The Redemption Racer Is Here Raw Thrills Brings Unique Concept to Market Jackpot Racer turned heads at IAAPA Expo 2025 when it was first introduced. That’s because this latest Raw Thrills game isn’t only a motorcycle racing video game but a redemption machine, too. In the “rare and innovative redemption concept,” the factory says players hop on their bikes and race against the “Jackpot Racer,” aiming for the highest position while winning tickets. They also tout that its nonstop excitement encourages repeat play. Eugene Jarvis, the founder of Raw Thrills, said the company’s game developers have been kicking around…
Author: RePlay Editor
New Architects of Arcade Artistry How Zooom Studios Says It’s Redefining the Arcade Experience While creative innovation is the cornerstone of coin-op, outsourcing design and acquiring rights to finished games from overseas partners has become commonplace. Sprinting in the opposite direction is what Zooom Studios’ President Glen Kramer feels is exactly why they’ve enjoyed rapid success. Kramer says their “Designed in America, Manufactured Globally” model provides them with the flexibility to ensure that while the price remains competitive, the soul of the game remains rooted in the high-quality standards he has championed in the industry for years. He says…
Soft Play Keeping Kids Active Indoor Playgrounds from the ’80s Have Grown Up & Are Even More Vital As weather brings families to head indoors during the winter and throughout the year, finding ways to keep kids active “becomes more important than ever,” says the team over at Soft Play, which builds indoor playgrounds and other play structures for kids. Citing the CDC stat that reports childhood obesity now affects 21.2% of U.S. children and adolescents, a major increase from the past, Soft Play’s vice president Rich Albright wants to be a part of the solution. He joined the company…
RePlay’s Amusement Expo Product Preview – 2026 It’s Amusement Expo time so we email blasted game makers asking for the early line on what they’re bringing to the show and what’s special about each piece. What readers will find is a mix of games that are brand new and those that were previewed at IAAPA and now on the market. Since this represents only a portion of the game and attraction makers exhibiting, we advise keeping your eyes open as you walk the show floor for more. Click the page image or here to access the PDF of sneak peek…
“A Boxing Game for Everybody” IGPM Distribution Bringing Kalkomat Boxers to U.S. for 20 Years IGPM says it has the boxing game for every location. And it’s no surprise, given its general manager Peter Stolarczyk has been in the business for more than 20 years. Kalkomat, the Poland-based maker of the boxers has been at it for 28. With Peter’s background in mechanical engineering, childhood friends at Kalkomat had asked if he liked their boxing machines. He did and placed the first units in the U.S. in Chicago bars back in 2005. That began Interactive Games, Promotion and Marketing –…
The Road to Las Vegas Get Ready for Amusement Expo 2026! by Howard McAuliffe, Partner, Pinnacle Entertainment Group Who wants to spend St. Patrick’s Day and the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament in Las Vegas, surrounded by friends while conducting business that improves your bottom line? I’m betting the answer is everyone. Amusement Expo International (AEI) is the industry’s premier spring event, and for 2026, it is shaping up to be our most impactful gathering yet. While IAAPA is the global giant, AEI offers a more intimate, focused environment tailored specifically to route operations and family entertainment centers. This…
Small Lanes, Big Impact Reclaiming Prime Real Estate with High-Engagement Social Play Owner of Planet Novak & The Novak Network As I prepare to hit the pavement for the first leg of the Novak Roadshow, I’ve been thinking a lot about the “real estate” inside our facilities. Every square foot has to earn its keep. We all have that one attraction that perhaps was the “star of the show” five years ago but is now seeing its numbers plateau. For this month’s column, I reached out to someone who recently made a bold move to reclaim some prime real estate:…
And the Award Goes to … by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com Awards. What are they good for? Appreciation, recognition, a thank-you, achievements, validation, and more. The topic is on my mind after watching the Grammys, and whatever your political side, these artists should find another outlet to share their opinions. I think the chatter cheapens the value of a Grammy. Why not just smile and sing your song? An award can be given in recognition of years of hard work and dedication. The recipient feels great, and the rest of the people feel they have something to…
Where Talent, Need & Passion Meet Game Tech Starts Service Route, Opens Arcade in Georgia Mall by Matt Harding Shane Starr, the owner of Starrcade Amusements, started out his decade-plus career in the industry as a hobbyist. As a college kid, he had a Qix cabinet from the early ’80s that he converted into a multicade. “I used a broken Xbox controller as the USB interface and soldered all the joystick controls and buttons to the board,” he explained. “It was a chop-shop, mad-science little project.” His soldering experience and tinkering with electronics eventually got him hired at Chuck E.…
There are tons of good reasons for coming out to that right-around-the-corner Amusement Expo besides visiting the Las Vegas desert where it’s probably a whole lot warmer than where you live. You’ve heard it all before (see the new games and gadgets, meet other operators and game room owners, pick their brains, yada yada). All valid reasons as anyone who makes it an annual habit to attend and who does this show intelligently knows (i.e. planning which of the over 300 exhibits to check out and which of the truly useful seminars to visit). And if it means anything to…