Many years ago, Los Angeles distributor Al Bettelman asked me if I’d ever thought about putting machines out…actually doing what I wrote about so often. I thought about operating a couple of times but never got serious because I’m not very good at fixing things that run on electricity. And as some manufacturers don’t like to admit, these machines break down like everything else that has a cord coming out of it with a plug on the end. Otherwise, why do they all have service departments? Back in the day, thanks to the U.S. Army, I pretty much knew what…
Author: RePlay Editor
The Magic of Harry Potter Jersey Jack Brings Beloved Franchise Into the Pinball World With some incredible licenses already under their belts, the team at Jersey Jack Pinball has outdone themselves this time. It’s a game that company founder Jack Guarnieri has had in mind for more than a decade. “There’s a lot of great licenses that don’t show up on amusement games,” he said, “I’m happy to be able to bring Harry Potter to the amusement industry.” The license allows the game to feature all eight Harry Potter films in its immersive gameplay experience. Importantly packaged into the game…
Conquering the Summer Surge A Guide to Smarter Guest Flow that Speeds Them on Their Way to Fun! By Clint Novak, Business Development Manager, A&A Global Industries It’s July. The sun is out, the doors are open and a line of guests is snaking out from your front counter. For an operator, this is both a blessing and a curse. More guests mean more revenue, but that long line is your first – and most critical – operational bottleneck. During my nearly a decade as the general manager of Fun Land of Fredericksburg, I became intimately familiar with this challenge.…
Reviewing China’s AAA from Afar But with Keen Eyes on the Ground by Adam Pratt, Arcade Galactic & ArcadeHeroes.com While the U.S. market tends to focus on three main trade shows a year – Amusement Expo, Bowl Expo and IAAPA – there are many more of significance around the world. The global nature of our industry and the growth of product options have led to shows every month. Among them is the Asian Amusement & Attractions Expo (AAA) which was recently held in China. Although I didn’t get to attend myself, I have a great network of people I rely…
We are NOT the “Gaming” Business by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com I was recently working on a music license for use on a game when I read that an excluded channel of distribution was “Casinos and Gaming Establishments.” That term is defined as meaning “casinos, gambling establishments, gaming locations (such as arcades and carnival ‘midway’ areas) and associated retail venues.” So, signing this would mean I cannot cannot sell my games to an arcade! To me, the word “gaming” has always been a term for a gambling game or venue. In more recent years, it’s been used for…
Bringing 1988 Back! Why the Old School Philosophy of Grouping Still Works in Modern FECs for VR Arcade Games by Nick DiMatteo, Pinnacle Entertainment Group You shouldn’t be grouping games anymore, at least not like in 1988. Back then, all the gun games were in one row, the racers were side by side, and the only rules were grouping, noise and neon. But today’s FECs are different. You spread out the fun to make it feel smoother. You guide guests, rather than keeping them in one area, except when it comes to virtual reality. Strangely enough, VR is one of…
Elev8 Fun and Dart’em Up From Elev8-ing the Game to Foam-Fueled Mayhem by Barry Zelickson From a massive, two-story former Sears-turned-entertainment-epicenter in Florida to a foam-blasting battlefield born in a Texas backyard, Elev8 Fun and Dart’em Up couldn’t look more different, yet they share a mission that unites them: reimagining play for every generation. While Elev8 Fun dazzles with scale, tech and a full-spectrum experience blending go-karts, VR and craft cuisine, Dart’em Up thrives on simplicity done right, building community and adrenaline with foam darts, glowing dodgeball and heartfelt fun. One is a polished powerhouse; the other, a passion-driven playground,…
The State of XR in the Amusement Industry by Bob Cooney This is the 10th anniversary of VR’s beginning in the amusement industry. The year 2015 saw the emergence of Zero Latency and The VOID, two of the most revolutionary entertainment concepts of the last 40 years. While The VOID didn’t emerge from the pandemic, Zero Latency continues its rapid expansion with 120 sites across six continents and opening multiple new locations each month. Today the technology has solidified around industry standards, and there’s a proliferation of quality content and solutions from dozens of companies. Technology I’ve opted to use…
June was a busy month for a number of our state operator associations whose annual summer get-togethers give its members and their families a chance to socialize and kick back after a year that brought the usual pile-up of problems out on the route. What problems? Let’s just quote one tradester who once said: “Every machine at every location is a problem waiting to happen.” Trade people from Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota and elsewhere typically gather at resort-style locations around this time of year to talk some business, but also to get in some golf, boating and some other activities that…
You’re My (VR) Hero Hero Zone Aims to Make VR “Compact, Weekend-Proof and Profitable” The emergence of virtual reality a decade ago attracted a new generation of bold entrepreneurs who saw the arcade and FEC markets as ripe ground for innovation. However, building a successful product, let alone an enduring company, in the amusement industry requires more than a new idea – it requires a balancing act of understanding what consumers expect in the ever-evolving gaming market while responding to the unique needs of operators. A handful of companies have successfully walked this tightrope. If you measure success by the…