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The blaze broke out in the western Indian city of Rajkot on Saturday, local officials said.

Rajkot, India: Fire at gaming arcade kills at least 20 people | CNN

Arcade games were a big part of our childhood, filling our blank hours and memories with fun moments. Lucky enough, some games continue to see the light of day in the online realm, giving us the chance to continue to enjoy them on our cellphones and computers. In this thread, our gaming community shares their favorite arcade games. slogging This Slogging thread by Mónica Freitas, Daniel Guzman, Abeer, Jack Boreham and Sara Pinto occurred in slogging's official #gaming channel, and has been edited for readability. Mónica Freitas Jan 24, 2022, 1:47 PM What was your favorite arcade game, now online? Daniel Guzman Jan 24, 2022, 8:20 PM I'm obsessed with playing Pac-Man and Tetris on the Nintendo Switch. I really get why they had tournaments for these games. Mónica Freitas Jan 25, 2022, 11:48 AM Daniel Guzman, those games never die. They're so simple but so addictive for some reason! Abeer Jan 25, 2022, 1:42 PM My favorite arcade game was definitely House of the Dead. I can’t wait until the remake comes out of the Switch. I’m hoping it stays true to its light gun roots. Jack Boreham Jan 26, 2022, 10:15 AM Mines Rampage, I love that game. And they made a movie out of it. I hope they give it a remake! Jack Boreham Jan 26, 2022, 10:16 AM https://youtu.be/xeaN9kgEUJM Mónica Freitas Jan 26, 2022, 11:10 AM Abeer, a zombie fan! Have they announced when they'll be releasing it? Mónica Freitas Jan 26, 2022, 11:13 AM Jack Boreham, there's a version of Rampage for PS4, right? Have you played it? Sara Pinto Jan 26, 2022, 1:07 PM Mónica Freitas, the cafes in my hometown had Mortal Kombat. Since I was pretty young, I'm not sure if I actually played it or if I just saw the previews and still hit the buttons hahaha. I still liked it, and it was one of the few arcades games I got to play with. Unfortunately, I only played a few times on PS2, I think, but it was pretty cool. Jack Boreham Jan 27, 2022, 11:26 AM Mónica Freitas, is THERE!! Jack Boreham Jan 27, 2022, 11:26 AM That's new news for me, hahah. Mónica Freitas Jan 27, 2022, 8:57 PM Sara Pinto, oh I played Mortal Kombat too! There were only two arcade games in the cafe near my house: Mortal Kombat and Majon. Majon was usually taken, so I spent all my time learning how to make my character fight. A lot of times it was me just pressing all the keys 😂 Mónica Freitas Jan 27, 2022, 8:58 PM Jack Boreham, I can't believe I just gave a gamer a piece of gaming news 😂 Mónica Freitas Jan 27, 2022, 8:59 PM Jack Boreham, I thought you knew 😂 Jack Boreham Jan 27, 2022, 8:59 PM Do you have a trailer? 😂 Mónica Freitas Jan 27, 2022, 9:02 PM Lemme get it for you (it's a remaster so I'm not sure how similar it is to the original). Mónica Freitas Jan 27, 2022, 9:02 PM Jack Boreham https://youtu.be/4bMKjAdNtac Jack Boreham Jan 27, 2022, 9:03 PM Mónica Freitas, that trailer is for a ps3 version haha Jack Boreham Jan 27, 2022, 9:04 PM No ps4 😭 Mónica Freitas Jan 27, 2022, 9:08 PM YouTube has fooled me for the last time. I'll try to get you a ps4 trailer. Sara Pinto Jan 28, 2022, 10:59 PM Mónica Freitas, I can relate 😂 Mónica Freitas Jan 31, 2022, 11:49 AM Sara Pinto struggles of the 2000s 😂 😂 1

The Best Original Arcade Games (Slogging Insights)

Commending Good Crypto Galleries and Gaming Projects No one really to know what a good crypto gallery is, or a good crypto gaming project is... but once you do know, such tech innovations sure do open up a whole new world of opportunities! Both for entertainment purposes as well as for collecting digital art, an impressive amount of development is happening. Crypto-galleries and crypto-gaming platforms are part of a growing international ecosystem that uses cryptocurrency to quickly pay for things like digital art or game items. Indeed, it's not that you to know this, but many are already having fun with it as well as building unique businesses around it. Perhaps you should too. needs need Art-Arcade Atmosphere is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available on MakersPlace , a fine crypto-art gallery. Every complex ecosystem comes with many diverse and rapidly operating parts. It is a fragile balance. Think of one button in a video game arcade. Remove that button from the game, and game play is ruined. Besides, not many could wire that button back into the game effectively. Now add such sensitivity to the complexity of all the games in an arcade. On top of that, add a diversity of players, with all the unpredictability that comes with human nature. It's a whole universe of intricate pieces in a delicate balance, yet producing an unforgettable (and usually pretty cool) atmosphere. Such balance of ecosystem parts is also the case with art and gaming on the blockchain. Many of today's collectors want their collection to be mobile, rare, transferable, valuable, auction-able, visible, highly promoted, secure... and the list goes on. Blockchains like Counterparty, Ethereum, and EOS provide key features for such an ecosystem. The cryptocurrencies that fuel these networks add to the mystique of Yet beyond this gut-level appeal, there is a depth of true innovation going on underneath the hood. "Hey look at me; I'm using weird, futuristic internet money." Developing a cryptocurrency application that serves as a marketplace for rare digital art and gaming items is one thing--and a significant thing it is. Designing this marketplace to also be user-friendly, fast, respectable, compliant, and secure is quite another thing. Attracting engaged community members and customers is yet another thing: as is forging great partnerships, and of course, funding the project until it becomes self-sustaining. The list of essential project components that lead to success is no small ensemble. There's also retaining customers and partners, moderating those who violate the project's terms of service, scheduling public events, managing team members and bounty programs, building cross-blockchain payment systems as well as payment systems for those wanting to pay in traditional currency, educating new customers, maintaining government compliance as laws change... and the list keeps going on and on. Reflecting upon these moving parts, I must commend a number of projects for tackling these elements with perseverance. While there are more than these 3 that are worthy of attention, I focus on these because I have the most personal experience with their products, team members, and community. operates Spells of Genesis, one of the oldest (and still great) blockchain games, as well as a diverse rare digital art gallery with wide gamer appeal. EverdreamSoft Crystal Suite is a most user-friendly and versatile rare digital art gallery, also doing innovative things to gamify the collecting of art. MakersPlace operates 7 active blockchain games, with a rare digital art gallery in the works. pixEOS Has each project mastered every aspect of the points I highlighted? No... not yet. However, each project listed here does have real working products now. They also have a vision aligned with those above-mentioned points, as well as implementation and/or plans to back it up. As alluded to earlier, I can say these things with confidence since I am active in all of these communities, and a grateful user/artist/collector on each of their respective platforms. So keep "blockchainizing" the arcades of today. Keep building in a delicate balance where none have built before. Keep creating a future that those who come later will thank you for. Joe Chiappetta http://SillyDaddy.net

Blockchainizing the Digital Arcades

Between 2010 and 2020, every brand, company, and influencer opened up a account to sell merch. From 2020 to 2030, in order to stay cutting edge, these same people are going to be creating their own video games. Shopify My name is Max Albert, and I’m the founder of a in Ann Arbor, MI. Gamevertising startup This article is a dive into the world of Gamevertising, straight from the source. I’ll answer some common questions about the industry and offer my thoughts on why the Gamevertising revolution is about to explode! Chapter 1: What is Gamevertising? (With Examples) Gamevertising is the act of advertising product(s) a video game. There’s a reason for the emphasis on the word “within”; Ad Banners, Pop-Ups, or Transition Screens aren’t really part of Gamevertising because these promotions are in the but outside of the . within app game The simplest form of Gamevertising is to put your product in the background of an already established game. Integrating a product into the scenery and mechanics of the game itself is a much more friendly way to advertise. A great example of this is in “ ” where RedBull flags are littered throughout the bike obstacle course. Bike Unchained But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Gamevertising can be taken up a notch (or three)! Many custom games can be built with your product at the center of the game mechanics. Consider if “Bike Unchained” added a RedBull can as a powerup on the track or added an in-game shop where you could purchase RedBull upgrades. These options would incentive players to want RedBull in the game — and, as a result, outside the game as well. Another option is to allow your product(s) to be within the game. This can drive traffic to an e-commerce platform and convert sales there. A great example of this is in one of my own games, “QB Chase.” In this game, discounts for NFL Defensive End Chase Winovich’s real-life clothing line can be won if the player gets a high score. earned The examples listed above are what I call “External Gamevertising,” where the video game has some sort of call to action (CTA) — an objective to guide the player to buy a product outside of the game. Another form of Gamevertising is “Internal Gamevertising” where an influencer may promote products within the game itself! You may already be familiar with “Internal Gamevertising.” The or games are great examples which were ahead of the curve by allowing the titular figures to be unlock-able characters. Having these prominent characters in the game can drive in-app purchase sales. After all, who doesn’t want to buy sunglasses to chill by the virtual pool in Calabasas with Kim K? Kim Kardashian Connor McGregor To summarize, Gamevertising can drive revenue both inside and outside of the game. It’s a friendly, non-intrusive way to advertise products, and its integrated nature means that players don’t feel burdened by the interruption of an ad. highly Chapter 2. Who Benefits Most From Gamevertising? TV commercials and social media marketing are great for products that are unknown and in need of an audience. Conversely, Gamevertising is best suited for influencers, companies, and products that already have an established audience but want to engage with their community on a deeper level. Video games need a lot of funding and marketing in order to get going. I wouldn’t recommend a video game as a great way to “get the word out” about a new product. But I would recommend video games to established brands that want to drive their marketing flag further into the ground, brands which are trying to get their audience to understand a complex product. Players are far more willing to spend time learning about your product if it’s wrapped in a fun game rather than an ad. or Gamevertising shines because of its interactive nature. Humans learn best by . doing Working with Chase Winovich on the game QB Chase, we learned that his PR team was hoping to promote him as “Strong,” “Fast,” and “Goofy.” We worked with his team to design a game around those concepts and found that players of QB Chase were more likely to describe him with those adjectives after playing. One of the reasons why Gamevertising is so attractive to bigger companies is that it’s unintrusive. TV and Web advertisements “attack” the consumer, seeking them out on their own turf. Instead, Gamevertising invites consumers to come explore their ad in an interactive experience. Rather than a banner describing Chase Winovich as “Fast” or “Goofy,” players of QB Chase got to experience that first hand — and internalize the message. I often find myself comparing Gamevertising to the approach we find in educational video game tools (EdTech) that help K-12 children study concepts such as Math, Programming, and History. EdTech companies like and use video games as a tool to teach these complex ideas. Coding Combat IXL Learning Gamevertising uses a similar approach to teach consumers about your brand through a digestible experience. Companies that are struggling to “teach” consumers something may find this new avenue attractive. Chapter 3. Why Now? Games have never been cheaper to develop. Thanks to low-code tools such as & , even non-technical workers can get in on the game design action. There are also innovative art tools such as that makes animation much cheaper too! Gamesparks Thunkable Spine There’s also much more demand. The player-side is booming. . Even older adults are beginning to realize that the future of entertainment is gaming and want to invest in strategies that emphasize that. Young kids are starting to spend more time playing video games than watching TV In addition, the video game industry is already just a massive space — the market value of video games in the U.S. exceeds most other entertainment spaces. The market is mighty and still growing: in 2019 alone, . And like any substantial market, it has the power to affect a lot of public perception. consumers spent 76 billion on in-app purchases Put simply, a huge amount of culture is being pumped out through the video game industry. The brands that are best equipped to harness that power now will win out in the long run. Wrap-Up In summary, Gamevertising is the act of marketing a product inside a game. It best suits brands and products that already have an audience. The gate-keepers to making games don’t exist anymore, meaning that in 2021 and beyond Gamevertising is set to take-off. What’s your favorite “gamevertising” game? Drop it in the comments below. My all time favorite may be pepsiman . Also published on: https://byrslf.co/what-is-gamvertizing-d8fb723ad5b2

Introduction to Gamevertising

Ignition provides us with some of the very best game console iPhone emulators of all time. Most of us have owned or still do own a of some kind and, although there are some cool games out now, some of the best were the old retro games. Back in the day when jailbreaking was all the rage, we could download game for iPhones or iPads, turning them into a mini games console. And now, even though Cydia isn’t being updated anymore, we can still do it using a third-party app installer called Ignition app. games console emulators Best Retro Console Gaming iPhone Emulators: Ignition app provides us with a way of downloading third-party apps for free, and it includes some of the very best game console iPhone emulators of all time. There are also thousands of other unofficial apps, games, tweaks, and more in the installer, all free ad with no need to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad. Here are five best emulator apps for playing retro console games, all available in Ignition App: 1. GBA4iOS GBA4iOS was one of the first emulator apps to be released, and it comes from Riley Testut. Supporting up to iOS 9, GBA4iOS provides us with our favorite retro Gameboy games, including Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance, as well as some other games. Some games are already included in the emulator, but you can easily add other ROMs to it as well. Other features include multiplayer gaming, cloud server hosting, fast downloads, one-click play, and the ability to create game maps and custom game controls. You can GBA4iOS from the Ignition appstore. Nintendo download 2. Delta Another iPhone emulator app from Riley Testut, this one picks up where GBA4iOS left off, providing support for iOS 10 and above.  It supports several consoles, including SNES, GB, GBA, GBC, NES, N64, NDS, and Sega. It offers plenty of features, including multiplayer support, cloud syncing, a built-in browser, iPad split-screen support, and many more. 3. Provenance Provenance emulator is different in that it supports many different types of console games, including PS1, PPSSPP, Nintendo, Gameboy, and many more. It is a one-click play, regardless of the console, and it works on iOS 10 or higher. Multiplayer gaming is supported, along with the ability to record your gameplay and share it using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You can also create your own game controls and game maps, and cloud syncing is supported for game saves. 4. NDS4iOS NDS4iOS provides users with thousands of Nintendo DS games to play. While there are few games included in the emulator, adding new ROMs is dead simple. The emulator provides a user-friendly interface, cloud syncing, multiplayer gaming, Dropbox syncing, and loads of in-app settings, giving the closest thing you will get to a console experience without using an actual Nintendo DS. 5. iNDS Another popular Nintendo emulator, iNDS, offers you the choice of built-in games or adding your own ROMs. It is compatible with devices right up to iOS 13, has plenty of in-app customizations, and supports Dropbox for syncing and game recovery. It also has an auto-save feature, so you never lose your game progress, an easy search feature, and a built-in browser. How to Install Game Emulators for iPhone To install any of these emulators, you need to install the Ignition app first: Open your Safari browser on your iPhone or iPad and go to the official Ignition App download page. Download the installer onto your device and, when it’s done, the app icon is on your home page. Open the installer and use the search bar to find the above emulator apps. Tap on your emulator, tap install, and wait – the icon loads on your screen when it's installed. How to Fix the Untrusted Developer Error Because the Ignition app and the iPhone emulator apps are unofficial, you will need to fix the Untrusted Developer error that appears when you try to open them the first time. This is only because the developers are not official and all you need to do is trust them: Go into iOS Settings Tap on General and then go into Profiles & Device Management Find the developer for the app you want to use and tap on the name Tap the Trust or Verify button Close Settings The error won’t appear now. You will need to do this for all unofficial content that you want to use on your iPhone or iPad. iPhone game emulators have always been popular and always will be. It's great news that we can get them outside of Cydia now, and millions of users can get back to playing their favorite retro console games without having to worry about jailbreaking their devices first. All of these iPhone emulator apps are free; try them, see which ones offer you the games you want to play and share thins with your friends – don’t keep all the fun to yourself! And if you think there are better emulator apps, feel free to share your views with us.

Top 5 Retro Console iPhone Emulators in 2020 

People are living in shopping malls. The once-beacons of capitalism and leisure, the American shopping mall, went from being almost totally vacant and abandoned to being restored as indoor residential communities. https://youtu.be/J1GIF6VNipE?si=XM8pnAnsgS69mBDn&embedable=true To give you a brief history: Arcades were shopping malls in 19th-century Paris. Some of these arcades still exist to this day. Arcades are a series of architectural arches that make up a pathway. Perhaps the most notable points of interest concerning arcades pertain to the very word itself. The term "arcade" contains the French root "arc," relating to an "arch" or "bow." This makes sense when we think of the first arcades as simply a series of arches within an architectural structure. You may have noticed these repeated arches or arcades in the Colosseum of ancient Rome or perhaps in your local mosque or church. Not only does the "arcade" relate to architecture, but it was later used to describe shopping centers or "shopping arcades." In his unfinished, posthumously released work "The Arcades Project," philosopher Walter Benjamin collected various writings about the glass-roofed, iron-covered centers built for leisure and commerce in Paris during the 1930s. This eclectic collection is seen as a framework for post-modernist thinking. It is partly because of this architectural relation that arcades can directly reference shopping malls. Of course, in the modern era, underneath these arches and within shopping centers, we also encounter the type of "arcade" we are more familiar with—the video arcade. Fast forward to today, those very arcades of antiquity, which became the American shopping malls of the modern era, were abandoned and turned into liminal spaces—haunting thresholds with no purpose. Now, they are being reported to have become residential areas, bringing people together as communities under one roof. Isn't it ironic that the concept of Arcadia as a utopia became one of commerce and merchants, only to eventually return to the symbolism related to the utopian society of myth? By 2022, 192 U.S. malls planned to add housing. Lafayette Square Mall in Indianapolis will open apartments, including affordable housing, in a former Sears by 2025. The Arcade Providence in Rhode Island, America’s oldest mall, was converted into micro-apartments and retail spaces years ago. This shift is reshaping Arcadism theory.  Malls—once utopian shopping hubs—declined with tech advances and are now being reborn as places to live. A fascinating full-circle moment. The benefits of these indoor shopping centers as living spaces include the accessibility and utilitarian architectural design that incredibly designed shopping centers facilitate. Through capitalism and innovation come peaks of utopian ideology. This story is still very much ongoing and will be covered in my future works on Arcadism. People are living in shopping malls. The once-beacons of capitalism and leisure, the American shopping mall, went from being almost totally vacant and abandoned to being restored as indoor residential communities. https://youtu.be/J1GIF6VNipE?si=XM8pnAnsgS69mBDn&embedable=true https://youtu.be/J1GIF6VNipE?si=XM8pnAnsgS69mBDn&embedable=true To give you a brief history: Arcades were shopping malls in 19th-century Paris. Some of these arcades still exist to this day. Arcades are a series of architectural arches that make up a pathway. Perhaps the most notable points of interest concerning arcades pertain to the very word itself. The term "arcade" contains the French root "arc," relating to an "arch" or "bow." This makes sense when we think of the first arcades as simply a series of arches within an architectural structure. You may have noticed these repeated arches or arcades in the Colosseum of ancient Rome or perhaps in your local mosque or church. Not only does the "arcade" relate to architecture, but it was later used to describe shopping centers or "shopping arcades." In his unfinished, posthumously released work "The Arcades Project," philosopher Walter Benjamin collected various writings about the glass-roofed, iron-covered centers built for leisure and commerce in Paris during the 1930s. This eclectic collection is seen as a framework for post-modernist thinking. It is partly because of this architectural relation that arcades can directly reference shopping malls. Of course, in the modern era, underneath these arches and within shopping centers, we also encounter the type of "arcade" we are more familiar with—the video arcade. Fast forward to today, those very arcades of antiquity, which became the American shopping malls of the modern era, were abandoned and turned into liminal spaces—haunting thresholds with no purpose. Now, they are being reported to have become residential areas, bringing people together as communities under one roof. Isn't it ironic that the concept of Arcadia as a utopia became one of commerce and merchants, only to eventually return to the symbolism related to the utopian society of myth? By 2022, 192 U.S. malls planned to add housing. Lafayette Square Mall in Indianapolis will open apartments, including affordable housing, in a former Sears by 2025. The Arcade Providence in Rhode Island, America’s oldest mall, was converted into micro-apartments and retail spaces years ago. This shift is reshaping Arcadism theory.  Malls—once utopian shopping hubs—declined with tech advances and are now being reborn as places to live. A fascinating full-circle moment. The benefits of these indoor shopping centers as living spaces include the accessibility and utilitarian architectural design that incredibly designed shopping centers facilitate. Through capitalism and innovation come peaks of utopian ideology. This story is still very much ongoing and will be covered in my future works on Arcadism.

From Shopping Malls to Living Arcades: A Full-Circle Journey Into Modern Arcadism

Preface: This is part 2 of a series where I break down the concept of crypto liquid staking to a non-crypto audience using the metaphor of a new-age arcade. Read here, where I covered the concept of traditional staking! part 1 A caveat: a lot of technicalities have been omitted to simplify explanations, but this should establish a fundamental understanding of Web3 staking amongst non-crypto native readers. :) A Brief Recap of the New-Age Arcade Welcome back! If you’re new to the Arcade and Web3 staking, I strongly urge you to read of this series before returning. Here’s a quick recap: part 1 Web3 staking is when lock up their crypto in that make up a blockchain (such as Ethereum), often with the help of . This is a win-win situation where users earn (passive income!) while helping to make the blockchain/Ethereum more secure. users/stakers smart contracts validators staking rewards Similarly, in the Arcade deposit Tokens into the Automated System with the help of via the Token Machines, earning (passive income!) while contributing to the robustness of the system. Players/Contributors Depositors Deposit rewards The Problem With Staking or Depositing In both cases, users face because tokens are locked in the system during staking or depositing. As such, they lose out on the chance (an opportunity cost) of using this locked amount to earn more by using other Ethereum platforms or playing other games in the Arcade. locked liquidity But fret not because there’s a solution to this! First, let’s switch gears back to Arcade mode. A Different Token Machine We bring you an upgraded Token Machine V2 to solve locked liquidity! With V2, Contributors will receive representing the amount deposited in the Automated System in a 1:1 ratio. For instance, if a Contributor deposits 5 Tokens, he will receive 5 Receipts. Receipts If Contributors want to exchange Receipts for Tokens, they can simply head to a Token Machine V2 to redeem the Deposit rewards and exchange Receipts back for Tokens in a 1:1 ratio. What’s special about Receipts is that they are also recognized as currency in the Arcade and can be used to play other games. This means that now, for the same amount of money, more work can be done (more profit!). Higher Risk for Higher Reward Granted, V2 is a new system with only a few units running. For now, it can’t beat the trial-and-tested trusty advantage of the OG Token Machine, and Players might thus be suspicious of its reliability. Receipts are distributed by Token Machine V2, and if the V2 system breaks down, then Receipts will become void. Hence, Contributors using V2 are trusting the reliability of the system, and run the risk of a breakdown. In order to incentivize adoption, the V2 system gives out additional V2 rewards for early users, building towards the . The more people trust and use Token Machine V2, the more Receipts will be generated and circulated in the Arcade, and the more games will support the use of Receipts (as with Tokens), contributing to a flywheel effect toward the success of the V2 system. network effect A Comparison Between the OG Token Machine and V2 If a Contributor has 5 Tokens and uses the OG Token Machine, he gains . (Here’s a if you need it!) Deposit rewards only recap on the roles If a Contributor has 5 Tokens and uses Token Machine V2 instead, he gains with his Tickets. This gives the Contributor more flexibility, having the chance to gain more rewards with the same 5 Tokens. Deposit rewards, V2 rewards, and any additional profit from playing other Arcade games Introducing Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs), A.K.A. Liquid Staking Derivatives (LSDs) The Arcade Receipts parallel liquid staking tokens (LSTs), also known as liquid staking derivatives (LSDs) in the Web3 world. As the name suggests, LSTs provide liquidity to users who have their crypto locked in when staking. The LST mechanism was pioneered by in December 2020 and has since gained traction and adoption by multiple protocols across many chains. Lido *Today, liquid staking is the sector/category in decentralized finance (DeFi) with the largest total value locked (TVL) at , followed by lending at $20.8B. Lido is also the DeFi protocol/platform with the highest TVL at $20B. $29B The beauty in all of this is how a simple concept of providing a receipt for staking can lead to many more possibilities in the space. *Numbers as of 18th Dec 2023, according to . DeFiLlama A Broad View of How Liquid Staking Works Let’s use Lido as an example to explain since it is the most widely used liquid staking protocol. When users stake ETH with Lido, they get stETH (staked ETH) in a 1:1 ratio, just like how Contributors get a Receipt for every Token deposited. While users accumulate staking rewards through staking ETH on Ethereum with the help of Lido , they can continue to participate in other DeFi protocols using the Lido-issued “staking receipt”, stETH. validators With this, users no longer face the disadvantage of locked liquidity and can put their assets to work in multiple ways at the same time! For instance, stETH can be used on lending platforms to borrow crypto or leveraged and traded on exchanges — there are many ways stETH can be used in DeFi to bring in more profits for users (when used correctly!). This is just like how Players can use Receipts to play other games in the Arcade for more profit (if the odds are in their favor!). The 2 most common mechanisms used in LST protocols are and . We’ll not complicate matters by going too deep into the details here, except that Lido uses the former. Do read up on your own if it interests you! rebasable LSTs exchange rate-based LSTs Some Risks Increased third-party risk is a disadvantage since the liquid staking platform, such as Lido, is involved in the process. This is similar to Contributors trusting the reliability of the V2 system. Users will automatically take on the and a chance of Lido being exploited. Users must also trust Lido’s validators in handling their crypto. smart contract risks Is Liquid Staking Only for Ethereum? Good question! Absolutely not. Just as staking is a way to further secure all , liquid staking is a solution to the locked liquidity of staking on all PoS networks too. For instance, Lido also offers liquid staking on . In fact, as of today, in Q4 2023, one of the hottest topics is , an up-and-coming liquid staking protocol built on . proof-of-stake (PoS) networks Polygon Jito Solana Ending Remarks Start your Web3 journey today with staking; be it on Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, or any other PoS chains. NFA, but staking is quite a safe and beginner-friendly way to get started in DeFi while earning some passive income! But of course, DYOR! Also, the bull market is almost back (??), so it’s a good time to start. ;-) This non-sponsored article is for informational purposes and definitely should not be taken as a form of financial advice. Reach out to me to discuss this article or any other Web3 topics! Say hi on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/0xxxxxin Also published here

Arcade Receipts, Web3 Liquid Staking, and More: Crypto Liquid Staking Explained for Beginners

Preface: I recently shared my with non-crypto native friends, and although the target audience wasn’t meant to be non-crypto native readers, I decided it’d be cool to explain staking, liquid staking, and restaking with the help of an extended metaphor — a narrative! A caveat: of course, I omit a lot of technicalities involved while explaining, but this should establish a fundamental understanding about Web3 staking amongst non-crypto native readers. :) This is part 1. restaking piece a community arcade Welcome to the Arcade! We are a community arcade run by you, and for you. What does this mean? A good arcade is efficient, effective, and secure, and a big factor is capital. At the Arcade, our operations are built on an Automated System that thrives as more people contribute to the Arcade community. When you enter, exchange cash for Arcade Tokens both at the counter or the Token machines. All Arcade activity runs on Tokens, and there are 2 ways Players like you can earn rewards: Pay Tokens to join Arcade games and get rewarded with Tokens if you win. Players: Deposit Tokens with the Arcade Automated System to improve and maintain operations. In return, you will receive a deposit reward according to the amount deposited and deposit period. Contributors: what does a Contributor do? Contributors can also concurrently be Players, earning rewards both through regular Arcade games and through their deposit. The Arcade Automated System is configured in a way such that it runs on Contributor Tokens. The more deposited Tokens, the better the Automated System can run like a well-oiled machine, ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and security across all games. This is why we call ourselves a community Arcade — without you, we won’t survive. how does depositing work? Good question! Of course, it would be silly to assume that every regular Contributor would have the technical knowledge to deposit Tokens into the Automated System. Hence, we have a group of Depositors that help with the “code-y stuff”. If you’re a Contributor, all you have to do is deposit your Tokens through the Token machines. Our Depositors will be the middleman. Upon receiving your Tokens, they will do their and your Tokens will fuel the Automated System. The next thing you really have to do is see the deposit rewards accumulate in your account! As easy as that. magic what’s the catch? Ah yes, opportunity costs. Well, the catch is an obvious one and not something we’ll try to hide from you. While your Tokens are deposited into the Automated System, they are locked-in until and unless you decide to retrieve them. This means that you won’t be able to use these “locked” Tokens to play Arcade games which could potentially bring you more profit. On the flipside, Contributors get a source of stable and passive income. a parallel to Web3 staking Now that you have an idea of how this community Arcade works, let’s compare it to how staking works in the crypto world. Here’s a comparison table of parallels: * are collections of codes that act as the backbone of blockchains, serving various functions beyond just staking on a PoS chain. Smart contracts Contributor // Staker The Arcade represents a network like Ethereum, where users can choose to be stakers. When you stake your ETH with the network, you’ll play a part in securing the network because of the way the system is configured. In return for “locking up” your crypto with the network, you’ll receive staking rewards in the same cryptocurrency, ETH in this case. proof-of-stake (PoS) All the Arcade games depend on the Automated System. Similarly, all the projects and platforms on Ethereum depend on its security and functionality. As such, being a staker allows you to, as the word suggests, have a stake in the network. In the Arcade, the more Contributors, the better the system works. Similarly, the more stakers, the more secure Ethereum will be, and security is fundamental to the operations of the network. Depositors // Validators In Ethereum, validators facilitate the process of staking for the average staker (like you and me). In layman terms, they do the more technical work and “stake on your behalf”. This is compared to how Depositors in the Arcade “do their magic” to help Contributors deposit Tokens into the Automated System. drawbacks of staking Similarly, Ethereum users can earn from both using their ETH in different projects or through staking. However, the drawback of staking is that ETH is locked up with Ethereum and there’s the opportunity cost of possibly earning more if that same amount of ETH is used to trade or invest on other platforms. This is similar to how Arcade Contributors sacrifice the chance to earn rewards from games when they deposit their Tokens with the Automated System instead. (very) TL;DR Staking is the process in which users lock up their crypto with a PoS blockchain network, such as Ethereum. This helps to secure the network, while stakers receive staking rewards in return. If only this locked amount of crypto can be used productively while still securing the network and generating staking rewards…right? Stay tuned to the next piece! This non-sponsored article is for informational purposes and definitely should not be taken as a form of financial advice. Reach out to me to discuss about this article or any other Web3 topics! Say hi on X (twitter): https://twitter.com/0xxxxxin Also published . here

Learning the Web3 Staking Process With an Arcade

Many of us (including myself) grew up in the early beginnings of video game consoles such as Intellivision and Atari which were released so many years ago in the late 70s. Those of us fortunate enough to have these consoles no doubt remember being absolutely enamored by the remarkable graphics of those 8-bit video games that we just couldn’t wait to get home from school to play. Fast forward 40 years and how times have changed, with today’s powerful consoles and incredible modern graphics that seem almost too real to be true. Now while I do love modern games with the intense, engaging storylines, along with the hyper-realistic graphics that immerse you in a movie like interactive world, there is still something to be said about the good old days and those now almost extinct fossils we used to adore and spend countless hours playing. Gaming and Cryptocurrency With the emergence of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency comes an entirely new and still almost untouched platform for video games.  Play to Earn.  The latest explosion in the blockchain industry, , brings us an entirely different approach at reinventing the video game wheel.  By combining the hugely popular cryptocurrency market and our beloved classic video games, we can not only enjoy a wide range of all-new games that are “mostly” free-to-play, but we can even earn money while doing so. Web3 Introducing, the Gaming Platform.  The world’s first, retro 8-bit, Play-to-Earn arcade game platform built on the BNB blockchain. Pixel Hub Sporting controls optimized for both PC and mobile devices, and with gamepad support on the way, you can once again enjoy those old school Atari-esque arcade games we are all familiar with including some new and innovative games while earning free crypto by simply playing them. As of this writing Pixel Hub currently has 20 games with no fewer than 10 more soon to be released.  The platform is in it’s late stages of testing and the play to earn function is not yet integrated however it is not far off as the has just begun a day before this article has been published so head on over and grab some PHT tokens while they last! Token Sale for PHT Tokens The Pixel Hub Token (PHT) is a “reflection” token where 3% of every transaction is distributed to everyone who holds PHT tokens in their non-custodial wallet such as Trezor, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, etc.. As an added incentive, 3% of every PHT transaction also goes into a pool and is distributed as an in-game reward to those who play the games, this is the Play to Earn function. If those perks aren’t enough, for you competitive spirits out there will soon be able to join tournaments and play against other players by entering PHT tokens into a pot and the top 3 winners are awards with a cut with some of the tokens being burned, thus making this a deflationary token.  This means that over time, since no new tokens can be minted, and tokens are burned in every tournament, the circulating supply will shrink thus resulting in a higher token price for holders. The tournament rewards will be broken down as such: 1st Place = 45% 2nd Place = 20% 3rd Place 10% Burned = 25% Top the Charts Another awesome feature of Pixel Hub is the global leader board.  Earn a high enough score and your nickname and score will appear on the high-score board for all to see so you can enjoy those bragging rights in their Telegram our Discord community.  There will also be a tournament score chart as well so everyone can watch the progress and the final results. Follow Pixel Hub https://pixelhub.finance/ https://sale.pixelhub.finance/ https://whitepaper.pixelhub.finance/ https://t.me/pixelhubcommunity

Pixel Hub: The First Play to Earn 8-bit Arcade Platform

When Apple first announced its Apple Arcade subscription service, it sounded a bit ridiculous. With all of the subscription services out there, this seemed very low on anybody’s priority list. However, the games that Apple Arcade offers are pretty great. Great enough to pay $5 a month? That’s up to you. But if you ever decide to give it a try, here are the 5 best Apple Arcade games you should play. Best Apple Arcade Games Patterned Assemble with Care Dear Reader Grindstone Tangle Tower 1. Patterned For those looking for a calm time, Patterned is the perfect choice. It’s a puzzle game where the player must fit all of the pieces together to create a beautiful and colorful canvas. Its says it was inspired by jigsaw puzzles, and it becomes quite clear when you play it. App Store page There’s a lot of trial and error in Patterned as players try to fit the right piece in the right spot, but it’s the type of game that never becomes frustrating. And with over , the game doesn’t get boring. 500 puzzles 2. Assemble with Care Another calm game on Apple Arcade is Assemble with Care. Unlike Patterned, this is a story-driven game. Play as Maria, as she travels to a new city where she finds work by fixing items for the residents. As she fixes them, Maria will learn more about them and their lives, but most importantly, she’ll learn about the hardships they are going through. Some of the broken items that need fixing include a cassette player, a camera, and a projector. The game doesn’t offer any type of difficulty, it is a straightforward game that can easily be completed. Assemble with Care is also fairly short, however, it’s a good choice for anyone looking to relax by restoring priceless items. 3. Dear Reader Dear Reader is the game for all of the bookworms out there. A different type of puzzle game (I’m sensing a theme with all of the games on this list), the puzzles in Dear Reader all revolve around literature. The e shows off some of them: from having to fill in the bank, to catching misspelled words, to trying to correctly rearrange the sentences; this game has plenty of challenges. official websit If Dear Reader only had a few books, it could easily get boring quickly. Luckily, there are a ton of classics to choose from. Its boasts that the game has over 100 books to choose from. App Store page Some of them include Pride and Prejudice, Moby Dick, and Frankenstein. Dear Reader has a simple concept that they execute to perfection, making it one of the best games on Apple Arcade. 4. Grindstone There are plenty of puzzle games where you have to connect the same-colored gems or items, but Grindstone manages to stand out. Instead of gems, you connect different colored enemies. And instead of collecting them, you brutally kill them. It’s a fun, gory, and colorful game that is highly addictive. The game isn’t afraid to get more challenging as you progress through more levels. If you don’t have a good strategy, you’re going to have a bad time. Grindstone does have a shop where you can buy and upgrade items to give you an edge against harder levels. Progressing through levels, seeing your gear become stronger, and trying to strategize makes Grindstone one of those games that are near impossible to put down. 5. Tangle Tower Speaking of games that you’ll just want to keep on playing, the story of this game will keep you entertained the entire way through. In Tangle Tower, you play as Detective Grimoire and Sally, who are tasked with solving a mysterious murder. What makes this death so strange? The victim died alone; there was nobody near them when the murder took place. So, it’s up to you to put all of the pieces together to find the person responsible. The death took place in Tangle Tower, a place where a handful of people call home; you have the Fellow family and the Pointer family. Also, in Tangle Tower are lies and secrets; as you continue to investigate the murder, the more you’ll learn about the two families. A gripping mystery filled with interesting characters and incredible performances by the voice actors, Tangle Tower is one of the best games on Apple Arcade. More in Gaming: Is This the End for Axie Infinity? The Rise and Fall of the P2E Blockchain Game Domi Online — Summit Recap & Developer Diary February/March How to Earn Revenue with Web3 Gaming

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The Rise of GameFi and the Next Generation of Gaming Arcade, a GameFi platform, has announced that it will be extending its full-scale economic ecosystem for play-to-earn gaming and expanding the GameFi ecosystem by partnering with Mission Pool Operators. The Mission Pool Operator may lease NFTs to undertake in-game tasks, increasing the value of all GameFi players. The GameFi platform links gaming assets to players and distributes incentives across platform users, favoring consistent and passive earnings. The Mission Pools, which anybody may join to participate in the ecosystem's benefits, are at the heart of this idea. Joining a Mission Pool entails staking gaming NFT assets that reward fees and prizes accumulated through the Arcade protocol. In principle, the GameFi platform provides index-like visibility to play-to-earn gaming initiatives on various blockchains, like Solana, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Ethereum, Polygon, and others. Arcade builds on the Mission Pools idea by adding Mission Pools Operators (MPOs). An MPO may lease non-fungible tokens to execute in-game activities and participate in play-to-earn processes and interactions. Everyone, including gaming guilds, eSports teams, and professional players, may become MPOs. The only criteria are using a particular quantity of $xARCADE digital assets to run their Mission Pool of choice. The team will keep working to decrease the entrance barrier to play-to-earn gaming and its associated benefits. The present emphasis of the platform is on low-income neighborhoods that are recognized for generating great players. Furthermore, because of the power of decentralization, anybody may make use of these possibilities. Play-2-Earn Vs Traditional Games In Play-2-Earn, traditional games may be reimagined with behaviors that unite rather than divide participants. As the traditional gaming industry grew and people began to invest additional time online, the digital world and reality became more indistinguishable. On the other hand, traditional games have left significant gaps in their ability to connect them to their surroundings in a more cohesive experience, even though many gamers were already used to interacting in numerous virtual worlds. This divergence quickly brought attention to the concept of the metaverse. Because the videogame is more than just a game, players are encouraged to do more than participate in exhilarating gaming. Indeed, with the arrival of the blockchain, the play-2-earn model has extended to include real-world economics, complete with significant earning possibilities, such as the ability to create resellable user-generated content (UGC) – previously impossible in the gaming business. In the wake of Axie Infinity's breaking success, which has resulted in an explosion of investments in the game sector, several platforms seek to present their unique services in the Play-2-Earn arena. In 2021, Ethereum saw an increase in prominence among DeFi and GameFi applications, including the mainstreaming of native decentralized exchanges like Uniswap and the popularity of games like Decentraland, The Sandbox, and others. Image credits: and . Javier Martínez Sean Do Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is to remove informational asymmetry existing today in our digital markets by performing due diligence, asking the right questions, and equipping readers with better opinions to make informed decisions. The writer holds Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, Solana and Cosmos. The writer has a vested interest in the story.

Arcade Launches Mission Pool Operator Program to Bring GameFi to the Masses 

Warner Music is entering into the blockchain industry Warner Music has partnered with Splinterlands to tap the GameFi and Play-to-Earn by collaborating to allow artists to create and develop play-2-earn blockchain-based games. Warner Music has undertaken this endeavor primarily to diversify revenue sources from its assets and thus the music behemoth has added blockchain-based games to its portfolio. The two firms will work to provide Warner Music Group artists with the opportunity to design and invent new, play-to-earn, arcade-style blockchain gaming. Warner Music represents artists such as Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and Michael Bublé. Splinterlands presently handles Splinterlands, the most prominent most successful blockchain gaming dapp (decentralized app). Chief Digital Officer & EVP, Business Development of the Warner Music Group, Oana Ruxandra, said: “I don’t think we can underestimate how massive the opportunity around P2E gaming is. By partnering with Splinterlands to build custom tokenized games, we’ll unlock new revenue streams for our artists who have an interest in the space while elevating the role of fandom and community. As the Web3 ecosystem continues to evolve, WMG is committed to making sure music is front-and-center.” Play-to-earn games use blockchain solutions to provide gamers with legitimate prizes, such as NFTs. As per Dappradar, blockchain-based games account for 50% of the whole blockchain industry’s consumption. Warner Music Group and Splinterfields envision play-to-earn as a significant economic element for gameplay and cryptocurrency ecosystems. GameFi - the Next Frontier for Big Entertainment Since its modest beginnings, the gaming industry has evolved significantly. Those who recall playing Super Mario on a 16-bit gaming console are conscious of how this once-simple business has blossomed into a treasure mine of emotionally-charged, engrossing virtual reality games that reward accuracy and strategy. Since their avatars are tailored to their personalities, massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) need players to live in a fair universe. According to experts, gaming is expected to be the first significant application case for blockchain, reshaping the sector and rendering gaming more engaging than ever before. The way gaming overcomes the lingering roadblocks will serve as a model for other businesses seeking widespread blockchain implementation. When it became evident that cryptocurrency wasn’t the only blockchain application, it was hailed as a game-changer. Today, its game-changing applications appear to be creating more buzz than reality, and many people believe it is exaggerated. GameFi is a combination of “gaming” and “finance” put together. It blends cryptocurrency, blockchain, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and gameplay mechanics to build an online world where users may engage and generate income. GameFi is based on the “play-to-earn” concept. This notion is providing economic rewards to players in exchange for their playing and progressing through levels in games. Some blockchain games generate enough profits for players to make a full-time living while playing. Decentralized finance (DeFi) mechanisms can be combined with these online gaming projects. The blockchain-based distributed ledger is used to start gaming ventures such as these. This implies that all items received by gamers remain their absolute property. Currently, deals involving specific digital products tokenized as NFTs generate billions of dollars in blockchain games. This vibrant industry has pushed some gamers to forgo their jobs and make a life discovering metaverses and dealing in collectibles. Splinterlands is an example of a venture that aided in developing the P2E movement. It is a collectible card game based on the Hive ecosystem, developed by a substantial number of users primarily through hearsay. It has over 800,000 daily members who contest for and trade NFTs, as well as goods purchased with the game’s native currency- Dark Energy Crystals (DEC). Catch all the breaking news, and Don’t forget to like the story! Image credits: and . Marcela Laskoski Matty Adame Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is to remove informational asymmetry existing today in our digital markets by performing due diligence, asking the right questions, and equipping readers with better opinions to make informed decisions. The writer holds Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, Solana and Cosmos. The writer has a vested interest in the story.

Warner Music Partners with Splinterlands to Bring Play-2-Earn Arcade Style Blockchain Games

The House of the Dead Walkthrough and Review (Arcade, Sega Model 2) 

If you’ve played any sort of racing game in an arcade, chances are you’ve heard of the name Raw Thrills. They’re the minds behind such titles as The Fast and the Furious and Super Bikes, and they’ve made a name for themselves in plenty of entertainment centers. Now, for the first time in years, Raw Thrills is coming to home consoles with the release of Cruis’n Blast for the Nintendo Switch. This is more than just a simple port of an arcade game. Featuring new tracks, new cars, and even new game modes, Cruis’n Blast aims to be the definitive arcade racing port. I’ve been interested in arcade racing games since I was a kid, so I jumped on the opportunity to review this game. Having played through each major race, I can safely say Cruis’n Blast delivers that experience incredibly well - though not without its flaws. Cruis’n Blast Gameplay Review Cruis’n Blast is a classic arcade racer. You face off against AI-controlled opponents across numerous tracks to reach the top spot in a race. You can find shortcuts and alternate paths in many of the tracks, and pre-scripted events will occur to keep the visuals interesting. Cruis’n Blast even allows you to take down opponents by slamming into them, but their opportunities to do the same to you are lacking. The major challenge comes from trying to overtake your rivals, which can actually be quite difficult at higher skill levels. The gameplay actually differs quite a bit from the arcade version. Originally, players could gain a speed boost by launching through the air, but such bonuses do not exist in the Switch version. Instead, each track has numerous jump pads that can shoot your car forward with great speed. Using these can be vital to winning races, and the AI-controlled cars don’t always go for them. Winning races also doesn’t allow your car to be upgraded so quickly, too; instead of choosing a vehicle’s stats to increase after completing a single race, players need to win numerous races to “rank up” their ride. This automatically increases their stats, and will unlock further customization options for certain cars. The game itself still very much feels like something from the arcade, though, especially with how a race is structured. You aren’t able to reverse during a race, and there’s no real reason to - all tracks are pretty much straight lines with wide turns. Even when major events happen during each track, such as a massive Yeti shattering ice below you, there aren’t any hazards that directly interact with the drivers. The game’s Cruis’n Tour mode does offer more substantial threats, but nothing that will drastically change how you play - there isn’t much in terms of variety outside of the alternate layouts and visuals of each track. Players will still have many opportunities to improve their skills as they start out with Cruis’n Blast. Timing the press of a button will give you a speed boost, as will drifting around turns for long enough. Players can also double-tap the drift button to make their car perform a wheelie, which will increase its speed on straight roads and allow it to perform tricks when flying through the air. The skill ceiling isn’t very high, but it’s certainly there - even if you’re a pro at usual racing games, Cruis’n Blast will still test your abilities with each race you clear. Graphics, Performance, and Sound Performance As a Switch game, Cruis’n Blast provides pleasant visuals while still maintaining a high 60 FPS. It’s refreshing to see third-party ports on the Switch that aim for a framerate higher than 30. Sadly, it’s not a perfect solution, as there’s still a fair amount of stuttering that happens during gameplay. This is most apparent when special effects are on screen, such as when you use your boost or take down other vehicles. The game manages to bounce back from those lowered framerates pretty well, but it’s still very noticeable when they take a dive. Graphics The graphics themselves are perfectly serviceable. Outside of the color schemes and lighting on some of the vehicles, the game is appealing to look at and shows off some great scenery. This is mostly when the game is in motion, however; if you pause to take a closer look at some things, you can see how certain background models will glitch into other objects or disappear as soon as you pass them. I happened to notice an unmoving image of a zebra in one level, overlaid on top of a bush that was off in the distance. You’re likely not to notice these graphical issues during normal gameplay; the game doesn’t often intend for you to stop, after all. But what is noticeable is how different the Switch port’s visuals are to the arcade version. In arcades, Cruis’n Blast has better textures, better lighting, and even more effects in each track. The Death Valley track in particular included cows that would explode into steaks when cars ran through them - something entirely absent on the Switch version. That particular addition might’ve been a little too violent for the port, but there are similar effects on other tracks that the Switch version sadly loses out on. Some of that classic arcade magic is lost with the removal of those effects, even if it was necessary to reach the port’s buttery-smooth framerate. Sound The sound design is probably the Switch port’s greatest shortcoming. There is no commentary during each track like there is throughout the arcade version. This, combined with the alternate UI and removal of checkpoints, does make for a much “cleaner” experience. But players lose out on some explanations as to what’s going on - including why a massive hole opens up during the Death Valley track (the commentator shouts “Earthquake!” as it happens). This is a minor complaint, to be fair, but it does tie with a major one - an issue that plagues even the arcade version. Cruis’n Blast does not feature any audio balancing. Players are unable to change how loud the music or sound effects are by themselves. This is especially a problem due to how loud the sound for doing a wheelie is - it’s loud enough to drown out anything else going on in the game. There are some great pieces of music in the game, too, but it’s very difficult to even listen to them when it’s drowned out by the rev of your engine. This is something that can and probably will be changed in a future patch for the game, but I wish the developers focused a little more on that beforehand. Content The incredible amount of content is where Cruis’n Blast truly shines. The game features a vast number of unlockable cars, each with their own set of stats and customization options. You can gain more cars by completing tours for the first time, or by finding hidden keys - there are three in each track, and it’ll be very difficult to get them all in a single run. This not only encourages players to replay tracks they haven’t fully explored, it also encourages them to replay their favorite ones - that way, they can rank up new vehicles in any way they please. New tracks are also present in the game, and they can be unlocked by completing tours. Not all of these ‘new tracks’ are truly unique, however - many of them are simply older tracks with new visuals based on each tour’s theme, such as helicopters or UFOs. This does make the number of new tracks seem larger than it actually is, but there are still a few altered pathways and locations. It’s not the best way to bump up the content, but it doesn’t get stale as soon as you might think. The game also features time trials, for those that want to get a feel for the tracks they’ve unlocked (or collect keys without worrying about any AI), and a multiplayer mode for playing with your friends. Sadly, the multiplayer only allows local play using different controllers or Switch consoles. No online play is available, and you can only race with up to four players at a time. Online play isn’t exactly a requirement, but it does hurt the game’s longevity. There is plenty of challenge when up against the game’s AI, but going up against a full team of real players would’ve made things even more fun. Cruis’n Blast Switch Review: Final Verdict - 7/10 Overall, I would recommend the Nintendo Switch port of Cruis’n Blast to any fans of arcade racing games, whether casual or die-hard. The gameplay is simplistic but easy to enjoy, and even its most major flaws are pretty superficial - you’ll still get a lot of fun out of the title. The price of $40 USD might seem steep to some, but when considering how much you’d spend at an arcade, it’s actually quite a steal. Cruis’n Blast sets out to be the definitive arcade racing experience on consoles, and that’s exactly where it succeeds. It’s not a perfect game, but it’s a great first step by Raw Thrills into the console market, and I’m excited to see where it will take them in the future. Arcade Version Gameplay: Switch Version Store Page: Cruis'n Blast for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details

Cruis’n Blast Review (Nintendo Switch): Is this Arcade Racing Game Worth Taking Home?

The nostalgia of is reminiscent of arcades reinventing the idea of entertainment and fun. Even with the innovative AR/VR games now joining the market, arcade games have not lost their popularity. gaming in the '90s Due to the increased demand, Mobile Arcade Games have also been launched to provide the ultimate gaming experience to gaming fanatics. However, few online games still remain on top of the list. But before going into those, let's look back into the . history of gaming The Era of the Arcade Games The retro gaming period was the time that built gaming communities all over the world. The cult favorites grabbed the attention of many, and it all began with a coin-operated pinball machine. The period of Arcade was in the 1970s till the mid-1980s. Video Games – the first arcade game was made in 1971 by a student of the Standford University. The game became to be known as Spacewar. It is was inspired by the previous coin-operated version – Galaxy Game. FUN FACT However, after almost two decades, the grandeur of Arcade Games started to decline. The acceptance of home gaming consoles took over the popularity of arcade games. Then in the 2000s, the rise of networking games via computers and the internet took the gaming industry by storm. Fast Forward to the Current Time Arcade games are still commonly played today. Many old ones, like Tetris, are still among the favorites of gamers, whereas many new additions have also made their place in the world of gaming. Let's take a look at some of the best arcade games of all time, which are not available online and/or on mobile. – Ever played a pinball game that challenged you? is a pong-themed game that uses long vertical tables with a three-dimensional layout. The game has three difficulty levels. The default level is a piece of cake, but the levels after that will surely test your gaming skills. 3D Pong Pinball Game 3D Pong Pinball Game – It takes mundane tasks such as unpacking suitcases or fixing tape recorders and turns them into entertaining puzzle-solving fun. It is the perfect soothing game for people who like to organize things. With the impressive interface capabilities, the developer indeed did an excellent job. Assemble with Care – Its pleasing aesthetics, unexpected remixes of elegant and familiar strategy systems have indeed caught our eye. It's a number-based card game mechanics. Nothing you can't accomplish within a few tries. Card of Darkness – A game that has made quite a name among gamers of all ages. It is exciting, fun, and everything that you have ever imagined. When it launched, it became an instant favorite. The features that people like most are its excellent resolution and graphics. Subway Surfer – The simple puzzle game became a fad in 2009 when it launched. It is also known for its animation and graphics. The incredible thing is that it contains 640 challenges in Mighty Leagues. If you haven't played it yet, then try it! Angry Birds Classic Another famous among the classic arcade games. This endless runner and platformer game provides single-player and multiplayer modes. The central fun part of this game is its stunning 3D environments and unique boss battle programs. If you have the expertise to make it through the challenges, then you have your pick. Sonic Dash – – It is a labyrinth game and would require you to control a ball made of steel by tilting the wooden labyrinth. It is not as easy as it seems. It needs precision to accomplish 120 exciting levels. Customized time set options are among the favorites of this game. Want to enjoy even more? You can play some background music of your choice to up the game. The cannot be ignored. Teeter Pro importance of music in video games – The fun name might already have aroused curiosity in you. Let us give you more to be excited about. Fruit Ninja is both a single and multiplayer game that offers three classic modes. You can optimize the quality and speed. While playing this game, you will surely crave some food. Do keep some with you! Fruit Ninja – It's a spin on the 3D spatial puzzles. A simple yet interactive game that will take you into space. A perfect match for people for love space. ChuChu Rocket! Universe – It is an automatic runner game. It is similar to the common arcade games, occasionally broken by bits where the player falls from the sky. But the music is so fresh, the art is so distinct, and the motion is fluid and free. You can't help but be swept into it. Plus, you can even stab a dragon's eye with a sword. How cool is that? If you love dragons then take a swing at this game. EarthNight – This game does not need an introduction, right? It has always been featured as the best arcade game of all time. It is a video gaming institution. Pac-man is no doubt the most recognizable video game character and is a cult hero too. Even kids wear its t-shirts without having even played it. The game is pretty simple. Eat the dots in the maze, and don't let the brightly colored ghosts get you. The levels get more challenging as you move on. So, try it and see which level you can reach up to. Pac-Man Final Word Arcade games have maintained a legacy of providing fun for gamers while offering the best animation and graphics. Their online versions are just as fun as their coin-operated machine version. The best part is it won’t even cost you a penny to play. So, you have so many options to pick from now and enjoy the legacy of arcade games. We would suggest trying out all the games mentioned above. Because each and every game is a 5 star hit itself. Don't miss out on the arcade fun by just sticking to one game.

The Rebirth of Arcade Games in the 21st Century

In this short tutorial, I’ll walk you through the process of turning any bicycle into an arcade-like controller for computer games. Despite not setting the example for leading a healthy lifestyle, my wife and I do try to eat our greens, avoid too much junk, and keep in shape. Our 5 year old on the other hand, couldn’t care less about doing any physical activity, unless it gets him closer to his (my…) iPad. best Normally, This issue is partially remedied simply by being a kid, which involves a fair amount of running, climbing, falling… and recently cycling! But unfortunately, with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can’t really do much of that. So, I turned his bicycle into a keyboard. Now, he can play his favorite computer games and exercise at the same time! In this short article, I’ll walk you through the process of building your very own . keyboard bike Foundations: The first step is turning the bicycle into indoor training bikes by getting the rear wheel to spin freely without touching the ground, and allow the handlebars to turn freely as well. If your kid is propelled forward, you should NOT proceed to the following steps. There are many ways of getting the bike to remain in place while spinning the pedals. Hanging the bicycle from the ceiling, digging a hole in the floor beneath the wheel and many more. I personally used the training wheels to support the rear, but this is your place to get creative, and more importantly, . I am deliberately avoiding getting into too much detail about my implementation of this part (you can get a pretty good idea from the various pictures and gifs in this article…) as it is your responsibility to make sure that the bicycle are secure and safe to use. be responsible The plan After securing the bike so that it can be pedalled in place, we will connect sensors to capture the rotation of the rear wheel, position of the handle bars and some buttons for extra control (these can be easily programmed later to map any keyboard key). Data from all sensors will be captured and transformed by an Arduino that will function as a keyboard and send keystrokes to a computer running a (most likely racing) game. Hardware We must use a board that can function as a USB keyboard. I used . Arduino Leonardo I used 3 types of sensors: . — This sensor changes its output voltage when in the proximity of a magnetic field. We will use it to transform the rotation of the rear wheel to a forward key press. — Used to transform the handlebar orientation to left/right keys. — used as extra controllers. I recommend using this type of switches (limit switch) and not going for some fancy buttons. these switches are very responsive, whereas some buttons can sometimes be challenging for a kid to press. 1 A1302 Hall Effect Sensor 2. 10K ohm linear potentiometer 3. Microswitch highly Connecting the parts Hall effect sensor By placing magnets on the rear wheel, and positioning the sensor close (as close as possible without touching the wheel), we can sense the wheel’s rotation as the magnets pass by the sensor. I used two magnets equally spaced (that is ~180 degrees apart). A tip for attaching the magnets - You could probably find a more elegant solution, but the one I used here is to wrap the magnets in plastic wrap and twist the ends, like a candy wrap (I am referring to the white blobs seen spinning with the wheel in the gif above). Then use the loose ends to tie the magnets to the wheel’s spokes, and secure with hot glue. In order to get the sensor (this is referring to the red vertical rod in the gif, the sensor itself is located at its end) as close to the wheel as possible I mounted it to a flexible wire (I used some heavy duty electrical wire but any wire that will flex and keep its position will do). Potentiometer The potentiometer needs to be connected to the pivot point of the handlebars. There should be a socket for an allen wrench at that point. I used a fitting driver bit and connected it to the potentiometer. Originally, my plan was to solder both parts together, but driver bits have low (none) solder-ability. I ended up taking a short piece of straw (seen in the gif below in violet) sticking the potentiometer and driver bit from both sides, and injecting it with hot glue, to keep everything together. It’s solid as a rock. As for securing the potentiometer to the bike frame, you will again need to get creative. my solution (which can be seen in the trailer gif and in the image at the end of the article showing all components detached from the bike) was based on making a plexiglass “arm” to hold the potentiometer in place, and may not work for your child’s bike. The idea is simple, the potentiometer needs to spin with the handlebars. Simple as it is, the implementation can be quite challenging… Switches I placed one of the switches behind the (redundant) front wheel brake lever, and the other one behind the not redundant back wheel brake lever, and disconnected this brake, so that the switches are pressed by pressing the brakes, which feels very natural. Again, I’m not taking any responsibility here. if you feel the supports you made in part 1 are not strong enough and are worried about obstructing and/or disconnecting brakes, you can, and should place the buttons somewhere else. No right or wrong, as long as it’s comfortable and safe. I limited myself to two buttons but you can obviously go as high as the board allows. Wiring A note on thinking ahead. After completing , I set up to improve it by making sure I can easily disconnect all components and reassemble them again as quickly as possible, this required some tweaking, that could have been avoided if I had thought of this at the get go. It took me nearly to upgrade to , but it now takes to assemble/disassemble. keyboard-bike version 1.0 2 hours keyboard-bike version 2.0 less than a minute Another point to keep in mind is what’s the best place to secure the board. I thoughtlessly put it on the side my son gets on and off the bike. In retrospect, I should have chosen the other side… Code As explained in the hardware section, the setup is composed of 3 types of sensors: Hall effect sensor, potentiometer, and buttons. I’ll explain the code for each component separately. keyboard bike Hall effect sensor The hall effect sensor is “activated” when the wheel spins and the magnets pass by the sensor, inducing a change in output voltage. For this part, I switched on the key (forward key in my case) whenever there was an absolute change in voltage above a certain threshold (hall_effect_threshold). I then keep it on and start counting back for a certain amount of time (drive_decay_const). This allows tuning the amount of motion you get from each "spike". Increase the value of drive_decay_const to get more movement. Potentiometer Here we’re basically trying to convert an “analog” motion of turning the handlebars into a “binary” left or right clicks. A continuous press is way too dramatic if you just want to make small adjustments, so the amount of turn needs to be represented as “click amount”. I’m doing this by activating and deactivating turning movement at a set interval (interval), so that turning the handlebars beyond a certain threshold, will start pressing intermittently. In addition, I add a delay while the button is activated, that grows with the amount of turn. So for higher angle turns, the button will be pressed for a longer duration (that is, each click will be longer) resulting in a more aggressive turn. Also, notice that I'm initialising pot_center at setup. this is helpful for cases where the potentiometer gets disconnected from the socket. Instead of having to relocate the center, you can just reset the board, and the center will be reset. Switches Nothing special here. Just replace the activated key to suit your needs. The code here is for playing which is a great racing game for kids, but the bike could obviously be adjusted for many other games. We also use it to play Minecraft, which works great. SuperTuxKart hall_effect_threshold = turn_threshold = ; drive_decay_const = ; turn_decay_const = ; button_1_val = ; button_2_val = ; interval = ; button_1 = ; button_2 = ; pot_center = ; prev_hallSensorValue = ; delay_time = ; drive_decay = ; previousMillis = ; allow_turn = ; turn_amount = ; {
  Serial.begin( );
  Keyboard.begin();
  pinMode(button_1, INPUT);
  pinMode(button_2, INPUT);
  pot_center = analogRead(A1);
} { currentMillis = millis(); hallSensorValue = analogRead(A0); pot = analogRead(A1); ( (hallSensorValue- prev_hallSensorValue) > ){
    prev_hallSensorValue = hallSensorValue;
    Keyboard.press(KEY_UP_ARROW);
    drive_decay = drive_decay_const;
  } { (drive_decay <= ){
        Keyboard.release(KEY_UP_ARROW);
        } {
      drive_decay -= ;
      }
    } (allow_turn== ){ (pot < pot_center - turn_threshold) {
    Keyboard.press(KEY_RIGHT_ARROW);
    } (pot > pot_center + turn_threshold){
    Keyboard.press(KEY_LEFT_ARROW);
  }} (currentMillis - previousMillis >= interval) { previousMillis = currentMillis;
    turn_amount = (pot-pot_center); (allow_turn == ) { (turn_amount > turn_threshold){
          delay(turn_amount); }
      allow_turn = ;
    } {
      allow_turn = ;
      } Keyboard.release(KEY_RIGHT_ARROW);
      Keyboard.release(KEY_LEFT_ARROW);
    } (digitalRead(button_1) == HIGH){
    Keyboard.press(button_1_val);
    } {
     Keyboard.release(button_1_val);
    } (digitalRead(button_2) == HIGH){
    Keyboard.press(button_2_val);
    } {
     Keyboard.release(button_2_val);
    }
} /*
bicycle_keyboard
*/ # include "Keyboard.h" const int 1 // threshold for hall effect sensor. const int 35 // threshold for detecting a left/right movement. const int 100 // drive_decay speed of car (larger => slower decreasing / faster car) const int 0.75 // multiplier for intensity of turn. higher value => sharper turns. const char ' ' // value for button 1 const char 'n' // value for button 2 const long 200 // interval for allowing not allowing turns. const int 2 // button_1 pin const int 3 // button_2 pin int 500 // center point for potentiometer. this value is being reset in setup. int 0 // initial value for sensor const int 1 // delay between reads int 0 // initial drive_decay value unsigned long 0 // initial value bool true // allow turn is a boolean to only allow turns every passing interval int 0 // initial value void setup () 9600 void loop () unsigned long int int //  Serial.println(hallSensorValue); //  Serial.println(pot);  delay(delay_time);        // delay in between reads for stability  // DRIVE: if abs 1 else if 0 else 1 if true //TURN RIGHT if // TURN LEFT if if // interval has passed abs // switch allow turn state: if true if //keep button pressed longer the more aggressive the turn. false else true // release the turn keys: //check buttons if else if else Summary To conclude, I hope I did a good job of explaining how to get the built. If you chose to build one, and find that I have not, don’t hesitate to send me a message. keyboard bike Also published behind a paywall: https://towardsdatascience.com/keeping-your-kids-in-shape-during-quarantine-by-turning-their-bicycle-into-a-keyboard-e1f8a34fac2e

Quarantine Life: How to Keep Your Kids Active by Turning their Bicycle into an Arcade Controller

Apple Arcade — A New Foe has Appeared! On March 25, Apple announced Apple Arcade — a new subscription service featuring access to over 100 new and exclusive games. I want to unpack the context behind the announcement and lay out some open questions for the platform’s future. A Link to the Past Since the advent of Zynga and Farmville in 2009 a full 10 years ago, the world of gaming has shifted in an evolutionary way. The rise of freemium gaming has affected not only the biggest mobile games (Candy Crush, Clash of Clans, Pokemon Go) but PC and, to a certain extent console as well (League of Legends, Fortnite). The good ol’ days So what? Well, in order to adapt, gameplay and game design have had to evolve as well. Offering the game for free allowed for broad distribution. Meanwhile, in-app purchases (IAP), downloadable content (DLC) and ads provided revenue. Thanks to the success of Zynga, many in the game industry began methodically and obsessively breaking down metrics of engagement — how do you create an addicting first 5 minutes? First hour? Get the user to come back on the second day? How do we get a customer to pay for the first time at the top of the funnel? On the flip side, how do we make the game deep enough to reward the “whales” — the few, deep-pocketed, mega-payers who spend an outsized amount of all revenue in the game. The internal organs of the game have been shuffled around to optimize for player growth, retention and monetization. In the meantime, we’ve also seen a number of noteworthy hits on the indie game side. Platforms like Steam and the app stores also allow for a few independent developers to find a significant player base and make sufficient money to reach decent levels of profitability. To be clear though, the gap is vast. in revenue since launch. By contrast, Clash of Clans was at one point estimated to be making . Monument Valley reached over $25 million dollars $5.5m revenue daily and has exceeded $3b in total lifetime revenue Indie Hit? Free-to-play wonder? The world will never know. So with Arcade (and, arguably, Google with Stadia — a considerably different approach) we see Apple placing a bet on the latter. Apple has consistently watched games dominate the App Store’s rankings and revenues since its inception. As called out today, mobile devices comprise . Apple Arcade is the company’s attempt to continue capitalizing on that (at least, the iOS portion of the equation). But let’s delve into some of the open-ended questions laid out by this new direction. the single most popular gaming machine in existence PlayerUnknown What is the current market size of players willing to pay such a service? The most astute industry reports can’t accurately estimate how many will actually subscribe. My video game backlog is currently already 20 games long. I spent a full month playing Overcooked 2. What does it mean to have an 100+ more for me to try every month? What is the average number of games a subscriber will play each month? Does this replace the existing services or supplement them? (#déjàvucordcutters) What is the future market size? Is this a virtuous or vicious cycle? As with all markets, this is two-sided — if developers see this as the new land of opportunity, more will sign on. If players find the exclusive library increasingly appealing, more players will subscribe. But the opposite also holds — Ouya, Shield and Oculus can share their misgivings. Is there perhaps undiagnosed IAP fatigue? A portion of the broader player base has been vocally against IAP and *shudder* DLC add-ons. A gaming experience can quickly feel cheapened by pay-to-win strategies or story lines that paywall their own endings. But by offering the core game for free, has this try-before-you-buy behavior become engrained in players? Equally importantly, by being forced to discover IAP, have game developers become addicted to the huge recurring revenue streams? Can freemium and premium games co-exist peacefully in the future of the industry? Finally, how do economics actually play out for game developers? The current price is to be determined. Spotify and Netflix rode a fine line in appeasing content creators and paying out sufficient revenues. Does the game industry work the same way? I’m very curious to see how Arcade and Stadia play out over the next year. The games demoed on stage today were beautiful. Then again, Keynote demos usually are. I exited the game industry because the path to pursue revenue felt at odds with the games I loved as a kid. Will this offering to quality, lovingly crafted games pan out? Or is this 2019’s Apple Newsstand? Authors note: all views represented above are my own, from the perspective of a gamer and ex-game developer. There is no relevance to the time I spent at Apple or my being an AAPL stakeholder.

Apple Arcade — A New Foe has Appeared!

On the 29th of November, 2018 TRON issued a public statement regarding the establishment of a blockchain games’ fund called TRON Arcade. According to the fund, there will be $100M invested in the development of the cryptogames market. The $100M in funding will be distributed over the next 3 years. TRON Arcade is a part of TRON’s long-termed commitment to accelerating the decentralization of the Internet through blockchain technology and revolutionary applications. TRON’s founder and CEO Justin Sun commented: “TRON Arcade will play a crucial role in encouraging developers to join in our mission and provide the best blockchain gaming experience to users around the world”. TRON is an indispensable blockchain for crypto games and especially for crypto collectibles as it operates with NTFs (non-fungible tokens). A non-fungible token is a unique asset people get to play and improve that in the future they can sell or exchange. It’s fair to say that the majority of players decide to keep their unique assets due to the special status of each NTF. Every crypto collectible, aka non-fungible token, is an irreplicable piece of digital art. The number of games which will appear on TRON Arcade is limited The market now is filled with crypto games but the goal is to select the games with the biggest potential. Unfortunately, the quality of crypto games is generally very poor. This may be due to crazy demand which makes game developers of all skill ranges jump in and try their hand without the requisite ability to create a good gaming experience. TRON will filter out games with lame graphics and games that lack good back story to ensure that users are getting good quality. TRON and Blockchain Cuties together are forming a prototype for the future of all decentralized games An official launch for the Blockchain Cuties game on TRON Arcade is going to happen by the end of December 2018. Blockchain Cuties will be the first crypto collectible game to launch on TRON. Blockchain Cuties is a crypto collectible game with significant strategic elements. As a cryptocollectible game, it’s based on NFT technology. Non-fungible Tokens, appropriately named Cuties in the game, are shaped as puppies, lizards, bear cubs, cats, hedgehogs and other real and fantasy creatures. Each Cutie has a unique genome which is basically an analog for human DNA. It’s a Top Dapp game in terms of traffic, rich gameplay mechanics and transaction volume. At the moment Blockchain Cuties is the only game which utilizes NFTs and has a cross-blockchain functionality. Thus a variety of assets can be mapped onto the blockchain, making it possible to create multi-coin smart contracts so users from different blockchains can interact with each other on a verifiable basis. Placing Blockchain Cuties on TRON means a higher transaction speed which leads to more gameplay options. TRON players will notice a variety of exclusive Cuties and the chance to get rarer Cuties while breeding. This iconic collaboration not only creates a better, decentralized user experience but facilitates the adoption of crypto through gaming on the blockchain. 3 basic rules of crypto gaming according to TRON High paying. Users invest in buying Cuties for a chance to earn big. The players are able to sell their collectibles in whichever way they want, for whatever price someone else is willing to pay for it. All collectibles have Token status. You get yourself a crypto pet and that is where your investing journey starts. If you wanted to withdraw all your assets, you could sell your blockchain Cuties in the marketplace available directly in the game, or you could use third-party marketplaces like OpenSea. Fast growing. TRON is surging crypto adoption, bringing explosive user growth. TRON users also receive exclusive Cuties with brand new attributes which make the game experience more exciting. Content void. Only high functional games. Cuties go on different adventures, collectively fight against the powerful Raid Boss, celebrate Halloween, Christmas, and pick rare items as awards. By the end of December 2018, Blockchain Cuties will be the first cryptocollectible game listed on TRON Arcade.

TRON blockchain announced 3 basic rules of crypto gaming within TRON Arcade.

In what is practically newly found lost media—and definitely not a false memory—the GameWorks arcade did indeed have a motion-controlled Tekken 3 gaming platform in the late '90s that was literally operated by flailing your fists and feet to get the Tekken characters to punch and kick. https://youtu.be/Ah1I7g4XfiE?si=x50n2HY8WWuEWcyS&embedable=true I call it "lost media" because there's only one video on YouTube (uploaded 20 years ago with only 2.8k views) and two other references on the entire internet that I was able to find as proof that this contraption even existed. Two people stood on a platform and punched and kicked the air to get moves to register. Back in the late '90s/early 2000s, when I was still a very small kid, I remember seeing this machine in a vague, hazy memory. Blue lights, Tekken 3 on the screen, people punching the air, etc. While it’s such a unique combination of elements between tech and entertainment—making it a core memory for me as a huge admirer of the Tekken franchise, my memory of it was hazy because: I was very young when I saw the machine and never got close to it. I was probably concerned about being in the proximity of a roundhouse kick.


I had never seen or heard anyone talk about the machine ever again. This was around the year 2000, way before smartphones, which probably explains the lack of footage. I also remember the machine didn’t work very well; physical actions didn’t always translate on screen. Motion-controlled inputs for a fighting game seem inherently complicated, and combining them with the profound acrobatics, impossible anatomy and strength required to perform the signature moves of fantasy fighting game characters in Tekken was literally impossible. I think the game probably lasted only a couple of years in a few locations, utilizing a version of the Sega Activator, the first full-body motion-sensing controller for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive back in 1993. The Activator was an octagonal ring of sensors meant to control on-screen movement but was notorious for being a poorly made product that only mapped specific movements to buttons on a controller. It’s plausible that this early '90s tech was revamped years later for the Virtual Arena. This theory makes sense since GameWorks was originally a collaboration between DreamWorks SKG, Universal Studios, and Sega, with input from Steven Spielberg. The company went through bankruptcy in 2004 and is now under the ownership of EXWorks Capital. I suspect the Tekken Virtual Arena was released to GameWorks arcades and quietly dissolved after a few years, coinciding with the decline of interest in arcades and motion/VR-related tech. GameWorks was intended to be a massive project when it launched in 1997, with a huge launch party in Seattle featuring appearances by actor Will Smith and Bill Gates to bring attention to the new space. The staff specifically marketed it as an "entertainment center" rather than just an arcade. https://youtu.be/N2uKOw4UX40?si=PcIK0f4qdU6FdJe0&embedable=true While we know a lot about the GameWorks project that failed to meet its high expectations in 1997, we still know very little about the creation of the Tekken 3 Virtual Arena. I’m thankful for the two videos and the one photo uploaded online; otherwise, it would almost certainly be lost media—a largely forgotten piece of obscure but future-forward technology that, even for those who remember it, would have thought it to be nothing more than a figment of their imagination. In what is practically newly found lost media—and definitely not a false memory—the GameWorks arcade did indeed have a motion-controlled Tekken 3 gaming platform in the late '90s that was literally operated by flailing your fists and feet to get the Tekken characters to punch and kick. Tekken 3 Tekken https://youtu.be/Ah1I7g4XfiE?si=x50n2HY8WWuEWcyS&embedable=true https://youtu.be/Ah1I7g4XfiE?si=x50n2HY8WWuEWcyS&embedable=true I call it "lost media" because there's only one video on YouTube (uploaded 20 years ago with only 2.8k views) and two other references on the entire internet that I was able to find as proof that this contraption even existed. Two people stood on a platform and punched and kicked the air to get moves to register. (uploaded 20 years ago with only 2.8k views) Back in the late '90s/early 2000s, when I was still a very small kid, I remember seeing this machine in a vague, hazy memory. Blue lights, Tekken 3 on the screen, people punching the air, etc. Tekken 3 While it’s such a unique combination of elements between tech and entertainment—making it a core memory for me as a huge admirer of the Tekken franchise, my memory of it was hazy because: Tekken I was very young when I saw the machine and never got close to it. I was probably concerned about being in the proximity of a roundhouse kick. I had never seen or heard anyone talk about the machine ever again. I was very young when I saw the machine and never got close to it. I was probably concerned about being in the proximity of a roundhouse kick. I was very young when I saw the machine and never got close to it. I was probably concerned about being in the proximity of a roundhouse kick. I was very young when I saw the machine and never got close to it. I was probably concerned about being in the proximity of a roundhouse kick. I had never seen or heard anyone talk about the machine ever again. I had never seen or heard anyone talk about the machine ever again. I had never seen or heard anyone talk about the machine ever again. This was around the year 2000, way before smartphones, which probably explains the lack of footage. I also remember the machine didn’t work very well; physical actions didn’t always translate on screen. Motion-controlled inputs for a fighting game seem inherently complicated, and combining them with the profound acrobatics, impossible anatomy and strength required to perform the signature moves of fantasy fighting game characters in Tekken was literally impossible. Tekken I think the game probably lasted only a couple of years in a few locations, utilizing a version of the Sega Activator, the first full-body motion-sensing controller for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive back in 1993. The Activator was an octagonal ring of sensors meant to control on-screen movement but was notorious for being a poorly made product that only mapped specific movements to buttons on a controller. It’s plausible that this early '90s tech was revamped years later for the Virtual Arena. This theory makes sense since GameWorks was originally a collaboration between DreamWorks SKG, Universal Studios, and Sega, with input from Steven Spielberg. The company went through bankruptcy in 2004 and is now under the ownership of EXWorks Capital. I suspect the Tekken Virtual Arena was released to GameWorks arcades and quietly dissolved after a few years, coinciding with the decline of interest in arcades and motion/VR-related tech. GameWorks was intended to be a massive project when it launched in 1997, with a huge launch party in Seattle featuring appearances by actor Will Smith and Bill Gates to bring attention to the new space. Tekken The staff specifically marketed it as an "entertainment center" rather than just an arcade. https://youtu.be/N2uKOw4UX40?si=PcIK0f4qdU6FdJe0&embedable=true https://youtu.be/N2uKOw4UX40?si=PcIK0f4qdU6FdJe0&embedable=true While we know a lot about the GameWorks project that failed to meet its high expectations in 1997, we still know very little about the creation of the Tekken 3 Virtual Arena. I’m thankful for the two videos and the one photo uploaded online; otherwise, it would almost certainly be lost media—a largely forgotten piece of obscure but future-forward technology that, even for those who remember it, would have thought it to be nothing more than a figment of their imagination. Tekken 3

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