Roxor Games

Roxor Games, Inc. was an American video game software company based in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2002, the company operated with a staff of approximately 25 people and focused on games for arcade machines and home consoles. Its business model combined proprietary game development with the use of open-source software and Linux-based hardware platforms. Roxor worked with developers in the open-source community and contributed code to StepMania, the rhythm-game engine that provided the technical foundation for its best-known product line. The company's first publicly described product was an arcade redemption adaptation of Tux Racer. It used the Linux penguin character Tux and converted the downhill racing concept into a ticket-dispensing arcade experience: players guided Tux down snowy courses while collecting fish, with performance determining the number of tickets awarded. A follow-up, Tux 2, was described as adding characters and levels and entering market testing, although the available reference material does not establish a broad commercial release. Roxor's most important product was In the Groove, an arcade dance game series designed for the same general venue as Konami's Dance Dance Revolution. The first version was distributed as an upgrade kit for existing dance-game cabinets, following a common arcade practice in which operators refreshed installed machines without purchasing entirely new cabinets. Roxor subsequently developed a PlayStation 2 edition, published by RedOctane in June 2005, and a PC/Mac version released in July 2006. In the Groove 2 expanded the arcade line and was distributed both as an upgrade kit and as a dedicated cabinet manufactured by Andamiro. It also appeared under the title Pump It Up: In The Groove 2 in connection with Andamiro's Pump It Up arcade brand. In the Groove 2 achieved substantial visibility in arcade earnings reporting. It entered Replay Magazine's arcade earnings chart in September 2005, reportedly remained within the top 15 for more than 23 months, and reached the number-one position in February 2006. The series nevertheless became the subject of litigation by Konami, whose Dance Dance Revolution franchise occupied the same broad category. Following the lawsuit, the In the Groove intellectual property was acquired by Konami, and development of the planned In the Groove 3 was stopped before completion. Roxor did not subsequently produce another rhythm-game series according to the available reference material. Several members of the In the Groove development community later formed Fun In Motion and continued collaborating with Andamiro on related rhythm-game projects. That work led to Pump It Up Pro and later sequels, and the group subsequently operated as Step Revolution, LLC. These later activities were separate from Roxor Games itself. Roxor's later reported project was Road Rebel, a multiplayer car-combat driving game intended for both upgrade-kit distribution and dedicated arcade cabinets. The game was described as supporting a range of driving cabinets and networked multiplayer and was undergoing market testing with Namco's arcade division. The available sources do not document a final commercial release or ongoing operations by Roxor Games, and the company is therefore treated as defunct.

Roxor Games was established in Austin, Texas, in 2002 as a small video game software company serving arcade and home markets. Its publicly described operation employed about 25 people. Rather than limiting itself to conventional proprietary development tools and closed hardware ecosystems, Roxor emphasized collaboration with open-source developers. Its arcade platform was based on Linux, and the company contributed code to StepMania, the open-source rhythm-game project on which In the Groove was based. The company's first product was an arcade redemption version of Tux Racer. It adapted the downhill game around Tux, the Linux penguin mascot, and gave the arcade format a ticket-based objective. Players guided Tux down one of several snowy hills and collected fish; the quality of the run determined the number of tickets dispensed. Roxor also described Tux 2, with additional characters and levels, as being in market testing. The available account does not provide enough information to confirm its final release or commercial performance. Roxor gained most of its recognition through In the Groove, a dance-rhythm game series. The initial arcade release used the upgrade-kit model, allowing operators to convert existing dance-game cabinets. This approach reduced the need for new dedicated hardware and placed the game directly in an established arcade category. Roxor later developed a PlayStation 2 edition, which RedOctane published in June 2005. A PC/Mac edition followed in July 2006, expanding the game beyond arcades and consoles. In the Groove 2 appeared in June 2005 in two arcade formats: an upgrade kit and a dedicated cabinet produced by Andamiro. The collaboration also resulted in the Pump It Up: In The Groove 2 name. The game performed strongly in the arcade-tracking information cited by the reference material. It entered Replay Magazine's earnings chart in September 2005, stayed in the top 15 for more than 23 months, and reached first place in February 2006. The series' commercial progress was interrupted by legal action from Konami, the company behind Dance Dance Revolution. The available account does not provide the court docket, claims, settlement terms, or exact transaction date, but states that the In the Groove series was acquired by Konami after the lawsuit. Development of In the Groove 3 consequently stopped before completion. Roxor did not release further rhythm games after this episode, according to the cited account. The creative and technical community associated with In the Groove continued working outside Roxor. Developers including Kyle Ward and Chris Foy were identified as participants in the formation of Fun In Motion, which worked with Andamiro on a related spin-off using Andamiro's existing intellectual property. This effort produced Pump It Up Pro and subsequent games, and the group later operated under the name Step Revolution, LLC. Those later projects should not be treated as Roxor Games releases. Roxor's later reported project was Road Rebel, a multiplayer driving and car-combat game. It was designed to support a broad selection of driving cabinets, network play, upgrade-kit distribution, and dedicated cabinets. The title was undergoing market testing with Namco's arcade division. The available sources do not establish whether Road Rebel received a full commercial launch. They also do not document later corporate activity, a successor company, or a continuing Roxor Games product line. Because the reference describes the company in the past tense and identifies no subsequent operations, Roxor Games is best classified as defunct, subject to confirmation from additional corporate or industry records.

• 2006

  In the Groove 2 reaches number one on the cited arcade chart

  [1]Roxor Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The title reaches the top position on Replay Magazine's arcade earnings chart in February.

• 2006

  In the Groove: PC/Mac is released

  [1]Roxor Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Roxor expands the series to personal computers with a PC/Mac version reported as released in July.

• 2005

  In the Groove reaches PlayStation 2

  [1]Roxor Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  RedOctane publishes the PlayStation 2 version in June, described in the reference as its first published game for that platform relationship.

• 2005

  In the Groove 2 enters arcades

  [1]Roxor Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The sequel is released in June as an upgrade kit and dedicated Andamiro cabinet under the Pump It Up: In The Groove 2 name.

• 2002

  Roxor Games is founded

  [1]Roxor Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Roxor Games is established in Austin, Texas, as a small developer of arcade and home-market video game software.

• Tux Racer arcade redemption game is introduced

  [1]Roxor Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Roxor adapts Tux Racer for arcade redemption play, using fish collection and ticket awards as the central gameplay and reward structure.

• Tux 2 enters market testing

  [1]Roxor Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  A follow-up featuring new characters and levels is reported as being tested in the market.

• In the Groove arcade upgrade kit is released

  [1]Roxor Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Roxor launches its dance-rhythm franchise through an upgrade kit designed for existing arcade dance cabinets.

• Konami acquires the In the Groove series after litigation

  [1]Roxor Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Following a lawsuit by Konami, the In the Groove series is acquired and the planned third installment is halted.

• Road Rebel enters market testing

  [1]Roxor Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Roxor tests a multiplayer arcade driving and car-combat game with Namco's arcade division.

A small, technically experimental game developer focused on arcade conversions, dance-rhythm software, and Linux/open-source-based game platforms. Roxor differentiated itself through upgrade-kit distribution, collaboration with open-source developers, and support for both arcade and home-console formats.

• Arcade redemption game

  Tux Racer arcade redemption game

  Roxor's first reported product adapted Tux Racer for ticket-redemption arcades. Players controlled Tux while descending one of four snowy hills and attempted to collect fish. The machine awarded tickets according to the player's performance, transforming the computer-game premise into a short-form arcade attraction with a tangible reward mechanism.

• Arcade redemption game

  Tux 2

  Tux 2 was described as a sequel with additional characters and levels. The available reference material says it was undergoing market testing, but does not confirm a final commercial release, distribution scale, or later support.

• Arcade rhythm game and home video game

  In the Groove

  In the Groove was Roxor's principal dance-rhythm franchise. The original arcade edition was distributed as an upgrade kit for existing dance cabinets. Roxor also produced a PlayStation 2 version published by RedOctane in June 2005 and a PC/Mac edition reported as released in July 2006. The game was built on the open-source StepMania project, to which Roxor developers contributed code.

• Arcade rhythm game · 2005

  In the Groove 2

  In the Groove 2 extended Roxor's arcade dance-game format. It was released in June 2005 both as an upgrade kit and as a dedicated cabinet manufactured by Andamiro. The title was also associated with the Pump It Up: In The Groove 2 branding and achieved a number-one position in the arcade earnings chart cited by the reference material.

• Arcade rhythm game · 2005

  Pump It Up: In The Groove 2

  This was the branding used for the Andamiro-distributed arcade form of In the Groove 2. It was offered as an upgrade kit and in a dedicated cabinet, linking Roxor's game to Andamiro's established Pump It Up arcade presence.

• Arcade driving and car-combat game

  Road Rebel

  Road Rebel was described as a multiplayer car-combat driving game supporting network play and a wide range of driving cabinets. Roxor planned to offer it as both an upgrade kit and a dedicated cabinet, and the title was reported to be undergoing market testing with Namco's arcade division. A completed commercial release is not established by the available material.

• Konami litigation over In the Groove

  Konami, publisher of Dance Dance Revolution, brought a lawsuit connected with Roxor's In the Groove rhythm-game series. The available reference states that Konami subsequently acquired the series and that development of In the Groove 3 was halted. It does not provide the claims, procedural history, settlement terms, or transaction details.

  Source

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• 2002

  Adopt an open-source and Linux-oriented development modelStrategy

  Background

  Roxor was founded around arcade and home-market software while working with open-source developers and Linux-based arcade hardware.

  Action taken

  The company built games on a Linux-based platform and contributed code to StepMania, the open-source foundation used by In the Groove.

  Aftermath

  This approach became part of Roxor's technical identity and supported its entry into arcade rhythm games.

  Source

• Use arcade upgrade kits alongside dedicated cabinetsStrategy

  Background

  Arcade operators commonly refreshed existing machines through conversion and upgrade kits rather than replacing entire cabinets.

  Action taken

  Roxor released In the Groove and In the Groove 2 in upgrade-kit formats, while also supporting dedicated-cabinet distribution for the sequel.

  Aftermath

  The format gave Roxor access to installed dance-game hardware and helped In the Groove 2 achieve significant arcade-chart visibility.

  Source

• Transfer the In the Groove series to KonamiM&A

  Background

  Konami sued Roxor in connection with the In the Groove series and its relationship to the dance-rhythm market dominated by Dance Dance Revolution.

  Action taken

  The series was acquired by Konami, and work on In the Groove 3 ended before completion.

  Aftermath

  Roxor stopped producing rhythm games, while former In the Groove developers continued related work through Fun In Motion and later Step Revolution.

  • Konami — Konami pursued litigation and subsequently acquired the In the Groove series.

  Source

• Pursue Road Rebel as a networked arcade driving gameProduct launch

  Background

  After the rhythm-game line ended, Roxor's reported later project moved into multiplayer driving and car combat.

  Action taken

  The company planned upgrade-kit and dedicated-cabinet versions with support for multiple driving cabinets and network play, and entered market testing with Namco's arcade division.

  Aftermath

  The available sources do not confirm whether Road Rebel received a full release.

  Source

1. 1Roxor Gamesen.wikipedia.org