The Stinger Report takes time to look at new technology influencing the video amusement scene with the latest flat screen systems deployed in new, sleekly designed cabinets. From Konami's initial 2001 design and from recent video pinball, to newly designed conventional cabinets that borrow their originality from the replacement of CRT displays. Among these new form factors from all the leading international factories, TSR looks at the latest designs from SEGA, Namco, Konami and Global VR, to name a few.
Manufacturers are responding to the need to expand the attractiveness of the amusement cabinet to an emerging audience of new players. This response is best illustrated by the evolution of new display technology and its integration into the amusement video sector.
Early flat screen displays were unsuitable for amusement. Initial systems offered a prohibitive price and questionable reliability, but recently display technology development has moved forward, and as flat screens have pushed aside monitors on most computer users desks and in their living rooms, the amusement cabinet has now evolved to adopt new looks.
The flat screen in touchscreen, bartop mounted terminals has achieved great momentum with a sleek profile technological system. A large number of pachinko systems from Namco and Konami have deployed Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) units offering a visual intensity that is comparable to the purely mechanical systems, and so has been born the flat screen revolution.
This move to a slimline profile was seen from Konami in 2000, demonstrated at the back of booth where they showed the eKonami Plasma Displayf deluxe multi-game cabinet; the concept was reprised in 2001 in a universal JAMMA cabinet manufactured by Avranches Automatic.
2003 saw SEGA Amusement USA develop a special cockpit for their popular driver. eInitial D Arcade Stage Ver. 2f (Naomi), a Deluxe with a Zenith 42ff Plasma EDTV Monitor Display, offering a 640 x 480 resolution. This afterthought design for the US sector proved the appeal and workability of the concept and the adoption of flat screen systems started.
The TAB Austria 'Virtual Pinball' (PC Hardware) system with a 42ff Flat Plasma display opened the door, but also showed the pitfalls of using the latest technology with initial deployments suffering screen overheating and technical glitches, later addressed by improved engineering.
The Asian sector took the lead with the actual deployment of new universal systems that hoped to replace familiar Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) screens (and provide an alternative to ultra-expensive back-projection), offering an up-to-date profile. The new eVIEWLIXf flat screen cabinet from Taito hopes to trailblaze a new standard in player cabinets, the company having launched a suite of games on the platform both as a universal and unique deluxe.
Namco have followed suit with the appearance of the new eNOU HD' Cabinet, offering a 720p display – the first fielded Hi-Definition amusement cabinet, and the first HD flat screen. The system is planned as a mainstay of the companyfs cabinet range with its placement coinciding with the launch of eTekken 6f (PS3). The NOU is a similar player cabinet to the LindBergh flat screen alternative.
SEGA have launched their new LindBergh cabinet series, ranging from drivers to uprights -- all with flat screen potential. For the players eVirtua Fighter 5f (LindBergh) is deployed in a single flat screen terminal with a large audience display. The driving variant first seen with eInitial D 4f (LindBergh) has its own widescreen LCD panel running at WXGA resolution (1360 x 768), while a new LindBergh Satellite Terminal booth was launched with 'World Club Champion Football Intercontinental Club 2006-2007' (LindBergh), offering a slimmer screen presentation than the original Satellite Terminal system. As with the Naomi Universal cabinet range, SEGA hopes that the LindBergh flat screen selection can encourage operators to upgrade.
On the international scene, the deployment of flat screen systems has mushroomed. New slimline designs have emerged with Konami Digital Entertainmentfs launch of the ePro Evolution Soccer - Arcade Championship 2007f (PC Hardware) platform in a sleek upright European cabinet version of the 2002 original release. The two-player cabinet offers conventional controls and player console controller ports.
It is expected that SEGA Europe and America will field a trial of the eLindBergh Universalf cabinet sitdown terminal with eVirtua Fighter 5f (LindBergh), and already have deployed flat screen deluxe versions of eInitial D 4f (LindBergh). A flat screen version of a release peculiar to America is eLetfs Go Jungle' (LindBergh), which was re-launched in a compact cabinet configuration, to the deluxe theatre system, the new unit installed with a Flat-Panel monitor - partly to compete with stiff competition from GVR and offering a cost and space-effective solution to US operators.
News Story with thanks to Kevin Williams, please visit www.thestingerreport.comfor the full story and others.
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