Arcooda

Game Never Over

A Completely New Vision for Pinball

A Fresh Start…

Arcooda Pinball is much more than video pinball machines. Its a totally Inclusive System where we invite everyone to join us, whether you are a designer, manufacturer, distributor  or just a “pinballer”, we are looking to create an open community where people can get their pinball ideas into the market.

Design your video pinball game in Pinball Forest, sell your video pinball table in Pinball Apps, and create a mechanical pinball based on your designs in Pinball Maker. We give you all the power to become the most professional pinball designer/manufacturer, with instant market access.

But Arcooda Pinball is more. We have designed completely new products for the coin operated marketplace. With extensive experience in the arcade industry, we are looking to introduce new and fresh income streams for game centre and street operators.

Arcooda also works closely with game software companies where we work together to take a mobile/PC game and convert this into software which can be played on physical machines. Together with Arcooda Choreo and a number of proprietary hardware/software add-ons, the new software comes to life in physical machines.

We are looking to make major changes in the way pinball is made and sold. Imagine you as the designer and factory – sell your machines directly, or reach out to Arcooda’s distribution network for help. No exclusive borders, sell and buy pinball machines the way you want.

Pinball manufacturing is not easy. We are looking to change this.

For more information on Arcooda Pinball, please refer to our dedicated site.

Arcooda Pinball is a Massive Project

Arcooda Pinball is a massive project for Highway Group. It is much bigger than we have announced previously, and we will try to explain why various setbacks has made us more determined than ever to release the full potential of Arcooda Pinball (machines, hardware and software).
 
But it all started during our international launch at IAAPA 2016, Florida USA.

IAAPA 2016

During our negotiations with software companies in 2015, we had forecast that our pinball sales would be approximately US$25million in the first year of release.
 
At launch during IAAPA 2016, we were well underway to achieve these sales.
We really did have tremendous support and belief in Arcooda Pinball. At launch, we had the top game companies contact us and we were one of the lead stories on local Florida TV about the IAAPA Show. There was genuine interest in where Arcooda was trying to take pinball.
 
 
On the 2nd day of the show, even our original pinball cabinet factory asked us if we would consider taking them back.

Arcooda Is Where Competitors Come To Get Their Ideas

Arcooda is where competitors come to get their ideas (or copy the entire machine).
 
You may have noticed we stopped our advertising of product development, including social media and our checkpoint video series. Sadly, we could not stop the overwhelming amount of copiers or partner betrayals.
 
We plan you show you how 90% of our products have been completely copied (one to one), and what steps we have taken recently to protect future product releases. You may have noticed that many competitor products are starting to look like our products (people were laughing at our designs where we showed USB inputs at the front of our machines, but now its common place).
 
Whilst we say thanks to follow us, our main concern is for companies who copy our entire machines and misrepresent the products (whether this is selling the machine as Arcooda, or, relabeling the products under your factory/product name).
 
Let’s start with our legends 2 player cabinet. After making the first production for both fish machines and home gaming, the product started being displayed on competitor USA and China websites.
So what happens when you take our Arcooda logo, and blend it with our sister companies (Highway Games & Highway Entertainment) logos?
 
You get someone who misrepresents our companies…..
 

Mystic Dragon

Mystic Dragon was a game Arcooda released into both the gaming, and, the ticket redemption marketplaces. It was sold to our agents in Hong Kong and USA, and never sold to resellers in China. Later, we developed a more advanced Mystic Dragon 2 ticket redemption machine which performed strongly in the FEC stores.
 
Our game software is being advertising throughout Chinese sellers, but, it’s fake.

IAAPA 2016

During 2016 we developed our Arcooda Deluxe 8 player fish machine which was capable of playing all Taiwan and Chinese game boards using the one wiring system. It included interchangeable joystick and coin door panels. It was the only fish cabinet in the market to have the ability to turn on its side and wheel through standard doors making the machine incredibly versatile.
 
We started shipping internationally and showcased our machine during the IAAPA Trade Show in Florida/USA.
 
Shortly afterwards, we started to find advertising promoting our machines in China/USA by companies who were not our agents. Later, we found that our cabinets had been copied “one for one”.
 
The Arcooda Deluxe fish machine is still heavily advertised throughout China and USA by our copier competitors.

The EMP Anti-Cheater

With the high incomes the fish machines were generating, there started to be problems with theft and cheating the machines. We needed to constantly update our machines and add even more levels of security. One of these security measures included our EMP Anti Cheater Device – an alarm system that stopped electromagnetic pulses and WIFI attacks on our machines.
 
How does the cheater steal money from the machine? Using an EMP device, they pulse energy into the machine in the hopes of pulsing the coin or bill acceptor. If they are successful, each “click” can generate $1, or, $10, or more. Quickly, the owner can lose money on their machine. On the fish machines, the player will add credits onto the cabinet, play a little, and then cash-out, often walking out with thousands of dollars.
 
With our EMP Anti Cheater, when a cheater users their EMP, an alarm is immediately sounded and will keep running for up to 10 minutes. On the board, there is also a counter which displays how many times the machine has been attacked.
 
After making our samples, we sent our product to a test lab for FCC approval. After it was granted, we started selling into the USA market.
 
Unfortunately our product was copied, including our manual. We found a number of copy products in the marketplace which were not made by us, with some using the exact same logos as ours. Ultimately, we removed the product from the marketplace, however we still see copy products being advertised in the market today.

The Metro Fish Cabinet

In our Checkpoint videos, we were excited to release a low cost fish machine called our Metro Fish Machine. Similar to our deluxe machine, it offered our customers the ability to install any fish game board without the need to completely rewire the cabinet each time a new game board was released.
 
Unfortunately, this machine was copied and released in the marketplace under a variety of different names/brands.
Copiers try to destabilise us with various tactics that include “bait and switch”, “passing off” or destroying market prices.
 
For example, competitors might not be able to copy our cabinet but will advertise the exact same product through a variety of international websites at $995usd, whilst the true sales price is $3,995usd. When a customer views the product, their first impression is “why is it so cheap?”, then after chatting with the copier, the copier will inform them that the product is not good and they were clearing the dead stock, but, they can offer them a better product, etc…
 
In this image, it’s a complete blend of our METRO Cabinet being advertised with Ocean King game software, and using our product images from our Arcooda Deluxe fish cabinet product.

“Customers”

Copiers also contact us under the disguise of a “customer”. It’s been crazy….whether its our joystick, fish or pinball machines, “customers” have talked with us about why we use certain components, delivery details, technical specifications, etc and copy our emails and resend to their clients.
 
In this example, we showed a “customer” a development photo of our Deluxe fish cabinet. Later, we found this image on our competitor’s website. With regards to the fish series, our catch phrases of “honeymoon phase”, “income averaging” etc… were all being quoted by our competitors…. even though they did not understand the meanings.

Arcooda is You

Arcooda is….You.

 
We make our prototype machines and show them at various trade events and exhibitions. At every opportunity, we chat with you to get your opinion. Then, we look to go into production. We don’t release our products without any testing.
 
Below is our test results during 2016 Pinfest Australia.

Arcooda is Arcade, Not Toys

Arcooda is Arcade….. not toys

When we design our arcade machines, they have been developed for gamers, by gamers. We are trying to achieve the best arcade experience, where owners use their machines daily. Many of our customers have purchased a second machine for even more flexibility.
When we make machine productions, we choose the best available monitor available in the market, testing all brands and assemblies prior to assembly. We do not use domestic panels or used monitors in new cases (if you wonder how some Ebay/Amazon sellers are offering machines so cheaply).
 
In our next productions, we will offer you a choice of monitor that include our standard VGA/HDMI 1080P screens, or other models that include 4K, 144Hz refresh rates, and 1ms response time.
Arcooda is coming from a pure arcade background, where arcade machines must work first time, and have playability that allows gamers to stay longer on an arcade machine. If the “stickiness” of arcade machine is great, it will be reflected in the machine’s income.
 
Beside how good the quality the game software is, if the cabinet is poorly designed, players will leave the machine.
 
Its why we do not design our machines like the image below.
We have made a lot of prototypes and improvements in our cabinets. The position of the mounting plates, and even the springs/assembly of push buttons are super important to us.
 
We have had some troubles with suppliers who cannot understand why we want things perfect, and abandon the projects midstream. As one distributor mentioned, just get the products into the market and fix them on later productions. But why should we except a lower standard?

Thank You & Updates Coming – May 2021

We know that you have been waiting for updates from Arcooda for such a very long time, and we will begin to show you our work and vision over this next period.
But before we start, we would like to acknowledge the very loyal and tremendous support we have received from our customers over the many years. We feel tremendous frustration and disappointment that for a variety of reasons we have not been able to ship you our machines.

Game Wizard Xtreme at Pinfest

Game Wizard Xtreme at Pinfest

 

We would like to acknowledge the dedicated team of both ex staff and current team members who have incredible pride in their work, often working in their own time full of commitment.
Many of our partners/suppliers are still with us. Without their belief in us, many of the project would have never been able to have been started.

We plan to have a month of updates, starting with Game Wizard, and later, our vision for pinball – something we believe will revolutionise the way pinball is played, designed, developed and manufactured.

Thank you for being a part of our family.

Game Wizard Xtreme Machines at Trade Show

Game Wizard Xtreme Machines at Trade Show

Arcooda is Back into Production…..

After recent setbacks, we are now in production with a number of our machines and over these next few months plan to announce major developments which include distribution in USA.

Our office has still water flowing into the building and has caused major disruptions in our work flow, but, we are happy to mention that things are almost back to normal with our China assembled machines, and expect to have Korea production up and running in these next few months. We still have major troubles with supply chain (products/logistics) but as the world slowing adapts to a working relationship with the epidemic, we should see products flowing into the market.

We are really happy to announce that our vision for the next chapter of Arcooda’s vision of home arcade gaming is ready. Just like the Game Wizard Series we started in 2012/13 and still relevant today, we are bringing our Game Wizard 2.0 vision to the market this year. One cabinet, endless gaming options.

The month of May is going to be special, we hope you can be part of our journey.

Fake Anti-Cheater Devices

We continue to receive inquiries for our anti-cheater device and technical help. Please note, we have stopped selling the product for some time now and any products in the market that look exactly like ours are fake products. We have no affiliation with any sellers.
 
Please take caution when purchasing any anti-cheater device in the market.

What Are Anti-Cheater Devices?

Anti-cheater devices are devices which have been designed to stop and deter thieves armed with EMP Jammers or Slot Jammers from robbing coin-operated gaming machines. These Jamming devices send an electronic signal to the pay in module in the machine, which is detected as a payment made by the machine and gives the cheater free credit. However, with an anti-cheater device installed, it detects the electric signal being sent from the cheater’s device and triggers a loud alarm. This alarm should alert staff of the cheater’s presence, and the device can be mounted on the interior or exterior of the machine.

Due to the number of fake products in the market misrepresenting themselves as Arcooda products, Arcooda’s anti-cheater device was discontinued and is no longer available.

Arcooda Introduces the Dynasty Vertical Pinball Machine

We have kickstarted our Arcooda Video Pinball: Take 2 Relaunch with the introduction of a new, versatile machine; the Dynasty Vertical Pinball machine.

Dynasty Vertical Pinball Machine

The Dynasty Vertical Pinball machine takes a horizontal video pinball machine and turns it into a space-saving alternative. It adds its own unique features to make it one of the most innovative products on the market. It features impressive programmable LED lighting, three high definition monitors for the backglass, playfield and DMD, side buttons for pinball games and more!

However, the Dynasty Vertical Pinball machine is more than just a pinball machine. Users can easily link their Steam accounts and PCs for arcade gameplay and access to endless games. The machine has a twin set of joystick buttons on its control panel to recreate the classic arcade feel on the one machine.

For more information, keep an eye on Arcooda’s social media channels or contact their office at sales@arcooda.com. We’ll be making periodic announcements for more product information.

Arcooda Dynasty Pinball Machine

Arcooda Now Offering Kinect Support Free

Arcooda are happy to announce Kinect support will now come free with their PC Steam Cabinet Mode, Generic Cabinet Standalone and Arcooda Cabinet version software. This means users who have already purchased any of these products will have access to this feature at no extra cost.

To access this capability, Arcooda have advised customers with the Generic or Arcooda Cabinet software they will need to manually update their firmware. Customers with the Steam Unlock version will have this feature automatically installed by update. Arcooda still have software packages available until sold out. 

Game play with Kinect is as easy as plugging your Kinect into your cabinet and enabling Kinect game play in the options menu. This will mean the Kinect camera will track your body movements, adjust the game play visual to the angle you are standing on and show the player a dynamic rendering of the 3D playfield. 

To review or purchase software, please click here.