The new year, and new decade started with a bang in the amusement scene with the newly rebranded Entertainment, Attractions and Gaming (EAG) International Expo 2020 in London. RePlay’s special correspondent Kevin Williams penned a report that attempts to chart the new trends that have international ramifications for the industry, such as the surge in new shooting gallery titles like UDC’s Fast Gunman, Sega’s Shoot to Win It. UNIS, in partnership with Taito, presented a physical shooter married to a video screen On Point. Along with this, a rash of new racers were shown, including an impressive new tournament F1…
Author: Matt Harding
Trifecta Management Group recently announced chief operating officer Part Hart and chief marketing officer Bridget Smith as new partners in the company. Both top executives have played key roles in propelling Trifecta’s growth and industry leadership. “Bridget and Pat bring invaluable expertise and energy to everything they do,” said Bruce Nussbaum, a founding managing partner with Ron Lam. “As industry leaders, both are on the forefront of how to successfully operate and market businesses in a wide range of industries.” Added Lam, “Pat and Bridget are well deserving of this promotion to partner. Having these two new partners will allow…
Shaffer Entertainment just announced its purchase of Nu-Way Vending in Waterford Township, Mich. This is the company’s first opportunity to operate a music and game route in Metro Detroit. “A special thank you to Steve and his wife, Carol, and family and current employees for this great chance to do business in one of the greatest cities in the U.S.,” said Andy Shaffer, president of Shaffer Entertainment. Nu-Way Vending was founded in 1974, and originally began as a cigarette vending business. Over the years, it grew into a full-service amusement company, operating on a revenue share basis with businesses all…
The big game is this weekend, and Bandai Namco is celebrating with Red Zone Rush, one of their latest games. The card redemption game debuted ahead of this NFL season at the June 2019 Bowl Expo and is now shipping. If you somehow missed it, take a look at this video of the machine. And enjoy another look at their creative November cover of RePlay! The company also recently announced some staffing changes. First, Bandai Namco Amusement Europe promoted Steph Jones to the position of VR marketing and company publicist. “Steph has been an integral part of developing the VR…
LAI Games’ new baseball-themed redemption game HYPERpitch is now in stock and shipping from the company’s U.S. headquarters in Dallas. The game, which made its industry-wide debut at IAAPA Expo in November, is a single or double-player pitching game that “draws crowds of onlookers as would-be major leaguers compete for the fastest, most accurate through.” (Just ask Nick Young of GOAT Events, who threw a few 100MPH pitches at the trade show.) LAI will be at Amusement Expo at Booth #205 with the game if you missed it at IAAPA. See it in advance at www.laigames.com/hyperpitch.
After 11 years in operation, the family-owned Game Grid Arcade in West Valley City, Utah, is now Arcade Galactic after owner Adam Pratt was forced to change the name due to a copyright claim by a larger company. “No one sets out to start a new business and come up with a great name only to have to change it down the road,” he said. “But sometimes Goliath crushes David.” However, Pratt rolled with the punches, opting for a new inspired name and some fresh classics (and new machines) on the game room floor. “I’ve always been fascinated by astronomy…
A mostly retro arcade opened at the end of December on Main Street in Medford, N.J. Called Game On! Arcade, the venue features nearly 25 games, including gaming consoles, plus two virtual reality rooms. As far is the arcade is concerned, it’s mostly about the classics: Galaga, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ms. Pac-Man, NBA Jam, Donkey Kong and Street Fighter II among them, according to the Burlington County Times. The business’s Facebook page noted the arrival of other games in recent days – Joust, Centipede and Jersey Jack’s latest Willy Wonka pinball machine. Keep the quarters at home though… all games…
The 21st ATM Industry Association (ATMIA) conference and expo, set for Feb. 11-13, is shaping up to be among the largest and most exciting in the event’s history, organizers report. Slated to take place at the Hilton Americas in Houston, the conference has registered a wide range of financial institutions, independent deployers, network processors, hardware manufacturers, security companies and dozens of other ATM-related companies. As conference planners have noted, exhibit space sold out early, requiring the addition of an expanded exhibit hall. Among the highlights of this year’s gathering is the NextGen workshop that will offer a deep dive into…
Yep, you read that right. Atari has licensed its name to GSD Group, which will develop and design video game-themed hotels in the U.S. starting with a groundbreaking in Phoenix later this year. According to the company, hotels are also planned for Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco and San Jose. The concept is a unique lodging experience “combining the iconic brand with a one-of-a-kind video game-themed destination.” Atari Hotels will offer fully immersive experiences for every age and game-playing ability, including the latest in virtual and augmented reality. Select hotels will also feature facilities to accommodate esports…
Good news for Big Apple ATM operators… the New York City Council has moved to ban cashless-only establishments. The legislation prohibits stores, restaurants and other retail outlets from refusing to accept cash. The bill – still in need of the mayor’s signature to go into effect – was sponsored by 23 council members headed by Councilman Ritchie Torres of the 15th District in the Central Bronx, and passed by a wide 43-3 margin on Jan. 23. “We are reining in the excesses of the digital economy,” Torres explained. The measure is said to go a long way toward ending discrimination…