Exclusive - Vektorlogic's Brand New Titles for 2004
Managing Director of Vektorlogic Limited, Jeff Ferrier, spoke with Highwaygames recently, and was pleased to announce the forthcoming release of two video game titles and a number of others listed to be released this year.
Mr Ferrier said that the company has just finished the 2004 development schedule and is about to start the 2005 development schedule.
"We are pushing the Raptor system hard - the new products are above and beyond anything currently available," Mr Ferrier said.
The first title scheduled to be released in February 2004 is Neo Bubble Pop for the Neo Geo MVS platform, a puzzle cartridge game suitable for all ages. The game allows for one player, two players or player one versus player two. Neo Bubble Pop will be available in a cocktail table version.
Super Bubble Pop is slated for release in March 2004, a puzzle game for the Raptor platform. The game is suitable for all ages, with a disk and security module and options for one player, two players and player one versus player two. Super Bubble Pop will also be available in a cocktail table version.
The rights for Super Bubble Pop were acquired from Runecraft Limited, in receivership, prior to conversion to a coin-op title. The game features various DJ characters who try to clear the advancing wall of bubbles before it reaches them - each character having some of their own special power-ups. Each level is cleared when the required number of level tokens is obtained.
Both Neo Bubble Pop and Super Bubble Pop come at a very affordable price, and will be made available through normal distribution channels, details of which will be released in due course.
Jeff Ferrier told Highwaygames that both games feature excellent soundtracks and stunning visual effects; "Neo Geo Bubble Pop has the best audio soundtrack and is pushing the capability of Neo Geo to its full extent."
Mr Ferrier said there are now 12 games in development across the Neo Geo and Raptor platforms, such as Manic Panic for Neo Geo - scheduled for release in April, Total Soccer for Neo Geo, scheduled for release in June and Demolition Racer for Raptor, scheduled for release in May.
Other games listed for release in 2004 on Neo Geo MVS include; Tommy K, Blox, Neo Wetrix (NIP) and Neo Strayfire (NIP.) Games also listed for release on Raptor during 2004 are Strayfire (NIP), Ultimate Rally, Blox and Wetrix (NIP.)
In answer to speculation about the MVS motherboard, Jeff Ferrier said, "We are looking at using the supporting Neo Geo MVS system for the next 12 months through to possibly the next two to three years."
The Raptor Video Game System has been developed exclusively by Vektorlogic for the coin-op market. A slump in coin-op equipment sales in recent years, caused by the escalating costs of systems and software, has meant that manufacturers and operators alike, have struggled to compete with consumer home gaming systems.
With Raptor, Vektorlogic has tried to produce a product that exceeds the performance specifications of current game consoles at a price that operators can afford. In addition, the company has planned a comprehensive release schedule for 2004 to prevent operators from buying yet another system that lacks support from the respective manufacturer. To Vektorlogic, it is essential that it can compete with the consumer market, hence, Raptor will support VGA and SVGA formats initially, but is capable of XVGA output; CGA and EGA are not directly supported, but can be handled using an additional converter PCB, which will be made available for customers with this requirement.
Several of the initial releases for the system will be produced in conjunction with some of the larger consumer developers and publishers, while work continues on a range of new, in-house development projects. The system will be pin compatible with JVS and JAMMA systems, enabling the system to be used in most cabinets that are in operation, including Sega's Naomi style of cabinet.
System specifications for the system are very impressive, especially when compared to that of other systems currently available from other coin-op manufacturers.
CPU Intel Titan
Processor Speed 3 GHz
System Memory 2 GB
Video Processor Ati Radeon
Video RAM 128 MB
Screen Resolution Up to 2048 x 1536
Press/ Distributor packs will be available at ATEI for interested parties, which will contain a Company Information Brochure and a sample DVD containing video footage of some of the games for 2004. These packs will also be made available for those people who are unable to attend ATEI via e-mail or telephone enquiries.
PICTURED: Super Bubble Pop screen shot.
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