Waffle
Seeing as this in beta I'm still going to leave out the backstory for the moment.  All that's important is the fact that Lucky 444 has been taken over by a company known as IDEMG, and using some pre-war research technology have created the Alien Space Bat engine.  Using this engine and some tech that resembles Institute technology they have managed to create a casino in a virtual world, and transfer players directly into that world.  A terminal has just popped up inside the entrance to Diamond City, which will allow the user to take the courtesy car to Lucky 444 VRCade (don't get too excited - it's just an activator and doesn't do anything flash).


Installation
Due to the size of this there are two files.  One is a BA2 (Next Gen version ONLY), and the other is loose files which will work with any version of the game.  The default download is the loose files version (because if people don't read descriptions at least it will work), so if you want the BA2 version you'll need to explicitly download it.

Upgrading
While there's a lot going on in the beta versions, I'd recommend an uninstall before installing the new version.

If you're running a version earlier than 0.5.27b then you need to remove my mod, do a clean save, and then reinstall it.

If you're running 0.5.27b+ and want to use the BSA version, simply uninstall what version you were using, and then update (DO NOT DO A CLEAN SAVE UNLESS YOU HAVE PROBLEMS).  If you want to stick with loose files then just install the update and you're good to go.


Getting There
Go down to the entrance of Diamond City, and in the tunnel that leads to the centre there'll be a Lucky 444 VRCade terminal.  Click on it (it's just an activator) and then go out to the big green sportscar in the carpark and click on it.  If it's your first time in the VRCade go to the terminal on the other side of the lobby.  Registration costs 100 caps and you'll get a 1000% bonus in the form of 100 Freebets.  Once registered you're free to enjoy the VRCade.


The Slot Machines
The selection of slot machines is a standard fruit machine, Oughts n Xrosses, and The Race.  There's also fights you can gamble on with some of the characters you'll meet along the way, as well as a shooting range (a way to earn free bets and upgrade points).

Lucky 444 Slots (aka standard fruit machine)
The standard fruit machine is what it says on the tin.  You need to match 2 or 3 symbols, to get various pay outs.  If you get two matching symbols in reels 1 and 2 you get a hold bonus spin which will spin the third reel again to see if you get 3 of a kind.  If you get 3 of a kind in this way then you get the payout of what you would normally get for three of a kind.

If you spin all 3 without a bonus hold spin then the game spins the second reel again in a win what you spin, which counts as three of a kind and is added to the initial winnings.  Spinning three 4s will net you the jackpot, which is increased by 1 cap every game.

Oughts n Xrosses
Oughts n Xrosses is similar to the fruit machine in that you have to make lines of 3 Os, but the play area is 3 x 3 and has 8 possible winning lines.  Os and Xs are placed on the board and a chosen randomly for each square.  It's not turn based so there maybe a grid full of Xs or a grid full of Os (I've actually seen real world versions of these and I think this is how they work).

Once the grid is full, the game will then check to see which lines you have (if any).  It will then highlight the lines for you and keep count.  There are three horizontal and vertical lines, as well as two diagonal lines, and for each line you get the winnings increase as each line is worth more than the one before it (2 lines = 10 + 20 = 30).  If you get all 8 you'll also drop the jackpot.

The Race
The Race is pretty much higher or lower.  The game starts with two cars on the left hand side, and the aim is to be the first one completely inside the finishing square.  To accomplish this the house will spin a number and you have to guess whether your number will be higher or lower than the house.  If you get it correct you advance, and if you get it wrong the house advances.  If you're behind you'll have the option of using KERS which will allow you to jump two spaces, but it's a one shot deal although it can refill.

If the numbers happen to be equal then there's an equaliser where whoever is second will be bumped up to the same place the leader is.  If both cars are in the same place then there's no change.  There is a slight "weighting" that will randomly occur (you'll see an extra silent roll happen) which is based on your luck.  This does actually alter the values to your detriment with what you've chosen (although there have been times it's been beneficial in the mid ranges).

I'll be honest it seriously needs balancing as it can be beat pretty easily, although upsets can happen, especially if there's an equaliser that pulls the house car up to yours and then you have a few crap rolls.

The pay out for this is based on the number of spaces you finish ahead of the house.  If you manage to get all the way to the end without the house moving then you will drop the jackpot.

All slot machines, as well as Fight Room Lite, now provide an XP bonus when you win them.


Fight Room Lite
This is where you can gamble on fights between your fighter and some of the NPCs.  Mama Murphy, Danny the Security Guard, Paul Pembroke, Kellog, and Jun Lei are the opponents.  One will be chosen at random, and then they'll fight it out with your fighter and it's pretty much last one standing.  For each blow your fighter lands, you get a brutality bonus, and if you win this added onto your winnings.

At the start your fighter will choose an outfit at random and wear it, although these can be purchased using the terminal so they can be locked to your fighter.

This game knows who will win from the start, and is pretty much based on your luck.  If your luck is low then you've less chance of winning (even with luck maxed out it's still around 50/50).  There are occasionally upsets, and it will deal with those, but it more or less knows who's going to win.  You can usually tell by how much the life heart goes down as it tanks rapidly with the loser.

Something you may notice happening is the fighter teleporting back to their start position.  The reason for this is an error checking routine that checks the positions of the fighters.  This is essential (they can occasionally "fly" due to an anim freaking out) and I can't avoid it I don't think.

This game also temporarily removes your ability to attack.  While there is a force field stopping you from going into the ring or throwing grenades about, it's removes the temptation to try.  If there's a fight going on then you can't attack.

There is a settings terminal which allows you purchase various upgrades, set your betting amount, or purchase outfits so they can be locked on your fighter.


SynthShoot
This is a shooting gallery, where you shoot synths, but it's inspired by Space Invaders (complete with the classic sounds), and even has a UFO (well it's cut content, but still looks cool).  There are 5 rows and each row has a synth.  The synths will move from side to side randomly at random speeds.  Your job is to shoot them.  To complicate matters there are also 5 blocker boards (one for each row) which will also move from side to side randomly will obscure the synths and make them harder to shoot.  The further back they are the higher the score (1 - 5 points).

At the start you're equipped with a Pew Pew Blaster, which is basically a slow shooting gun, and some Dum Dum grenades (which do nothing).  As you play you'll randomly get an effect happen.  There is an upgrade to the Super Pew Pew Blaster which fires two projectiles and has an increased rate of fire, as well as an upgrade to the Super Epic Pew Pew Blaster which is fully automatic and makes short work of the synths.  Another upgrade is the auto turrets which are on the floor at the top of the arena, and when they are activated they will attempt to gun down any synths they can.  Finally there is slow-mo and fast-mo.  They both do pretty much what they say on the tin (with a lovely subdrop on the slow down), and either slow down the game or speed it up.  All power ups last for a small amount of time before ending.

A UFO may also randomly appear.  If you shoot it you get 100 Lucky Points bonus.

Obviously, with this game I've locked you out of anything apart from moving and shooting.  This is purely because I don't want people just chain gunning their way through it.  I do have plans for a free play where you can go wild with whatever you want, but that's not implemented yet.  At the end of the game the gun, ammo, and grenades are removed and you're given your score.  This also has a check to see if you've beaten your previous score.

Introduced in 0.5.68b, are two new features.  The first one is to replace the shooting gallery with space.  This makes the game slightly harder as you don't have any real way of gauging exactly where they are.  To turn this on use the settings terminal (right hand wall if you're facing in) and activate the starfield.

The other new feature is FX Mode.  FX mode allows you to apply a visual effect to the game which will make it harder.  The various effects also have a score modifier which is applied to each synth killed, on top of their normal values (1-5 points).  It doesn't count with the UFO.


Lucky 444 VRCade Companion Holotape
The companion holotape can be obtained from the account management terminal in the VRCade.  One you have it you can use it to call a fast travel taxi, as well as turning the save feature on and off.  The save feature also now has the option to use either a normal save (default), or an autosave.


Ann Ouncer
Not a game, but she's the person that gives you verbal feedback on your winnings (and losses).  I might release translations, but the way certain countries handle numbers (France say 20 and 1 instead of 21) will mean I'll need to alter scripts and also record different voices, as well as getting the text translated.  This will be late in the development cycle, and still isn't definite.  Although I'd have loved to have created TTS for Fallout 4, I haven't.  I've individually recorded almost every word she says (there are a few sentences).  This has meant there's been very little repetition so there's very little file size bloat.  Converting them to XWM has resulted in tiny file sizes as well (some are just a few kilobytes).


WARNINGS - FGS READ THIS
Please don't COC in/out or try and console anything.

When you enter the VRCade normally, a quest is launched and it's essential for the VRCade to work properly.  If you COC in the VRCade might appear to, or even work properly, for a bit, and then it will break.  Most things access this quest and if it's not running, and something is expecting something from it, then it will start glitching out.  Just don't do it.

The mod also has an autosave facility whenever you enter the VRCade if you use the taxi in Diamond City (it's currently turned off for the minitaxi).  This can be turned off in the companion holotape in Settings, but I don't recommend it.  It's up to you.


KNOWN ISSUES - READ THIS AS WELL

COMPANION HOLOTAPE: Fast travel doesn't work on terminals.  Not an issue.  The fast travel system is shared between the holotape and the terminal in the VRCade, and has to wait for you to exit the holotape before it can transport you.  This means that if the holotape is used on a terminal it checks for a different exit.  A happy side-effect is it stops you using it on a terminal somewhere and then forgetting where it was.

It does have an issue with my JetEM + ScramJet mod.  When playing SynthShoot JetEM will detect it as being in combat, causing the game to permanently slow down.  There's also the potential for the random slow mo effect in SynthShoot to start fighting with JetEM (it's effectively the same thing).  Pause or purge JetEM is the only solution for this.


Development Plans
A few more games are planned, but I'd rather get the initial ones out the way, and then add to the list than release them all at once and have to debug that.  These games will be a mix of gambling and "arcade" type things.  These are still in development, but they're more or less done.

There'll be achievements and an achievement room.  If you get the high roller achievement you'll get access to the Penthouse which will be a customisable home, but done in a unique way, and with the ability to import your own posters.  The view is also quite nice, but that will be customisable as well.

There will also be a merch store where you can buy things like the Pew Pew Blasters, pointless tat for your settlements, clothes, and stuff like that.

I'll also be creating an optional download with vintage commercials to watch in order to get a free bet (limited to one per hour).  For those that don't want them, there'll be a rotating billboard you can click once per hour.

I'm also open to any suggestions.  For anyone thinking of card games, I'm looking at some, but whether they make the cut or not remains to be seen.  I'm looking at a kind of "complete a hand" type, and a 21/Black Jack/Pontoon game.


Bugs
Please report any bugs, or anything you think is a bug.  I don't do diva strops (it's blatantly clear that the only problem you have, darling, is that you're you), and try my best to fix them, so feel free to report away.


Fin (almost)!
So love/hate/possibly do weird experiments on it, but don't come crying if you break it (although message me privately and let me know if it does anything unusual).


Obligatory Legal Shizzle
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living, deceased, undead or imaginary friends), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.  No animals were harmed in the production of this mod, although a number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.

Padlock image modified from Vecteezy.

Starglobe, Earth and Moon textures, derived from NASA images.

Hugh Jackman "You can dance if you wanna..." sample taken from the Youtube video.

Roadrunner "Meep meep!" sound effect belongs to Warner Brothers.

All samples used are considered fair use, in good faith, and no copyright infringement is intended.