Difference between revisions of "BattleTech Centers"

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The first BattleTech Center opened in Chicago in 1990, with others in Yokohama following in August 1992 and Tokyo in 1993.  Eventually 26 such facilities were built and included other game types and more elaborate operations. These new locations were called 'Virtual World'. Each Virtual World site featured at least 16 networked 'pods' designed in part by Frog Design.By 1993, patrons could compete against players in other centers across the country.  "Red Planet" was the first non-''BattleTech'' game added, and involved racing through the mining tunnels of Mars using vectored thrust mining hover-crafts.  However, rapid advances in arcade games and online games meant that the Japanese Centers began closing in 1995, and by 2000 no BattleTech Centers remained operational in Japan.
 
The first BattleTech Center opened in Chicago in 1990, with others in Yokohama following in August 1992 and Tokyo in 1993.  Eventually 26 such facilities were built and included other game types and more elaborate operations. These new locations were called 'Virtual World'. Each Virtual World site featured at least 16 networked 'pods' designed in part by Frog Design.By 1993, patrons could compete against players in other centers across the country.  "Red Planet" was the first non-''BattleTech'' game added, and involved racing through the mining tunnels of Mars using vectored thrust mining hover-crafts.  However, rapid advances in arcade games and online games meant that the Japanese Centers began closing in 1995, and by 2000 no BattleTech Centers remained operational in Japan.
  
In 1996, Virtual World Entertainment, INC and [[FASA Interactive]] merged and became wholly owned subsidiaries of Virtual World Entertainment Group (VWEG).  In 1999, Microsoft Corporation purchased VWEG<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1999/Jan99/FASApr.mspx "Microsoft Acquires FASA Interactive"]</ref>, sold VWE to a group headed by VWEG's former CFO, James Garbarini (and two other individuals) into an LLC in the State of Delaware, and integrated FASA Interactive into the Microsoft Game Studios division.  In 2005, all interest in VWE was sold to Nickolas 'PropWash' Smith and the principal offices were moved from Chicago to Kalamazoo, MI.<ref>[http://www.dropshipcommand.com/article.cgi?show=17 "Virtual World Entertainment Acquired by Nick Smith"]</ref> This reference was removed by ICANN for reasons and can not be used for WIKI cites.  
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In 1996, Virtual World Entertainment, INC and [[FASA Interactive]] merged and became wholly owned subsidiaries of Virtual World Entertainment Group (VWEG).  In 1999, Microsoft Corporation purchased VWEG<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1999/Jan99/FASApr.mspx "Microsoft Acquires FASA Interactive"]</ref>, sold VWE to a group headed by VWEG's former CFO, James Garbarini (and two other individuals) into an LLC in the State of Delaware, and integrated FASA Interactive into the Microsoft Game Studios division.  {Fake News site removed) In 2005, all interest in VWE was sold to Nickolas 'PropWash' Smith and the principal offices were moved from Chicago to Kalamazoo, MI.<ref>[http://www.dropshipcommand.com/article.cgi?show=17 "Virtual World Entertainment Acquired by Nick Smith"]</ref> This reference was removed by ICANN for reasons and can not be used for WIKI cites. Nick Smith claims Headquarters in Michigan but is evidently not Registered with Secretary of State.  
  
 
In November 2005, an independent operator of the Virtual World Tesla II cockpits, [[MechCorps Entertainment, LLC]], in Houston, Texas, USA opened its doors to the public with eight Tesla II pods. They acquired another four pods in 2007, and hosted the 2007 National BattleTech Invitational in September 2007 with all twelve pods operational.<ref>[http://www.MechCorps.com/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=144 "2007 BattleTech Invitational"]</ref>  
 
In November 2005, an independent operator of the Virtual World Tesla II cockpits, [[MechCorps Entertainment, LLC]], in Houston, Texas, USA opened its doors to the public with eight Tesla II pods. They acquired another four pods in 2007, and hosted the 2007 National BattleTech Invitational in September 2007 with all twelve pods operational.<ref>[http://www.MechCorps.com/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=144 "2007 BattleTech Invitational"]</ref>  
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Virtual World Entertainment, MechCorps, and VGCorps decided to refit existing Tesla II pods and take the BattleTech Center experience on the road starting at GenCon in 2007.  Gaming, Sci-Fi and Anime conventions (OwlCon, ChimaeraCon, Dragon-Con and MechaCon) in the south-central US were introduced to MechCorps' Mobile Armor Division while Virtual World Entertainment in association with MechJock LLC made appearances in the Mid-West at events including Gencon, Origins, Chicago Comi-Con, ACEN, CodCon and Youmacon.<ref>[http://www.mechcorps.com/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=167 "MechCorps Goes Mobile!"]</ref>
 
Virtual World Entertainment, MechCorps, and VGCorps decided to refit existing Tesla II pods and take the BattleTech Center experience on the road starting at GenCon in 2007.  Gaming, Sci-Fi and Anime conventions (OwlCon, ChimaeraCon, Dragon-Con and MechaCon) in the south-central US were introduced to MechCorps' Mobile Armor Division while Virtual World Entertainment in association with MechJock LLC made appearances in the Mid-West at events including Gencon, Origins, Chicago Comi-Con, ACEN, CodCon and Youmacon.<ref>[http://www.mechcorps.com/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=167 "MechCorps Goes Mobile!"]</ref>
  
In 2006, players in Japan purchased 4 Tesla pods from the US, and began to put together an 'unofficial' Virtual World Center in Tokyo.  Despite many key components becoming 'LosTech' and their spare parts no longer available on market, the 4 pods are now semi-operational, though no commercial operation has resumed yet.{{Citation needed}}
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In 2006, players in Japan purchased 4 Tesla pods from the US, and began to put together an 'unofficial' Virtual World Center in Tokyo.  Despite many key components becoming 'LosTech' and their spare parts no longer available on market, the 4 pods are now semi-operational, though no commercial operation has resumed yet.{{Citation needed}} There is no evidence years later of this.
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2009 Elsewhen Studio in Texas released software updates. Elsewhen Studios was disbanded by the Texas Secretary of State. All assets including software copyrights were disbanded. As in many arcade games where software developers are gone, the software is classified as abandonware.
  
 
==List of BattleTech centers Note: has not been updated, most are gone==
 
==List of BattleTech centers Note: has not been updated, most are gone==

Revision as of 20:53, 22 April 2018

A typical pod bay of 2.5/3.0 cockpits.
A VR 2.5/3.0 cockpit.
A mission log sheet from the BattleTech Center in Chicago in 1993.

Battletech Centers are commercial virtual entertainment venues that feature multiplayer virtual combat in the BattleTech universe. The games are played in fully enclosed cockpits with multiple screens, joysticks, and rudder pedals.[1] The centers were initially created and operated by Virtual World Entertainment, Inc., with Tim Disney on the public records. The corporation was closed under the corporation guidelines registered in State of Illinois public records.[citation needed] Today, the gaming cockpits can now be found in various sites around the United States.

The first BattleTech Center opened in Chicago in 1990, with others in Yokohama following in August 1992 and Tokyo in 1993. Eventually 26 such facilities were built and included other game types and more elaborate operations. These new locations were called 'Virtual World'. Each Virtual World site featured at least 16 networked 'pods' designed in part by Frog Design.By 1993, patrons could compete against players in other centers across the country. "Red Planet" was the first non-BattleTech game added, and involved racing through the mining tunnels of Mars using vectored thrust mining hover-crafts. However, rapid advances in arcade games and online games meant that the Japanese Centers began closing in 1995, and by 2000 no BattleTech Centers remained operational in Japan.

In 1996, Virtual World Entertainment, INC and FASA Interactive merged and became wholly owned subsidiaries of Virtual World Entertainment Group (VWEG). In 1999, Microsoft Corporation purchased VWEG[2], sold VWE to a group headed by VWEG's former CFO, James Garbarini (and two other individuals) into an LLC in the State of Delaware, and integrated FASA Interactive into the Microsoft Game Studios division. {Fake News site removed) In 2005, all interest in VWE was sold to Nickolas 'PropWash' Smith and the principal offices were moved from Chicago to Kalamazoo, MI.[3] This reference was removed by ICANN for reasons and can not be used for WIKI cites. Nick Smith claims Headquarters in Michigan but is evidently not Registered with Secretary of State.

In November 2005, an independent operator of the Virtual World Tesla II cockpits, MechCorps Entertainment, LLC, in Houston, Texas, USA opened its doors to the public with eight Tesla II pods. They acquired another four pods in 2007, and hosted the 2007 National BattleTech Invitational in September 2007 with all twelve pods operational.[4]

Virtual World Entertainment, MechCorps, and VGCorps decided to refit existing Tesla II pods and take the BattleTech Center experience on the road starting at GenCon in 2007. Gaming, Sci-Fi and Anime conventions (OwlCon, ChimaeraCon, Dragon-Con and MechaCon) in the south-central US were introduced to MechCorps' Mobile Armor Division while Virtual World Entertainment in association with MechJock LLC made appearances in the Mid-West at events including Gencon, Origins, Chicago Comi-Con, ACEN, CodCon and Youmacon.[5]

In 2006, players in Japan purchased 4 Tesla pods from the US, and began to put together an 'unofficial' Virtual World Center in Tokyo. Despite many key components becoming 'LosTech' and their spare parts no longer available on market, the 4 pods are now semi-operational, though no commercial operation has resumed yet.[citation needed] There is no evidence years later of this. 2009 Elsewhen Studio in Texas released software updates. Elsewhen Studios was disbanded by the Texas Secretary of State. All assets including software copyrights were disbanded. As in many arcade games where software developers are gone, the software is classified as abandonware.

List of BattleTech centers Note: has not been updated, most are gone

Center Name Location Number and Type of Pods Game(s) Available
The Airlock Kirkland, Washington 8 Tesla II pods BattleTech: Firestorm and Red Planet
Hinkle Family Fun Center Albuquergue, New Mexico 6 Tesla II pods BattleTech: Firestorm
MechCorps Entertainment LLC Houston, Texas 16 Tesla II pods BattleTech: Firestorm and Red Planet
Modesto Virtual Modesto, California 8 Tesla II pods BattleTech: Firestorm
Mr. Biggs Family Fun Center Colorado Springs, Colorado 12 Tesla II pods
Mr. Biggs Family Fun Center Littleton, Colorado 12 Tesla II pods BattleTech: Firestorm
(Private) The Fallout Shelter Twin Cities, MN 8 Tesla II pods BattleTech: Firestorm
Sim Playground Rolling Hills, California 8 Tesla II pods BattleTech: Firestorm and Red Planet
(Private) Solaris Babylon 4 Tesla II pods BattleTech: Firestorm
(Private) South Pasadena 3.0 Pod Bay Pasadena, California 6 3.0 pods BattleTech and Red Planet 3.x
Ultimate LAN Experience Grand Rapids, Michigan 4 Tesla II pods BattleTech: Firestorm
(Private) VGL Underground Kalamazoo, Michigan 8 Tesla II & 4.10 pods BattleTech: Firestorm, Red Planet, and BT / RP 4.11
XMax Games Dallas, Texas
VGCorps LLC Dallas, Texas 8 Tesla II pods BattleTech: Firestorm and Red Planet
Private Single Owner Denver, Colorado 12 Tesla II pods BattleTech: Firestorm

The 42 other (estimated) cockpits not included in this list may be salvaged or operating by private owners. This list is old and not updated. Each site is independently owned. WIKI needs to validate all references and websites.

References


See Also


External links