It's 2023 and the industry is still going strong. The weather in London is fine today and it's time to find out what new machines will be hitting our arcades in the new season.

Let's start with the Bandai Namco Amusement Europe booth where Pac-Man was once again in the spotlight. It must be said that it would be silly not to capitalise on such a popular character. There were several themed machines such as the Pac-Man Power Pellets redemption and the Pac-Man Roller skee-ball (equipped with coloured LED lighting and emitting Pac-Man sounds).

The Pac-Man Baller basketball game and the Pac-Man Pinger air hockey game.

Cuddly toys and other prizes with his name on them.

In Pac-Man Power Pellets (made by UNIS), you have to throw the balls into the Pac-Mans' mouths to win tickets. Of course, the Pac-Mans do not stand still.

Pac-Man Battle-Royale Chompionship is a new and improved version of Pac-Man Battle Royale, it is faster, offers new power-ups and multiple lives per stage to players, as well as a proper leaderboard. An 8-player deluxe version exists, but two 4 player machines can be linked for the same result.

The Pac-Man's Pixel Bash multigame cabinet includes 31 classic Namco arcade games from the '80s: Bosconian, Dig-Dug, Dragon Spirit, Galaga, Galaga 88, Galaxian, Mappy, PAC-MAN, Ms.PAC-MAN Pac-Mania, Rally-X, Rolling Thunder, Xevious, Baraduke, Dragon Buster, DigDug II, Tower of Druaga, Gaplus, Grobda, Hopping Mappy, King & Balloon, Metro-Cross, Motos, New Rally-X, Pac & Pal, PAC-MAN Plus, Rompers, Skykid, Skykid Deluxe, Splatterhouse, Super PAC-MAN and Super Xevious.

The cabinet is equipped with a vertical LCD screen, two start buttons and a single joystick, the games being playable by two people alternatively. Two shooting buttons are placed on either side of the joystick allowing left-handed players to enjoy the game as much as right-handed players. Contrary to many multigame cabinets that can be found everywhere nowadays, this one is legal since all the games are licensed (of course, it would be a shame for an original Namco product if they weren't).

As an XXL version of the famous board game, Hungry Hungry Hippos allows 4 players to physically take control of the hippos. They have to operate the big lever to make their big beast swallow a maximum of balls. Although a little noisy, the game is very fun, especially since there are tickets at stake!

Big Buck Hunter Reloaded (in its updated version) is the ultimate version of Big Buck Hunter with a ton of content! Because, a variety of additional games are included in addition to the basic hunting game (note the Terminator head on top of the machine): Terminator Salvation Delta Mission (half of the original game, which is now played with a shotgun), In Case of Monsters: Lost Island, very humorous, with humans and zombie animals and Duck Dynasty, the duck hunting game from the American TV series of the same name.

Nine years after Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, a new Bandai Namco racing game is finally released in Europe! It is Dead Heat Unleashed. Developed in Japan for the international market, Dead Heat Unleashed is, like its predecessor released in 2010, based on the engine of the latest Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune game.

On the menu: 10 Japanese cars, including different types of Nissan Skyline GT-R and Fairlady Z, Toyota Supra and 2000GT, a Mazda and a Subaru Impreza. You can of course choose the colour of your car.

There are 8 courses available (4 more than in the first one): New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Shanghai, Tokyo, Chicago and London. If you are a regular player of the first Dead Heat, you know what to expect, since it is the same game, only more beautiful

The boost system has changed. Previously, you were only allowed 3 uses of nitro per race. Here, you have to fight against your opponents to feed the Ultimate Heat gauge. The strength of the acceleration depends on how full the gauge is, but you can fill it up at will.

If there are more races and more cars, there are also some things less: it is no longer possible to fight other players' ghosts, there is no more PIN code system (which was already gone in the second version of the original game). There is also no gear shift lever (all cars have an automatic gearbox) and it is no longer possible to change the view (only a view from behind the car is available, and nothing else). If we can understand the absence of gear change, we don't quite get the absence of a view change button. Especially since the front view reinforces the feeling of speed.

As in the first opus, the cabinet is equipped with a camera and your picture is displayed above your car. The difference is that this time, the photo is optional and you can refuse to have your picture taken. Beautiful, simple (a bit too much?) and programmed to offer tight races, Dead Heat Unleashed offers all the dynamism you would expect from a Dead Heat sequel and will suit all locations. Although without surprises, the game is simple and effective. Up to 4 cabinets can be linked for multiplayer. [Video]

Look who's making a comeback in the arcades? Well yes, it's Need for Speed! After 4 games released by Global VR between 2003 and 2009 (Need for Speed, GT, Underground and Carbon), here comes NFS Heat Takedown from Adrenaline Amusements!

More used to redemption video games, the Quebec company had already released a few shooting games (Rabbids Hollywood, Rampage and Tomb Raider) but it strikes hard with its first racing game (well, its second if we take into account Hot Wheels King Of The Road).

The cabinet catches the eye with its LED panels above the monitors. During the attract, part of the display of the screens overflows on these panels, it is very well done. The colours of the LED strips alternate between blue and purple, and these are also the colours that predominate in the game itself. It has the atmosphere of warm summer nights, which gives the game a certain personality. Let's take a look at the content... There are 5 cars: the Porsche 911, the Chevrolet Corvette GS, the Ford GT, the Lamborghini Aventator S and the Nissan GT-R. Regarding the colour, we choose between several predefined designs.

There are 5 races to do in order. All these races take place at night. The only button on the cabinet is a Nitrous button used to trigger a nitro boost. The nitro gauge fills up automatically with time. So here too, no manual mode, nor the possibility to change the view (which is fixed behind the car). It is possible to get out of the way of your competitors by driving into them. But it is also possible to be stopped by the police. When Chase On appears on the screen, you'd better use your nitro to lose the cops. Indeed, they give up the pursuit when they are outdone.

One thing that is impressive is the sound quality of the cabinet. The 5.1 sound system hits hard, with vibrations in the seat. The music is very good and puts you in the mood. The maximum number of machines that can be connected is 4, with a display spread over all the screens (and the marquee) during the demo, which is quite impressive.

Note the display of your head in the game (this time the photo is mandatory). In short, NFS Heat Takedown is a very good surprise, and although, like Dead Heat Unleashed, it suffers a bit from the over-simplification of arcade racing games of the moment, it is a sure value. Well done, Adrenaline! [Video]

The game features 8 cars from the movies (Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Jeep) and 6 races (or rather missions) in various environments: Colombia, Abu Dhabi, the Swiss Alps, Yellowstone, Havana and Hong Kong. Indeed, you have to finish first in the race to fulfil the mission objective (rob a gold-filled safe, prevent a missile launch, etc...). Completing all the missions unlocks Extreme versions of them. From a gameplay point of view, it's Raw Thrills: it's very manoeuvrable, it's possible to do wheelies, stunts in the air, and of course, the courses are strewn with shortcuts.

There is also a QR code system to save your score in the online ranking. Graphically, it's beautiful, very colourful, and there's always a lot going on on the screen (to the point of being a bit confusing sometimes). The display is in 4K at 60 frames per second, and it never slows down. The game itself is very fun, it's a real success! We can safely recommend Fast & Furious Arcade to locations that have the budget and space for such a machine. [Video]

Let's stay at Raw Thrills with MotoGP VR. To say that it is MotoGP with a VR headset would be too reductive. Indeed, in addition to the VR headset support, the game program has been updated with 12 new riders and bikes to choose from. The 10 tracks have also been revised.

The cabinet still has a fan to simulate the wind received by the pilot's face. The use of the headset (a HP REVERB G2) is optional, but it really reinforces the immersion, offering a 360° view in the game. MotoGP VR is without a doubt the most realistic and immersive motorcycle game in the arcade.

The handling is simple, like in flight simulations, you just have to pull the joystick to go up and push it forward to go down. The button triggers the turbo.

There are 5 drones with unique specifications (Opqa-Opqa, DarkAge, ZaxxenZ, FlickE and Thonderblade) that can operate in 4 distinct environments: tropical resorts, snow-covered mountains, volcanic caves in a natural park and a metropolitan city. Two game modes are available: Quick race and Championship, and the game supports a network of up to 4 players.

Developed by 3MindWave (ATV Slam, Storm Rider 2, Jumanji), VR Agent is a virtual reality shooting game for 2 people (but 2 machines can be linked for 4 player games).

You just have to press the start button and the gun will come down to you (do not pull the cable, the gun will come down by itself). The good idea is to have attached the VR headset to the gun. You don't have to worry about putting a helmet on your head, you just have to put the gun against your face. The only negative point is that it becomes a little heavy with time.

The game is very pleasant, with 5 stages reminiscent of the John Wick movies, and action that reminds a bit of Ghost Squad. At EAG, the robotic mode was activated. It is a censored mode that replaces human enemies by robots (for the more family friendly locations), it's a shame because we would have liked to try the normal mode. VR Agent is a very good shooter and probably the best VR game we have played until now. Highly recommended!

Another shooting game, but allowing to win tickets: Men in Black from Sega. Being a redemption game (although an amusement mode is available), it is obviously less advanced than the other shooting games.

Still on Sega's booth, we found of course the Deluxe version (2 players) of Mission: Impossible Arcade. More compact version than the Super Deluxe (4 players) but no less interesting with its 55" screen and its bass shaker in the platform under the players' feet. Two cabinets can be linked to make 2 teams of 2 players compete. The game has not changed: at the beginning, the player chooses between 2 missions, each mission is composed of 3 stages. There are 9 of them in total. The game is nervous and very fun with a lot of action and QTEs. The atmosphere reminds a bit of Confidential Mission for those who remember it.

The only negative point is that the enemies are almost all robots, we would have liked a little more violence and variety. Without reaching the fun of traditional guns, the double gun attached to the cabinet provides better sensations than the standard fixed guns like those found in games like Men in Black or Transformers.

Directed by Shinichi Ogasawara, Mission: Impossible Arcade is a very good shooting game. You can't go wrong by buying it. You can find the interview we did with Mr. Ogasawara at the time of the 4-player version's release here.

Speaking of 2-player versions, here is Ice Walker, an unpretentious shooting game that allows players to earn tickets by killing zombies. Note that the guns shoot water on the screen, but even if there is a problem such as a lack of water, the game continues to function normally (it is not the pressure of the water on the screen that kills the enemies).

Present on Sega's booth since 2019, ATV Slam is still there this year but in a new, more compact standard version. The software is the same, but the cabinet no longer moves and the screen is smaller (42"). It is still linkable up to 4 players, though. The seat can accommodate a parent and a child.

Monopoly Roll N Go is a new redemption game from ICE. The machine is impressive for its size (3.3m) and the LED-lit Mr. Monopoly cube that players rotate to reach a property and earn tickets. By collecting properties of the same colour, players earn a bonus. Up to 4 machines can be linked and a special 2 or 4-player marquee can be installed on them.

Shipwreck is another new redemption game from ICE. In this game, players fire cannonballs into a grid of 16 holes to destroy the enemy ship. Players have 9 cannonballs that they throw into the holes in an attempt to complete a row (vertical, horizontal or diagonal). If they succeed on the fourth throw, they destroy the enemy pirate ship and receive a super bonus. Shipwreck is quite fun and requires some technique to win. The huge 75" screen is eye-catching and 3 players can sit down at the same time. Note that a single player version also exists.

In addition to redemptions, ICE also makes kiddie rides. Here we have Kids Kraft Cobra, a perfect kiddie ride for little sailors. Two children can take a seat in this luxurious yacht and enjoy the video game while being swung around as if they were on the high seas. The operator can add an optional ticket dispenser.

Dodgeball Ultimate Arena Deluxe is impressive with its two red and blue posts supporting a huge marquee. This ICE redemption puts players' ball throwing skills to the test. Players must hit random targets throughout the game as well as fixed holes to score points and win tickets. The faster they hit the target, the more points they earn. The single player mode is for practice and the multiplayer mode is competitive.

At Sega's booth, there are many skill redemption machines. In Ultimate Shot, players must pull the lever with the right amount of force to throw the balls into the large, square, moving target. In Drop it Drop it, you have to drop the ball into one of the many winning areas. In Power Roll, players pull the lever with the right amount of force to launch the ball up the playing field and into the bonus ticket area.

Allstars Basketball from Sega Amusement is a redemption with a 65" vertical screen that displays animations during the game. In single player mode, the player must achieve a minimum score to progress through the four levels of play. There are 3 difficulty levels and players' performance is evaluated at the end of the game which encourages them to improve their shooting skills. The multiplayer mode is played over three rounds with six unique challenges to complete.

ALL IN is a shuffleboard game in which players must pull and release a lever to shoot a puck and try to reach the bonus area. The colour of the puck changes thanks to clever LED lighting. The 40" screen displays a replay after each shot.

BOP IT!, Hasbro's globally successful family game, is coming to arcades. BOP IT! Arcade from Sega Amusements keeps the concept of the original game: players simply follow voice and visual instructions to perform actions in quick succession. The more actions they perform, the more tickets they win. The game becomes progressively more difficult, testing the player's skill and hand-eye coordination.

Let's move on to UDC where the star is the deluxe version of StepManiaX. It's brand new, it's the first time this model is presented in Europe and only one copy of this model is already in operation in the US. This deluxe version is visually impressive, but it doesn't take up much more space than the standard version, only 30cm more in depth and height.

StepManiaX is the easiest dance game to use. There are no buttons, the menus are controlled via the huge touch screen (probably the biggest ever seen on an arcade machine). It's also the most generous with over 300 songs to choose from, and new songs added for free every month. Each of the 2 dance platforms has 9 panels illuminated by several sets of LEDs including 5 responsive panels: top, bottom, left, right and center. For beginners, there is a beginner difficulty mode that uses only 3 panels. The other difficulty modes are: easy, hard, wild, double, full and team (for cooperative play with two players). At the end of the game, the machine displays the number of calories you have burned while playing.

You can track your progress and compare your score to other players with the associated smartphone app that displays your place in world and regional rankings, the number of steps performed, the time spent playing and the total burnt calories, among other things. You can even specify a rival to compare your performance to. Step Revolution's StepManiaX is truly the dance game of the moment, allowing everyone to enjoy music games. An accessibility that has been lost over the years through new versions of dance games like DanceDanceRevolution and Pump It Up. This machine was very successful at the show and we expect to see it more and more often in the UK and Europe. Be sure to check out our interview with Kyle Ward (the CEO of Step Revolution) conducted during the virtual edition of EAG Expo in 2021. [Video]

Surfin' Surfari is a redemption developed by TeamPlay. Players sit on a surfboard and use their body weight to move from side to side and up and down to catch sea creatures, treasure chests and time bonuses. Surfin' Surfari has a dynamic difficulty: the better you are, the harder the game gets. The software can be configured as either a skill game or a ticket game.

Bullseye Crack Shot is a shooting game from Ace Amusement. Six different missions are proposed (shooting at targets, cans, enemies,...) and there are 3 selectable levels of difficulty. Two cabinets can be linked so that two players can compete and compare their performances. A redemption mode is available as an option.

b>Hop'N'Stack by Touch Magix has been part of every show since 2019. Players must jump at the right time to stack 20 blocks and win tickets. A sure value in the world of redemption machines: the games are short (30 seconds on average) but make players want to continue to improve.

Super Wings is a kiddie ride from Ace Amusement featuring characters from the hit series for children Super Wings Sky Rocket. Two players can play at the same time, the goal being to avoid obstacles and shoot the enemies. The cabinet, offering an optional redemption mode, is pretty and attractive with its flashy colours and its branding representing characters of the series.

Splash Fight (Splash War) is another redemption shooting game from Ace Amusement. Aimed mainly at children with its colourful theme and cartoon animation, it will please everyone thanks to its concept that reminds of Splatoon. You have to shoot slime balls on the screen with cannons to eliminate enemies throughout several levels that always end with a boss.

We continue with Ace Amusement's redemption games: Nitro Speed, a 4-player racing game. Players choose one of the 4 available vehicles and ride on various circuits including a canyon, a city and a mountain. By catching power-ups, they can throw objects at opponents as in Mario Kart and by catching rings, they increase their score. The cabinet has a large 65" HD display and is equipped with attractive LED lighting.

Dinosaurs are always popular, and this year, Ace Amusement graces us with a shooting game called T-Rex Fight. It's a more compact version of the water gun game T-Rex Park. Players fight all kinds of dinosaurs through several levels, they can pick up various power-ups on the way and can earn even more tickets by beating bosses at the end of the level. The game is quite nice, the dinos are animated in 3D and there are quite a few species. T-Rex Fight can also be played without tickets.

Ace Amusement also presents Dream Ball. A game in which you have to roll a giant trackball to move your character on the screen who pushes a giant ball in front of him. The courses are full of obstacles to avoid such as moving platforms, turntables and giant mallets that send the ball flying away from the player. A very nice game that will remind the older players of the mythical Monkey Ball. Without being as difficult as Monkey Ball, Dream Ball still knows how to get on the players' nerves and pushes them to surpass themselves in order to finish the various levels. There are different levels of difficulty and two players can compete. Tickets are optional.

Galaxy Rangers is another shooting game from Ace Amusement. The cabinet is very pretty with its red and blue sides. As the name suggests, players must defend the galaxy against belligerent aliens including bugs, robots and other creatures. For added immersion, there is a weapon selection button on the side of the gun. The different weapons have different speed and damage characteristics. The action of each level takes place on a different planet and ends with a fight against a boss. Here again, tickets are optional.

Ace Amusement's compact version of Bowling Champ with updated software was also on display. Playable by two in competition, the game features 2 large 42" HD screens, colourful 3D animations and LED effects.

Present for several editions, Dicey Jump by Touch Magix is a sure value in the world of redemptions with its skill based gameplay: you have to press one of the 2 buttons (short jump and long jump) to climb the steps and reach the 100th step to win a big bonus.

Space Warp 66, another game from Touch Magix, comes in a new, smaller standard cabinet featuring a 43" circular screen but with an improved design. The player must steer his ship to the finish line by using the wheel to navigate the space tunnel, avoiding obstacles and collecting tickets along the way. The game may seem easy at first, but as soon as the speed increases, only the most skilled players can keep up. A really fun and addictive game.

Dinosaur Era DX and Zombie Splash DX share the same design of Ace Amusement's deluxe shooter. In the first one, you fight dinos and in the second one, zombies... Three players can play at the same time and the choice is left to the operator to activate or not the ticket mode.

Also from Ace Amusement, Mighty Goat Squad is a two-player sit-down shooter suitable for all ages. Players shoot bad guys throughout various stages and each ends with a boss. The operator can choose different options for tickets, difficulty and game duration.

Go Go Basketball, a mini basketball game for two players is another new product from Ace Amusement. Its small size makes it perfect for children. The gameplay is 100% based on the players' skills, the difficulty can be adjusted and as the game goes on, the basket starts moving. Two screens located behind the basket broadcast the scores and animations. Here also, the ticket mode is optional. Game On Basketball has the same concept, but for older players. 4 machines can be connected.

Carnival Wheel from TeamPlay is a really impressive redemption with its huge wheel comprising 20 segments composed of 160,000 LEDs each! Up to 16 machines can be linked together and the display spans across all machines. Besides the LED display that covers the whole wheel, the other difference with other machines of this style is that the whole wheel is visible, even from the back of the machine. As a result, it can be placed in the center of the room.

Elaut was also present on UDC's booth with its well-known E-Claw 600 Series and E-Claw 900 Series cranes that can be set automatically or manually by the operator. They are equipped with economical and environmentally friendly LED lighting. A storage drawer for merchandise is present, different sizes of grippers are available and they are compatible with bill readers, cashless and swipe cards.

UDC, who distributes many products, succeeded in the challenge of gathering a maximum of machines in a rather moderate space.

On Electrocoin's booth, there was Skill Shooter, a shooting game in which players test their reflexes in many different game modes. The cabinet is equipped with a 50" screen, precise guns and a sober but attractive LED lighting.

There are different stages where you have to shoot at bottles, cans, fixed and moving targets,... The faster and more accurately the player shoots, the more points and tickets he receives. The emphasis is on precision, coolness and speed of execution.

At the beginning of a game, the player has a certain number of bullets. When he has none left he has to credit the machine, so it is in his interest to shoot at the right time and not in a hurry to save credits. You have to have good nerves to not panic and start missing all your shots.

The game features single and multiplayer modes, with up to four machines that can be linked together to play competitively. Skill Shooter can be set to video game, ticket and prize modes. It is a very good shooting game that makes players want to improve on it, the big highlight being the weight and powerful recoil effect of the gun.

Who says Electrocoin, says Stern of course. As every year, we could meet Gary Stern on the booth. Gary Stern has recently left his place as CEO to Seth Davis, who was already president of the company. Of course, Gary remains chairman of the board. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film saga, Stern released a pinball machine in 3 versions dedicated to the famous spy. Two of them were present on the booth. First of all, the Pro version dedicated to Dr. No. Some actions trigger extracts from the first films of the franchise that give you missions to complete.

The playfield is decorated with key scenes from the films and portraits of James Bond's enemies (main villains and henchmen) to light up. It is also full of gadgets like an Aston Martin DB5 whose roof opens to eject the ball or the Bird One rocket base. Like all recent Stern tables, it incorporates the Stern Insider system that allows you to save your score in the world ranking and unlock trophies, but also to discover hidden missions. The atmosphere of the old spy movies is faithfully reproduced and this table is a real pleasure to play.

The Premium version is dedicated to the movie You Only Live Twice. In addition to a different decoration, there are several additional gadgets on the playfield, such as two figures fighting in an underwater scene and a James Bond figure equipped with a jetpack (and an electromagnet) which can move the ball over the playfield. This allows you to hit the target on the hood of Dr. No's Dragon Tank, for example. Unlike the pro version where the Bird One rocket launch tower is just a set, here it is a 3-ball deflector and lock, which shoots the balls vertically into a helix ramp, locking the balls into the SPECTRE's volcanic base. Completing all the missions will give you access to Her Majesty's Secret Service mode. We noticed that the score went up more easily on the Pro version than on the Premium version.

There is also the unmistakable limited edition of 1000 copies themed after Operation Thunder. It also has an anti-reflection glass, a shaker and is numbered and autographed. There is also another James Bond 007 pinball table: the special 60th anniversary edition. This table is completely different from the 3 other models and is limited to 500 pieces. All the actors having played James Bond appear on it. It has no screen but reels to display the score. The playfield is also simpler for a retro look.

If there is another license that is as popular as James Bond, it is Jurassic Park. If the limited edition of 500 copies has been sold out for a long time (this table was released more than 3 years ago), the Pro version remains a classic that is still earning well. It must be said that this table invites to the adventure. It is really immersive, especially thanks to the famous music of John Williams. Stern's Jurassic Park is fast and nervous. Some of the elements are reminiscent of the 1993 Data East pinball machine, such as the amber bumpers, the Smart Missile target and the large T-rex head at the end of the table. Unlike the Premium and Limited editions (and even the home version), this one is stationary in the Pro version.

Note the presence of the Jeep in the middle of the board that changes orientation when touched. This allows you to change your path on the island map and unlocks new tasks to accomplish. There are many things to do: feed the T-rex, capture a raptor, rescue people... Jurassic Park is a table that will appeal to everyone, even if it requires a great deal of precision to achieve the objectives, the gameplay is enjoyable even for casual players.

Another older machine that needs no introduction: Godzilla. In addition to video clips and sounds from 10 Toho movies from the Showa era, the Godzilla song from Blue Öyster Cult can also be heard. There is also a multiball, spinning targets, a 180° ramp and most importantly, a magna grab that can catch balls and change their trajectory. There is also a bumper to select the city being attacked.

This is a theme that will speak to many people for a very well-made pinball machine. Needless to say, the table was connected to the Insider Connected platform and the high scores achieved at the show were displayed on a screen above the machines.

In the long series of pinball machines dedicated to famous rock bands, here is Rush, dedicated, as its name suggests, to the Canadian band that ended its journey in 2018 after 41 years of career. This pinball game is a real gift for fans since it includes 16 tracks of the band: Headlong Flight, Far Cry, One Little Victory, Working Man, 2112, Tom Sawyer, The Spirit of Radio, Freewill, Cygnus X-1, The Big Money, Subdivisions, Limelight, Fly By Night, La Villa Strangiato, Bastille Day and Red Barchetta. The game features exclusive clips from several concerts, as well as narration by Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee of Rush and Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies recorded for the occasion.

The playfield is very nice, with a drawing of an owl with lighted eyes, a time machine that gives a multiball, a steel ramp with a lighted Rush logo, a ramp with a switch, a spinning target, a hole with a pipe under the playfield. All this makes for a very complete machine that will also delight players who are not fans of the band.

Electrocoin's Roll-A-Ball is a modern version of a classic fairground game: players must roll balls down an inclined lane, over a bump and land them in one of the holes. The most difficult holes to reach offer more points and therefore, more tickets. The holographic projection allows to mix virtual and real elements. The machine is equipped with a video screen that displays the scores and LED lighting.

The fun Willy Crash from Bay Tec Entertainment was once again present at Crown Direct's booth. The player uses a controller in the shape of a TNT detonator to launch Willy, the human cannonball, and win tickets.

Break the Plate is a redemption from Coastal Amusements. Players throw the ball at the 3 interactive monitors to win tickets. When a plate breaks, you can hear the real sounds of breaking dishes (a real treat). 2 players can play against each other and the best player wins extra bonus tickets.

Ring Toss is another redemption from Coastal Amusements in which you have to throw rings at targets to win tickets. The screen is only used to display the scores.

Crazy Hammer is a redemption from Chinese company HY Technology. Players must destroy buildings by throwing wrecking balls at the screen. The more damage they do, the more tickets they win. Really funny, but you have to be careful when you throw the ball very hard to not make it bounce back into your face!

While waiting for the release of the VR version unveiled at IAAPA Expo in November, the deluxe version of Asphalt 9 Legends Arcade from LAI Games was showcased at the show. This DX version adds movements to the cabinet and projects air into the player's face. The cabinet is equipped with a coin and bank card reader, a 43" full HD screen and LED lighting.

We have already talked about Dinosaur Era and T-Rex Park with their compact versions. Here we find alternate versions with water guns.

Instance Automatics had, as every year, a well-stocked booth with video games, redemptions, cranes, dispensers,...

Wicked Tuna by UNIS is a fishing game based on National Geographic's popular reality show. Two players can compete against each other. Points are based on the taste quality of the fish, not the size. The rod controller is of good quality and the force feedback is very good. Ticket mode is optional.

Sailor's Quest VR is another game proposed by UNIS. It is an adventure game like Deadstorm Pirates but with a VR headset, a 5D platform with movements and wind effects. A very nice game in which VR is pleasant but which does not revolutionize the genre.

Star Crusaders II is a 4-player shooting game from UNIS. The game uses water guns and players shoot at virtual and real mechanical targets (active at certain points in the game). The guns can fire a single jet of water, or when bonuses are obtained, big multi-jet shots. Players face futuristic sea creatures. The cabinet offers nice graphics at 60fps on a 65" HD monitor and 3 units can be linked together to support 12 players.

Pogo Jump DLX (UNIS) is a racing game using a trampoline. Players jump on the trampoline to make the character move and bounce. They earn points by collecting coins and bonus items. Up to 8 Pogo Jump DLX units can be linked up for multiplayer. The concept is reminiscent of Hopping Road, but is much less cute.

Bump 'N' Smash is a 4-player racing game in which the seats are shaken when players bump into each other in the game. They must collect coins to activate Boost. There are 3 different tracks.

There are many ways to eliminate zombies and Zombie Bowling proves that bowling is one of them! With its original theme, this game attracts attention. Plus, there are bonus games between frames.

Kalkomat is once again present with its new boxers including Comboprize Shine, which combines a boxer with a kicker! Kiddies rides are also available like Circus Ride and other games like Hammer Thor (where you have to hit a target with a hammer).

In addition to Elaut on UDC's stand, Belgium is also represented by VdW International, who comes every year to present its new and used pushers. We could find Black Jack and Baccarat with its interactive topper which undeniably attracts the eyes of the passers-by.

Let's finish this tour of the booths with the plush and toy distributors. First of all, PMS International presented many goodies and plushies from well-known licences such as Fruit-tella, Yu Gi Oh! and Peppa Pig.

And finally White House Leisure, with its latest stuffed animals from licenses such as Disney, Marvel, Nintendo and Sega.

Strike First, Strike Hard, No mercy. The nostalgia of the 80's still works with the Cobra Kai TV series and its merchandising.

And with mugs and boxing gloves of all sizes themed after the ever popular Rocky saga.