As redemption machines continue to win the hearts of players, InterGame looks at the real role of videos and simulators in today’s FEC
The video arcade sector is not what it once was; long gone are the days where kids would line up outside an arcade to play their favourite video game…Why would they when they can play a game of similar style and substance from the comfort of their own home, a trend that has been taken to new heights thanks to online multiplayer action and the increased use of smartphones and tablets?
Not only this but the video arcade sector has to contend with competition from within the coin-op industry itself. Arcades have moved on and so have their target audience. Having once appealed to groups of teenage friends vying for the top spot on the leader board, arcades have grown up into FECs, targeting the entire family and in turn the demand for redemption machines has grown at an incredible rate and in a fast-paced technology driven world, the video arcade game is at risk of being left behind as it has to compete even harder for that disposable spend.
While the opportunities for video arcade games aren’t what they once were, it is not all doom and gloom and there are manufacturers out there producing some interesting titles. They may not be taking up the majority of floor space in an FEC but they still have their place, particularly as manufacturers continue to look to diversify their product offering and to new technologies in order to satisfy customer demands.
“Video arcade games cannot just be video games in today’s society,” said Injoy Motion’s Cynthia Lai. “People are looking for new features and more simulation and so on. Because of this we are now seeing more video arcade games combined with simulation to provide players with that ‘something extra.’
“At Injoy we have dedicated our time and research to the use of 3D/4D/5D developments and it is our mission to deliver true-to-life experiences to the end-user. We want our audience to have more fun from our developments, while at the same time making our machines easier to maintain from an operations perspective.
“Operators are beginning to realise they need to add new features to their locations in order to satisfy player demands. Modern day simulator video games are coming into their own and becoming a ‘must have’ category for locations as they can work as an attraction piece and draw customers into a location. People will naturally gather around a simulator while they are waiting for their turn.”
Injoy is also working to satisfy the amusement needs of the family with its video product through its various titles. Lai told InterGame: “Our Dido Kart series is for female players and children; our Street Racing Stars and Panzer Elite Action are for teenagers and male players; and Powerboat is a game we believe appeals to everyone.
“It is also important to consider the family when designing the cabinet; for example, our super deluxe car simulator allows two players to sit side by side, meaning families can play against each other and our Dido Kart in the deluxe version has four designs of cabinet with four different colours, widening the appeal to players.”
This feature can be read in full in the June 2012 issue of InterGame magazine
