Other than playing the usual (T6 and MvC2), I won't mind mentioning the other hot stuff at Super Arcade, mainly the racers such as Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 and Initial D Ver.4. Max. Tune 3 is obviously the popular choice among the crowd since I see more people playing it (especially it is 4 machines compared to 2 for Initial D). I always respected this series of games every time I see them, but I'm not willing to commit to spend countless money building up a car and beating the long campaign modes. Maximum Tune 3 is still your same game with more tracks, cars, and BGM. The graphics have improved, but not that much (same thing can be said for Initial D Ver. 4 as well). The card system is still there and addicting for the fans of the series building up a car to face off against others. The same modes are there with the long campaign (80 chapters), time attack, and outrun. The major element of WMMT3 and the series that sells to me is the amazing electronica/techno soundtrack composed by my favorite game music composer, Yuzo Koshiro (he did the music for the Streets of Rage series and some songs for Smash Bros. Brawl). That music is just amazing to listen to while driving in-game or not.
Sure, you might be wandering, why not put Maximum Tune 3 and Initial D Ver. 4 on consoles? I think they are out on PS3 at Japan and exclusive to it since I don't see Microsoft going to crazy to acquire these games on 360. Plus, those series of racing games are meant for arcades rather than consoles because of the addictive card system and playing it generally with a wheel on manual transmission. Usually, those console ports never make it to the United States because of the "dead" arcade audience here, but some local arcades are willing to pony up for JP machines of these games (Well, WMMT3 at Super is in English as well as Initial D 4 I think).
If you're wandering what is all the fuss about Maximum Tune 3, check these videos out.
Tonight was a little different story going to GameWorks at Ontario Mills. Obviously, GameWorks is the mainstream place for arcades these days being to closest reminder of the 80s and 90s glory days. The game selection is obviously old versions of games like Maximum Tune 2 and Initial D Ver. 3 even though if u might find some rare stuff there like Samurai Showdown 5 (no one plays it) and After Burner Climax. Of course, there are the gun-con type shooters like House of the Dead 4 (Time Crisis 4 is at Super), and other random games like Mario Kart Arcade GP and Outrun 2 SP. I only played MvC2 there tonight (Marvel vs. Capcom 2) and your playing experiences may vary pending on machine and sticks. The sticks at the GameWorks cabinet are too small compared to the ones at Cal Poly (my preference of choice to play MvC2) and the ones at Super. In addition, these type of places are rare for competition compared to every day at Cal Poly and Super, since GameWorks is just meant for a good time killing some money using paying cards. Sure, GameWorks has its place in the arcade business especially in today's world, but the few and rare local arcades as well as Sunnyvale, CA is the place to be if you want to play the latest games from Japan that you will never see a release on console because of the experience they provide.
That's it for 2 Arcades in 2 Days - They're still around here at California and currently my place to be since the console world these days, other than SSBB, are waiting for Grand Theft Auto IV (I pre-ordered Mario Kart Wii and Ninja Gaiden 2 tonight as well) to come out and ruin people's lives.
UPDATE - Here's an example of Tekken 6 being awesome in this match clip (thanks to SDTekken's MarkMan) featuring Lei and Law. Don't worry about the YouTube compression of these clips, the game looks pretty good when seen in person.
