HGA Reviews

Game Fan Magazine got a hold of our prototype for their November 99 issue. Here is what they thought (bear in mind this was a prototype). 

The HGA - Home Game Arcade system. Despite the fun to be had at arcades, very few gamers actually buy arcade games. This is because most people don't want to spend the money on a cabinet or don't have room for said cabinet. While a few companies have tried filling this void by selling home arcade units, most have been unsuccessful because they weren't given proper exposure. These home arcade units were called "Super Guns," and as the origins of the name have been lost with time, the companies that manu- factured them are just as obscure. Well, a Pacific Northwest company called Great Western Trading, specializing in arcade parts and accessories, will soon be mar- keting a new Super Gun tentatively titled the HGA. And while our prototype still needs a few changes, the cost of the sys- tem, combined with its exciting new fea- tures, make it an item that all hard-core arcade gamers should possess. If you've seen a Super Gun before, then you'll know what to expect with the HGA. The package is made up of two joystick units, a power supply, and the JAMMA wiring. The preliminary designs are a bit tacky but will change before the final version. There's even two audio/video out puts, so versus games can be played on two separate monitors!

Since this is a very early version, some gripes are expected. First off, the color setting options aren't fully implemented. In fact, there's only one knob that performs a general color switch from black to white.

Secondly, the signal to the TV isn't very good and definitely needs some tweaking. The joysticks themselves are pretty good, but the buttons need work. They feel way too stiff, and your fingers will be hurting after several minutes. Still, the HGA shows much promise. SVideo and RGB output are in the planning stages. And after having a long talk with the designers at GW, they're now plan ning to make changes to the joystick, add more color adjustments, and feature NAOMI compatibility. And with Super Guns being few and far between, the HGA is the easiest way of getting the true arcade experience at home, without the bulky cabinets.