In celebration of the game’s 30th anniversary, gaming company Arcade1Up has announced its upcoming release of a home arcade machine that will feature The Simpsons arcade game. The game, first released in 1991, is a 4 player beat-’em-up, a popular genre at the time. It follows beloved family Homer, Marge, Lisa, and Bart Simpson as they fight to retrieve baby Maggie, who was captured by antagonist Mr. Burns. Each character has their own signature weapon, which was controlled by a joystick and two buttons per player. Preorders for the rerelease of the game open on July 15, and the cabinet will come with a surprise bonus game and support for online multiplayer. The price is not yet announced, but it will likely retail at around $599 and be slightly smaller than a traditional arcade cabinet.
Arcade1Up has produced modern versions of many iconic arcade games, including Ms. Pac Man, Frogger, Street Fighter, and Galaga. They are generally limited edition, with only a few games available from the website at a time. The company also sells related accessories, including stools, home décor, and matching marquees.
On their official Twitter, Arcade1Up is releasing teasers for more news to be announced at this year’s E3, which takes place from June 12- June 15. More information regarding The Simpsons arcade game will likely be revealed, although there are plenty of possibilities as to what statements will be disclosed. The company will be competing for attention with other big names in gaming such as Capcom and Nintendo, so one can only guess what will occur.