The product shown in this post is in an early test/pre-production state. It may change significantly by the time it hits production, or not even be released. 

As reported by Arcade Heroes, “If you’re really into redemption, then you have plenty of reason to be excited, as the FEC-focused market continues to create more content for winning tickets than playing just for fun & points. This latest title also dives into a genre that has been touched on a few times in arcade video games, but like various genres, not something that has been done in quite a while – surfing. The sport has been featured far more prominently in pinball than in video games up to this point, although games like Sega’s Soul Surfer and Namco’s Samurai Surf X tried to fill that void 18 years ago with full-sized simulators.

“UPDATE: I was contacted by an anonymous tipster who sent along a couple of photos of the game on test at a Dave & Buster’s location. The name has been changed to Surfin’ Surfari, while the cabinet now sports updated artwork as well as added LED’s to the surfboard controllers (click to enlarge):

“The only info we have about Surfin’ Surfari comes from this video below, where the game was found on test at the Badger Sports Park in Appleton, WI. It doesn’t have any branding on it from what I can see, but from the style of the cabinet (marquee, control panel in particular), the art direction of the game, and the fact that it’s in Wisconsin. Let’s watch: https://arcadeheroes.com/2019/08/15/the-big-kahuna-videmption-surfing-game-spotted-on-test/

“The presence of a curved screen is also interesting; just yesterday I was talking with someone about the newer video slot machines in Vegas that have those large curved displays and I rhetorically asked when we’d see that display tech show up in arcades…here you go, it seems, although the curvature of the screen doesn’t appear to be quite as large as some of those slots I’ve seen.

“We’ll keep an eye out for this one at IAAPA 2019, assuming it’ll be there, although with Bay Tek (or someone else) you never know. What do you think about this one?”

What this could mean?  It is always interesting for me to read Arcade Heroes take on new games. From the video Surfin’ Surfari looks like a fun game to play and the name is also very catchy. In the past I have stated that the future of redemption games is the videmption category and I am glad that game manufactures are also focusing on this category. I am looking forward to learning what company is testing Surfin’ Surfari.