cool.

How can I get one for my living room?

I miss the old BattleTech simulators like this. The graphics weren't that great (this was years ago) but it sure was fun.

I dig the memory card feature. I've seen this on a couple of other arcade games and believe it is tha only way that the (growingly complex) arcade games can remain attractive. Can't wait to have a chance to give this one in particular a whirl.

I used to go to a place in Chicago at Navy Pier to play BattleTech in the 80's. It was always one of our stops on the way up to GenCon.

@HitScan: Agreed. When I saw the article title, I was a little scared that this was another case of 'huzzah! something that's been around for 10 years already!', but it looks like these are different than the old MechWarrior batle-pods. It makes me cry that Dave & Busters has them no longer...

Does anyone know where there are still M W pods in service?

I think I would spend more money in Japan than in Vegas. I hate gambling but look at this arcade man!

That's pretty darn cool right there.

We had an old school version mech game like this in our mall's arcade area when I was in College. This is TONS better in networking/design. We had to wait for a full group to go in (or could substitute bots). This is wicked because you are connected to everyone on the game's network and can jump in at any time!!

I would SOOOO play this. =-]

While watching, I was yelling at the screen for the cameraman to douse the light. Glad he finally heard me! =-D

Awesome.... Not sure if I would hurl though.

Looks very similar to VirtualWorld ([www.virtualworld.com]) with their games of Red Planet and BattleTech. In addition to the local VirtualWorld sites, these were also found in some D&B (although they usually only had BattleTech).

@jackrabbix:
The D&B in Cleveland had them last time I was there, but that was like 2 years ago...

Jesus he was terrible at that game, didn't look like he could even manage to move around.

This reminds me of the game in Megazone 23 - Part 3.

Is the Agriculture Ministr in charge of this?

Bring back Red Planet! I loves me some Martian Football.

@jackrabbix: A lot of people bought them from Dave & Busters, my brother included, and set them up in other locations to keep them up and running. My brother also communicated with the other people that bought them, and they have them networked now, so you can play people in other cities. They released a new version several years ago (4.0 I think) that has updated graphics and added jumpjets and things. My brother's setup has 8 pods and is in Houston. For more info, or to find a place to play, you can try [www.mechcorps.com]

Can you say "Virtual World Deux"!

Awwww MAN! I remember they had a Virtual World right near me a few years back. It was awesome. They had a little lounge/bar area where you could wait till you were up. Printouts afterwards with your stats. It was awesome. Apparently not enough people thought so, however. It was only open for a year...if that.

Man that sux. I just checked the virtual world website and they've got ONE site in California...in Modesto!

MODESTO?!?! WTF?!?

First off, I thought the game looked mediocre at best. The graphics were very poltgon'ish. And the environment wasn't interactive at all. Kinda nice, but not nearly as interactive as todays FPS's. However, that monitor was awesome!!! Forget the whole system, I just want the monitor. That would be absolutely wonderful hooked up to a 360, PS3, or PC for some gaming. For the most part, the monitor is the only part I cannot recreate back at home. I have the games, I have the network.

They just set one up at Valhallas game center in denver colorado, I guess it was an old dave and busters setup that some company purchased and is now leasing it to them, It is still in great working order. If you get to denver colorado check them out.

@ninjamurf: That's exactly what I thought when I saw that. Who the hell lives in Modesto?

That is what Americas Dave and Busters should be like.

OMG, so freaking sweet!
Immersion. I mean, perfect for the mecha game, but I can imagine playing tons of different games in a pod like that. Can't believe I missed this while I was on Japan...

This is news? This has been around for a long time, like at least a year-plus. Maybe you guys should just live in Tokyo and catch up...

i saw this in an arcade in japan, though it was gundam themed?
there were 4 pods and you could follow the action and player statistics on an lcd tv next to the pods. on top of that, there was a bulky manual on a table nearby that looked more like a phonebook than anything else... at 500yen a pop, i still regret not having tried it...