The annual Amusement Machine Show opened today at Tokyo Big Sight.

　　Apart from the current economic turmoil in Japan, arcade operators, especially the smaller operators, are suffering. Print Club fever is already long gone and the cost of new arcade machines is getting more expensive with each passing day. Games have also become too complex and difficult for casual gamers to play and are soon worn out or altered by small upgrade versions of the game. Under these conditions, it's been very hard on the small arcade operators to keep up.

　　Arcade game manufacturers are aware of this fact. While creating numerous sequels, some are also trying to save the business. The key is figuring out how to appeal to the casual or non-gamer. From the operator and manufacturer standpoint, reducing cost is of the highest importance. Some say that we're now facing a turning point for the gaming business, and will soon see the light at the end of the tunnel.

　　Now, on to the games shown at this year's show:

　　Atari Games/Midway GamesCarnEvilGauntlet LegendHyper DriveNFL Blitz 99Radical BikersSite 4Viper TRX

　　Even though Atari/Midway has no Japanese branch, it had its own booth to show games and find partners to release its games in Japan. Luckily enough, Radical Bikers will be released by SNK in Japan.

　　Although Atari/Midway is not currently a household name in Japan, gamers old enough to remember the original Gauntlet gathered around Gauntlet Legends. Among the list, CarnEvil was an odd version of The House of the Dead - shoot evil clowns and other members of this Carnival-gone-evil, or rather, CarnEvil.

　　Capcom Tech Romancer/KikaiohMagical Tetris Challenge feturing Mickey

　　Tech Romancer (Japanese title is Kikaioh) is a 3D fighter with anime or Japanimation style giant robots and characters. It has a similarly "odd" feeling, like Rival Schools has. The original concept and mechanical design were done by Shoji Kawamori and Studio Nue (of Robotech/Macross fame). And tt runs on a PlayStation-compatible board just like Rival Schools.KonamiBeatmania 3rd MixDance Dance RevolutionPop'n MusicEvil Night

　　After the recent success of Beatmania, Konami is pursuing another hit in the musical genre (and if you haven't played Beatmania…well, let's just say it's swept through Japanese arcades and will likely never show up in the US soon).

　　As it sounds, Beatmania 3rd Mix is the 3rd revision of the game. Tunes have now been recorded in New York by local musicians. An "Easy" mode has been added and several new songs are now available. New tunes will also available on PlayStation version of Beatmania (which comes out October 1 in Japan).

　　Pop'n Music is very similar in concept to Beatmania. But this time it has only nine buttons. Clearly the game is made for beginners or the casual fan. The cabinet was painted with bright colors, and the game's tunes are more cheerful in tone than Beatmania. But it wasn't designed to be "hip" like Beatmania.

　　If you've been dreaming about playing Beatmania with your feet, Dance Dance Revolution is the game for you. Along with the music, you have to step your feet to what it says on the screen. Kind of like musical Twister.

　　Evil Night is a 3D polygonal shoot 'em up that supports three player simultaneous play. While two of the players use hand guns, the third player uses a shotgun. Evil Night resembles Konami's past gun shooters (like Crypt Killer).

　　NamcoFighting LayerAttack Pura-railRace On!Gunmen Wars

　　Fighting Layer is a new 3D fighter from Arika, the creators of Street Fighter EX. The game features Allen and Blair from Street Fighter EX. According to the ad, the game is easy enough for beginners (pressing P+K together performs the special moves) but deep enough for experts. It has several unique features like the Auto Naming System. When you finish your opponent with splendid combo, ANS will lets you choose an original name for the combo.

　　Race On! and Gunmen Wars both utilize one of Namco's newest features - NamCam. NamCam is a small camera attached to the game's cabinet, enabling you to digitize your face and put it on the screen. In Race On!, up to eight players can linked up, so you can see your opponents face during the race.

　　Gunmen Wars is also a rather simplistic armored-suit gunmen's battle. Shoot, move and aim are all controlled with one lever. Probably the most interesting feature of the game is its level design. There are three levels: waterfront park, intermediate shopping street, and a subway station. These familiar situations are what make the game fun.

　　Attack Pura-Rail is Namco's version of Densha de Go! (Taito's popular railroad simulation). It's based on a line of scale models designed for little kids called Pura-Rail(Plastic Rail). You control these once-loved toy trains in fully 3D CG.SNKBeast Busters: Second NightmareSamurai Spirits 2Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad

　　TaitoOperation TigerChaos HeatDensha de Go! 2Psychic Force 2012

　　Chaos Heat is a third-person action shooting game on Taito's G Net board and resembles Sega's Alien Syndrome.

　　Taito also displayed a Densha de Go! N Gauge. It's a scale model version of the popular train sim. In the center there is a miniature train diorama. It has a small camera and you control the train while watching images sent from its camera.

　　TecmoDead or Alive ++Mace the Dark Age (Atari Games)Cotton Boomerang

　　DOA++ is based on the PlayStation version of DOA. This is not DOA2. Considering Nikkei's report, it may come to the Naomi board. Currently, it may only be just speculation.

　　ViscoEleven Beat: World TournamentStar Soldier: Vanishing Earth

　　Both of these games are based on the Aleck 64, a Nintendo 64-compatible arcade board developed by Seta. St. Andrews Old Course and Let's Smash are also on the list as is a game called Vivid Dolls. According to the press release, Vivid Dolls is an action game much like Qix or Volfeed (TG-16, Taito), where you erase a blurred mosaic which covers scantily dressed women. Do not expect a home conversion of this one.