Taiwan Amusement Explosion

Robo Catcher

(15/05/08) The importance of other markets to make the short-fall of the Japanese factories was brought into sharp relief by the Game Time International Expo (GTi) 2008. The Stinger representative found an Aladdin's cave of new videos and development of advance gaming systems borrowing from new technology such as motion platforms and physical gaming. Appearance from American and Japanese amusement factory products completed a very compelling show line-up in a buoyant industry sector.

Main REPORT:

The 15th Game Times International Expo (GTi) 2008 (though the show claimed to be going since 1994, GTI Asia Taipei Expo (formerly GTI EXPO)), was held at the vast Taipei World Trade Centre in Taiwan played host to the event in May. This amusement gathering has become as important in the international scene as many of the recent American and European shows, able to attract over 125 exhibitors.

Those that made the trip found that the Taiwanese market could be looking to fill the hole left by the changing times in the video amusement sector. It was in an atmosphere of change that saw one of the largest international visitations to GTi'08 – complimented by an increased number of traders from China, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Korea, and the home island. The show pointed to a new technological move in the field.

The leading Taiwanese developer (with the largest booth), IGS, had a major showing at their home exhibition. The company had on booth the latest version of the drum game Percussion Master 2008 (PC Hardware), with a big push on new game features. The series has found international popularity, with hopes that this latest version will establish the range against any encroachment from the Konami Drum Mania series.

Also from IGS, the latest in their series of racing games was previewed with Speed Driver 2 (PC Hardware). The game offered an impressive graphics performance and a cabinet rivaling the Ridge Racer crown. IGS is hoping that their low development price, and sleek design flatscreen display cabinet could see the machine overcome the crowded amusement driver market. This game is able to have a four-player network; the advertising also claimed that the game will have when completed a card storage system with fully customizable car. The system is aiming for the Maximum Tune and Initial D throne.

The company also had the Pirates Revenge redemption sailing game, previously seen across the international sector. Another game previously released on display was the ball throwing Go Go Balls theatre system. The company also had the kit version of their hack-n-slash Oriental Legend 2 (Ghost Hardware) title hoping to fill the kit void. There was also the latest version of the online connected game terminal from the company. The EZ NET Play (PC Hardware) online gaming terminal offers casino style play for the connected community.

Another prominent manufacturer at the show was iMON (on their 2007 established separate company's booth InJoy Motion), famous for their distinctive iGO motion system (now branded the XA2) running Panzer Elite game (two units on the front of the booth). The company brought to GTi the latest version of their technology – as revealed in the Stinger coverage for ASI'08 -- they had the new XP360 – Power Boat (PC Hardware) amusement motion platform. The machine was running the game 'Power Boat', a high-speed (HydroThunder-esq.,) racer. The booth had three versions of the game running on motion and standard cabinets.

These new motion systems on display, developed by the iMON separate operation Injoy Motion; along with the 'XP2 – Power Boat' (PC Hardware) system, also running the Power Boat game (on and off the InJoy booth) offered a more compact arcade style motion variant; like with the InJoy, the system uses a flat wide display and motion platform. InJoy also showed the motion cockpit 'XA360 – Panzer Elite Action' (PC Hardware) that ran a version of the tank blaster – and it was rumored to be a cost-effective addition to the iMON alternative.

The final cabinet design on the InJoy booth was a mini-motion 'Power Boat' (PC Hardware) variant, similar driving cabinet variation as used by SEGA with the old Naomi Universal Driving cabinet, but incorporating a compact seat movement system (the company had a version that did not have motion). All three games machine versions were jointly shown on the InJoy Motion Corp., booth at GTi'08.

A quick straw-poll of the exhibitors at the event with motion systems saw some new and unusual products such as from TecWay and their 'Tank Adventure' (PC Hardware) –the modified Mecpower software also used in the companies 'Funny Tank' kiddie ride. The horse riding theme was revived again with 'Go Go Jockey' (PC Hardware) – with the player / rider having more control than previous horse riding games. The Stinger Report has a special feature on new motion attractions in coming weeks.

Breaking Stinger Report – Sources revealed that TecWay had now partnered with Mecpower to create a combined operation looking to greatly expand in their territory, and also looking at the international sector for sales. In development, it was leaked that the company had a new Dancing Game concept using body movement – this building on the Beat Mania genre success achieved with their 'Drum Party' (PC Hardware) title.

Continuing the Stinger concern about the legality of the activities of some manufacturers in this territory, GTi'08 offered up a few games that seemed to brush the boundaries of IP infringement. The Taiwanese market is well known for liking to dance on the fine line. But the big surprise at GTi was not an amusement or gaming product but a new consumer platform.

On the Taiwanese Song Yung (SY) booth was a new video game console platform called the 'Winner' from parent company ENG Electronic. The system uses motion-tracking technology exactly the same as that used by the million selling Nintendo Wii console (Nintendo announcing in May that since the November 2006 launch over 9 million of their consoles had been sold). The Winner system even used the same style of dual (numb-chuck) controllers as the Wii, offering full motion tracking of the players movements represented in the game environment.

The Winner architecture was presented in an arcade game cabinet at GTi. The 'Action Fun' (Winner Hardware) by SY offered a plinth design 32" display cabinet with a unique player control interface and a number of mini-game experiences. There was no available information in regard to the system on display were the final production versions or still in a conceptual stage, and more importantly if it's being targeted for international sale.

Another system sailing close to the wind of IP trouble was the 'PS Platform' (PS Hardware) on the SEC booth, the system offering an arcade cabinet presentation for the PlayStation console. As covered in the Stinger feature on console arcade skinning this is a dangerous strategy not uncommon from Taiwanese companies.

An interesting appearance at the show came from South Korea. Inter Park Games came with a booth that included the appearance of a new version of a popular series -- 'Come On Baby 2' (PC Hardware), the two player version of the kid Olympics game now with new levels and enhanced graphics. The original title was a major success in the Asian market which also ported on to consumer.

Another example of Taiwan's 'borrowing' of concepts and ideas, creating local games was the Broden Technology booth at the show with 'Celebrity Finals – Boxing Club' (PC Hardware). The game bore many resemblances with past systems; the punch bag cabinet was an exact representation of the Taito punch system used on the 1990 'Sonic Blast Man' and the later 'Real Puncher' (a version of which was linked to a number of incidents with injured hands that saw the systems pulled from operation). The game has the player beating up caricatures of famous politicians. The idea again borrows heavily from the 2003 INSKOR game 'Revenge' that also had the beating up of caricatures.

The use of the punch style cabinet was also seen on the Global Star booth with their 'ESP Agent' (PC Hardware) – resembling Konami's Action Cop in approach, offering the player the ability to battle with criminals. The uniquely styled punch cabinet has the player using gloves to hit the punch bag and camera capture. Sources hinted that Global Star saw this cabinet as a universal game system with more motion tracked experiences to follow. Following the Atlus 'Arm Spirit' machine incident of 2007 – that saw 150 machines withdrawn after three players suffered broken arms playing the game, the success of these test-of-strength cabinets outside of the home market is in question.

The Japanese amusement scene was still present at the show – though Taiwanese exhibitors have found it difficult to make an appearance at the equivalent Japanese factories events.

Konami Digital Entertainment gave the first out-of-Asia showing for their new BeMani game 'JUBEAT' (Proprietary Hardware) to GTi on the Sume Co., Ltd. booth. The other Japanese contingent to the show was supported by the appearance of Taito, who brought the 'D1GP Arcade' (Type X+) power sliding racer. Another part of that booth included the appearance of the SEGA game 'RaceTV' (Lindbergh). The SEGA- supported product range included SimuLine's 'Mini Ride 2' passive motion ride simulator; the Korean design one of a number of motion systems that hinted at a renaissance of the motion system in the amusement sector.

Other Japanese amusement factories were also represented by a Namco Bandai Games booth on the show floor that had a number of the medal game systems and their 11th installment of their drum game on display, but also had a tournament set up of the popular 'Tekken 6' (PS3 Hardware) game system. The Taiwan market another sector that has seen great success from this brawler – while sadly the UK and America have had to fend for themselves. The company also surprisingly brought their kid vending release 'Anima Kingdom' (Proprietary Hardware) -no news on how important this market will be for this genre?

RS Co., Ltd., had a booth at GTi'08 that gave the Taiwan audience their first glimpse of the unique 'Robo Catcher' plush crane game; using a miniature robot to pick up and maneuver prizes to the prize chute. A number of crane games were seen at the show, but this was again one of the most novel.

The American presence was equally as strong at GTi this year – off the Namco booth and the Universal Space booth had Raw Thrills 'Fast and the Furious: Super Bikes' (PC Hardware). The attendance of executives from the US also included Gary Stern from pinball giants STERN.

On the Saint-Fun booth, the company had a number of Global VR titles on display but with some major differences. The popular 'ALIENS: Extermination' (PC Hardware) and 'Paradise Lost' (PC Hardware) mounted gun games were displayed in a new version of the deluxe cabinets making use of a large widescreen flat display, creating an impressive package. It was not clear if the cabinet was a special Taiwanese variant, or if this was the result of the availability of cheap flatscreens shaping new product lines. Also on the Saint-Fun booth was a locally developed new hand-operated whack-a-mole style video game with penguins – 'Hit Hit Alaska' (PC Hardware).

Another presence by the American industry was Merit Entertainment. The company had on the Yung Chi Entertainment booth a very unusual variant of their system – a 'MegaTouch Aurora' (PC Hardware) system, not in its conventional touchscreen terminal, but in a special kiosk cabinet, with a large touchscreen incorporated into a stylish sit-down cabinet with joypad.

Another interesting appearance at the show was the Qubica AMF 'Skiller' soft-air shooting range attraction. The target skill game that was presented at IAAPA'07 made a big showing at the Taiwanese event, along with the conversion bowling system from the group.

Returning to the original Taiwanese video development – GTi had some interesting work in progress. The driving contingent was supported by yet another new product in development called 'Battle Racer' (PC Hardware). The game was shown in network format, but on test rigs that used joystick and button combination to control the player's car in an eclectic battling race theme.

The innovative technology on the show floor of GTi is legendary, an important marker of the type of technology that will be shaping the future of the international amusement scene. Along with the unusual Winner system, a number of other booths had motion tracking and EyeToy-esq., superimposed motion capture in a game; these cabinets include a camera to capture the players' movement.

On the crowded show floor there was a giant track-ball game, with players maneuvering through a maze using the track-ball to steer. There was also a large number of new wide-display touchscreen systems; the Taiwan market working overtime for the establishment of HD flatscreen domination. Around the exhibition floor there was some very impressive new HD flatscreen cabinets on display, both in twin and single player configuration. A number of new designs of screens and cabinets were exhibited including Lidu Tech – with a large Coming Soon sign over their latest brawer system.

Another trend on display was a growing number of kid amusement systems using extremely simple (casual) game styles; examples included 'One Touch', 'Go Dream Skills', 'Nightmare Buster', 'Funny Touch' and an unusual three button (similar to Kid Vending cabinet) 'iToys'.

This year's show had a very heavy contingent of gaming machines – machines that crossed the boundary of conventional gambling action and those that applied lessons learnt from close exposure to interactive entertainment.

One such example of this brand cross over was 'Street Fighter II Action' – a casino and gaming tie-in had been recently eluded to the brand. As has already been seen in the Pachinko and Pachinslot sector with the SNK-Playmore branded 'King of Fighter' machines, the use of the Street Fighter brand in gaming pushes the boundaries further. How exactly Capcom are involved in this particular gaming product was not clear on the booth.

What this could all mean:

The interest in the GTi'08 event was fuelled by the momentum of this territory – as well as the knock on effect that China is having on the international interactive amusement sector. 2007 had seen major consolidation and acquisition in the Taiwan and Korean sector with the likes of InJoy Motion and Song Yung, and others hungry to move into new territories.

The Chinese Olympics has focused media gaze on the explosion in investment for attraction and amusement projects. This investment is only comparable to that charted in the recent Stinger Report features on the United Arab Emirates. The Taiwan market was seeing a major upsurge in player interest – reflected in the success of GTi'08.

How many of these games presented at GTi'08 will turn-up at AMOA'08, Preview'09 or IAPPA'08 is another question?

News Story with thanks to Kevin Williams. Please visit www.thestingerreport.com for others.