TouchTunes held an Operator Awards ceremony on March 18 at Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Bar in Las Vegas. They also presented a $50,000 check for Angelina’s Song, the nonprofit that provides grants to children’s hospitals to support music therapy programs. A Lifetime Achievement Award went to Ralph Amick of The New Venco Music; their Partnership Excellence Award went to David George of Bell Music Co.; their Trailblazer Award went to Ryan Harris of Ellis Amusement; and their BullShooter Bullseye Award went to Jim Turntine of Play-More Coin Op. “The Operator Awards at Amusement Expo is our favorite time to celebrate…
Author: Matt Harding
After 27 years in business, Andretti Thrill Park in Melbourne, Florida, has closed. The site will be redeveloped into a 324-unit apartment complex, Florida Today reported. According to Parade, the closure was a result of the 16-acre park’s age. “It’s simply that the facility is 27 years old,” explained owner Eddie Hamann. “It requires a lot of maintenance, and it was time to look at what the future holds.” The venue had offered go-karts and other attractions. Hamann is also an owner of the popular Andretti Indoor Karting & Games.
Taito Milestones 4 recently released on the mobile video game console Nintendo Switch, Vice reported. It’s the fourth such bundle of classic arcade games to be available on the Switch. Taito, along with Clear River Games, have collaborated on the releases since 2022. The most recent games to hit the platform are Arkanoid, Bonzee Adventure, Cameltry, Don Doko Don, Field Day, Kuri Kinton, Ninja Kids, Syvalion, Typhoon Gal and Water Ski. Among earlier games as part of the Taito Milestones series were Alpine Ski, The Legend of Kage, Qix and Bubble Bobble.
The School for Bowling Center Management will convene for their once-a-year event from April 19-24 at BPAA’s International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas. Organizers say the program is “designed specifically for bowling center owners and operators, providing real-world strategies that increase profitability and reduce stress.” Topics will include marketing, food and beverage, annual planning strategies and tactics, human resources, leadership and time management. Click here to enroll or visit www.bowlinguniversity.net for details. Registration is $1,499 for BPAA members and $2,999 for non-members.
The VR Collective recently reported that extended reality company Pico is coming out this year with “Project Swan,” a new headset that “promises to push the boundaries of hardware performance and software capabilities.” The headset will feature a dual 4K display setup where each eye is presented with a 4K resolution panel, “significantly enhancing visual clarity compared to many existing XR headsets.” According to Wired, Pico is owned by ByteDance, the Chinese company best known for creating TikTok. The new Project Swan headset will use the company’s latest operating system, Pico OS 6.
Amusement Entertainment Management recently gave their congratulations to brothers Doug and Jeff Mechling, owners of Star Lanes Polaris, which won AAMA’s FEC of the Year award at Amusement Expo. “When you’re the best at what you do, the world takes notice,” said Jerry Merola, AEM’s managing partner. “The amusement industry could not ask for a better example of a successful brand strategy, thanks to the commitment of Doug and Jeff Mechling.” The 35,000-sq.-ft. bowling entertainment center opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 2013. Learn more about them at www.starlanespolaris.com and about AEM at www.aemllc.com.
A new arcade bar and restaurant – Deep 6 Arcade – is slated to open in late May in Stratford, Connecticut, the New Haven Register reported. One of its owners, Justin Greenfield, said he grew up going to arcades in the state and had a pinball machine he played and maintained since he was 13. “It just grew into waiting for the opportunity to build something bigger,” he said. The arcade will be comprised around “classic games that defined generations.” Greenfield and company also run an Arcade Repair Near Me program, which is a tech service business that fixes up…
The latest iteration of the Revolution photo booth from Digital Centre now comes with their updated Britta V5 software, which they say brings a “fresh layer of excitement and performance to one of the most eye-catching units on the market.” “Keeping the experience exciting and easy to use is key in today’s market and Britta V5 reflects that approach with a modern look and improved gameplay feel,” the company added. The booth is known for its LED design and exterior video wall that displays guest photos in real time. Click here to learn more about the product at www.digital-centre.com.
The recently-opened Level Up Bowl & Bistro in the Los Angeles area has partnered with Sacoa Cashless System for their technology. Sacoa installed their Spark Readers, K5 Kiosks, Redemption 2 software and mRedemption (mobile redemption) for a streamlined prize-claiming process. “Boutique bowling, elevated dining, a modern arcade, digital darts and a true community vibe, powered by Sacoa Cashless,” touted Sacoa USA CEO Sebastian Mochkovsky. “We are proud to be part of South Bay’s new go-to spot for fun, connection and unforgettable memories.” Added the facility’s owner, Raman Walia: “We are incredibly grateful to Sacoa and their team for the support…
The International Adventure & Trampoline Parks Association recently released a new safety video available at no cost to park members. It was made to help parks educate guests on the safest ways to enjoy trampoline and adventure park attractions. “Safety is a top priority across the adventure park industry,” said Alexis Kierce, executive director of IATP. “This video gives our member parks another helpful tool to educate guests and reinforce safe play before they step onto the attractions.” The association is also gearing up for the IATP Annual Conference & Trade Show, which’ll be Sept. 14-16 at the Wyndham Grand…