News this week that major UK adult gaming centre operator Praesepe is to start installing TITO-programmed reproduction Bar-X machines into its 150-plus centres has been followed by a statement from Electrocoin that the new game is to be made generally available.

Bar-X

Bar-X, says Praesepe’s CEO Nick Harding, remains one of the group’s strongest performers, even after as much as 20 years on site. Harding maintains that many of his customers would shun his centres without the iconic arcade machine. But as Harding is gradually upgrading all of his locations to take tickets as a policy of moving to cashless gaming, a fresh take on Bar-X was necessary.

The first consignment of 10 repro Bar-X machines with all of the latest technology is now being installed by the maker, Electrocoin. John Stergides, of Electrocoin told InterGame this week that he has examples of the original Bar-X from 30 years ago still in operation.

“What has aged is the technology and the hardware – the game itself remains as vibrant as it always was and what has happened at Praesepe just underlines that. The game is the backbone of the UK’s arcades and adult gaming centres and a request for an update had come not just from Praesepe, but from many other operators too.

“The classic cabinet and the game are now reborn, but with some changes. There is a front-opening door for easy access and it comes with TITO facilities. The features and game play – indeed, the entire character of the original Bar-X – has been faithfully retained, right down to the nudges, reel game, holds, holds after win and all the old options, but with today’s stakes and prizes.

“It also has a special video display to show the prizes without having to remove stickers and inserts.” Stergides paid tribute to the team at Astra Games for their help with technology and support.