Manufacturer Launches New Platform in Fight to Save Arcade
A dwindling number of arcade locations and lack of prominent video game content from the mass exodus of leading coin-op game developers has triggered TLC Industries, the longtime Chicago cabinet manufacturer, to launch their Flexarcade game ready platform. Until now TLC Industries has played behind the scenes, manufacturing more than 300,000 cabinets for companies such as Sega, Midway, Namco; plus over 60,000 Golden Tee Golf games for Incredible Technologies. But today the spotlight is on TLC after announcing the release of their Flexarcade system; powered by Flexware, a proprietary, patent-pending software program that converts high-powered PC-content to run on an arcade game framework for all forms of arcade games such as sit-down and stand-up driving, shooting, fighting and flying games. Built-in features give operators control over all accounting adjustments, attract modes, time-outs, sound inputs, and message displays. "Because of the Flexware technology, fresh content created by award-winning independent game developers can be released to the coin-op industry more frequently than ever before," said Ed Bender, Founder of TLC Industries. TLC has designed Flexkits to add to the versatility of the Flexarcade system. All cabinets are fully convertible, both inside and out. "With Flexkits, operators can simply drop in a new game CD, exchange the control panel, switch off the side overlays, and replace the marquee, making it a brand new coin-operated video game - again and again," said Mr Bender. Made from the finest commercial grade products; every Flexarcade cabinet and Flexkit components; control panel, replacement decal, replacement side-panel and marquee design are eye-catching as well as durable and priced at one-fifth the cost of a new machine. The Flexarcade system is cost effective for operators - at around two-thirds the cost of what buyers have traditionally paid for dedicated-video games. With its reputation and proficiency in manufacturing production systems, TLC can offer more value for the dollar. "TLC can produce superior machines at a reasonable cost and buyers will be able to share in these savings as well," said Mr Bender. "Charging exaggerated prices for new machines adversely effects the entire economy of the arcade industry. It's a chain reaction. The operator purchases an over-priced machine that may take years to pay-off; so the patron's price-to-play is increased, resulting in fewer coin-drops and decreased traffic for the location owner," he said.
"The operator's cash-flow is tied up and unable to purchase new equipment, causing production lulls for both manufacturers and distributors. Without steady revenue streams, developing new titles for the market place becomes too costly, so the circulation of fresh arcade content grows stagnant. Operators who purchase the Flexarcade system will break-even at a fraction of the time it has traditionally taken to pay off new equipment; even when prices are set at a lower per play model." TLC is scheduled to release six brand new arcade games before Christmas. The 2004 line-up starts off this month with the release of the 3-D hand-to-hand combat game SoulFighter where fighting skills are tested in a "medieval meets kung-fu" battle to avenge the king's son from ghoulish monsters and villains. In mid-July TLC will follow with three more titles: Dr. Blob's Organism, a fast-paced arcade shooting game that won awards at the 2003 Game Developers Conference for advancements in art and sound; Hamsterball, named the 2003 Downloadable Game of the Year from Game Tunnel is a time-based skills game in which the player must roll his hamster into the goal without falling off course; and Orbz, a multiple-award winning PC game, is a fast-paced skills game in which the player races against other "NPC's" by shooting their Orb at stars with varying point values. September will see TLC's release of Bandits, an adrenaline-packed racing-shooter game with high-speed car-duels across deserts and glaciers as players cruise their cannon-mounted ATV, bombing and blasting enemy-cargo trucks in order to protect their crew. Then in October, TLC plans to release RC Cars, where multiple players drive around beaches, army bases and boardwalks in a fast-paced race with remote control cars.
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