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Half-Life 2 Comes To Japanese Arcades

Posted by Zonk on from the headcrabs-in-the-mall dept.

eToyChest is reporting on a truly inspiring setting for Half-Life 2: the arcade. A complicated pair of seats allows players to enjoy the FPS goodness, and a card allows them to save their progress for later play. From the article: "Built upon the company's recently unveiled PC based board, TypeX (which seems ideally suited for these kinds of PC ports, don't you think?), Half-Life 2: Survivor will feature a Story Mode, as well as a couple of multiplayer offerings. From the looks of this beastly machine, the game will have players engaging in typical FPS gameplay through the use of multiple joysticks and foot peddles."

23 comments

  1. Peddle? by Compuser · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Slashdot - nues four nurds, stuf thad maters.

    1. Re:Peddle? by Song+for+the+Deaf · · Score: 1

      Santa Clause?

      Proper grammar and spelling, like the CD, seem to be heading towards inevitable extinction. I'm not a spelling nazi by a long shot, yet I am increasingly annoyed by the lack of care in the way people craft their words.

    2. Re:Peddle? by Compuser · · Score: 1

      Well, I liked Santa Claws better (they outsourced making greeting cards
      into a prison and an inmate sent a card with this sig to some kid -
      true story seen on the news a while back). Anyhow, I am not annoyed when
      uneducated folks do it - I may disdain them for it, I may mentally spit
      in their face, but then again, I do not expect more out of some hicks.
      (All while I have an excuse for misspellings myself - English is not
      my native language :). But a website for an educated audience should be
      above this. If an average reader can easily run a dictionary attack
      against a password, then why can't the editors do a simple spell-check.

    3. Re:Peddle? by MBraynard · · Score: 1
      If an average reader can easily run a dictionary attack against a password, then why can't the editors do a simple spell-check.

      Ah - and therein lies your solution. The editors do not use words that can be hacked by a dictionary attack!

  2. Save game cards by jmcneill · · Score: 1

    When I first read the headline I thought to myself.. how do you save your game?

    The article quickly answered my question: As pictured below, the game will also allow you to save your settings and standings via an interchangeable card that can be used on other machines.

    Anyone have any idea if these things are a standard format (SD, CF, USB memory, etc) or is it something proprietary to Tatio?

    1. Re:Save game cards by Stone+Rhino · · Score: 1

      If you'd looked at the picture, you could see that it's a credit card form factor, which means that you're dealing either with a smart-card type flash memory, or maybe even a mag stripe. It's probably a smart card, though, since you'd need the capacity.

      --


      Remember, there were no nuclear weapons before women were allowed to vote.
    2. Re:Save game cards by b0bx13 · · Score: 0

      RTFA. There's a picture of it right in there.

  3. I can't see this taking off... by the_humeister · · Score: 1

    ... in the USA at least. They have so many more weird types of games over there. Are there any other FPS games in arcades now?

    1. Re:I can't see this taking off... by Joe123456 · · Score: 1, Informative

      wolf3d vr was in the usa. Plus some other doom like games.

  4. Japan, you disappoint me. by Wilson_6500 · · Score: 4, Funny

    THIS is Japanese? I would expect in a Japanese arcade to be able play the game in a functional HEV suit--and what do I see before me? Pedals and two joysticks.

    Shame on you, Japan.

    1. Re:Japan, you disappoint me. by Repton · · Score: 1

      What the article doesn't mention is that these arcade machines are dispensed from vending machines...

      --
      Repton.
      They say that only an experienced wizard can do the tengu shuffle.
  5. Only on /. by kdark1701 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    would that get modded 'Insightful.'

  6. ick by Lehk228 · · Score: 1

    joysticks? why not something more interesting, maybe a light gun or one of those mounted guns

    --
    Snowden and Manning are heroes.
  7. like taking a shower in a raincoat by Lepruhkawn · · Score: 1

    Half-Life without a mouse is just a tease.

    --
    Jesus saves....And takes 1/2 damage.
  8. Enermy? by Spokehedz · · Score: 1

    Oh, engrish is so funny, when it's a in-game photo now isin't it?

    Top Middle

    Lets hope that Valve test to play-test before it goes on sale, eh?

  9. More importantly... by Taulin · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ..from that site : http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20051129/ rrose02.htm

  10. Where do you get memory cards? by LordJezo · · Score: 1

    Where does one get these Japanese arcade save cards? I have seen Japanese Initial D machines in my local arcade and they also have the save card slots but I have no idea how to go about getting a card for them.

    Anyone know?

    1. Re:Where do you get memory cards? by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      You probably buy them from the counter. I doubt they're available in the US, though.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    2. Re:Where do you get memory cards? by LordJezo · · Score: 1

      Any place to get the online for us blokes stuck in the USA?

    3. Re:Where do you get memory cards? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Getting the cards is easy, they are dispensed from the machine. I've played a lot of initial D, basically once you pop in your first dollar to play, the screen asks you if you want to buy a card for another dollar or if you just want to keep on playing without being able to save and ultimately build up your car and it's performance. I'd guess halflife 2 works the same way, asking the player if they want to buy a card. The cards are usually collectible too and if it's anything like initial d, it only keeps the save progress of a single car, or in HL2's case, a single character. It will save quite a bit, as an example, initial d saves single player level progress, as well as multiplayer win loss records, best track times, and all menu options such as steering sensitivity, background music volume and music selection.

      Hope that clears it up.

      Nexpert

    4. Re:Where do you get memory cards? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In Japan the save cards are either bought directly from the arcade machine itself or a vending machine near-by.

  11. Cool by Premo_Maggot · · Score: 1

    I read about this about a year ago in Gamepro. I hope this comes stateside (specifically NY :]), I'd love to try it out. Although I doubt this will happen as most arcades are reluctant to get expensive machines.

    --
    Good karma sticks to me like velcro on a piece of plexiglass.
    Move along, citizen.