Naperville IL Brunswick Zone. What happened?

aeugnewtype · 09-21-2008, 01:24 PM

I'm posting this on a few forums to see if anyone has info.

Does anyone have any inside information on what exactly happened to Brunswick Zone in Naperville lately? I went there about 2 months ago and the place was still pretty decent, but I went tonight and probably half of their arcade machines are gone, including 3 music games. I also went tonight, on a Saturday night and none of the 10 or so people who used to go EVERY WEEKEND to play DDR and stuff were there, the place was empty. I also noticed that the employees now have to wear these referee shirts like they work at foot locker where they used to just wear a plain, dark shirt. This makes me think they got bought out by some corporate shit when they used to be privately owned.

I know a lot of you guys have known the people who ran the place and organized the events/location tests there, so have any of you heard what happened from Ryan or anyone else who has to do with what games are there? This would be super gay if this means there will be no more bemani test locations or anything, as the place would generally be just a waste of space now. Is it possible some of their machines got moved elsewhere or were they just liquidated to make space/money?

*recessionatalus* · 09-21-2008, 02:18 PM

which music games weren't removed?

aeugnewtype · 09-21-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranatalus

which music games weren't removed?

ITG2, Percussion Master and SuperNova. Might have been SuperNova2, but I didn't care enough to look.

***June.H*** · 09-21-2008, 03:18 PM

I was there last night at 11PM-2AM, ITG 2 and Supernova 2 were there where they used to be a long time ago: in that little circular lowered area that basically serves and a sound pit (so both the sound on both machines can drown each other out).

I wouldn't be horribly surprised if Konami stops doing location tests there...BZ's in the area seem to be overrun by ITG fanboys that aim to ruin Konami's test locations by spouting how superior Roxor/ITG is and blaming Konami for ruining their precious game franchise.

aeugnewtype · 09-21-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by June.H

I was there last night at 11PM-2AM, ITG 2 and Supernova 2 were there where they used to be a long time ago: in that little circular lowered area that basically serves and a sound pit (so both the sound on both machines can drown each other out).

Yeah, weird, I went there at about 10:30 and stayed until shortly after 11 and didn't see you there but I would've asked you if you knew any more about it, but I ended up calling Eli to see if he had heard anything before I headed back home. It would suck if they stopped doing the location tests there, but even if they do, hopefully they'll keep doing it at another local location.

ΩOMEGAΩ · 09-27-2008, 12:30 PM

PIU PRO has been gone. There was 2 ITG2 machines for like a month, then one was moved. Then someone tried to hack the ITG2 machine, and made the game completely crash. BZN did fix it, but there was a cost to pay. They snipped the USB wire so no one can play customs, or hack the machine. The machine is still taken care of however.

SuperNOVA 2 gets run down alot, and one side almost always has problems. But when there are censors they usually fix it if you tell them there is problems with the pads.

As for other arcade machines. Get used to new machines coming in, and leaving, as well as some of their old collection as well because Naperville is sort of like a center where they keep machines, and then they ship it to another Brunzwick Zone. It is also sometimes used as sort of a holding as well for arcade machine, you will see arcade upgrade kits, and other machine in the back by the bumper cars that are being shipped to other Brunzwick Zones as well.

Also Ryan has to worry about many Brunzwick Zone locations, so its not usual to see him at ours. BZN also was the test locations for Betson, so that may also answer the question about no test locations at ours. But when I ask employees they do tell me DDR x is coming still, but I have not seen it yet.

ΩOMEGAΩ · 09-30-2008, 09:02 PM

oh, and just want to point out the USB had been re-connected after I severe loss in customers, they decided to re-attach/rewire the USB back onto the machine.

teknoboi · 10-01-2008, 07:30 PM

Not sure if anyone knew this already, but I went to the Brunswick Zone XL in Algonquin (along Randall Road) and there was a Pump Pro machine there. Not sure if it's the same machine as the one at BZN, but I think it is lol

I also added it to the machine locations list in case anyone's interested. :]

ΩOMEGAΩ · 10-03-2008, 11:59 PM

is that brunzwick zone newer? I am pretty sure Ryan said he moved it to a new one, and thats where he has been is what he told me last time I saw him, which was like early summer.

Swors-k · 10-04-2008, 01:43 AM

Rynker hacked the shit out of the ITG2 at BZN this morning. It now has a sweet theme and more songs.

teknoboi · 10-04-2008, 08:26 AM

Yeah, the XL is new-ish (opened around January as far as I can tell).

***June.H*** · 10-05-2008, 12:21 PM

XL is supposed to be a kind of a "mega BZ" from what I've been reading from amusement magazines. It's more geared towards a family fun center more than simply a bowling alley, although BZN might as well be transforms into an XL itself IMO. There's I think a couple of them around the nation.

ΩOMEGAΩ · 10-05-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penetrate forum boredom

Rynker hacked the shit out of the ITG2 at BZN this morning. It now has a sweet theme and more songs.

do you by any chance know the theme code? Or did he only put one theme on?

teknoboi · 10-05-2008, 12:38 PM

Yeah, its size and layout makes it feel more like Gameworks or D&B than a traditional Brunswick Zone.

There's an arcade, bowling lanes, and a seperate bar/restaurant area; all with a good amount of walking space in between.

I must say, though, that despite its goal as a 'family fun center', I never once had a problem with kids (running across pads, in front of screen, etc). In fact, there weren't very many patrons/families there at all (though perhaps that was due to the time I was there (mid-late afternoon/early evening)).

ΩOMEGAΩ · 10-05-2008, 03:21 PM

I have had problems with kids before. usually when they come back I say "watch it, next time", and they usually stop. Only time I really had a problem was when the parents allow their kids to climb on the dance pads, and I almost step on them, and then they yell at me (ya, big wtf there). Or I am forced to stop... which ever comes first.