Japan Amusement Expo Draws Big Crowds Capcom Announces Attack On Titan Arcade Videogame

CHIBA CITY, Japan -- The 2015 edition of Japan Amusement Exposition (JAEPO), held on Feb. 14 and 15 at Chiba City's Makuhari Messe convention center, sent a clear indication that Japan's arcade market is alive and healthy. The annual show, according to sources, was crowded and upbeat, drawing coin-op professionals on both days and the general public on the second.

Among the highlights of this year's JAEPO was Capcom's announcement of its upcoming Attack on Titan, an arcade videogame based on the popular Japanese comic book of the same name. "Attack On Titan" has a large following in Asia and in the West. Capcom revealed little details beyond an expected release timeframe of this summer. Whether it will be available to the American market remains to be seen.

Another game making its JAEPO debut was Bandai Namco's Time Crisis 5, the latest installment in the popular shooting series. Slated for production in March, the new entry includes a unique pedal configuration that allows attacks from both the left or right sides, a weapons-toggle button to change out ordinances and a 55" HD monitor.

Square Enix also garnered a fair share of attention. The company announced its next videogame, Dissidia: Final Fantasy 15. While a full introduction is slated for April, company officials did reveal that the new arcade version would include three-on-three combat capability, as well as redesigned software. The Final Fantasy franchise has been going strong in both home and arcade formats since 1987.

As the consumer press corps in Japan and the U.S. noted, JAEPO's success provides a clear indication of the health of Japan's arcade and FEC sector. But a fair number of the games released at the show in the Tokyo suburb will likely not reach the American market.

Time Crisis 5: