100 yen: New arcade documentry in the works

[PC Engine Fan X!]

That's cool to hear that you can buy the DVD version of 100 Yen for $24.99 CAD...makes me wonder when the Blu-Ray version will be available to order and how much it'll cost?

I wouldn't be surprised if this documentary is shown at the upcoming 2013 California Extreme show.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[1up]

gaijinpunch, you're famous

I think they said the blu-ray release was this fall.

[GaijinPunch]

Yeah, BR is going to be a while. They got a freebie for me for doing the interview. Scared to watch myself honestly. Haha, but, I will soon. I just gotta get my DL code.

DVD signing party at my place.

[Frenetic]

Wow. Just amazing. Well worth the wait.

[sven666]

did julian get cut? i didnt see him anywhere?

also.. it was a great watch but.. a little superficial maybe? i was expecting it to dive a bit deeper into the players minds, the history of arcades and into the industry.

"for every gamecenter that closes two new ones open up".. really? isnt that completely opposite of the truth?

[GaijinPunch]

Depends on your idea of "Game Center". Haha. Gotta remember though, this had pretty ambitious coverage. 68 minutes could have easily covered the history of shooting games in Arcades assuming they had the right people (which would have been difficult).

[Fudoh]

Is there no digital version available for non-backers ?

I wouldn't even mind buying the DVD (or BD for that matter), but I want to see this now and not in a few weeks when the DVD arrives....

[sven666]

ofcourse, its 24.99 to just buy the download from indiegogo..

[gabe]

My copy arrived today:

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Just out of curiousity, any extras/bonus content with the DVD version of 100 Yen, Gabe?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[gabe]

The DVD contains director's commentary, but seeing as this is just an extra audio track, I'd imagine that it's also available with the digital download.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Thanks for the 411 on that lil' nugget of info, Gabe.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[RaidenViper]

The DVD contains director's commentary, but seeing as this is just an extra audio track, I'd imagine that it's also available with the digital download.

No directors commentary on the digital download

Tempted to buy the DVD or BD as well. I really enjoyed this documentary.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Bit the bullet and ordered the DVD version of 100 Yen...will see how it is finally after three years of hype/waiting. Will certainly be worth the wait.

And when the Blu-Ray version of it is available, will get that one as well.

Back in 2000, the latest arcade STG title from the likes of Taito/Success was none other than Psyvariar Medium Unit for the March-April 2000 timeline that was new at the game centers. The music used in Psy-MU was legendary. My only regret is that I didn't get any camcorder footage of it up & running at that point in time. In retrospect, I'm sure the game center operators would've said no camcorders allowed if I had done so.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[jasoncslaughter]

Just watched this the other day. I haven't gotten around to checking out the director's commentary, but I enjoyed the documentary.

[JAPJAC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDjxuQUW4H8

[JAPJAC]

I finally watched this.

3 years in the making? You're having a laugh.

It's basically a DVD version of the terrible book - 'Arcade Mania!'

You will learn such fascinating new insightful facts such as (SPOILERS), the enemies in Space Invaders were inspired by creatures of the sea, Space Invaders was so popular in Japan that it caused a shortage of 100 Yen coins in daily circulation AND VS. SUPER MARIO BROS. came out before the Family Computer version! 3 years well spent reporting on such fantastic revelations.

Regarding the talking heads sections, hardly an inarticulate bunch with every other sentence littered with cringe-worthy and annoying "you knows" and "likes". They really panda to the stereotype that gamers are an odd looking, thick, forbidding group of people. Only old skool Ryan Hart comes across as being able to string a sentence together properly coupled with a telling a genuinely entertaining anecdote.

Footage-wise there's the predictable early 80s Space Invader Houses then it jumps to arcades of 3 years ago.

This film might of well of been sponsored by Taito as there is no one else of note from any other important coin-op company of the time which is a huge flaw. It's also very North American-centric with anything relating to arcading outside of Japan.

Shockingly no one in the documentary truly understands why arcades still exist in Japan and they generally don't outside of Japan.

Presentation is very cheap/amateurish and is riddled with editing inconsistencies. Those 3 years were surely not eaten up in post-production.

Produced by people that don't really have a clue on the subject matter catering to the lowest common denominator which surely won't be interested in watching such a film in the first place as the subject matter is so niche for starters.

If only the French would have made it.

A complete and utter waste of time.

Someone has already made a better and more entertaining take on the theme taking about 3 years less:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vInfbsImU8I

[GaijinPunch]

Back in 2000, the latest arcade STG title from the likes of Taito/Success was none other than Psyvariar Medium Unit for the March-April 2000 timeline that was new at the game centers. The music used in Psy-MU was legendary. My only regret is that I didn't get any camcorder footage of it up & running at that point in time. In retrospect, I'm sure the game center operators would've said no camcorders allowed if I had done so.

Are you referring to Japanese game centers, or US ones? Can't speak from experience on how well they stocked their games in 2000 as I was long gone, but my school (the best one in the world I might add) had two arcades on the main drag across from campus, not to mention a couple of cabs in the on campus bowling alley. At least until I left in winter of a year I like to call 1997. Not the the best lineup, but I did play quite a bit of Virtua Fighter 2 & VirtualOn during study breaks. They were both open until 4AM, if memory serves.

Anywho, I think you're talking about the J-arcades as they are well known nazis when it comes to cameras. But, there are obviously ways around that. These are actually w/ a film camera. This particular model from the 90's... I know your affection to the 80's. Unfortunately no camera body from that time. Got a few from the early 70's though!


Arcade 01 (BW) by gaijin_punch, on Flickr


Arcade 02 (BW) by gaijin_punch, on Flickr

[Rob]

They really panda to the stereotype

Panda.

[dcharlieJP]

Fantastic pictures as always GP.

Need to get myself back onto my stack of HDDs and drag out all the arcade stuff and get them up on Flickr (which, incidentally, is pretty brilliant post update)

[7711]

Was thinking about buying this but I'll definitly download it and have a quick glance at it before, ain't looking that good....
I'm usually a bit harsh about things that comes out of France (I'm French myself btw) but the Game One documentary "Histoire du Shooting Game" looks far superior, to be honest I don't really see the point of this one since it appears to be so generic and uninspired.

[Skykid]

to be honest I don't really see the point of this one since it appears to be so generic and uninspired.

It was looking that way from the announcement, but I haven't actually seen it yet. Funnily enough, JAPJAC citing it as the documentary version of Arcade Mania is kind of the impression I had about it from very early on - and Arcade Mania, despite reading it cover to cover, is a total waif of a guide to Japanese (or any!) arcades tbh.

I'll still be interested to see what they did with it at some point.

[GaijinPunch]

Am I the only one here that talked to the creators? Stand up guys, and they are quite enthusiastic about documentary film making. A lot of the three years was production-related issues for sure, but they did not want to rush it out. IMHO, they deserve kudos for that.

Anywho, they did their research, they got interviews w/ some top players, and went to some of the few remaining old school arcades. They also didn't pidgeon-hole themselves into one genre. While it would be nice if a documentary was made directly at us, who the fuck would make this and how? What would it contain? Interviews with new and previously unknown data from Toaplan and Cave? Good luck w/ that one, guys. This is why the kickstarter for the "History of Arcades" is silly. With very little exception, any developer worth being interviewed has been... many times. I've gotten more info about arcades in the 80's and 90's from players than magazines and websites.

Fantastic pictures as always GP.

Cheers... this was a lens test actually. I'm going to Burning Man again, and I'm going to mainly shoot film. As such, i'm gathering inexpensive cameras and figure out where they rock and where they suck. It's a bit painful (and costly) but the cameras themselves are lovely beasts, and some are really cheap. I have always meant to do an arcades project, where my two hobbies could collide, but every time I go to one I take a few snaps, then move on my way. One day I'll be truly inspired.

[dcharlieJP]

Cheers... this was a lens test actually. I'm going to Burning Man again, and I'm going to mainly shoot film. As such, i'm gathering inexpensive cameras and figure out where they rock and where they suck. It's a bit painful (and costly) but the cameras themselves are lovely beasts, and some are really cheap. I have always meant to do an arcades project, where my two hobbies could collide, but every time I go to one I take a few snaps, then move on my way. One day I'll be truly inspired.

Its a hobby i'd love to delve into more as i've moved more and more into creative stuff over the last few years - whilst i dont mind dicking about with recreating old lenses within photoshop / other campture programs - i'd love to recreate them from the actual lens/body hardware.

Arcade shooting is a ton of fun - but black and white arcade shooting is something i've particularly thought about since it throws away the neon and colours - i did a few black and white shoots with less than stellar results and those two shots of yours look fantastic so maybe we should go shooting some time

[GaijinPunch]

Sure, sounds good to me. Obviously the the key is wide aperture. High ISO doesn't hurt. Can't remember what I had going for this test. Haha.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yep, I was referring to the Japanese game centers back in the 2000 year timeline. I recall that Gigawing was still around in the game centers as well.

Well, the one arcade based out of Las Vegas, NV looks be interesting to pay a visit one of these days. A full bar + retro arcade game titles = priceless.

If you have sharp eye, in one scene of the 100 Yen documentary, you can spot the Inception advertising in the background scenery (that was playing in Japan at the current time of filming).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[GaijinPunch]

Well, the one arcade based out of Las Vegas, NV looks be interesting to pay a visit one of these days. A full bar + retro arcade game titles = priceless.

The few times I've been to Vegas, I've either been playing power and watching all the cock tale waitresses balance the drink tray on their huge tits... or, been hanging out at the pool parties (assuming it's Summer). Haven't been in a while.

[JAPJAC]

to be honest I don't really see the point of this one since it appears to be so generic and uninspired.

It was looking that way from the announcement, but I haven't actually seen it yet. Funnily enough, JAPJAC citing it as the documentary version of Arcade Mania is kind of the impression I had about it from very early on - and Arcade Mania, despite reading it cover to cover, is a total waif of a guide to Japanese (or any!) arcades tbh.

I'll still be interested to see what they did with it at some point.

If the book Arcade Mania! annoyed you, then 100 Yen - The Japanese Arcade Experience the film will infuriate you Skykid.

The makers have had the YouTube upload of it removed. I know for a fact that they didn't get permission from everyone and for everywhere they filmed so that matey better be careful when it comes to copyright protection. This DVD is not worth paying for, steel it. The makers had their fun and now they want profit for a poor piece of half arsed work? Having a laugh.

It's 2013 and if you have an interest in Japanese arcades but haven't seen footage of what they are like (fairly recently) inside then I feel sorry for you. Thus this film is perfect for you, complete with it's predictable/cliche arty farty sped up high definition Japanese locations to the sound of shitty chip-tune music. You will love it.

In my day I yearned to see moving footage of what a Japanese arcade was like and I remember where I was and how of 'saw' it for the first time. Tottenham Court Road, London, Casino Arcade, The Game Paradise PCB's attract mode and stage 1...

The first time I 'saw' it for real was when I was there for real in Tokyo in 2001.

For the last 7 (film)/10+ (photography) years, kind people like JAPJAC and many others have been sharing the Japanese arcade experience out of the kindness of their hearts, for free. This film is 10 years too late. I'm so glad I dodged any involvement in it.

Brian 'sex pest' Ashcraft is a joke (he also posts pictures of his children (child?) on-line and anyone that does that should be shot IMO). He's got the gall to report to the audience what it was like during the Space Invaders boom in Japan. How the fuck does he know? What personal experience does he have of this time? None. He has no authority on the subject. He probably got his first console (it's gonna be a NES init) in 1994 "dude". And all those other non-Japanese amateur pundits featured that have only spent some of their adult lives living in Japan (or visiting) have no credence in this field whatsoever. What do they actually know? Again, fuck all in the grand scale of things. Where are all the true Japanese experts talking/sharing their experience from their pastime from their country?

Half the film then concentrates on the Arcade Experience OUTSIDE of Japan. I could not give a flying toss to the state of arcades in North America in 2010 (or anywhere else). What relevance does it have to the subject matter of this film? Why does it matter?

As for that 'hobby' arcade featured, I've been there and I can think of at least 3 others that are infinitely superior in Tokyo. Mikado Old and New being other ones that pissed/pisses on there from a great height. Poor old CLOVER-TAC, "If you play these shooting games as much as me, you too can develop a nervous twitch." The film makers didn't even have the decency to edit out him doing that. Poor bloke but LMFAO.

I'm going to make a documentary about the history of Soccer and how important it is to the people of England today. I'm then going to interview Japanese soccer fans who have lived in England for 10 odd years to convey their expert knowledge of this subject. I won't be forgetting to show a clip from the 1966 World Cup final and from last week's Manchester derby, then omitting everything in between. I will also share some amazing revelations/myths such as how the British and Nazis stopped fighting one Christmas Day to play a friendly game of Soccer. I'm sure no one knew that already. I will also interview someone that once used to work in a sports shop that used to sell football boots to Beckham's cousin's uncle's brother's husband. The latter half of the film will then concentrate as to why Soccer is not popular in Canada. My film will be sponsored by FIFA-inventors of Soccer. Here's a sneak peak:

"Soccer, you know, is like totally popular in England, you know, like there, you know, they call it "Football" because like, you know, they like invented it, but like, "Soccer" is abbreviated from "Association Football", you know."

Viva la France.

[brentsg]

steel it

[Casey120]

Yeh man they should have really made a kickstarter movie for the absolute hardcore fans who have been there and know it all already , all 150 of them .

Also Fuck Ashcraft and start of Space Invaders , he wasn't fucking there .
I have the same beef with the recent popularity of those Roman history docu's !

It's a light-hearted look at Japanese arcade's, where the come from and where they are now not aimed at a niche hardcore audience that know everything already as that would confuse and bore the masses .
It's pretty much what I expected and what they set out to do , I like it for what it is .