Jim Schelberg visits Gene Cunningham from Illinois Pinball on a 3 part plan, one to see his game collection, the second was to check out his Illinois Pin Ball parts operation, and third and most interesting, was to see his newest acquisition: A working whitewood version of what was to become the third Williams Pinball 2000 game, Wizard Blocks. [more information]
Arcade Planet, Inc., today announced that it has signed an intellectual property and joint development agreement with Sierra Design Group (SDG) of Reno, NV. SDG is a technology company dedicated to inventing innovative games and systems for the gaming industry. [more information]
It is with great pleasure we introduce Jim Schelberg, editor of pinGame Journal, as a guest writer for Highwaygames. pinGame Journal is a leading pinball magazine devoted to the collecting, restoring, and playing of pinball machines. [more information]
TMNT & Simpsons were strong hits in the arcades but are we missing the non introduction of Pokemon and the new Japanese hit made by Konami, Yu-Gi-Oh into our arcades? Yu-Gi-Oh is the latest and most popular card/character game from Japan and is about to hit the export market very soon (most are saying it's already here!). [more information]
What were the most innovative games in Taiwan's amusement market last year? In the past, Mahjong machines, Mary machines and pinball games reigned in the local market, but current trends seem to be moving towards sport games, simulators and fruit games. A report by Game Time Magazine. [more information]
Starting this fall in the USA, cellular subscribers will be able to do battle via their phones while exchanging trash talk on instant message services and checking video scoreboards that track the performance of other players. [more information]
Game software and equipment company Konami Co. said today it will aim for a 15% increase in consolidated net profit under its two-year business plan through March 2003. The company targets a net profit of Y25 billion on a pretax profit of Y50 billion and revenue of Y280 billion in the fiscal year to March 2003. [more information]
Incredible Technologies have announced an upgrade kit for Golden Tee 3D titled Golden Tee Classic, which upgrades the board set before the Golden Tee Fore series. We also have the latest picture of tournament winner for Golden Tee Fore, Steven Sobe. [more information]
Who is the world's best classic video game player?? That question will be answered May 31-June 3 when top classic game players from around the world gather at the Funspot Family Entertainment Center for the first-ever Classic Video Game World Championship. [more information]
The Dubai Theme Parks & Fun Centres Show, which ended last Saturday, brought huge success to TAB Austria with a growing public interest in the field of entertainment and leisure. [more information]
Incredible Technologies and Brian Urlacher, Pro Bowl linebacker of the Chicago Bears, have announced an agreement where Urlacher will promote Golden Tee Fore! [more information]
Sega has two new games slated for arcade release. The first being the eagerly anticipated Virtua Fighter 4 from AM2 and the other being Super Major League a new baseball game from Wow Entertainment. [more information]
Thailand senator Suradej Yasawat, is proposing a Disney theme park on the Plain of Nomads' Tears as a location for an amusement park, with Disney showing interest. [more information]
When it comes to video games, the entire world market catches pneumonia when the Japanese market so much as sneezes. So what happens when the Japanese market gasps for air? - An interesting report by MSNBC. [more information]
Recent news from Europe is that Konami is looking to open a sales office in Australia with Graeme Nobles taking the reigns for domestic sales. [more information]
A new study shows that 70% of U.S. homes will have video game consoles by 2005 (close to the percentage of homes with VCRs), that 60% of Americans play computer/video games on a regular basis, that the gaming industry put 220,000 people to work last year, and that those jobs generated US$9 billion in wages and tax revenues. [more information]
The Alabama Senate narrowly passed legislation Thursday that would close down large adult arcades and allow dog tracks to add gambling machines with unlimited cash prizes. [more information]
Mortal Kombat V, NFL/NHL Blitz 2002, Arctic Thunder and Cart Racing - all for the consumer market, are tipped to reverse the $25.9 million loss in the 3rd quarter. [more information]
A fire raged through a roller coaster at one of Europe's largest amusement parks Tuesday, forcing 150 passengers to scramble down 60-foot ladders to escape. At least 54 people were injured. [more information]
Is gaming getting as close to hand as the button on a PC? That's the inevitable question in need of an answer following the latest move by RAL Holdings, operator of the UK's largest chain of inland gaming centres, to launch its Cyberslotz website. [more information]
Internationally recognized technical writer Randy Fromm has announced the publication of a
new trade journal for the gaming industry, Slot Tech Magazine. [more information]
As they enter into their twentieth year of record keeping for the video game industry, Twin Galaxies has launched a World Championship to identify the world's greatest gamers competing on Sega's popular Crazy Taxi video game. [more information]
Sega Amusements Europe Ltd have announced that Avranches Automatique and the EXA Group will begin distributing Sega coin op products in France, following an agreement recently reached by the two companies. [more information]
Brent Electronic, a division of the Namco Group and one of the fastest growing companies in its sector, has appointed Peter Murphy to the newly created post of Sales Director. [more information]
Investigations by Tamba Bay law enforcement agencies into video slot machines have resulted in arrests. The focus was on "Cherry Master" video slot machines, considered contraband under Florida law. [more information]
The families of several victims in the Columbine massacre have filed a lawsuit against companies that create violent video games and sex-oriented Web sites, claiming their products influenced the gunmen. [more information]
Ambiguities in the video slot machine law in Texas are causing problems, with Bowie County District Attorney Bobby Lockhart and Sheriff James issuing warning letters to operators to stop any illegal gambling. [more information]
Whilst the release of Nintendo Cube has been delayed until September, Sega has officially confirmed that it is currently working on games for the Nintendo GameCube console, including the software teams that created the Daytona and Sonic series. [more information]
During a strategic meeting on Thursday, Sega Corp outlined their plans in the next year to turnaround four straight years of losses, with the project already starting earlier this month. Full report enclosed. [more information]
US Senator Joe Lieberman met with movie studio officials yesterday and told them the entertainment industry hasn't lived up to its pledge to quit marketing violent and sexually explicit material to children throughout movies, video games and music. [more information]
Dr Gurbash Sanghera, technical director of NSM music will be visiting from the UK to explain the merits of RJB at next months AALARA Leisure & Venue 2001 Trade Show. [more information]
Sega and three cellular phone units of Japan Telecom agreed to jointly develop technology to allow users of Japan Telecom's J-Phone (Java) cellular phone service to play games on their mobile phones, whilst Namco representatives announced a joint deal with Hong Kong CSL to provide cell phone games throughout the region. [more information]
uWink, Inc. today announced the May 1st launch of its Sports Channel, allowing, for the first time ever, patrons of bars and restaurants to participate in fantasy leagues, track and rank their favorite teams and play numerous games using their team knowledge and score predictions of upcoming games. [more information]
Tsunami Visual Technologies, Inc. have announced that earnings for the first software title available on their TsuMo (Tsunami Motion) system has well overshot expectations. [more information]
With the recent release of Swat Police, Excellent Soft Design (ESD), the well known Korean manufacturer of PCB games, is now looking for sales agents in all countries. [more information]
Merit Industries unveiled its new product line at the 2001 ASI show including Merit's Tavern Entertainment System, a hybrid of a System Megatouch™ console and a TouchTunes jukebox. [more information]
Magikkastle has introduced a new design of universal video game cabinet at the past ASI show held in Las Vegas. At the request of customers for a new look and nicer version of the existing popularized wooden box. [more information]
Merit Industries, Inc. nabbed the prestigious Manufacturer of the Year award at the annual 2001 ASI tradeshow in Las Vegas, marking the 3rd time in the last 4 years the company has been so honored. [more information]
To participate in the wildly popular game show, all you need is an admission ticket to Disney's MGM Studios. The theme park launched an interactive version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire last Saturday [more information]
As the home market continues to saturate, there are some hidden signs that software producers are looking at the arcade industry to regenerate incomes and give their products and concepts a much longer shelf life. [more information]
The Australian Amusement Machine Operators Association of Queensland has been rocked with the AMOAQ Report, a daming report on the mismanagement of the association. Shane Dove gives the AMOAQ reply stating that the document is misleading, inaccurate and reckless. [more information]
Sega Enterprises (Japan) has come under fire for shutting off rebel employees in a closed room and giving them no work because they refused to transfer to subsidiary companies. A group of 12 workers claim the video game giant is bullying them into quitting. [more information]
A new trial in Australia allow you to bill your mobile phone for purchases made through vending machines without the need for any change. [more information]
Recent rumors have been proven true as news from Japan that SNK has filed for protection and exemption from creditors. Details are sketchy but it seems that SNK will windup in a short matter of time. [more information]
uWink, Inc today announced a strategic alliance with Firestone Financial, whereby Firestone will provide financing for uWink equipment. [more information]
* Konami Testing New Internet Game Site
* Confidential Mission for Dreamcast
* PCCW Japan Reorganizes Game Division
* Capcom & Aruze Offer Dreamcast Games [more information]
As the suppliers to the consumer market continue to sign and license recognised themes and people, is the coin op market market losing touch with the players, whilst the home market continues to grow? [more information]
The city of Indianapolis has been barred from enforcing a controversial ordinance that would have restricted access by children under 18 to violent arcade-style video games. [more information]
Highway Entertainment