iiRcade goes out of business - how it happened & what it means for Arcade1up and AtGames

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

UPDATE: looks like the store will close it's doors on Wednesday. So download those games while you can!

[@OriginalSithMonkey]

And when the go out and you can't sign in to play games anymore?? Would be idiotic to buy any games at this point.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

If you did, I sure as heck wouldn't recommend it, even if they were still in business!

[@computerboy2k]

When I was able to get my Gen 1 unit for only $299 @ Walmart 1 year after it debuted. I felt like I bought the HD-DVD of multicades. As there were few marquee titles coming out, I felt this would be the also-ran company. I just hope my Atgames Legends Mini, also bought at a bargain $199 @ Sam's Club, doesn't also lose its support.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Well, you hvae coin ops for the Mini, so as long as it doesn't melt down, you should be good. iiRcade was the little brother of the other 2 companies; always the niche cab in a niche market. It really did need at least a couple more A-list titles...Still, it had its place and I hope that somehow they come out of it.

[@shleprockshleprock]

Company run by a conman who has pulled this scam in the past. Always ends up owing money then slipping out the back door. "Anything is possible my friends"

[@johnblack9885]

Iircade was the DIVX of retro gaming. Same business model that sunk DIVX during the DVD format war. Nobody was going to buy a cab locked into pay to play downloads when you can just buy a Rasberry Pi and load it up with thousands of ROMs.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

That's where having that lack of branding, or a really spectacular (think LEDs, blacklights, yada) generic cab really hurt them, A1up proves people will pay money for a good looking cab with 14 games (or less), but it has to rock (now more than ever).

[@SoulforSale]

Nobody. Absolutely nobody Except the 20,000 of us that did

[@Angry-Johnny]

I have the iiRcad gold edition space invaders version and its absolutely beautiful- the feel & controls absolutely blow A1U & ALU out of the water. Damn shame, but at least we will still be able to play all our previously puchased & downloaded games

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

I'm hearing there's a tiny bit of hope for the company, but even if it's gone for good, you could in theory have your self a mutli-cade with over 100 games, and interesting mix of new & old on a cab built like a tank. Now that they're gone, I think it'll be more appreciated.

[@Aaron-ug3qz]

Some of the arcades in Central Florida have irrcades in them. I agree, they look nice and top notch materials.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

That's interesting - but the build quality could def withstand the beating it would get in that environment.

[@DrEd-th2lu]

Sad day…. Never question the Dr. I told you so. When their office was closed down in Skokie I knew it was over. Glad I sold mine about 8 months ago. Thx for the show.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Doc, sorry to question you! That said, I'm glad now that I didn't sell mine. I'll put in Glenn's deck, download a few more games, and enjoy my "orphaned" cab. Who knows - maybe they'll even be collectable one day... OK, probably not.

[@JeffMercedesC]

It is really sad they are going out of business. I own 16 arcade cabinets including 2 full size all in brand new condition. I have not purchased a arcade cabinet in a year and a half because there has been nothing released that I want. I have been waiting for Arcade1up to officially announce the Time Crisis arcade cabinet. If the pre-order ever becomes available I will purchase it immediately.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

JEff, you might be waiting a while on that announcement. I think it's going to be an XL BIG BUCK HUNTER. A1up is still licking it's wounds from 2022. I do want that F&F cab; I think it would be very popular when I have people over. Other than 2 pre-existing games (STAR WARS & TRON), I tend to agree - nothing to get too excited for. The ALU 2 might change that though....

[@cdnreddevil9895]

That's a shame!don't own one but it's still sad to see

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

As I'm downloading games like mad, I'm starting to appreciate the uniqueness of the product more and more.

[@coris3436]

Combatribes, elevator action, double dragon! My favorite arcade I have

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

It's grown on me as well. A very unpretentious machine that has some very good, varied, titles.

[@greywolf7583]

Atgames I believe are the Cream of the Crop of home arcades there so many ways to play Arcade games on the Atgames cabs my favorite is to put my PC and a Hyperspin drive running on my cab

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Yup - the ALU is still the overall king. BUT, vertical shooters/Pac-Man suffer due to the ALU being set up to favor horizontal play. That's where the iiRcade had the advantage - their screen much closer to a Dell 19" screen (which is much better for vertical games).

[@CoolerPlastix]

I never owned an iiarcade but I agree with you that more companies in the game the better. What do you think about the speculation of new wave toys making possibly making getting into the 3/4 scale? Also would you get one from them if they did?

[@SavedByZero]

Who was been speculating about New Wave Toys making the jump to 3/4 scale cabinets?

[@CoolerPlastix]

Rexershow was speculating that they might or should get into the 3/4 game

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Well, I'd check out anything... but price is a big key, as well as bringing all the bells and whistles. I already am pretty happy with what I have, and other than getting the new PAC-MAN cab, along w. TRON and STAR WARS. anything I pick would have to slap.

[@MrSteveonbroadway]

every thing you said was bang on..

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Hey thanks! And thanks for watching.

[@WxkR]

I bought an iiRcade for $250 during a December sale. I would’ve never bought an arcade machine if it were not because of the low price and the idea of put multiple games in it (different from those costing twice for only a couple of games). My kind of nostalgia did not require precise reproductions of my childhood memories but the possibility to bring a. It if that enjoyment for my family. It worked. We enjoy the mew games as much, or more, as the older ones. My diagnostic of their failure is different. The market for arcade machines is dwindling. The main reason to acquire them is nostalgia and those who feel it and can buy one are less and less and have very specific tastes and requirements that punish innovation. Arcade machine meaningless for people under 40. IiRcade wanted to address that market and also open it to new buyers. They should’ve probably started in the opposite way. First, with a small console, even a handheld. They also should’ve started licensing more aggressively and launching a line of new indie retro games -a la Evercade, who are thriving. Then, the arcades with special/limited edition collections. Today we could’ve been having a Capcom iiRcade instead of the sad news!

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

I mean, if you picked one up for $299 or less, and bought maybe 10-20 games, it's still a very nice little multicade. Perhaps we'll see an easy hack down the line so we'd be able to put on other games ala Coin Ops X.

[@SoulforSale]

We are never getting a dedicated Time Killers cabinet with Blood Storm. So this was it. Had to have.

[@TheDreamX1]

Congrats guys!! I do have a question! I want to open a VR arcade but can not find anything on liscencing or copyright things ! What do I need legally if I buy lets say Pac man, galaga or streetfighter software!! where do I get that copyright liscence!! I really hope you can help out!! I have looked everywhere!!! Thanks and keep it up!!

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Best I can do for you: en.bandainamcoent.eu/licensing

[@TheDreamX1]

@@evilgeniusentertainment ok cool thanks will contact them

[@MICHAEL-tz9ni]

iiRcade always had a shortage of "big name" titles. You could buy games but they were not very recognizable, so there wasn't much draw to purchase games

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

If they had gotten even 2 or 3 big names games it might have made a difference... but if that gen 1 were a) cheaper, and b) way more flexible (like the ALU), it would have helped mightily too.

[@MICHAEL-tz9ni]

@@evilgeniusentertainment agreed, cheaper cabinets with less memory, and varied controll deck schemes (flight yoke, steering wheel, ligth gun, spinners and trackballs, etc) would have created increased demand for cabinets.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

It has the feel of something that was rushed a bit too fast out to market. Some very good ideas, but not enough play testing. Also, I love your thumbnail of Lincoln Sternn!

[@halfadozen6]

Never really liked their product line personally🤷🏻‍♂️

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Apparently I lot of people agreed with you!

[@michaelfields7088]

Why did the Simpsons Arcade1up underperform? I thought it was on high request.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Oh no, at least not based on it selling for less than $300 - including stool - for the last part of 2022. Bad button layout, cramp deck, only 2 games - it was a disaster all the way around.

[@realmchat6665]

Ironic, they were the best of them.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

The build quality was best for sure.

[@rafaeldiazdeleon7163]

It was doomed from day 1…. Could not get good games to license.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Oh, I think they had a lot of good games. What they didn't have are FAMOUS games... but yes, not having something like PAC-MAN or STREET FIGHTER did hurt sales for sure.

[@rafaeldiazdeleon7163]

@@evilgeniusentertainment I would like to think Jong thought he would be able to get those games in da beginning. I mean they started with some sega games. For what ever reason they couldn’t get anymore.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

He perhaps should not have gone forward without locking down a were more A-list games. He definitely should not have gone with the gen1 design. When you make a mulit-cade, you have to get it right.

[@teddyy80]

You said you could download your own games. What about NBA Jam, Jam Tournament Edition, NBA Hangtime, and Maximum Hangtime?

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Only what's on their server (well, for the next 2 days), then perhaps with GRS's new control deck. But no, no NBA JAM on iiRcade natively; A1up only.

[@teddyy80]

@@evilgeniusentertainment Oh I thought this cab had a USB port to where you could put your own games/roms on it. Glen's must have it then. Thanks.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

@@teddyy80 You got it!

[@lonster3000]

Very good summary of their problems. Ugly cabs. Games nobody has heard of. I was never able to find a listing of just what games you could purchase, and how much they would cost. No easy modding options i.e. Raspberry Pi or PC.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Sounds like GRS might be working on a Pi option that you could switch between the native games on the iiRcade and the image on the Pi. That would VASTLY increase the appeal of this cab.

[@SoulforSale]

Every game has always been listed on the iiRcade store. But I understand that the internet is tough for some of you older guys.

[@MikeS-el6vd]

Sad to see. Guess those of us who bought an iiRcade are screwed. Hopefully someone comes up with a way to hack the iiRcade and add our own games now.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Well, I don;t necessarily feel screwed - I'm downloading a few more games that I think will play better on the iiRcade than the ALU and calling it even. The only real shame in my mind is that w/o a hack, we won't ever be able to add anything beyond what's on their website right now. Still, I'm satisfied.

[@SoulforSale]

All hail Glen Palamino.

[@RETROOBLIVION]

I haven't turned on my iiRcade in almost a year. LOL! 😂

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

You know, there have been BIG stretches where the same could be said for me. But a few weeks ago I kinda got back into it. Sometimes less is more - as in fewer selections = easier to pick a game to play. When you have access to all the games, just like TV channels, you tend to spend more time scrolling then actually playing games.

[@RETROOBLIVION]

@@evilgeniusentertainment Spot On! So true!

[@Angry-Johnny]

​@Evil Genius Entertainment I can't agree more, you stated this perfectly. Glad to see that others feel the same as I do on an overselection of games. So many never even get played, ugh

[@Agent.Wadsworth]

Their biggest mistake imo was a $799 msrp

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Yeah, when your business model is selling games a la carte, having a high priced cab is already 2 strikes (esp when the cab isn't terribly attractive).

[@Victor-it6bv]

The iircade and at games legend are ugly despite being more practical products. Anybody getting into the home arcade space must understand these need prodcuts need to be visually aesthetic. I hope the redesign the at games legend with an more traditional squarish shape, dynamic marquee included & customize art work on the side. Also since they already have the ability to swap decks, maybe not have some going on in one control panel. I would love to be able to swap from Mk style fighting layout to Sf fighting layout in a matter or seconds.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

I wouldn't call the ALU ugly... but I wouldn't call it beautiful either. It's due for a re-design, and I hope it gets one. It'll have the dynamic marquee though for sure (well, pretty sure).

[@mynameisprivate158]

IIRcade was doomed, why would anyone pay per game when Atgames has a larger screen, more control options ( trackball and spinner) and the ability to add 7k games for just the cost of a USB stick!

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Well.... the aspect ratio is far more conducive to shooters on the iiRcade, and there were a lot of titles for it that you couldn't get for the ALU (particularly newer games). It had it's place; still glad I have it.

[@ericcollier5255]

funny, everthing you talk aboult in the first part ov the vid in regards to look, is why i bought it......but to each their own

[@paulutah9176]

Very sad.

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

It is.