I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

[Jeneki]

I believe the confusion stems from how the release dates lined up. The Negcon controller released after Ridge Racer in Japan, so if someone bought it at release they wouldn't be using that controller.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I believe the confusion stems from how the release dates lined up. The Negcon controller released after Ridge Racer in Japan, so if someone bought it at release they wouldn't be using that controller.

The U/C NTSC version of PSX Ridge Racer does support the NeGcon -- of course, the NeGcon sold in the USA was white where with the NeGcon sold in Japan, it was black. I tried looking for a brand new JPN NeGcon but only was able see a demo model (which wasn't for sale either) in Akihabara back in 2000.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Carmen]

The original NeGcon were all white (well, more like eggshell or off-white), the black NeG was around when R4 was released as a redesign. Actually the original NeG had the fan-style trigger buttons (which I myself have only seen in photos), before they switched to the plunger style triggers.

As an aside, Namco is one of the few companies left that still maintains its old webpages (other than Nintendo and Tecmo, I can't think of any others, but please do let me know!!), so here's the official page for the NeG (black NeG, the fabled ブラネジ has its own page too): https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/cs/list/negcon/ As you can read they make a big deal about the analogue nature of the controller in the advertising. Honestly cool to see this stuff still preserved.

[Azathoth_0]

Video System's Spinal Breakers is this week's release.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202506/44557

Looks to be censored compared to the arcade original, at least from the trailer on Hamster's YouTube page. Unfortunately another "archive" that isn't.

[Jeneki]

Heck yeah Spinal Breakers is rad, but why am I hungry for waffles?

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Looks to be censored compared to the arcade original, at least from the trailer on Hamster's YouTube page. Unfortunately another "archive" that isn't.

By far it was only the 'Arbeit Macht Frei' ('Work sets you free') gate entrance. I guess they made it to comply with Nintendo's "No-No's". Nazi imagery is one of them (remember the butchered SNES port of Wolfenstein 3D?).
https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025 ... -this-week

[Steven]

Has anyone tried the Cyber Stick with Ridge Racer? I wonder if that works, as I know there are a few ACA games that support it... although I forgot what they are lol

[hamfighterx]

According to Segaretro: "Unofficial support for the joystick was added in certain games sold for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, such as Arcade Archives Metal Hawk." https://segaretro.org/Cyber_Stick

Neat, if anyone is aware of any other games in the Arcade Archives series that are supported, please post! I'll check out Ridge Racer later when I'm at home tonight. Have used my Cyber Stick USB a decent bit with the Egret II Mini and Mega Drive Mini 2.

[RedCadre]

So, just to confirm since no one had answered it before is their anyway to change the camera angle in Ridge Racer? Cant stand the front view of the road.

[dmk1198]

No mate

[defected78]

Hi

You cant change the camera angle on the arcade so its not a missing feature.

Also Ive just played the switch 1 version and it HAS analogue control for gas on the right stick which is actually great. Id assume the switch 2 port is the same.

[dmk1198]

Oooo I hadn't noticed that good spot!

[Sima Tuna]

Did the arcade version of Ridge Racer have analogue gas? Like, in the cabinet?

I ask because a lot of earlier arcade racing titles do not have analogue gas or brake. So games like Outrun still play perfectly on systems like the 3ds and Switch. Generally, I agree that analogue triggers are essential for racing games. Especially sim racers. But it matters less for some arcade racing games that were never intended to have analogue gas and brake. I mean, not every racing game is Gran Turismo.

[Carmen]

I can't speak from experience, but the cabinets all had acceleration/brake pedals (I originally thought they were all Roadster-styled cabins, but it seems that was only the Full Scale version). The Wiki has a rundown of all the original cabinet styles: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AA ... 5%E3%83%BC It is worth mentioning that the rocket start works by revving to a certain RPM and holding it, which wouldn't really be doable with just digital.

Outrun is really old, I mean it's like a seven-year gap between that and Ridge Racer. Maybe better to look at the games that came out just before it, like Virtua Racing, or even Winning Run, for comparison.

[Sima Tuna]

Virtua Racing is on Switch too though. I'm not aware of any issue with triggers in Virtua Racing on Switch.

[Carmen]

In an above post somebody mentioned that the Right stick can be used for analogue gas (in Ridge Racer). How does Virtua Racing handle it? I have it and I really like the port (like all of the Sega Ages on Switch), but I admit I just use digital controls with an SNES pad. I agree with the sentiment that even if analogue gas/brake was there originally, it's not really essential (times on PS1 RR are much easier to optimise with digital gas/brake as opposed to analogue, for example). The option is nice for authenticity's sake, but it doesn't feel game changing in the way that, having tilt controls for a Hang-On game would be (IMO).

[SavagePencil]

Virtua Racing handles it the same way: right stick up to accelerate, down to brake.

[Steven]

I somehow forgot Switch Virtua Racing exists. I wonder if that works with the Cyber Stick. Unlike Ridge Racer, I actually have Switch Virtua Racing, so I can test to see if that works with the Cyber Stick, but the result will depend on the mapping of the Cyber Stick's controls. I'll go check later tonight, provided someone doesn't beat me to it.

[Acid]

Ridge Racer is fun, but now I want to go back and replay Gran Turismo 5's campaign.

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Konami's Strategy X is this week's title. Makes me wish this week was a Namco release instead.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202506/45106

Next week it is very possible that we have a Taito release? Which game you expect?

[Sima Tuna]

I can't even tell what I'm looking at in that screenshot.



This is also probably one of the ugliest looking cabs I've ever seen.

[AGermanArtist]

Really want Iron Horse for my ACA collection, but good luck getting that working with autofire. Likely why we haven't seen it already.

[Jeneki]

Tank game with a rotating turret? Looks good to me.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

On the Switch 1 port of Hamster's ACA Ridge Racer port, on the Main Title screen where it says insert two coins -- if you press the "X button" four times in a row, the next time the RR Main Title screen shows up after your initial RR racing session ends, it'll say "Press on the Gas Pedal to Start" instead of the usual "insert two coins" message -- how cool is that?

(This little-known hidden Easter Egg of "Press on the Gas Pedal to Start" trick applies to the ACA port of RR for PS4 and ACA2 Ridge Racer ports for Switch 2, PS5 & Xbox Series S/X as well.) Up to 9 credits maximum are displayed on-screen but an unlimited amount of credits can entered during the demo attract run. If you have a 3rd-party Hori Switch-based "Split Pad Compact" controller setup with built-in auto-fire functionality enabled, it's no problem entering credits "rapid-fire" style the easy way.

It's the little touches like this that Namco added to it's arcade RR debut that make it a truly awesome racing game for it's time back in 1993.

On the CPU rival opponent, there's an inscription written on the back -- get close enough to read what it says.

----------
Hamster would be wise/smart to release both arcade racers of Namco's Ridge Racer 2 and Rave Racer (or even Namco's F1-inspired "Victory Lap & Victory Lap 2" arcade racing titles for that matter) for both it's ACA & ACA2 arcade offerings/line-up down the road whenever that may be.

At least with Rave Racer, it adds the necessary & obligatory "rear-view" mirror feature that's lacking with arcade racer Ridge Racer -- of course, Namco's in-house arcade division would continue to make improvements & refinements to it's newest arcade racing titles over the years after the initial release of Ridge Racer.
----------

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Sturmvogel Prime]

99 Taito balloons floating in the summer sky...

Crazy Balloon is this week's release.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202506/45662

Well, I'm more than glad that Namco will surely be the one who start's next week.

[Jeneki]

Crazy Balloon is this week's release.

Oh my fucking god this fucking game. Possibly the first arcade psychological horror / jump scare game. If you know, you know.

[Acid]

It's probably the best game I've ever played in m life.

[AGermanArtist]

Namco this week. July 3rd - Air Combat 22
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202506/46058

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Just in time for Ace Combat's 30th Anniversary.

Looks like it is gonna get a worldwide release despite using real world aircraft.
https://www.arcadearchives.com/en/title/aca-367/

Cross your fingers, everyone. We don't want this to be another F/A.

[Jeneki]

F-14s and guitar riffs are a perfect match.