Why Arcooda? Arcooda is Do What You Want

May 15, 2021

Arcooda is…….Do what you Want TM

Arcooda products are designed with you in mind. Driving, shooting, touch, hand controller, joystick…..play the way you want. Use you phone, console, android device, PC, arcade PCBs plus, add-on components, interchangeable control panels and more.

Image 1: Driving Control Panel on the Dynasty Pinball Machine

VR? No problem. Experience VR with Plug and play on the Game Wizard 2.0 machines. All Game Wizard 2.0 products support VR as standard, together with additional functions.

Do What You WantTM

Image 2: Do What You Want – VR as Plug and Play

Want more from your arcade machines? Easy, add software add-ons to expand your cabinets functions.

Do What You Want TM

Image 3: Do What You Want with Arcooda Choreo

Any product that supports touch/gamepad/joystick is supported by Game Wizard 2.0 machines. This means over 450,000 titles are supported. Then, for further advanced gaming, add Arcooda’s proprietary software and hardware add-ones for high level arcade game action…at home.

Do What You Want TM

Do What You Want with Video Pinball

Why Arcooda? Arcooda is Android

May 14, 2021

Arcooda is…….Android

Well before the current excitement, Arcooda was working on a new arcade machines. In 2015 we had built the prototype arcade and pinball machines which we started showing publicly in middle of 2016. These machines used the Highway Controller IO board mentioned previously.

Image 1: Arcooda Pinball for Android Aug 2016

If you visited us during Pinfest Australia in 2016, playing our Android pinball machine in the morning was great. Playing our machine later in the day…no so great. Unfortunately heavy and constant use resulted in the sample motherboards overheating.

Image 2: Arcooda Android Pinball – Pinfest 2016

We were working on a new custom multiscreen android motherboard which needed significant product development. Frame rate losses, motherboard overheating, and custom firmware all needed to be solved.

Image 3: Mother Board

During this period, we talked with Zen Studios about releasing a $699usd pinball product but they were not interested in the project. Later, after signing with FarSight Studios, we concentrated on releasing the 3 monitor PC version first, and then to come back to the Android smaller machines.

At IAAPA 2016, we showed our new Android products that included Touch Wizard, and Game Wizard for Android.

Image 4: Touch Wizard with Android

In 2018, Arcooda works with Tencent Games on a larger project for both mobile and android gaming products.

Image 5: King of Glory – Arcooda & Tencent

Heroes of Soulcraft, PUBG and exclusive Tencent titles were being used in development work.

Do What You Want with the Game Wizard Mercury

May 12, 2021

Do What You Want with the Game Wizard Mercury

Do What You Want with the Game Wizard Mercury machine! Using two cables, you can play a wide range of consoles, PCs and game boards, giving you access to a large library of games on each platform. All Game Wizard products feature plug and play compatibility, allowing you to easily do what you want with your machines.

Image 1: Do What You Want

Changing games and consoles on your Game Wizard Mercury is as simple as unplugging the one you are using, and plugging in the one you want to use. This feature is a standard across our entire Game Wizard range, allowing you to play what you want on your machine.

Game Wizard 2.0 Is Coming With The Release of the Mercury 2.0 Cabinet

May 8, 2021

Game Wizard 2.0 Is Coming…

Game Wizard 2.0 is coming this August with the release of the Mercury 2.0 cabinet. This machine will offer new multimedia functions, and support Arcooda’s family of IO boards. This time, we will allow you to make the choice of what functions you would like the machine to perform – no need to purchase the top of the range product if you are only looking to play old Jamma boards.

Game Wizard Series Mercury 2.0 Logo

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A new way to order will be available, and, as a loyal customer, you can upgrade your cabinet anytime with our new components.

All Game Wizard 2.0 and Arcooda Pinball machines will support Arcooda’s family of IO boards and components with the front operator panel being the heart of machine as standard.

Arcooda Front Panel

Game Wizard Mercury 2.0 to be released first!

Game Wizard Mercury 2.0 is going to be on fire…touch screen, console controller, Sanwa arcade, VR headset, gun shooter, and much, much, much more. The cabinet supports JAMMA arcade and all current consoles, and includes 2.1 subwoofer sound system.

Mercury 2.0 Arcade Machine

If you have pre-purchased your Mercury lowboy machine last year, we have upgraded your cabinets to touchscreen, the monitor size has increased from 20 to 24inches and “standard” pinball add-on have all been included at no extra charge.

Mercury 2.0 Features

The first production of Mercury 2.0 has been sold out to Australian distribution and will start shipping in August (for delivery in October and November in Australia). Second production will start in September and shipping towards end of October. Please stay tuned for distribution and agency agreements worldwide.

Prototype Testing on Mercury 2.0 Prototype VR Machine

Why We Built The Game Wizard Xtreme

May 7, 2021

In 2012/13, Highway started working on a variety of cabinets and designs for the home market. The design needed to have great functionality, to include regular arcade game boards/play as well as home gaming. It means that you can operate the latest arcade games, or, game consoles in your arcade machine.

Highway started to experiment and field test versions of the Game Wizard machine. During this phase, we asked gamers what they found important and also what experience levels they had. We wanted to provide a product that was the highest standard possible but at a price more affordable than imported Japan cabinets – a machine that would outlast other cabinets, and provide long life and support changing technology.

Game Wizard Arcade Machine in 2013

Why We Built The Game Wizard Xtreme

Game Wizard started to take shape, firstly with whiteboard layout, then functions, then a completely new wiring system to support Highway’s new IO board. We then added USB, mouse and various new options.

Game Wizard Xtreme Panel Whiteboard

Australian Test Panel Prototyping

China office Prototyping with IO board testing

We wanted our machines to support arcade, but we also wanted the machines to support PC/consoles.

Well before competitor products arrived into the marketplace, Highway had already developed an all in one controller IO board for console/arcade gaming. Previously, home users needed to dismantle hand controllers and modify onto Jamma biscuit for inclusion in their arcade cabinets. One modified adapter for PC, another for XBOX, another for Playstation…

XBOX to Arcade Adapters

With Game Wizard machines, it was one controller PCB that plugs into a regular JAMMA wiring harness and give you power to “do what you want”.

Highway IO Board

By the time we finished, we had tested the machine at various locations, game events, trade shows, street locations and with home users.

Newcastle University Gaming Tournament

Newcastle’s Bar on the Hill in 2015

Mancave Expo, Sydney Australia

2019 – Pinfest Newcastle Day 1

IAAPA Florida 2016

And, years later, these cabinets are still as relevant as when they were released. As new consoles are being released, we offered firmware upgrades to keep your cabinets current.

Nintendo Switch Announcement for Game Wizard

Is Game Wizard Really the Best?

We believe so.

Recently, the #1 software games company in the world, Tencent, contacted us to cooperate for cabinet designs for their game software. The starting point was Game Wizard Xtreme…..

When we say Game Wizard is the most advanced joystick cabinet in the marketplace, we mean it. If you wonder how all our competitors products have started to look similar to ours, you will understand have we have invested heavily into R&D to release products well before they are mainstream.

Game Wizard Xtreme Tencent

Are you ready for Game Wizard 2.0?

The Desktop Machine That Pack A Punch – Touch Wizard Meets All Your Needs

December 11, 2020

The Game Wizard series hosts a range of compact and amazing machines, allowing players to do what they want in terms of gaming. From playing the latest console and PC games, or retro arcade game board games, these machines provide the player with access to extensive libraries to play in a variety of styles (i.e. joystick and push button fighters, gun shooters, etc). The Touch Wizard is no different.

This smaller, desktop styled machine contains a variety of features that pack a punch. From it’s 19 inch HD LCD touchscreen monitor, to it’s interchangeable control panels, to it’s compact design, the Touch Wizard is the perfect machine for any games room and home. By accessing the Google Play store, players can download their favourite apps onto the Touch Wizard and enjoy with touch screen play. There is a wide range of compatible apps available, ranging from arcade and pinball games, to slot games, and more! However, the Touch Wizard isn’t just a game machine; listen to music, keep up to date on social media, add in your consoles, watch movies and more!

Game Never Over

December 8, 2020

Game Over? That’s a concept we don’t like to hear at Arcooda. Our machines are created with the purpose of allowing users to play unlimited games on the one machine. By simply plugging in consoles such as the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, or their PCs, users have access to a wide range of current and retro games available on these platforms. With access to the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Steam and more, this further extends the gaming libraries users can download their favourite and wanted games from (as long as they’ve previously purchased the games or are willing to). But that’s not all; you can also connect JVS late model arcade gameboards and more to really extend the offering of games available.

Our core philosophy at Arcooda is that we want to create one machine that you can play for life. This is why we’ve designed our machines with console, PC and gameboard compatibility, where you only need to plug in your system or board and you’re ready to go! We have a number of different style machines to suit your main form of gaming, however we want them to be able to play everything your heart desires. Let’s take our Game Wizard Xtreme for example; this machine is designed as a sit-down joystick cabinet for players who prefer fighting games and typical sit-down arcade games. However, it can play a wide variety of new and old games thanks to its console/PC/gameboard compatibility. This means as well as playing your favourite fighting games like Street Fighter and Tekken, the Game Wizard Xtreme can also play platformers, driving, sports, RPGs, shooting and more!

So, what will you play today?

Game Never Over

Nintendo Switch Arcade Machine

May 23, 2018

Nintendo Switch Arcade Machine, Yes!

New firmware is now available to upgrade your existing Game Wizard cabinets into a Nintendo Switch Arcade machine.

No need to purchase extra components or cabinet, just update the firmware on the Highway IO board to the latest version V1.08 and enjoy Nintendo switch gaming on your arcade machine cabinet.

The Game Wizard cabinets which can be upgraded are;

Xtreme
Android
Mercury
Legend
Neptune
Touch Wizard

Game Wizard supports XBOX 360, XBOX One, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, PC, Android, Raspberry Pi, and now Nintendo Switch – all plug and play, no additional hardware or special wiring needed.

After installing the latest V1.08 firmware, plug in your Nintendo Switch into your arcade cabinet (just connect the HDMI and USB cables into your Nintendo Switch) and start enjoying arcade game play on any of the Game Wizard cabinets.