in mind although that some could properly look very totally different, or not seem in any respect but. Due to Ted for serving to compile these, and everybody who has snapped pictures of them or supplied suggestions (Toby, Ryte, Jdevy, and Kris).

September

First off, September has already given us a commerce present that simply completed on the fifth – TAAPE, or the Thailand Amusement & Attraction Parks Expo. Held in Bangkok, there hasn’t been plenty of information on what was there that I can discover on social media, only one submit on LinkedIn from Firestone Amusement. They look like one of many originators of all of the taking pictures gallery video games we’ve seen out of corporations resembling JET Video games in a rebranded capability (Huge Shot, Mega Shot and so forth) resembling Grasp Sniper.

Subsequent is the second main annual Chinese language arcade present, the GTI Asia China Expo. It is going to be right here in slightly below per week’s time on the eleventh. We had higher than ever protection of the opposite essential Chinese language amusement occasion, Asia Amusement Points of interest Expo, again in Might because of website pal Oga-Shi of Sega Amusements, and it seems like he’ll in a position to attend this one too, so anticipate an honest dive into the present from him. When it comes to what will likely be at this expo, there are one or two attainable surprises that we can’t touch upon but, however Wahlap have made some bulletins on what they’ll have. Nothing new-new from them for now, however this video makes it clear Monster Eye 3 will get a extra outstanding displaying:

After GTI then comes the primary IAAPA of the season, IAAPA Expo Europe, held in Amsterdam from the twenty third. Although not as vital as the primary Orlando present (extra particulars on that beneath), this occasion nonetheless tends to have just a few new items to talk of, albeit most frequently in prize or redemption and never video. Relating to that, one uncommon idea that appears to be making windfall is the multi-claw crane… one thing that will likely be represented immediately by Leon Amusement out of China with their stab, Huge Six, however Sega Amusements have additionally secured Western distribution on one of many originators of the pattern, Playmore’s Excessive 5. This has been seen on check within the UK, and is confirmed to seem on their sales space alongside present titles from SAI and LAI Video games (who they signify in Europe), plus a brand new addition to the Allstars vary (Final Disc).Additionally at IAAPA Europe will likely be ELMAC, one in all Italy’s essential distributors. A current advert in Intergame exhibits they’ve managed to get in early on just a few new Chinese language releases, as corporations in Europe are likely to do (UDC and others could have some additionally). Of those, there’s Monster Eye 3 once more, alongside a pair that we had beforehand seen and might reveal now – Cranium Of Shadow (the tethered mannequin of which is beneath) and Air Fight from Ace Amusement. These have been on Ace’s sales space at AAA in Might, however had photograph bans, so couldn’t be proven in our protection. As a refresher, the previous is impressed by Deadstorm Pirates, and the latter’s gameplay was described by Oga-Shi as like Sega’s Sky Goal. It’s possible no less than one or two of those will flip up on the present, however within the meantime, Ace have began up a brand new YouTube presence with some movies.

Lastly, for a confirmed IAAPA Expo Europe displaying, Inowize have been teasing a model new addition to the portfolio of video games out there for his or her QBIX system. That has solely been posted out on their LinkedIn profile to date, so no embedded video could be made, however hopefully this hyperlink to it really works.

One different present taking place quickly this month would be the smaller AAMA Gala within the US. That tends to be fairly low-key (we didn’t get a lot info out of what was there final 12 months), though some surprises which are previews to what will likely be at IAAPA may make an look. Within the case that one thing new-new is noticed, will probably be talked about on right here when the time comes too.

October

October does no less than act as one thing of a breather, in comparison with the opposite two months inside our focus right here. However there are nonetheless just a few commerce present occasions taking place, and loads of attainable reveals to look out for.

The most important present of the month would be the fortieth annual Pinball Expo, being held on the Fifteenth-Nineteenth in Schaumburg, IL. Each Stern’s The Uncanny X-MEN and Jersey Jack’s AVATAR: The Manner of Water will likely be showcased right here, together with some distinctive “boutique” creations by collectors and fanatics. There may be normally an announcement by one of many smaller pin makers too, resembling American or Spooky Pinball. Whereas this occasion is primarily centered on pinball tables, there must be a small arcade presence, together with AVS Corporations and Alan-1 with Asteroids: Recharged. It additionally takes place only a few days after Uncooked Thrills’ Huge Buck Hunter World Championships, and as it’s in the identical area as each RT and Bandai Namco Amusement America, there’s a probability that check video games will likely be discovered at sure arcades within the space.

Past that, there are one or two smaller amusement-related exhibits to pay attention to. Over within the UK, there’s ACOS (Autumn Coin-Op Present) in the direction of the top of the month. That is like AAMA in that it’s much more enterprise and networking-oriented, and does pale compared to their greater commerce occasion EAG (the following version of which remains to be a methods off in the beginning of 2025). There could also be no less than one or two new titles from UK-based distributors like Electrocoin and UDC, who’ve already held their very own smaller exhibits earlier within the 12 months with few reveals. Sega Amusements and Bandai Namco Amusement Europe do are likely to attend this one too, although don’t normally unveil a lot of curiosity. That stated, if there’s something we’ll once more share.

Then again in Europe, their wing of the XR-focused occasion AWE will likely be going down. Some location-based leisure corporations have participated on this, together with a reputation that must be changing into fairly acquainted to those that observe current arcade releases (notably these from Sega Amusements), 3MindWave. They have been there final 12 months with an fascinating setup of VR Agent utilizing no cupboard, solely a monitor and the gun controller/headset. That truly made it seem like it could possibly be getting a house model, however the extra possible clarification was all of the logistical challenges with transport a complete machine out. 3MW quietly gave a sneak peek at Apex Rebels there too… however as per Oga and Pang Shu, they won’t be attending this 12 months. Nonetheless, it’s attainable one or two different outfits are going to be there with LBE VR ideas to come back.

In any other case, October will primarily include early pre-show bulletins for the next commerce exhibits…

November

November now sees two vital arcade commerce present occasions on two sides of the world, inconveniently sufficient held in shut succession. It wasn’t all the time this fashion, with the primary commerce occasion for the Japanese arcade trade, JAEPO, historically going down in February… nonetheless, since its reformatting final 12 months to develop into merely Amusement Expo, it’s now being held very near IAAPA in November. This does imply we may have fewer items of unique protection, with much less of an opportunity to succeed in it, however fortuitously there will likely be tons to compile from the Japanese gaming press and social media within the place of that.

A lot of the huge corporations did additionally nonetheless flip as much as final 12 months’s first try, however it was much less expansive due to this and the choice to run it for at some point solely. Although nonetheless held near the massive expo in Orlando, some issues have no less than been solved this time round, with the present being held throughout two days once more and a number of exhibitors again – together with exA-Arcadia – who gave final 12 months a miss. They amongst others must be displaying off one or two as but unannounced issues, however in addition to them, recognized new video games to look out for right here embody Bandai Namco’s upcoming buying and selling card titles Idolm@ster Excursions and Dragon Ball Tremendous Divers, while Konami could have this three-screen cupboard revamp of their Gitadora collection (i.e. Guitar Freaks and Drummania), in addition to an odd-looking “spot the distinction” recreation based mostly on a Korean character…Amusement Expo gives a take a look at video games which are positively hitting Japan quickly, however IAAPA per week afterward will after all have the brand new releases that will likely be out there out West. When it comes to these, not a lot is confirmed for sure this far forward, however a bit hypothesis can’t damage. Take into account, we’ll nonetheless do our annual IAAPA pre-show posts and video content material, however these will likely be performed as near the present as is feasible. Contemplate this to be a pre-pre-show to assist construct up some anticipation…

For a short while now, Bandai Namco Amusement have appeared like those to observe at this 12 months’s IAAPA, as with Taiko No Tatsujin launching within the US that month it’s extremely prone to be outstanding on their sales space. It was additionally strongly instructed at IAAPA 2023 that Goldstorm Pirates can be making its US trade debut this time. We haven’t heard as a lot about it as of late, however it might be shocking if it isn’t there. BNA even have a few different choices that would flip up – Bike Sprint Supply and Bounce Racer – plus presumably much more nonetheless. They all the time carry their playing cards near their chest in the case of IAAPA although, so the wait until November for what could possibly be one in all their greatest showings in years begins…

As for the remainder, there’s much less to go off of in the case of video video games, however we have now obtained some new videmption from Uncooked Thrills that would properly be showcased. Their newest collaboration with Play Mechanix, Offended Birds Growth, was seen on check over right here earlier this 12 months, and after not showing at Bowl Expo may make its debut at IAAPA if nonetheless on observe for launch. Uncooked Thrills have additionally simply begun testing on a brand new Wizard Of Oz title, fusing a pair profitable titles within the redemption scene: the essential idea of Monopoly Roll N Go, with the cardboard merchandising facet and licence that made Elaut’s Oz pusher so profitable. The place the previous was made in co-operation with ICE, this seems to be an RT-only effort. It’s nonetheless on check as of writing, so may but disappear and not using a hint – however contemplating how properly the Wizard Of Oz pusher and Monopoly Roll N Go have performed, a mixture of those seems like a sure-fire redemption hit.  Different prospects from Uncooked Thrills may embody the third chapter for Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR, and maybe a brand new VR-related product altogether, though the latter is theory on our half. Phrase on the road proper now could be that their efforts in VR arcade video games are nonetheless rising, however what video games they may have within the pipeline outdoors of those two huge licenced videmption efforts is anybody’s guess at this present time limit. All eyes will likely be on sure arcades and FECs, notably in and round Illinois, Chicagoland, for location exams (together with Dave & Busters’ new location in Lombard, which is opening up subsequent month)…

Elsewhere, not far more is understood to take a position on new-new titles that will likely be proven there by different corporations, however there’s a little inkling on what Sega Amusements may have in retailer. In our final Newsbytes, we talked about glimpses of a brand new sit-down model of Mission: Not possible Arcade noticed within the UK lately, so the total reveal of which may be one thing that graces their sales space. Aside from that, solely redemption is understood… however one barely extra notable instance of that seen on check within the UK of late is also Balloon Circus. This one is a videmption pusher, initially developed and launched by Sega underneath a barely totally different identify as a medal recreation in Japan earlier this 12 months. In the identical vein, it stays to be seen if SAI will host a showcase for Maimai DX (which simply had a brand new model introduced) on behalf of Sega Japan too… though it doesn’t appear possible, with its current Dave & Busters check receiving much less of a buzz than R1USA’s.In addition to different titles which will pop up at GTI this month, we’ll possible be taught who will get to deliver Wahlap’s aforementioned Monster Eye 3 over to the States at IAAPA, whether or not which may be Amusement Supply Worldwide, LAI, or another person solely. One other title out of China, Ace Amusement’s Wave Riders X-Treme, seems set to be going by way of Ace’s regular US gross sales companion Coastal Amusements, with it being examined out by them over right here and having already launched in Europe by UDC earlier on this 12 months. If that exams advantageous, anticipate to see it on the present additionally. Our mates at exA and Alan-1 with their unique produce will be in attendance at IAAPA as properly, nonetheless we will have to attend and see on any new video games from them

Away from pure video and videmption, VR’s presence has been slowly diminishing at these exhibits, though some corporations like Uncooked Thrills have been selecting up slack in that regard. One exception is likely to be Night time Heron Leisure’s Kung Fu Panda: The Warrior’s Gauntlet as reported on final month, though they don’t appear to be on the exhibitor map. They might seem at another person’s sales space nonetheless. Lastly, as for pinball, X-Males (Stern) and Avatar (Jersey Jack) already look like on lock to seem since they’ll pop-up at Pinball Expo… and there may nonetheless be one or two different new releases proven.

That about wraps issues up for this take a look at the arcade commerce present occasions forward this Fall, and the brand new video games that will likely be at them. Others will possible pop up on check within the coming weeks, so like a number of readers have performed with the titles right here, do you’ll want to ship over particulars should you spot one. Within the meantime, which of those new arcade video games and upcoming commerce exhibits pique your curiosity essentially the most?