TLC Industries - The veteran cabinet manufacturer continued their attempt to expand the products available to the hungry market with an appearance at ASI. The company showed the completed version of ‘PowerShot Pool’ (FlexArcade) with the enhanced cabinet configuration and the use of the ATS system, the game now has full support for the American Pool Association; the product offering a opportunity to follow in the Incredible Technologies route to market in the bar and club scene. Also on display was the production version of the companies AMOA preview title ‘Texas Hold’em Select’ (FlexArcade). The game is in development for a European appearance with the company working on a new version that will support the UK SWP regulations to be distributed by a major UK operation. One of the other major showings on the company booth was the ‘Amusement Tournament System’ (ATS) cabinet offering a glimpse of the announced universal tournament infrastructure that the company has been working on with Stinger owner KWP Limited.

Merit Entertainment - Of the new systems on display beyond the company’s evolving touchscreen business, the AMOA previewed trackball game received a full launch at ASI. ‘Merit Boardwalk’ (PC Hardware) was claimed to now be complete but those that played the game voiced concerns on the graphics and physics employed in the content - and what had had been blamed on sluggish pre-production code turned-out to be the actual fielded hardware with the production version at AMOA.

It is assumed that the game is caught in the transition as Merit looks towards broadening its amusement placement beyond pure touchscreen. At the same time Games Warehouse’s acquisition in the UK of the SWP operation, will bring an infusion of better game development, though how this will manifest itself in the US market is still to be seen.

Carrying on the sudden trackball invasion, the simplistic interface element was promoted by Tsunami Visual Technologies, the company famous for its simulators showed their new title ‘Gone Bowling’ (PC Hardware). Building off of the brand created from the arcade version of the JVL touchscreen ‘Gone Fishing’ game title, offering flash quality simple gaming action (simple enough for kids, funny enough for adults) with a strong Redemption feature. The Tsunami simulation experience was still visible with the ‘The Fast and the Furious: Deluxe’ (Proprietary Hardware) motion variant of the Betson title; Stinger sources that Tsunami was working on other interesting projects for announcement later in the year.

The beat-mania scene made a prominent appearance at ASI - seen as one of the strongest variants of the amusement sector, beyond redemption. ‘Pump it Up! Zero’ (Proprietary Hardware) was on booth at Andamiro USA, the Asian operation publicizing their dancing stage game with the announcement of the World Pump It Up Festival 2006 (WPF) to be held on November in Korea. Across the isles and ‘In The Grove 2’ (PC Hardware) from ROXOR was displayed also in its new dedicated cabinet. There was little information of the status of the previously announced Andamiro / ROXOR relationship but the companies were showing ‘dedicated’ cabinet presentation - hoping to address the Konami legal issues that fundamentally circled the use of their content in kit variants on original Konami games.

Betson as previously covered in the Stinger ASI’06 coverage presented the Konami licensed ‘Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA’ (System 574) machine to the trade and saw strong take-up. It is hard to gauge the buyers’ thinking on which of the systems at the show will become the all out winner. It is expected that Konami will utilize their legal muscle to defend their BeMania credentials, but in the time they have taken their eye off the BeMania international ball has allowed ‘Pump It Up’ and ‘In The Grove’ to establish a loyal following in North America. TSR expects a second legal announcement from Konami regarding their brand in the coming months that should clarify the battle lines (watch this space).

The new development that ASI fosters was not in short supply, and brought over from Asia, the US show attendees had the most recent look at ‘Let Me Dance’ (PC Hardware). Clearly the derivation of the application of a Photo Sticker machine and a dance machine; the guest is able to record a music video of their performance within the booth style system. The machine actually cutting a DVD, and the software allowing the addition of cartoon characters into the experience; the machine is based on much of the thinking that has shaped the Second Generation Photo Sticker machines that are being deployed in Japan.

The need to actually place the latest technology into the market has always been a sticking point for a number of developers. Virtual Sports Systems is an example of a company that has moved forward, and not been afraid to use additional help through industry experts. The company came to ASI with their latest offering, the new arcade version of their tracking technology. Launched at Preview’06 in prototype format, the production version of ‘REALSoccer Jr.’ (PC Hardware) made the trip from ATEI to be at the US show. The system offers a high-fidelity football penalty kick system that hopes to have a joint life in both amusement and fitness application. VSS announced at the show that having shown on the Crown Direct booth at ATEI, the company had signed an exclusive UK distribution of the amusement version of the VSS hardware. The company benefited from consultancy support from Stinger owner KWP Limited to help in arranging this agreement and also in supporting their efforts in the international sector.

As stated in previous coverage the clamber for the same idea had caused some friction, and while VSS showed the production version of their penalty kick system, and GVR showed their original license from Innovative Light, ICE Games chose ASI to show behind the curtain their version ‘Striker Pro’ (PC Hardware). The game is just in the final throes of development with testing starting in March. No word on how this situation will play out, though the GVR and OCE concept directly compete where the VSS system runs on originally released technology. Also on display on the ICE booth was their redemption release ‘Zoofari’ (PC Hardware) offering a popular children’s take on video action.

Continuing the establishment of proven lines, Canadian developer TrioTech Amusement showed their ‘MadWave’ (PC Hardware) arcade motion ride to the trade with an increased library of films. TrioTech were in the middle of a number of negotiations at the show towards establishing their XS range of theatres. The company was linked to recent announcements from D-Box Technologies, the manufacturers of the motion used deployed in both architectures that they had received a single order from TrioTech for $450,000. The developer of the actuator motion system used in the home entertainment circuit and a fundamental component of the TrioTech motion system.

BugEye Technologies - the break away division of the Boeing team that created the lenticular display system (known as BugEye) - made more strides into the amusement scene. With the market interest generated by the non BugEye supported ‘Speeding Ticket’ (PC Hardware) children’s redemption game, the company showed its second attempt at using the BugEye lenticular optics system to create a compelling amusement products. ‘VAX ATTAX’ (PC Hardware) was shown in a practically completed version; the upright cabinet used a specially developed fps PC game, seen through the magnified lens display. The game was represented by industry stalwart Ken Anderson, who returned to BugEye after leaving to join VSS. He now retakes his sales position with the Speeding Ticket, VAX Attack and the last year launched ‘BugEye Racing Simulator’ (PC Hardware) in his catalogue of titles.

New industry name SurfNote Technologies, since last year has been working in the R&D of amusement devices mainly in redemption and crane, showing an increased interest in videos. The company début in Chicago the ‘Funny Touch’ (Proprietary Hardware) kit for any touchscreen system in the market; the system offering 40 original games in a flash style for operators of tired touchscreens. The company chose ASI to also show the ‘uTouch’ (PC Hardware) cabinet that offers a new dedicated system for operators - focused on the kid gaming venue 5-to-15 age scene.

Regarding the ASI event management - in information supplied to TSR from Vending Time coverage it was revealed that the Chicago division of the US Department of Commerce (DoC) sent several officials to the ASI exhibition on the request of AAMA, which in turn was acting on behalf of a number of American manufacturers. A complaint was made at the beginning of the year to the DoC that Asian copy products, blatantly infringing legal copyright, were being represented at exhibition in the USA.

One of the complainants was the company Family Fun Co., known for their redemption products which have seen erosion in sales from Asian knockoffs. The DoC representatives made it clear that they were putting copier on notice that the US department was ‘keeping an eye’ on infringers. The appearance was a component of an ongoing effort by AAMA representing their members, and the DoC has made available their Hong Kong offices to stop improper use of members’ images on Asian websites.

Breaking Stinger News - While the amusement industry defrosted from the Chicago chill, the consumer game development scene gathered in California and huddled round the possibility of this being the last year where many of them would still be employed. Some of the ramifications of the consolidating consumer game sector - is the merger madness that we in the amusement sector would be familiar with. Industry experts suggest that by 2007 there could be only four main game publishers internationally.

One surprise victim of the consolidation was the news that Capcom Studio 8, the American development team for Capcom, was closed with the loss of 20 employees. As covered in Stinger #458 the AOU show led to much speculation that of Capcom’s imminent acquisition - possibly by Taito or Konami. With the closure of their prominent development satellite resource some speculate that major announcements are immanent. This news came to light just as Capcom also surprisingly last minute adjustment of their annual forecast ending March 31st. This downward adjustment to ¥6.5 billion ($52million) was blamed on poor performance of sales in North American and Europe - and fueled acquisition speculation.

At the same time as the event the Japanese publishing arms started to activate management and corporate reshuffling. As Capcom cleared house international Konami Japan announced that their European operation would be refocused. Konami Digital Entertainment GmBh was announced as an umbrella company to the console, PC, arcade and mobile phone title releases, consolidating the previous group of European entities. As already covered Konami Europe’s amusement team had been given autonomy to develop territorial specific releases, though the company did not show at ASI, it was not reported if a major change would take place with this new announcement.

Konami was in full flow regarding their product placement with news of the industries first simultaneous Japanese home and arcade release taking place during April, with the release version of ‘World Soccer Winning Eleven 2006 Arcade Championship’ (Psyon System), and ‘World Soccer Winning Eleven 10’ on the Playstation 2, the popular home version having sold over 28 million worldwide in previous versions. The arcade system supporting e-AMUSEMENT, online, the product has also been linked to mobile phone content including game and ring-tone. All supported by the Japanese Football Association (JFA). The released arcade system is sold in a four-unit cluster with large audience screen. The production system now configured with the PS2 JoyPad controller interface.

The final part of the spring show scene is reported soon.