Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome - Gizmodo Comments

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

kronik — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 06:08:07 EDT

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...

kronik

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

theharlotfelon — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:38:07 EDT

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...

theharlotfelon

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

Bokusatsu_Tenshi — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 23:02:06 EDT

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...

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

Sonic84 — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:03:42 EDT

That is what Americas Dave and Busters should be like.

Sonic84

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

Empire — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:57:26 EDT

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

Empire

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

Pthunder — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:27:17 EDT

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.

Pthunder

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

newgalactic — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:50:52 EDT

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.

newgalactic

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

ninjamurf — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:25:57 EDT

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

MODESTO?!?! WTF?!?

ninjamurf

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

ninjamurf — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:17:05 EDT

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.

ninjamurf

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

sshrum — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:32:20 EDT

Can you say "Virtual World Deux"!

sshrum

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

tinmanbt — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:08:54 EDT

@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]

tinmanbt

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

eamondaly — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:37:15 EDT

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

eamondaly

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

Frappe — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:24:34 EDT

Is the Agriculture Ministr in charge of this?

Frappe

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

NOIRtist — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:22:05 EDT

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

NOIRtist

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

PJK — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:04:36 EDT

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

PJK

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

DocGratis — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:50:13 EDT

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

DocGratis

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

httpdotcom — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:42:39 EDT

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).

httpdotcom

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

Mayfield — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:39:20 EDT

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

Mayfield

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

BigDanInTX — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:28:21 EDT

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

BigDanInTX

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

strider_mt2k — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:05:44 EDT

That's pretty darn cool right there.

strider_mt2k

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

Palestina — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:05:39 EDT

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

Palestina

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

jackrabbix — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:00:25 EDT

@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?

jackrabbix

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

mmcnary — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:55:48 EDT

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.

mmcnary

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

Twitchy — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:55:46 EDT

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.

Twitchy

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

HitScan — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:49:12 EDT

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

HitScan

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

JRo — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:45:18 EDT

How can I get one for my living room?

JRo

Panoramic Mecha Simulator Arcade Game is Networked, Awesome

KnaveX — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:35:25 EDT

cool.

KnaveX