2023.02.12 2023.03.01

Introducing various interesting technologies unveiled at JAEPO2023

Akihabara BC

JAEPO2023 begins!
As this was the first time the event had been held in about three years, it was an event that generated high expectations.
Please refer to the article below for a general overview of what will be held at the venue.

JAEPO2023, an exhibition of new arcade games and prizes

In this article, I would like to introduce some of the new technologies and services that caught my eye.

INDEX

New technologies and services that caught my eye at JAEPO2023
Keep an eye on the technology being deployed in future arcades

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New technologies and services that caught my eye at JAEPO2023

Even though it is called an arcade amusement genre, the category is quite broad.
From new video games to new prize items, anything related to game centers is covered by JAEPO.
Things that have a noticeable impact are flashy and nice, but new game consoles and controllers are equipped with a variety of new technologies that are not visible to the naked eye.
This article focuses on the technical aspects.

"Sourrel" device

As the name suggests, they unveiled a device that allows you to touch the things displayed on the screen.
Although it is called touching, it is not a direct sensation, but rather a technology that uses the recoil of the motor and the material to create a more realistic sensation.
The demo device allows users to experience the feel of touching Gudetama displayed on a smartphone.

When you place the demo device on your fingertip and press it, you can feel the indescribable texture of Gudetama.
A real (?) Gudetama from Sanrio was also on display as a mascot for the exhibition.

This company has also developed a variety of tactile device materials and exhibited this technology.
This is a special fluid material. It just spun around in the magnifying glass.

Torque control devices are used in steering wheel controllers, etc.

Depending on how it is used, it can be applied to a variety of technologies.

Click here for details ↓

Disassembling SoftMRF® | Kurimoto | Haptics | Touch | Osaka
Kurimoto official website

Water Gun

A gun shooting game was on display in which water actually shoots out of the gun controller.
Here is a video of the game being played, so be sure to check it out.

Although the amount is small, splashes will occur due to the water bouncing off, so it is best to avoid placing precision machinery on the table.
Under normal conditions, the amount of water is not much, but after charging, a lot of water will spray out, so be careful.

Also, although I suppose it can't be helped given the way the water actually comes out, it is a hassle to have to replace the water tank for the gun controller.
It would be visually interesting if you could prepare water that glows under black light or colored water.

exA-Arcadia

This is a system cabinet that can accommodate multiple games in one cabinet.
Originally, there was a restriction that only one game could be installed in one cabinet, but a system was developed that allowed players to insert multiple cartridges and switch between them.
The latest model of this switching system is the exA-Arcadia.

It supports both portrait and landscape screens, so there's no need to buy a new case for each screen ratio.
Additionally, thanks to exA-Arcadia, the barrier to entry into arcades has been lowered, making it easier to place doujin works in game centers.
Currently, two titles have been confirmed for inclusion in exA-Arcadia, and they were available to try out at the venue.

Both titles are 2D fighting games, but as more indie brands continue to enter the market, it looks like we'll be able to play games from a variety of genres.
By the way, development is said to be about 75%, so it may be completed by the end of the year...or maybe not?

Electronic payment vending machines and systems

With the advent of the cashless era, electronic payment machines are becoming more common in amusement facilities as well.
Some game centers even offer discounts if you pay electronically, such as reducing the price of a play from 100 yen to 80 yen.
In this cashless era, electronic payment vending machines have appeared.

The exhibition is aimed at businesses, game centers and retail stores rather than individuals.
There was a relatively large space for merchandise, and it seemed like it could easily fit prize items.
It has a fair amount of depth, so once it's set up it looks like you'll be able to sell a variety of items.

There will also be an exhibit of electronic payment systems, so it may soon become unnecessary to carry a wallet.
You can also use a points card.

Purikura is a goddess-like scene from another dimension

Purikura has always been very popular.
Recently, Purikura with enhanced "enhancement" features have become popular, and this trend has not changed with the latest models.
In fact, we are improving the functionality to make it even more beautiful.

Since there was free play at the venue, two middle-aged men decided to try their hand at taking goddess-level Purikura photos.

While busy operating the doodle booth, you can make it even more exciting with the goddess filter.
This is a different person...

The photos that appear in today's Purikura machines are small, but you can use a QR code to download and save them on your smartphone or other device.
The printout is just a bonus, and the one you actually use is the downloaded version. That's very modern.

Keep an eye on the technology being deployed in future arcades

This time, we introduced some interesting technologies that were unveiled at JAEPO2023.
In addition to these, various other parts and technologies were also on display, but I have written an article about the ones that particularly caught my eye.
There was also an exhibition of arcade parts.

There were also many exhibits featuring games using new cabinets.

The gaming market is quite large even on a global scale, so it will be interesting to see what technological developments will take place in the future.