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You gotta go fast on the new treadmill-based Sonic arcade game
Sonic Athletics is a new arcade game at Sega's Joypolis park that uses a control scheme that seems obvious, even natural for a Sonic game: running. The giant machine uses eight side-by-side treadmills to compete in 100 meter dash, long jump, and 110 meter hurdles. You won't have to make yourself ill trying to do spin jumps, as that's handled by a button.The ¥500 ($5.11) attraction seems a lot more sensible than Sonic's last attempt at motion controls. Even if playing it results in spending the rest of your day at the Tokyo amusement park covered in sweat.
Ace Attorney Investigations becomes a theme park attraction
Japan residents eager to step into the frilly cravat of Ace Attorney Investigations prosecutor Miles Edgeworth will be able to do so this spring. Well, not literally -- more like step into his office. In honor of the Japanese release of Ace Attorney Investigations 2, Sega's Tokyo Joypolis theme park will host an Ace Attorney Investigations themed attraction built to resemble Edgeworth's workspace. Visitors will be able to search the attraction, as Edgeworth, in order to find evidence and determine the culprit of a crime. If you'd prefer to walk around a simulated theme park inside an Ace Attorney game, you can do so in the first Investigations.
Sega's Storm-G arcade experience puts the "g" in puking
An uncompromising vision of a future world dominated by roving, power-up-collecting bobsled gangs, Sega's new Storm-G arcade game puts a "spin" on things by rotating the rider a full 360 degrees in accordance with the action. It's not exactly the most immersive arcade experience ever produced -- at some point you'd think Sega would get tired of rolling people down virtual tubes -- but it does look pretty wild and stomach-wrenching. The folks at Akihabara News got to try it firsthand at Sega's Joypolis in Odaiba Japan, and found the experience rather exhausting. Check out the video after the break.
Sega theme parks planned for Middle East, North Africa
Though the alarming lack of decent Sonic the Hedgehog plushies somewhat soured the experience, the Joystiq staffers attending last year's Tokyo Game Show managed to enjoy a brief diversion to one of Sega's Joypolis entertainment centers. Just think of them as indoor theme parks and arcades where half the fun lies in figuring out what the hell it is you're playing. If you can't quite envision it, you'll be pleased to note that the feeling of delighted puzzlement is set to spread to other parts of the world, as Sega and Dubai properties firm Emaar have announced plans to open a number of similar theme parks across the Middle East and North Africa. That is where you live, right?According to GamesIndustry.Biz, the first of these will be featured in The Dubai Mall, a 76,000 square foot monstrosity of consumerism set to open in Downtown Burj Dubai late 2008. Rashid Zakaria Doleh, CEO of Emaar Malls Group (and shameless user of words like "shoppertainment") reckons the Sega synergy will provide a "world-class experience" for those looking to be ... shoppertained. Though it's still far from finished, we're particularly excited about the park's promised indoor roller-coaster. It's likely to be a variant of Sega's increasingly popular "Multiplatform Shift," a heart-stopping thrill ride which places fans at the highest point on the track before sending them plummeting into a vat of toxic sludge.
Japanese Sega theme park pics
Ah, Japan. Home of sushi, conformity, and Sega theme parks. Thanks to GameSetWatch, we have a bunch of pictures of the last: a three-story haven for Sega fans called Joypolis.The site features lots of only-in-Japan rarities, such as arcade typing tutors, a three-screened driving instructor and sweet chocolate Sonic cakes. We especially like the button-mashing game (pictured) where the slower player gets his hand smashed by a large, cartoon-style mallet. Fun and educational!Read - Part 1Read - Part 2
