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Alleged Arcade Game Pack Counterfeiters Indicted In UltraCade Case
by Leigh Alexander
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July 10, 2009
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The former owner of UltraCade Technologies has been indicted on charges that he counterfeited game packs for his classic arcade game business following the sale of certain assets to Global VR, and sold them for his personal profit.
According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, David Russell Foley and Michael Daddona, who allegedly bought the stolen software from Foley, were named in a 35-count indictment including charges of conspiracy, trafficking in counterfeit goods and theft of trade secrets, among other fraud charges.
San Jose-based UltraCade created an officially licensed classic arcade game product line, including game packs. Some of the company's assets were sold in 2006 to fellow San Jose company -- and one of the major remaining arcade firms -- Global VR (Justice League Heroes United).
A version of the UltraCade classic arcade technology continues to be sold by Global VR under the Global Arcade Classics brand, including licensed games from Konami (Frogger), Atari (Asteroids), and many more.
However, Foley is accused of secretly manufacturing and selling counterfeit game packs for the system following the Global VR transaction, in association with Daddona, after secretly retaining the technology that allows game packs to be made.
Daddona is owner of Connecticut arcade company Automated Services, and is accused of knowingly advertising the counterfeit packs on eBay at lower prices than the official ones -- as well as selling them as if they were official Global VR packs.
Gamasutra has obtained a copy of the full indictment in the case -- which also reveals that the duo were selling games not even licensed by Global VR from companies such as Nintendo, Namco, and Taito -- and will be following up with a more detailed story in the near future.
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Not going to happen, arcade is dead unless there are some significant changes in what they offer. No money in bringing about changes to it... not with consoles so easy and ubiquitous.
There needs to be several changes to make it work, but just like with movies, if arcades were the "movie theaters of the future" for games, in that you can't get the games on consoles till they've been in an arcade for 6 months. Then you bring in additional revenue to publishers / developers and hopefully help offset the cost of these next gen titles. Maybe then you'd see fewer studio closers too when something doesn't sell as well. Heaven forbit you might even see more people taking risks with original ideas again.