Latest news with #arcade
CNA
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
How these gamers found their tribe in Singapore's arcades
How these gamers found their tribe in Singapore's arcades By CNA/Joyee Koo When was the last time you visited an arcade? For some arcade enthusiasts, it's become their "second home" where they build friendships and a community through gaming. Two of the most popular games are Maimai - where players hit circles in sync with the visuals and music - and Pump It Up, where players step on arrows that move towards the top of the screen. Ronald Santoso, Hor Zheng Jie and Amos Lim met while playing Pump It Up and have been friends ever since. Daniel Ling and Tang Wai Jing were brought together by their shared love for Maimai. 'Our bond has grown beyond gaming – we celebrate milestones together, hang out outside of the arcade, and support each other in life. Connections like these are truly special,' said Zheng Jie. Next Story
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Gizmodo
Download Asphalt 8: Airborne (free) for Windows, Android, APK and iOS
Asphalt 8: Airborne is the type of game that pulls you into high-velocity action as you speed ahead after hitting the accelerator. It does not simply mean going from point A and B via four-wheel vehicles. It is all about driving your car to extremes, jumping over ramps, demolishing your path on your way, and making the moves that every race appears to be beyond life. The game is partly an arcade game, laced with brilliant animation and sound that truly makes the heart beat in wild excitement. You do not play on a track, you play in cities, deserts, and any kind of wild place where each of them is designed to keep you wondering. These cars are powerful and feel super strong, and you can almost feel the roar of the engine as you get your way out of the traffic jam or drift unevenly around the corners. It is the event that makes you desire to do one more race. And when you fall off or skip a jump, it is difficult not to resume and play it over. It is all about fun, style, and speed, regardless of how many times one wipes out in the process of Asphalt 8: Airborne. Asphalt 8: Airborne has something that makes the game irresistible to gamers. One of the aspects of it is the speed. It is difficult not to be excited when you are flying down some track, avoiding cars, landing on ramps, and barrel-rolling. Controls are easy so that any player can learn the game and get entertained, and, at the same time, complicated so that a player can learn all the tricks in spotting every drift and shortcut. The game does not give you victories, but you have to attain them. This is why every victory is rewarding. There is not just a race against the computer or other live people over the Internet, but there is also the race against yourself, this time trying to get faster or trying to make a perfect stunt. The next reason why one should consider playing Asphalt 8: Airborne is the diversity associated with this game. The number of cars to unlock and update is loads: cool sports vehicles and potent muscle machines. The songs are equally diversified and courses are played in real-world-like locations that are full of shortcuts, dangers, and ramps that can be used to perform insane stunts. You also get the daily challenges and special events as part of the game that provide you with new targets and incentives to play. It is the type of game that does not make things stale. Whether you play just a few minutes here and there, you always have a feeling that there is something new to see or to try. And the most wonderful thing is that it gets the sensation of high-speed racing without your concern about the complicated setups and tuning. One can just take a plunge and have fun. Asphalt 8: Airborne is, as a matter of fact, free to download and play. In-app purchases also exist in the form of accelerated car unlocking, cosmetic and upgrade items, but it is possible to play the whole game without spending any money. The point is that it is planned in a way that you can enjoy it whether you choose to pay or not. The game Asphalt 8: Airborne should be played on a variety of platforms, which implies that it is simple to start either on mobile or on PC. It operates on Android phones and iPhone devices, which makes it ideal when it comes to mobile gaming. It is also available on Windows PC, where it works fine provided your system meets the minimum specifications. You can enter the action, race anywhere, with a phone, another device such as a tablet, or even a computer. You only have to ensure that your device is updated to have a good experience. And in case you want to experience something new in the style of racing, Need for Speed Heat is one of the games that may fit the bill. It combines up-tempo racing and an open world sensation that allows players to become street racers and earn their respect to go hand in hand with modifying their vehicles. The game interchanges the legality of the races in the day with the illegality of street racing at night, which gives an additional risk and reward feature that keeps you glued to the game. It has intense customization of the car and its style, which creates the feeling of uniqueness. You'll easily spend hours exploring the city, customizing your vehicles, and attempting to evade the police when, somehow, you lose your cool. The experience of driving in CSR 2 Realistic Drag Racing is a lot different. It does not involve spacious lines loaded with the ramp and tricks, but more on precision in drag racing. It is necessary to perfect when to change and upgrade the parts of your car to reduce your running time by a few fractions. It is not that much about wild stunts but about the competence and tactics. The vehicles are extremely detailed, and when you ensure your car is tuned up exactly the way it has to be to win in nail-biting races, there would be a huge feeling of fulfillment. It is a pretty good choice when you require a racing game that is closer to reality. Motorsport Manager goes in an entirely different direction. In this case, it is not you in the driver's seat. Rather, you are the decision maker of a racing team. You do all the job of hiring the drivers, to the pit strategies, and improving your cars. It is the game of making smart choices and responding to random curves of a race. This is ideal for players who enjoy the thought of racing but prefer having a different perspective experience. You will be busy making plans, doing analysis, and hoping that your plans will succeed as you see the action on the track.
Japan Times
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
King of Japan's arcades, Sega's UFO Catcher turns 40
Walk into any arcade in Japan and you'll likely be greeted by rows of claw machines, known here as UFO Catchers due to the claws' resemblance to a flying saucer descending to abduct an unsuspecting prize. While the term initially referred to the eponymous machines produced by Sega that popularized the game in the 1980s and '90s, today the term is commonly used to mean all crane games in Japan. June 24 is even unofficially known as 'UFO Catcher Day' in the country, and in 2025, it marks the 40th anniversary since the launch of Sega's first such machine in 1985. However, the game got off to a rough start.
CBC
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Pinball museum in Alfred, Ont., a 'portal back to the mid-70s'
Mike Loftus grew up playing pinball in Ottawa. Rob Illuiri played the same arcade games in the northern suburbs of Montreal. Decades later, the two met through their shared passion for collecting and refurbishing pinball machines and formed Pinball Medics, a repair service. Their latest collaboration is the Canadian Pinball Museum in Alfred, Ont. It's a place to display their collection of more than 70 pinball machines and arcade games from the 1970s and '80s, all meticulously refurbished and in working order. "You get to touch them, feel them [and] play them," said Loftus, 59. "They're all dialled in, souped-up and play better than new." For Loftus, the machines are a portal back to another time before the Xbox. "It's nostalgia, from a simpler time when things were more tangible," he explained. "You had to actually go out and … play the games together in person. It's all about getting back to that experience." Alfred is a small community 70 kilometres east of Ottawa and 120 kilometres west of Montreal. Prior to the construction of Highway 417 in the mid-70s, the "old" Highway 17 that forms Alfred's main street was the main route linking those major cities. Motels and restaurants catering to interprovincial travellers lined the road, but most faded away when traffic moved to the new highway. Among those shuttered businesses was a roadside diner called Cardin Bar-B-Q, which closed around 1980, according to Illuiri. The former restaurant, with a modernist chevron-style roof, remained empty for 38 years until Illuiri bought it and began the process — slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic — of renovating and restoring it. Much of the building was preserved like a 1970s time capsule, complete with stained glass transom windows, brown striped carpet, rec-room-style wood panelling and textured plaster walls. "It's not just reproduction '70s," Loftus enthused. "This is actual, real, vintage '70s all the way. It looks, smells, tastes like the '70s. It is the '70s." The arcade aficionados considered it a perfect setting for a pinball museum to celebrate the game's golden era — not to mention their own heydays. "I had hair down to there, some kind of freaky printed shirt and mirrored glasses — considerably different than I look right now," said Loftus, whose greying hair is now close-cut. I have memories of my buddies I used to play with back in the day. It's like they're here with me. - Rob Illuiri Illuiri, 57, also recalled his pinball-playing days in suburban Montreal, when he wore concert T-shirts and listened to Black Sabbath, Kiss and Deep Purple. Now, surrounded by some of those same machines, he's awash in nostalgia. "I feel like a kid. I feel like I'm back in time," said Illuiri, who still wears his hair long. "I have memories of my buddies I used to play with back in the day. It's like they're here with me. Good times, when life was easy." Nor did you need much money, he recalled. "We'd ... go to the arcade and try to stretch the dollar as much as we can." Loftus said they're trying to revive the feeling of that simpler time. "We're hoping to create a time portal back to the mid-70s," he said. "Every machine basically tells a story, something about what it felt like at that time." Besides the pinball machines, their collection includes such classic arcade games as Asteroids. "I remember playing it at Skateway Roller Disco in the west end of Ottawa," said Loftus. "It came out around the same time as Star Wars, so you got to be Han Solo flying through the asteroid field."
Forbes
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Irem Collection Vol. 3' Review: Totally Worth It For ‘Mr. Heli'
'Mr. Heli' is a classic shmup that has been unavailable to play for a long time. Having reviewed the first and second Irem Collection releases, the third is now here, and it finally includes the much-loved Mr. Heli. Following the previous releases, this new collection contains Mr. Heli, Mystic Riders, and the weirdly compelling Dragon Breed. Starting with Mystic Riders, this is a fairly straightforward side-scrolling shmup where you ride around on a broom, firing magic and using the broom for other attacks. It was a decent shmup for its time and a lot more colorful and even cheerful compared to other Irem releases from the period. As for Dragon Breed, it has a similar element to X Multiply's tentacles that can shield the player. In this instance, it's the dragon Bahamoot that can be used to coil around its rider, Kayus, to protect him from attacks. 'Mystic Riders' is a bright and colorful, magically themed shmup. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Dragon Breed also has a similar art style to X-Multiply and definitely stands out as one of the more fantastical-looking Irem shmups. Then there is the beloved Mr. Heli. It's been a long time since we've had a home version of this arcade classic. I think the last time we saw Mr. Heli in any kind of Irem-related collection was back in 2011 for the Irem Arcade Hits release from DotEmu. In any case, its premise is fascinating, as Mr. Heli has you somewhat explore levels and mine for jewels that then unlock upgrades for your weapons. The pacing and feel of the game is unlike most common shmups and feels more exploratory in nature. The game starts off suitably cheerful, but gets more involved and bleaker later on. The art style is still very vibrant, and the gameplay is really unlike anything else. While many, myself included, rate the 1987 release of the original R-Type as being a definitive and excellent shmup, I feel that Mr. Heli, also released in the same year, often gets overlooked despite its inherent excellence. 'Dragon Breed' shares elements with 'X Multiply', as the titular dragon can shield its rider. Mr. Heli is also a really big game. Stages are split into sections with mini bosses and tunnelling levels with some quite tricky enemies. Each stage is also wildly different from the last and do become insanely challenging later on. To be honest, this collection is worth getting purely for Mr. Heli alone. It's an amazing and unique shmup and one that hasn't been readily available for over a decade. The other bonus is that this collection also includes the PC Engine version of Mr. Heli, which is not only a more humane game in terms of difficulty but is also a very good port. Much like the original PC Engine version of R-Type, it seems that this era of Irem's games lent itself very well to the PC Engine system. As for the other goodies in this collection, each game has a handy rewind function, as well as cheats and all manner of screen filters. Overall, this is yet another great Irem Collection, and much like the first and second releases, this third instalment is excellent. However, its star attraction is the adorable Mr. Heli, which is still just as fun to play as when I played it in the arcades as a kid. Irem Collection Vol. 3 Platform: Nintendo Switch (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S Developer: ININ Games Publisher: ININ Games Released: 1st July 2025 Price: $24.99 Score: 8/10 Disclosure: ININ Games sent me a copy of this game for the purposes of this review. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
