The second part of the product wrap up from AOU'07. Including Banpresto, Taito including additions to the Taito Type X2 line up, Capcom and others.
Banpresto
Adjacent to NBG booth space, the company moved on its unique properties. 'Kinnikuman Muscle Grand Prix 2' (System 246) - The
unusual wrestling brawler was supported by a major tournament and big theater presentation.
In the lucrative Medal section for Banpresto - 'Lupin The Third' (Unknown Hardware) - The company screened off their new 'Medal Frontier' area showing the first title of their new range previewed last year. Another pedestal game that offered a major medial payout feature based on strong branding.
The company showed the full range of their DATACARDASS range with a private presentation of the new title 'Ultra Monster' (Proprietary Hardware) - offering a Goodzilla-type experience to the kid vending scene.
Taito
Totally empowered by their acquisition, the company had a strong AOU, hoping to address rumors of GM shuffling, with a big booth and a good showing.
'Chase H.Q. 2' (TypeX) - The cell shaded police chaser classic made its Asian début at AOU, though the Taito cabinets were a big difference to the low key UK cabinets, with flashing lights and full network capability making the game a big draw on booth. Some sources spoke that there were three versions of the software - 1-a full NESYS, Ignition Key IC memory system seen at AOU, 2-an EU dedicated limited game, and 3-an Upright EU limited cabinet version seen partially completed at ATEI.
'Battle Gear 4: TUNED' (TypeX) - Sitting adjacent to the CHQ2 cabinets the NESYS enabled driver was showing its age amongst the latest drivers - though with SEGA holding off on showing ID4 was given a extra lease of life. The TUNES NETCASH feature is proving a major incentive to keep on playing in tournament link mode.
'Battle Fantasia' (TypeX2) - The third of the brawler products on display at AOU, developed by Arc System Works (Guilty Gear team), having migrated from the Sammy A-Wave hardware to the Taito architecture - the company offered a 'playable' fighting product worthy of the best from Capcom and SNK-P. This fact would later influence Taito management decisions.
The company showed the completed version of 'Aquarian Age Alternative' (TypeX+) - the table top card RPG style game, using the card collector battle feature - previously launched at JAMMA, showing a continuing drive for paper card vending. The first true influence of the SQX ownership manifested themselves at AOU'07. 'DragonQuest Monster: Battle Road' (TypeX)- the latest Taito kid vending system, but wholly based on a Square-Enix in-house consumer property. An impressive kid carding game developed by Bird Studio, a cabinet said to have been a joint development with Taito GM.
It was revealed that SQX has requested that Taito close over 40 of its amusement game rooms in Japan. The TAITO facilities are deemed to by SQX the 40 most non-profitable of the over 100 facilities that the company operates in Japan. At the same time the SQX division will be making official announcements that they will take control of a number of the core brands and amusement activities - one rumor from departing staff suggested that the GM (amusement R&D division) will be relocated to an Enix facility before the end of the year.
CAPCOM
The low key Capcom booth was a disappointment for video as much had been hoped by AOU 2007, compared to last year. The company showed that the majority of their investment had been spent on licenses. As Kid Card Games were the only video on booth, the products received more attention than normal. 'Won Tertainment: Music Channel' (PC Hardware) - The unique dog dress-up and dance game offered one of the most complete kid vending packages - with a strong appeal for female players.
'Alien DANGER' - The Medal game received a big presentation, with the fate of AM division on its shoulders, and seemed to carry it off the AM R&D team at Capcom able to still hold their own in the medal game sector. It would have interesting to have seen the Aliens video game by GVR benefit from the Capcom medal game interest, but we will have to wait till JAMMA.
NO SHOW - There are only so many times that a once prominent Asian factory can promise its (frustrated but loyal) fans a major release, then not deliver. 'War of the Grail' (TypeX) was first video previewed at AOU'05, then again at JAMMA'06 and was announced (and placed) at the Taito TypeX+ announcement. The lack of any showing at AOU'07 is testament to a collapse in the video amusement capability of this once prolific giant. Embarrassment met questions regarding WotG on booth - the hope that a Capcom new champion can salvage their reputation - if rumors of acquisition hold any truth.
Other releases...
The booth space at AOU was also interspersed with weird attendees - prominent Asian manufacturer and distributor AMI showed 'Dog Luck 2' (Proprietary Hardware) - from Video Systems and Hamster studios, the quiz and fight element in a peculiarly unique Japanese title tickled many of the public day attendees.
'Muchi Muchi Pork!' (Proprietary Hardware) - The most unusual of all titles at the show - bar one (see below) - CAVE brought their vertical shooter 'Chinese Year of the Golden Pig' shoot-em-up to the show. Totally off their heads, the development team brought their zany shenanigans to the show floor in some energetic booth babe action and funny man doll antics. The game just one of the many that will never see official international release, no matter how fun it turned out to be.
'Crazy Climber' (Proprietary Hardware) - Newcomer Digital Lodge corporation showed a unique physical fun game at the show. Under license from Nibon Bushan - the originators of the 1980 classic game, the player spins paddles that simulate their progress up the side of various buildings in a frantic race to the top seeing their characters progress on screen able to dodge various obstructions and dangers. Another fun game that could see an international life if only a distributor had the guts.
'World Amusement Online' (PC Hardware) -
TSK Corporation showed on their booth a live football goal enclosure, the cage comprising nine screens for the player to kick soccer balls at. Reminiscent of the GoalKick system seen at ATEI'06 the system offered an interesting diversion from the AOU mainstay.
Finally, the appearance of yet another Robot amusement piece came perfectly timed to advertise a Stinger HOT TOPIC feature in the works. 'RoboCatcher'was shown at AOU - a robotic character controlled by the player to pick-up and deposit a prize in the booth through the hole. Highly entertaining, this system proved that along with robotic foosball... the robots are coming!
News Story with thanks to Kevin Williams, please visit
www.thestingerreport.com for the full story and others.
