Ali vs Frasier, Optimus Prime vs Megatron, Bruce Lee Vs Chuck Norris and now another legendary battle- Ps4 vs the Xbox One. It seems Microsoft has met its match with Sony’s offering. Whilst Microsoft heralded their new wunderkind as a multimedia hub (which excites me), Sony say their machine is all about the games.

Both consoles are going to deliver Hollywood CGI-quality graphics to the mainstream gamer and not just to the PC Elite (and Bespoke Arcades Elite series owners) but at a price. These next-generation pioneers will set you back £350-ish for the PS4 and about £100 extra for the Kinect 2.0 bundled Xbox One (which has a 1080p video sensor- vastly improved from the VGA original). Conspiracy theories are also circling around the interweb about Kinect 2.0′s role in the next generation videogames arms race, apparently the Kinect is always on, transmitting data back to Microsoft. This Big Brother-esque feature makes a few people uneasy. Microsoft are also backtracking over their used game policy (it won’t be possible), and Sony say they won’t be any 2nd hand game restrictions, although if you’re a Vita owner you have to purchase another online license per game if its used so i’ll personally wait and see on that front.

All the demos previewed at E3 this year point to the fact that 2013 will shape up to be a great year in a videogamer’s life. Both consoles have got blockbuster titles waiting in the wings with the likes of a new Metal Gear Solid where there’s been a big Solid Snake shake-up, apparently David Hayter is out (after 13 titles) and Kiefer Sutherland is in. A new Assassins Creed is in the offing along with Halo and Killzone titles which will no doubt showcase the new machines. When you consider the Xbox 360 and PS3 were released back in 2005- this is big, very very big…

Then 4K TV hits us with even higher definition and it’s only going to get better!

Why not like us on Facebook and discuss the ensuing war of the next generation consoles.

Happy Gaming!!!

So the MCM Comic Con at London’s Excel centre has been and gone and it’s one of our favourite shows of the year as it truly allows us to get our geek on. It truly is a joy to venture down and see what the year’s stands and showgoers have to offer. As always there were die-hard cosplayers who always impress with their dedication and incredible costumes. The show brings the perfect mix of videogame fans, sci-fi addicts, anime fans and a chance to meet the talented artists and actors (while i was there Dougray Scott was doing the rounds signing autographs).

Its always a pleasure venturing around the MCM Comic Con as there’s a host of memorabilia to purchase, from figures, replica props, autographs and original artwork- it all can be obtained at a reasonable price.

I was extremely keen on a Sword Of Thundera, however my better judgement prevailed…

And of course Bespoke Arcades were there thanks to Capcom using their 2 Evo arcade machines to demonstrate their awesome Capcom Arcade Collection. One machine was running an Xbox 360 with the other running a Playstation 3 and despite the constant hammering, not one missed a beat. Ghosts and Goblins was the popular game on one machine, whilst the other ended up running the legendary Streetfighter IV Arcade Edition which always had a queue of people waiting to try their luck. Xbox Live and the Playstation Network is now home to a whole host of classic titles which are aching to be played on a Bespoke Arcades machine. Our versatile system can play any system with ease, there’s no better way of playing your arcade titles of yesteryear than with genuine arcade controls at your fingertips.

If you want an arcade machine which can play any current videogame console, or you would like to play any of the classic consoles of yesteryear with the actual corresponding controller of the day- then give us a call and you can have your own personal time machine to the golden age of gaming!

Happy Gaming

So Microsoft announced the arrival of their new iteration of the Xbox and it seems it has garnered mixed reviews. The Seattle giant is building on the multifunction of the Xbox and are adding features which will be a gamechanger (pardon the pun).

First things first the console comes with 8gb of ram (might sound small in PC terms, but in terms of consoles- its pretty huge), a 500gb Hard Drive and a Blu-Ray player. The inclusion of a Blu Ray player can only be a good thing as I like uniformity in my films…

You will need to use the Kinect 2.0 all the time which will mean Big Brother will be watching, however usability will be more versatile as the Xbox One will directly interface with you TV allowing remote control-free usage. But if you’ve got nothing to hide- who cares…

Your Xbox has to connect to the internet once a day to verify your games. To be honest piracy is rife which is causing publishers to lose out so in my opinion its a necessary evil. 2nd hand games may also be a thing of the past thanks to restrictions or fees being put on the functionality of a 2nd hand game.

Your Xbox will probably be the hub of your media setup as Microsoft are heavily investing into this aspect integrating Skype and a whole host of other features into the console. This can also be seen via the console’s aesthetic design, it looks very similar to a DVD player (or VHS for that matter), but it looks modern and would integrate into anyone’s multimedia setup with pride.

The new Xbox joypad looks more ergonomic (why change a great design) with snappy looking buttons and it also comes with tactile feedback – but does that simply mean a rumble pack?

But the most important aspect is the games and Microsoft are preaching the fact that never have so many titles been in development as they have now for their up and coming console. One thing is for sure, the tech war is just beginning- rumours are abound that the PS4 is more powerful thanks to DDR5 ram in comparison to the Xbox One’s DDR3, however it’s all about the games and I can’t wait to see what’s coming on both platforms.

Just take a look at Activision’s new Call Of Duty, monickered “Ghosts”- looks great and im looking forward to getting shot in the back already.

Happy Next Generation Gaming!!

In the last 2 blogs you have heard me harp on about the Bullet Hell shooter- Sine Mora. If you’re a fan of the genre and desire a game with all the qualities of a classic Japanese shmup, with some current genration graphics and mechanics- you must get this game.

Irrespective on what format you play the game on, the game is a spectacle to watch. Sine Mora features a steampunk-style theme throughout its incredibly challenging levels. The game features high quality 3D visuals throughout the game but plays exactly like a 2D shooter.  This title also features a slow motion button which is your last-ditch attempt to get out of projectiles heading your way which adds to the action and allows you to perform death-defying manoeuvres. The animation is equally as sumptuous as the soundtrack which suits the mayhem onscreen perfectly.

Garnering more than respectable ratings ranging from 77 to 85 out of 100 from Metacritic (which gathers all available scores and averages).

As mentined in previous posts- the game only costs £7.99 as represents ridiculously good value for money. The game’s story mode features 8 stages, split into 4 sub-levels. Even though it doesn’t sound much, the game can be cranked up to insane difficulty levels which would scupper the most hardcore of Bullet Hell gamers.

If you’re having friends over and you want to impress with your Bespoke Arcades arcade machine. Run this title and watch the jaws drop as you demonstrate today’s arcade action in your own home. The commercial-standard joysticks we supply in our arcade machines allow you to enter Sine Mora’s slo-motion time lapse, and allow to to bob and weave throughout the tightest of gaps and avoid the sea of bullets approaching your diminutive craft.

The title is available on PC, Playstation 3 and X box 360 and is compatible with all Bespoke Arcades Media and Elite models.

Happy Gaming!!!

We live in transient times. It’s hard to find a arcade gaming machine anywhere in the public domain. Aside from “Las Vegas” on Wardour St which houses some Tekken, Sf4 and DDR arcade machines you would be hard pushed to find somewhere to kick back and spend a few pounds. You can always pop over to the Namco Funscape to try your hand, but its’s the exception unfortunately. Long gone are the days of Alien War, early virtual reality delivering some stomach churning, low poly count, weighted down action. Perhaps I’m looking back with rose tinted glasses but I remember wall to wall stellar titles on offer.

However, before we all get too depressed- all is not lost! Arcade titles for the hardcore gamer are still very much in production. Instead of going to your local arcade to sample the latest titles, they’re available on today’s video gaming consoles. On our last blog I briefly touched upon Grasshopper Studios’ cross platform stood-em up Sine Mora. Exactly like Street Fighter IV which has evolved exponentially from its predecessors, Sine Mora is an example of the evolution of the genre from titles such as 1942, Dragon Spirit and Progear.

I also forgot to mention that Sine Mora and other arcade gaming titles old and new are not only first rate but also great value for money. You can grab a copy of Sine Mora for as low as £7.99 and other titles are far less.

There is a huge resurgence in revamps and re-releases of genuine classic titles from the likes of Capcom with the new Capcom Arcade Cabinet or via Sega with a constant stream of titles old and new like Crazy Taxi or After Burner Climax.

If requested, this vast array of great titles can all be compatible on our arcade machines for sale. There is no better way of taking a trip back to the heady days of the zenith of arcade gaming.