There is a Closing Guide Here for at the end of the night .
Title Updates :
To detail any required updates , boot the Main Stage setup outside of open hours . This has all supported titles installed . If any updates are showing , execute all updates here first , than one at a time on the rest of the cabs .
The procedure for connecting and updating per Host is outlined HERE <--
Cleaning :
This is done after every event , before the following Saturday . If not , ensure the following .
1.) Upstairs Hall Swept . 2.) Dust the screens on all Cabs . 3.) Germ Killer Sanitation Wipe all controls and door knobs . 4.) Downstairs Hall Swept .
Supply Storage :
Behind the energy drink nobori in the Head to Head Room is where all the overstock of paper towels , plates , bowls , plastic cutlery and cups are located . The broom and dust pan and trash bags can also be found here .
Enough cups , napkins , and paper towels should be placed out next to the water tank here .
Water Tank :
This tank is emptied after every night , and 30 minutes before opening should be rinsed in the shower with the detachable shower head . Then filled using the bath tub main tap . Ice Cubes can be found in the upstairs refrigerator in 2 flat trays . These should be added directly after the water is filled and the tank is placed back on it's shelf . This is optimal timing for cooling and keeps the water ice cold for the entire night .
We're officially going on our break , the expected closure information can be found here !
Hardware :
The Soul Calibur 2 machine is now fully functional ! This was expected to be last Saturday but had some additional I/O issues which have been resolved .
The DVD-ROM drives have been sent to Birdland for testing with the Namco System 256 .
Media :
Video quality will be much better in our videos now ( you may have noticed in recent uploads ! ) . There was an error in rendering settings that was causing videos shot in 4K to be rendered in " 1080p " ( looking near 480p ) .
The location for the new cabs has been cleared . These will possibly be ready after the break , depending on those heading up the work during this time .
Enjoy the new wall when getting in . It looks worse than it looks . The door has the same swing as when the couch was there , there is a sign up to remind , please open the door all the way to enter !
This is the last week before our short expected two week break ! See closure information here ! Missing a single day last weekend was bad enough , we will miss everyone so much !
Title Updates :
Mortal Kombat 1
Grandblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
Street Fighter V
Idol Showdown
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
As you may be able to see , the reason we do not go with Ultimate is this gives bonuses specifically for Online Mode which we do not support .
Hardware :
The dedicated Soul Calibur 2 machine is now available ! As pictured the panel needs mounted but will be done in time for this afternoon . The build thread for this is HERE and is on going as a future update is coming up upgrade from the PS246 to a Namco System 256 .
Space :
The CE cab and Neo Geo have been relocated to the residence upstairs for storage . There are full plans to equip these for recording and play during this time of storage . They will remain in this location until the move to the downtown location .
This makes room for the receiving of two of the following,
The Namco Blanc ! In the future these will be our ' Main Event ' machines and detailed in a build log here on the boards .
Title updates for games are critical . All titles must be ensured to be up to date . This is important to be handled before open hours , as some updates can take almost an hour to download depending on Steam and even more time to install depending on the title .
Outside of busy seasons , this process can be done at the time of opening . When checking for updates we use the Main Stage . Updates shown here , will be required across all other machines . For the sake of accessibility , the Main Stage is used for this check .
Therefor this will include booting instructions for the Main Stage specifically .
Maintenance Cables :
There are two Maintenance Only ethernet cables available .
Upstairs Hall - Pink - Located Here ( image to be updated soon ) :
Downstairs - Blue - Located Here :
( Image Coming Soon )
Booting the Main Stage :
The Main Stage is powered by a single power switch on the outlet strip located here :
The only button that is required to be pressed is the Main Stage Computer . All monitors and other devices will auto power with the single switch above . Do NOT press any buttons or remove any cables .
Press the following to boot the Main Stage Computer :
A BIOS screen will show on the Main Stage Live Monitor . This also replaces the Windows loading screen . The Main Display will remain blank but the backlight will be on . Windows will then load , and Steam will Initialize ( Including an update check ) .
Checking for Title Updates :
Once Windows is loaded , the taskbar is set to automatically hide . You must mouse over the taskbar to show .
At the bottom of the Steam Window you will see a tab at the bottom showing updates . When clicking this , it will bring up the update page .
You are now brought to a page showing all available updates . The Steam Update Page is broken into 4 sections :
Up Next
Scheduled
Unscheduled
Completed
Steam will automatically have some games scheduled for odd dates and times . These are not intentional nor set by us . A solution is being worked on for this . For now , anything showing " Scheduled " or "Unscheduled " click the download arrow to the right of the game title , for all games .
This creates a download queue that can be walked away from . Otherwise you will wait for one to update , then have to click the next manually creating possible downtime .
Updates can be done by one machine connection at a time . Valve does not allow us to download multiple updates at a time . Ensure only ONE machine is connected to the internet at a time .
Remember , Updates shown here , will be required on all Host machines if running the title being updated .
Though we need additional equipment . A lot of time was spent with various equipment on loan from Birdland and others so we can try before we buy and have finally settled on a full Axunworks package . This system will have full controller support , work with any monitors and be easily used with future equipment if this board were to be moved to a cab . Pictured is the Axun Supergun Mini and NAC Splitfire from Birdland Arcade .
But let's start off with a question some players might have , why CPS-III ? What will the difference be ?
For one , no more controllers hijacking audio . No more controllers ( Looking at you Hori ! ) conflicting with each other . No more possible stuttering due to Windows background processing . No more interference of any type . For those who were here for our move from OE ( Online Edition ) to 30th , you noticed a massive jump in quality both in video and playability . We still had some odd controller problems , which is difficult when you're trying to support everything under the sun , but not nearly as bad as OE ( Online Edition ) which allowed for a 3rd Player and 4th Player when using some Mayflash devices along with the other problems .
This is completely frame perfect 3rd Strike . We're not relying on Capcom software to emulate hardware and then play said software . When playing on CPS-III , it's a great deal of a jump in " feel " . You might find that inputs take a lot easier than they did for you before . There are no more variables .
Are you interested in pitching in ? You can do so here !
The Araiguma: Advanced Battle Center Ko-Fi is a great way to kick in a few dollars to help us reach our goal of fielding true arcade 3rd Strike on the Versatile Cities - https://ko-fi.com/araigumabattle
Remember , we're in no rush . 3rd Strike will remain supported how it is currently , nothing is at risk of loss . Also do not feel pressured . Donations are OPTIONAL , and never pressed . We want you to take care of YOU first . We will eventually meet our goal and have this running .
Our total cost for the equipment below is USD 486.44 .
So what all does this entail hardware wise ?
This will be great for those of you who are either curious or interested in doing the same !
You have the CPS-III Hardware to run 3rd Strike.
Next in the chain is a " Supergun " or " C-BOX " which is a board that provides power and converts arcade video to something acceptable by other displays.
Next in the chain is controller support . This is done by using what are called USB Decoders . They take serial data and convert it into raw on and off button presses that arcade hardware expects to see .
After this , we have a high end video converter . This will allow us to take RGB output of the Supergun and plug into your every day , curb side findable TVs , not just high end commercial monitors . I.E. the current monitors used for the Versatile Cities ( Head to Head setups ) .
And one additional bit we require , is what is called a " KICK HARNESS " . JAMMA is an old arcade standard that defines 3 buttons . This is enough to cover your top row , 3 buttons , your 3 punches . An additional cable will plug into your 6 button game ( 3rd Strike in our case ) and then you plug the other side directly into your new row of 3 buttons , your kicks . This is where the name " Kick Harness " comes in . With a supergun , since they are wired to take JAMMA ( some can do other standards ) , you still need this . Our Axun Supergun Mini , includes a place to make this connection .
In the future when we move from Versatile City to VS City , all this hardware would still be used . The only thing moved would be the Supergun and Video Converter , which would support either another CPS-III setup similar to this , or other arcade hardware on loan to tournaments or a regional of our own . Like everything else , all purchases are " future-proof " in that they will never be obsolete to us .
Some updates for this week ! Lots of new homies made last weekend , lots of new folks that were coming out this weekend , but unfortunately we had to cancel this weekend .
At current we are planned to be closed between January 28th through February 16th. Our closure has a strong possibility of beginning some time this week with the January 27th event to be canceled. This will be communicated in advance both here and our Discord.
Previously , it was started that we would mediate minor grievances . This will no longer be the case . This has caused some issues for staff who has to get in the middle to work things out . This is not fair on our staff to expect them of this . Individuals will be asked to check their drama at the door and work it out outside of our doors .
Previously under "Reporting Violations" it had stated:
"To report any violations of the code of conduct, please reach out to a member of our staff. Your concerns will be taken seriously and handled with confidentiality. All Araiguma staff know they shoulder great responsibility."
This has been changed to read:
"To report any violations of the code of conduct, please reach out to a member of our staff. Your concerns will be taken seriously and handled with confidentiality if anything reported is listed under the next section "Specific Behaviors Not Tolerated"
Please note, minor grievances with other players must be handled on your own terms. Please do not involve our staff if you have minor personal issues with another player.
If you feel that it's a serious enough issue, you are still welcome to notify staff to determine if an act is in violation of our Code of Conduct. We will NOT continue mediate problems between players or visitors."
Hardware :
Also falls under space , the ITG setup has been updated !
Before:
After:
Much more floor space , better sound system , better monitor . We also are currently working on a full sized display that will fill the entire area where the current monitor sits .
Broadcast :
Stream chat fitting issues have been corrected . The chat commands to populate a Discord join link being non functional is currently being investigated . The Head to Head room mic has been repaired and audio restored .
Future Updates :
We will be swapping the US Upright cabs temporarily with Japanese sit down cabs from Namco . The Dedicated Soul Calibur 2 machine is still in the works and is expected to be operational after our short break . The US Uprights will still be accessible for use , outside of the usual space . These will be stored for the time being until we relocate to our downtown location .
To everyone who has volunteer for this change out , we thank you and will be in touch to coordinate over discord .
It can best be described as an Open-Mic Variety show . Individuals can come on and talk about their hobbies , they can run play by play commentary , interview other players , or just shoutout their friends and showoff what they're up to , which is especially cool for those who are not local to the area or here for University .
With this format is we can showcase people who normally don't get a chance to be showcased, that's the cool thing about this stream, that's the whole reason for the open mic format, it's why the main stage stream and all these room cams exist .
Everyone should be encouraged to give it a shot . It's really brought a lot of people out of their shells , others have credited it for the feeling that made them realize , it was exactly what they were missing , and started their own Streams !
There will be a near future podcast to launch when moving to the out of house location , It would be a couch co-op podcast with also a call-in slot over the air (Discord/Other Video Service) , of Araiguma players to have a more focused chance to chill , talk arcade shit and fighting games , giving players another avenue to shine in a more organized format they can come prepared for .
Some updates for this week ! Lots of new homies made last weekend , lots of new folks coming out this weekend ! Good times !
We have some upgrades and repairs this week taken place .
We're also officially on 100% donation budget alone for the next 6-13 weeks . Which at current will be enough to support any hardware failures , if nothing fails then we can build up our budget again . So no major updates will be expected during this time . Thankfully we seem to be doing fine and fitting for our capacity .
So thank you to everyone who kicks in helping make this happen ! From Plastic Cups to Sparking Water , every bit makes this happen !
Another big thing is the support from Birdland Arcade and all others providing old hardware that we can put to use and continue to upgrade some older setups ! Our thanks can not be expressed enough . We've had offers of various equipment from left and right offered to help kick things up for now , and for our future move !
The Boards :
We have a new section for Facilities related information and discussion !
This will answer a lot of questions that others may have and will ultimately be an important plan of our future .
Broadcast :
New function added . Viewers can now type !discord to drop an invite link in the chat ! So many regular viewers had no idea we had a discord ! We have also added a ticker to give people more ways to find out about us !
The Chat has also been updated and is far more legible than before .
Game Soft :
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Deluxe Edition is now a supported title . This is 100% unlocked .
Our save file will be attached and also be logged elsewhere here once we find a good easy to reach location for our saves that others may find useful .
Title Updates :
Guilty Gear Strive
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
Idol Showdown
Ultra Fight Da Kyanta 2
Street Fighter 6
Hardware :
ITG had died last weekend , we're so sorry ! It boils down to a corrupted Windows 7 install . At this time we're going to be migrating from an HDD to SSD .
We have planned upgrades for the ITG setup ! We can , once again thank BranFlakes ! ! Including stepping up from a 27/29" CRT to a 32" LCD and moving toward a Main Stage style setup using a wire rack , along with overhead speakers , and better subwoofer placement ! The following system ( excluding the pads ) ,
ITG will also be upgrading from a HD 3450 to a GTN760 , ITG will now be able to run video .
Before :
After :
( Now Printing ! )
And finally in hardware news , WE HAVE THE CPS-III !
This is a big one . Another shoutouts to Birdland Arcade for putting us in touch with someone who had a Darksoft CPS-III, all flashed with 3rd Strike . Note , this will not be fieldable on the Versatile City at this time and playable on cab ONLY till we get the following hardware :
x1 Supergun - Compatible with S-VIDEO or Composite .
x2 Undammed USB Decoders .
x2 Brook ( Undetermined ) Wingman .
We're going to start a funding pool to get the first one fielded on the Versatile City A !
Firstly to say , we have had just a flood of support over the past couple months growing and growing , even from legendary spaces in our country like Birdland Arcade all the way to Game Studio Cube in Koenji district of Tokyo in the Suginami ward ! Many new friends made , many many more sending messages of how inspired they have been to live their lives to the fullest ! 2023 has been nothing short but an absolutely wonderful year , and everyone deserves a round of applause !
Many have gone through so many personal things this year and able to find shelter in our space , be at ease , we will always be here for you .
We do have some closures at the end of this month and early February, which can be read in detail HERE
Now we find ourselves going into the year 2024 ! ! And a year of many great things to happen both known and unknown !
Broadcast :
Last week it was mentioned the 24 hour platform exclusivity , that material was out of date . This policy has been removed . There will NOT be a 24 hour wait for VODs and clips .
Updated the Stream Chat to be more mobile friendly .
Added Automatic Closed Captioning through OBS . We will attempt to ensure this is working during the Saturday stream . This version also allows the export of an SRT file which can be uploaded to YouTube along with our VODs . This plugin also claims to work with Twitch VODs ( on Twitch ) and allows the user to change the captioning settings .
This uses Google Speech Recognition .
Fixed an issue where two different overlays shared the same file name , which resulted in a gap on some scenes that should not be there .
Corrected the chat box on the H2H Scenes With Commentary .
Hardware :
Geist has donated a PS4 for MBON ! We now have a dedicated system for this setup ! It is currently on the bench undergoing service and will be fielded soon !
Coach Konami has donated . . and shipped . . THE monitor frame for the Soul Calibur 2 dedicated machine !
Also worth noting , Araiguma now has ownership of a " DARKSOFT " CPS-III for whole ass OG 3rd Strike ! We owe great thanks to Birdland Arcade for putting us in touch with none other than the owner of https://pxlmod.com/ who gave us a great deal on this board set !
This will not yet be fielded on either Versatile City due to a few requirements . We will still be needing two UNDAMMED converters to allow for controller support and a " C-BOX " ( JPN ) or " SUPERGUN " ( USA ) to allow us to connect to the displays !
Titles :
A very generous donation from our very own MK Steve ! Araiguma will now be supporting the full MK 1 fully current with unlocks !
Forum :
" The Cage " has been added under the General Forum and serves as a go-by for others looking to get into Streaming and would like detailed first hand examples from us , as well as guides for players who wish to be part of the Stream . It will be populated with some information soon .
As many of you know , this is planned year of us moving to the Downtown Location . This is something covered in our weekly updates , and there will be more waiting than updates for quite some time , possibly till early to mid Summer of 2024 ! We also have much in the way of doing a monthly tournament series again at the Downtown Space , and working into much larger events such as Jazzy Circuit Qualifier events and regionals .
Around this time , the Hotel Royer is also expected to open next door , which opens up a great deal of options in terms of us hitting the sweet spot for running events .
We will be creating a thread for notes on the new building that can serve to answer many questions , and show the many possibilities we can all look forward to in planning for the future !
We have a lot of new equipment shipping in around the end of Winter and mid to late Spring , and gained so much support from other UG Arcades and individuals alike through 2023 and already more here into 2024 !
It's difficult to sum things up before they happen , especially with our strictly organic model of , see where things go and slowly adapt to that . So keep an eye on weekly announcements .
Closures :
KITH will retain posted current hours during Frosty Faustings . We will be doing a Frosty's Watch Party this day , so all of you who are unable to make it , we will be here partying !
We do have some closures to announce . Due to some medical circumstances we will have some closures .
February 3rd - Closed
February 10th - Closed
The following are limited hours and will be announced / Scheduled the week off
February 17th*
February 24th*
March 3rd*
Staff will be limited however we have plenty of volunteers who have come forward to learn the start up and shut down procedure , Stream operation and guidelines as well as managing media during this time .
We're currently planning on resuming normal hours March 9th . Weekly updates can provide further information .
Two weeks without KITH , we have done this before . And hated it . But looking very much forward to kicking things up even more than the last time we returned from medical related closures
Thank you everyone who is stepping in to keep the closures minimal and keeping things going through Feb-March ! ! !
