Latest news with #TimeCrisis
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
We tried Newport's new High Score Arcade in the city centre
As the latest business to open in the city centre, High Score Arcade has understandably caused some buzz around those travelling through Upper Dock Street. Its eye-catching bright purple exterior makes it a hard place to miss. The site, located in Chartist Tower, was once home to retail units and restaurant spaces before being converted to cinema pods and arriving at its final destination of arcade. We arrived on the second morning of their opening weekend and after being greeted by Super Mario at the doors, we are given our wristbands and a quick briefing on the rules. Its pretty simple: play on whatever you want during your time slot. High Score boasts a wide selection of games of all genres and skill levels (Image: NQ) You don't need a pocket full of change or to worry about budgeting for a quick trip inside, as all sessions are pre-paid and timed. For the remainder of the summer, visitors can play for 90 minutes as opposed to the regular hour slot. This is the most budget-friendly way to play and, with the option to pre-book slots, you won't be left disappointed upon arrival. There are more than 80 arcade games to choose from inside, with something to suit any taste. From retro classics like Pong to modern titles like Time Crisis, there is guaranteed to be something for the novices and pros alike. There are pint-sized games for younger customers to enjoy (Image: NQ) These games are regularly swapped out, so the venue is kept fresh between visits. Aside from carrying titles from throughout the years, there is a good range of genre. A large portion of the venue seems to be taken up by various driving and shooting games, but there are options to play VR and modern gaming experiences, rather than the standard button pushers that more seasoned arcade-goers may be used to. There is also a section dedicated to child friendly games so that any younger visitors can get involved too. Someone took Time Crisis a little bit too seriously (Image: NQ) It doesn't take long for our competitive streaks to show and we're going head-to-head. Whether its digital bowling, a racing game, or Doodle Jump, there is an opportunity to beat your companions and hit the high score – not a challenge that I take lightly. Time flies when you're having fun and our slot is over before we know it, but not before we can finish our spirited game of air hockey. It's a completely different experience than most visitors may be used to but its one that is sure to leave paying customers safe in the knowledge that they've chosen the most budget-friendly option for a lively afternoon out at the arcade.
Stuff.tv
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
I got hands on with G'AIM'E Plug & Play, an AI-powered light gun that lets me play Time Crisis on the TV again
Growing up in the nineties was an exciting time to be a gamer because it was just at the time when consoles were reaching the point that they could replicate the most state-of-the-art arcade experiences at home. And I don't think they ever got better than light gun games. Sure, they've existed further back in the form of electromagnetic shooting galleries or Duck Hunt with the NES Zapper, but it was a game changer when instead of just sprites we got to what felt like real 3D enemies attacking you from your telly that you were shooting back. I may be a dyed-in-the-woo Sega fanboy back then but even I can admit (if grudgingly) that the peak of this form was Namco's Time Crisis. The sad thing about its obsolescence wasn't strictly due to the overall decline of arcade experiences but because these light guns were made for CRT screens that HD screens couldn't support. The alternatives of aiming with a crosshair, whether that's using a stick, a mouse or motion controls never quite matched the feel, immediacy or accuracy at just pointing at the screen and pulling the trigger. There have however been attempts to recreate the light gun experience for modern TVs, most notably the Sinden Light Gun released a few years ago. But now there is finally a light gun that doesn't just work as a direct plug-and-play experience but comes in an officially licensed package from the original creators themselves. And I was among the first to get my itchy trigger fingers on it. Although G'AIM'E is a somewhat awkward brand to spell out, even though I get what Japanese company Tassei Denki is going for, the proof is in the pudding, and the tech it's developed is something tasty indeed. The light gun it has developed is just how you imagine light guns used to work. No external sensors, no drawing an artificial border around your display that's how the Sinden works. It's all from the gun itself, which contains a HD camera and some actually smart AI that's been trained on countless images of different screen display sizes. Attached to a mini console to with a lengthy cable to ensure you're at an appropriate distance for the camera to be able to get a clear view of the screen (G'AIM'E's onboarding video that plays when you first set it up advises you're at the right distance if you can fit the image of the TV in front of you with your phone's camera, though I was advised to stand a bit further back than that), I just had to perform a calibration test and then I was ready to play. A beautiful partnership Whereas the Sinden merely provided a peripheral, and assumes you either have a collection of old light gun games ported to PC from decades ago or, more likely, acquired them through the grey area of emulation (it does however work with the recent House of the Dead remake), G'AIM'E Plug & Play is a bespoke mini console package, bundling the tech with Time Crisis in an official partnership with Namco. It's also not just a licence to emulate the game but Tassei Denki has actually worked closely with the engineers of the original game to ensure it's as arcade-perfect an experience as you can get. There's the design of the light gun itself, which closely replicates the light blue light guns attached to arcade cabs for Time Crisis (there's also a black version, which is exclusive to Japan, owing to laws around the design and colours for gaming light guns), which packs a satisfying and not too forceful recoil feedback when pulling the trigger, while it also has handy side buttons for inserting coin credits and for pausing the game. Adding to the arcade-perfect experience is also a pedal controller, which plugs into the extra USB-C slot in front of the mini console next to the port for your light gun, which utilises Time Crisis' unique ducking mechanic. This is available only for the premium and ultimate editions of the G'AIM'E Plug & Play, but just like the G-Con light gun on the PS1 version, you've fortunately got a button to do that same mechanic – actually it's two buttons, one on either side of the gun barrel, so it's easily within reach whether you're left or right-handed. While I was eager to recreate the arcade experience with the pedal, I must also admit that trying to get an accurate shot while having good foot coordination was more challenging than I was prepared for, and found it more comfortable just ducking in and out of the action with buttons. I imagine folks who remember Time Crisis fondly more through the PlayStation version than the arcade version will also be perfectly happy with this and make do with the basic package, which just comes with Time Crisis and a single light gun, since that was also a single-player game. In a modern touch, it's also possible to turn on a crosshair. I have mixed feelings on this as I personally view a true light gun experience is reliant on your own skill and precision of pointing the gun, while also reminding me that while G'AIM'E's tech gets almost-perfectly close to replicating the light gun experience on a CRT it still isn't completely the same. I'm sure however that others will welcome this addition, such as kids who'll be able to shoot from the hip and still have fun. Shooting galleries There's no denying that Time Crisis is the headliner here, given that the G'AIM'E Plug & Play is intended to ship before the game's 30th anniversary in December. With the recent re-release of Ridge Racer coinciding with the Switch 2 launch, it's also a good time to get nostalgic for Namco's groundbreaking System 22 3D visuals, which in crisp HD resolution still holds up with a vibrant polygonal charm, only further complemented by Time Crisis's hilariously hammy B-movie dialogue. But for those who pony up for the premium or ultimate packages, you'll also get additional light gun games from Namco's back catalogue, the Point Blank and Steel Gunners 1 and 2, the latter being a series that has never received a home port before. As an older game with 16-bit graphics, the sprites might pale in visual comparisons, but the cool thing about Steel Gunner is that you're actually firing machine guns so there's a simple pleasure in aiming with a crosshair and just holding down the trigger unloading unlimited ammo while the gun rattles in your hand. Just take care not to hit any civilians. Then there is Point Blank, which deceives you with its cute and colourful sprites when its myriad of shooting gallery-style minigames challenges are unbelievably difficult – including the so-called 'easy' mode – requiring the utmost speed and precision. Incidentally, it was the challenges where you only get one shot that I somehow passed, like the one that's basically if William Tell had a gun instead of a bow, because you at least only focus on one target rather than try to frantically shoot a quote of 15 in under 10 seconds. Keeping to that hardcore nature, it's also the one game in the collection where Namco doesn't allow for a visible crosshair. More importantly, since these other games don't require a pedal, that extra USB-C port on the mini console can be fitted with an additional G'AIM'E to support instant drop-in two player fun just like you would at the arcade. That makes the ultimate edition, which comes with two guns, a bit of a no-brainer if you're after a light gun package you can play with mates, along with some extras like a multi-region AC adaptor and a collectable diorama stand featuring Time Crisis star Richard Miller. Re-load? But here's the caveat. While it'll still be possible for owners of the premium edition to get hold of a second light gun later, it won't be possible to add the other games to the mini console if you only opt for the basic package. Indeed, as part of this close partnership with Namco, I'm told it's been ensured that it won't be possible to sideload the G'AIM'E Plug & Play packages with additional games, which could be a dealbreaker for those who want this light gun for use with other games just like the SInden. I'm sure that won't stop hackers and modders from giving it their best shot (no pun intended), though of course the difference between this mini console and the other retro mini consoles we've had already is these games are all built from scratch for this device rather than emulations. However, with the tech proven and Kickstarter pledges already sailed past £500K, surpassing its minimum target of £35K, this is surely only the beginning for Tassei Denki. While there's nothing else to announce yet, we may see G'AIM'E partnering with other arcade legends to bring their light gun games back with faithful recreations of the same guns. Just get me a Sega bundle that comes with arcade-perfect Virtua Cop 1 and 2 and The House of the Dead 1 and 2, and we have a deal. The G'AIM'E Time Crisis bundles are expected to ship around November, which you'll be able to buy directly from the G'AIM'E website with plans for distribution in select retailers. But to ensure you have it first as well as other exclusive bonus rewards, you can back it on Kickstarter, which will remain live until Saturday, 23 August. So is the G'AIM'E Plug & Play worth it? If you want to re-live, or experience for the first time, the trigger-happy joy of arcade-style light gun gaming on your telly without fussy set-ups, G'AIM'E Plug & Play feels like a dream come true. It feels even more like a premium product thanks to a close partnership with Namco to ensure its classic arcade shooters are built optimally for modern displays. Enthusiasts who want to get more bang for their buck may however be sore about this only being part of a standalone walled garden. If you're being cheap and only want the pure Time Crisis experience, you'll have to make peace with the fact you won't be able to add any of the other games to it without forking out on another set. Put those limitations to one side however and this really is the best modern solution to enjoy one of the highlights of arcade gaming at home, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate such an iconic game's 30th anniversary. Stuff Says… If you want to re-live, or experience for the first time, the trigger-happy joy of arcade-style light gun gaming on your telly without fussy set-ups, G'AIM'E Plug & Play feels like a dream come true Pros The shooting just works Faithful arcade design Cons Can't add more games than what is in the box Option for visible crosshair breaks the spell slightly
Metro
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Time Crisis lightgun console smashes Kickstarter goal within hours
A new console makes arcade classics like Time Crisis and Point Blank playable on modern TVs, and it comes with an actual lightgun. Despite various console ports over the years, lightgun games like Time Crisis and The House Of The Dead have largely faded into obscurity as a relic of the 1990s. The genre had a brief resurgence on the Wii, with titles like Link's Crossbow Training and Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles making use of the Wii Remote's pointer controls, but even these didn't quite capture the same satisfaction of using a lightgun in the arcades. However, if you want to replicate the experience at home without laying down the cash for a pricey arcade cabinet, an alternative has recently launched on Kickstarter. A new console, named G'AIM'E, essentially makes the lightgun experience compatible with modern TVs. It comes with a console, a bespoke lightgun controller, and a 'custom licensed' version of Time Crisis which has been 'faithfully recreated from the original arcade ROM'. 'The G'AIM'E gun uses our own bespoke technology that utilises a high-resolution camera and AI; in place of the traditional infrared used in lightgun of the past,' the description reads. It's claimed the use of AI technology allows players 'to move freely without affecting the guns calibration' by automatically detecting and adjusting to your TV, with the promise of 'smooth, accurate gameplay from various angles and distances'. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. G'AIM'E HAS GONE INTO PRE-LAUNCH ON KICKSTARTER TODAY 🥳Don't miss your chance to grab exclusive rewards available only on Kickstarter: Exclusive Keychain – A special gift for all backersEarly Bird Discount – Limited quantities availableClick 'Notify me on launch' to be… — G'AIM'E (@MyGAIME) June 4, 2025 There are some caveats to be aware of though. This version of Time Crisis is single-player only, and the product's basic package, which costs around £74 without shipping, doesn't include a foot pedal. If you want a multiplayer experience and a foot pedal, you'll have to purchase either the premium or ultimate edition. The £101 premium version comes with everything in the basic package along with a pedal and three additional games which all support two players; Point Blank, Steel Gunner, and Steel Gunner 2. The ultimate edition, which costs around £151, adds an additional lightgun and a required AC adapter, which you'd have to buy separately (or use one you already have) if you pick up the other editions. As noted on the FAQ page, the console won't be updated with additional games in the future either, so it's a fairly expensive package for essentially four old games. More Trending Despite this, the Kickstarter page surpassed its £35,470 goal within hours. At the time of writing, a day after the page went live on Tuesday, June 24, the amount pledged has reached over £239,000, with 59 days still left to go until it closes on Saturday, August 23. If you decide to take the plunge, delivery is expected in November 2025 according to the Kickstarter page. The console's Japan-based creators, Tassei Denki Corporation, have also been given approval by Bandai Namco, so it's all above board. The last mainline Time Crisis game was 2015's Time Crisis 5, which is the only entry not to receive a console port. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: EA Sports FC 26 cover star leaks and they've been on before MORE: The Alters review – send in the clones MORE: The best Mario Kart World character is not who you'd expect
Forbes
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Namco-Backed AI-Powered Light Gun Brings ‘Time Crisis' To Modern TVs
The G'AIM'E light gun could finally be the gateway back to classic shooters that so many people have ... More craved. One of the great casualties of modern technology was the demise of the light gun, which demanded classic CRTs to work properly. Sure, the Wii came tantalizingly close to replicating the experience with The House of the Dead: Overkill and Link's Crossbow Training, but it wasn't the same. Luckily, the powerhouse behind the gun-based arcade revolution — Bandai Namco — has backed a new light gun that promises to bring the experience to modern TVs, with in-built games including Time Crisis, Point Blank, and Steel Gunner… so long as it meets its soon-to-be announced Kickstarter target. The G'AIM'E gun, created in partnership with Namco by established Japanese electronics firm Tassei Denki, claims to have solved the conundrum with a plug-and-play setup that contains proprietary technology, replacing traditional infrared sensors with a high-resolution camera and AI for more responsive gameplay. What's more, the G'AIM'E promises to eliminate manual recalibration by automatically adjusting the experience to movement and angle, ensuring performance remains consistent regardless of your setup. Those backing the entry-level gun will receive a custom-licensed version of Time Crisis, recreated from the original arcade ROM. Point Blank, Steel Gunner, and Steel Gunner 2 will be available in expanded packages, which also include additional bonuses such as foot pedals and keychains. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder On the face of it, the G'AIM'E gun looks great, if not a bit on the cheap side. The gun is only available in blue outside of Japan, which gets a black option – potentially to avoid replica gun restrictions in other countries. The unit supports multiplayer modes with two gun connectors, essential for Point Blank. The one major thing it lacks is a recoil slider — a staple of the GunCon and a few of its rivals. That said, I don't think I've seen a working recoil in an arcade in about ten years, so maybe it's just one less thing to inevitably break. The Japanese bundles will likely be replicated for other markets, albeit with a blue gun, not a ... More black one. There's no information as to whether more games can be loaded at a later date — you'd hope the Bandai Namco partnership might lead to the inclusion of series like The House of the Dead, Virtua Cop, Crisis Zone, and even the other Point Blank and Time Crisis titles. However, presuming the Kickstarter succeeds (which, let's face it, there's basically no chance it will — pending its cost, or course), it's probably only a matter of time before someone mods the unit so people can play other classics of the era: Die Hard Trilogy, Resident Evil Survivor, Area 51 and, if we're lucky, the delightfully baffling Puffy: P.S. I Love You. Given that this is Tassei Denki's first-ever original product — and presuming it's successful — one can only hope the company will lean on its existing partnerships to create something for consoles, reviving niche genres in the same way CRKD is with its Les Paul-inspired Rock Band guitars. The G'AIM'E Plug & Play Time Crisis Gun System for Modern TVs will go live on Kickstarter at 12 noon EST on June 24. Pricing isn't available just yet, but given it's already touting ¥4,000 ($28) discounts for early-bird backers, chances are it'll be on or over the $100 mark for an entry-level kit.
SoraNews24
03-06-2025
- Business
- SoraNews24
'Matcha crisis' emerges as the world falls in love with powdered green tea
A matcha crisis isn't fun and games like Time Crisis. It's hard and grueling like Dino Crisis . Once the hidden gem of Japanese tea ceremonies and confectionery, the carefully ground green tea known as 'matcha' has taken the world by storm with its vibrant green color, complex taste that seems to complement sweetness perfectly, and health benefits. But now, those in the industry are starting to wonder if the ingredient can handle getting this big. ▼ I'm just going to keep telling myself this is healthy because it has matcha in it. In order to achieve the best color and flavor in matcha, the plants' exposure to sunlight needs to be carefully regulated. This means the very best matcha you're likely to find is grown on a small scale with a high degree of personal attention. Even with attempts to modernize and industrialize production, there are still limitations because certain processes like growing the plants and grinding the leaves need to be done very slowly in order to be done properly. Since production can't be sped up, it would have to be expanded in order to produce more, and seeing the potential for matcha exports, the government began subsidizing green tea production a couple years ago in the hopes of focusing Japan's shrinking agricultural labor force on the coveted ingredient. Meanwhile, China stepped into the game too a while back and is currently the leading producer of matcha in the world. However, much of that is sold in their own gigantic domestic market and since they focus more on efficiency in production, it could be said that the quality is lower. ▼ These green tea plants in Saitama Prefecture are being grown in full sunlight, which means they cannot be used for matcha. The recent trade chaos caused by U.S. President Donald Trump may give Japan a competitive edge against China as Japan is expected to get a more lenient deal in the very sizable American market. Unfortunately, that probably won't make a difference, because even despite Japan's efforts at more than doubling matcha production in the past 10 years, that still won't be enough to meet the increasingly ravenous worldwide demand for the stuff. According to a tea buyer in the U.K., sales of matcha-flavored drinks have tripled in the past year alone and have even surpassed that of the classic Earl Grey there. Some in other countries like the U.S. said they have completely given up coffee in favor of matcha. A vendor in Ireland remarked that Japan will probably need to increase its production by 10 times in the next five years in order to keep up. Considering the fact that farmers of all kinds are literally a dying breed in Japan, a 10-fold increase seems unlikely unless a radical solution can be found. Many in the industry are saying we're already in the midst of what they call a 'matcha crisis' with it being hard to secure, and if both supply and demand continue on their current course we may end up in a full-blown matcha supply shock. ▼ A news report on the matcha crisis… I feel bad for those girls who probably had no idea they would appear on Japanese TV with 'MATCHA CRISIS' underneath. This could cause prices to spike hard and throw the future of matcha as we know it into turmoil. With the demand being what it is, it would seem likely that buyers in other countries would turn to more quickly produced and inferior matcha both from Japan and China, lowering the bar for a drink and ingredient once only made with an extremely high degree of craftsmanship. Many online comments in Japan felt that rising prices would preemptively help protect the integrity of Japan's more finely produced matcha and put it on the level of a high-class ingredient that it deserves. 'Japan has been selling it too cheaply. It should be marketed as a high-end product because it is.' 'This could just be a fad too, like bubble tea or tiramisu. Increasing production for now is fine, but you need to be prepared for after.' 'I don't think matcha is a passing fad because it can be used in so many ways.' 'Why don't they sell it for more?' 'This global demand probably doesn't know what good matcha tastes like, so the market will be flooded with poor-quality stuff.' 'Raise prices and make more of it so we can get some money over here.' 'Alright, who told everyone that matcha is delicious?' 'Looks like taking matcha snacks as a present for my trip to Europe was the right choice.' 'I work at a store in a tourist-heavy area and everyone is buying matcha stuff.' 'The matcha used in the tea ceremony is very carefully made. I hope this wave of commercialism doesn't affect that.' Indeed, matcha might've done well to follow the sake model in which it is marketed as a luxury drink and tends to sell for a premium overseas due to the high degree of technique that often goes into making it. But in the end, it will probably splinter off into something like chocolate where you'll have a more clear-cut range of co-existing options from the exquisitely crafted and highly expensive kinds to the stuff they use to mass produce KitKats. Source: TV Asahi News, The Guardian, Kyodo, YouTube/ANNnewsCH Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
