A major attraction in Asia, where they are commonplace in arcades and FECs, fishing games are beginning to migrate to other markets around the world.
TAKE a turn around an arcade or family entertainment centre in Asia and chances are you will find groups of children enthusiastically playing what have become known as fishing games. Often featuring a horizontal touchscreen with multiple player stations, but also found in upright cabinets, these games typically challenge players to catch or shoot fish that swim their way across the screen.
As previously reported by InterGame, in TimeZone locations, for example, these titles are a major draw for children thanks to their relatively simple game play and the sense of teamwork they provide. Although everyone playing the game is by and large playing for themselves, the game has a shared experience that differs to that created by a bank of video racing games, for example.
Already a staple product for many Chinese manufacturers, games offering this kind of experience are making their way into new territories, as leading manufacturers from around the world begin to introduce products of their own design based on this concept.
ICE Games, for instance, recently unveiled Harpoon Lagoon featuring a horizontal 47ins LCD monitor. The four-player game charges players with the task to skillfully shoot harpoons at the various fish that appear on screen. Players must anticipate when the hidden jellyfish will come out of a treasure chest in order to win the super bonus. The cabinet, which requires relatively little floor space and is at a child-friendly height, also features LEDs in each corner of the game to create a glowing and “floating effect” to attract players. It is among the first fishing games to be introduced as a ticket redemption piece.
Read the full article in the August issue of InterGame.
