BANDAI NAMCO launched a raft of new machines and prizes at the EAS show in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
This year’s EAS show took place at RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre from September 25-27 and was the first outing of the Halo: Fireteam Raven in Europe. The game was developed by Raw Thrills, in collaboration with 343 Industries and allows up to four players to take part in the events of the original Halo storyline from an all-new perspective - the ODST soldiers of Fireteam Raven.
“Halo: Fireteam Raven certainly dominated the stand with its massive 130ins, 4k resolution, panoramic display. Customers particularly enjoyed being immersed in the action within the environmental cabinet, with the force feedback ODST weapons and booming 5.1 surround sound,” said BNAE’s commercial and sales director James Anderson.
Visitors to the stand also saw Tomb Raider which returns as a giant 120ins screen arcade amusement machine. Tomb Raider is a four-Player shooting game from Adrenaline Amusements, which has tested strongly in the UK and EU over the summer. The hugely popular DC Super Heroes pusher developed in conjunction with Andamiro, was also shown at EAS in a new two-player version, while World’s Largest Pac-Man developed in association with Raw Thrills, continues to be one of BNAE’s most popular titles and was also present at EAS with its 2m high LCD screen and featuring original Pac-Man and Galaga.
“There was something for everyone at this year’s EAS,” said Kjeld Erichsen, international business development manager at BNAE. “There was a lot of interest in the WePlayVR virtual reality offer from AiSolve in its modular, 3mx3m enclosed VR arena and the market-leading photo booths from Apple Industries; Scene Machine 2 and Photo Studio Dx, which always draws a crowd and photographs them too using green-screen technology to create fantastic backdrops to pictures, which can then be shared by social media.”
The company also unveiled several ranged of prizes including a new range of Shazam plush. Due for release in April 2019, Shazam is a new DC Comics film featuring Dwayne Johnson (the Rock) Zachary Levi, Mark Strong and Grace Fulton.
In addition, BNAE showed a new range of “cube” DC plush that stacks perfectly for cranes and creates a visually appealing display. These new ranges joined the existing comprehensive range of DC plush and a full range of DC Comics gifts at all price points. Joining the Scooby Doo and Pac-Man brands, other popular licences secured by BNAE include Minecraft – the hit online construction game which appeals to both boys and girls, which is also the subject of a new movie to be released around May 2019.
In addition, there was a new range of Shaun the Sheep plush, created to complement the release of the new Shaun the Sheep movie: Farmageddon coming to cinemas next year next year – the first sequel that Aardman has ever produced.
Darrell Simmonds, sales manager, revealed the early samples of Halo: Fireteam Raven plush and prizes which are still subject to licensor approval but which caused a stir among visitors to the show, especially in conjunction with the new machine.
