100 yen: New arcade documentry in the works

[ancestral-knowledge]

I fear that JAPJAC is right on every point he makes...

[Sumez]

Late to the party, but this thing really makes me wish for a counterpart to all the documentaries on the American arcade scene (King of Kong, Ecstacy of Order, Chasing Ghosts), focused on the hardcore competitive arcade gamers from Japan, mixed up with some history going back to at least the mid 80's, but preferably not jumping over the 90's like they never existed, like most American documentaries tend to do.

There's so much to cover, the evolution of shooters, and how the developers have pushed them to create new incredible challenges for the top players (second loops, tlb's, etc.), and continously deeper scoring systems so that better scores would always be attainable. Also, the industry in general, going from Toaplan and Data East, who were making money by just churning out tons of arcade games, riding on the popular trends of the time, to modern Cave having closed their arcade department, and Saidaioujou nearly being canned.
And of course, fighting games, Tetris the Grand Master, all those games. Not to mention, how are "retro" games faring in Japan, even? We still have people in the west setting high scores in Missile Command and Robotron, but what are the games that refused to leave the competition in Japan?

It was always my impression that the Japanese arcade gamers play on a much higher level than those in our parts of the world, but they some times seem like they are from an entirely different world with which we have only little communication, and it would be great to get some insight into what's actually going on there, and how they get so good at what they do!

Maybe I should fund my own. I actually know a few film-makers here.

68 minutes could have easily covered the history of shooting games in Arcades assuming they had the right people (which would have been difficult).

Old post here, but dude - I think a lot of us would love to see this.

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.

But almost only for articles, and usually just as stand-alone interviews, many of them lacking focus, too - though there are some interesting anecdotes here and there which would be interesting to dig up and bring together.
A bunch of video interviews for a documentary would be really great to have!


You gaijins get together and get this shit done!

[JAPJAC]

I fear that JAPJAC is right on every point he makes...

No one is right or wrong, it's just my opinion based on something I know a little bit about.

The title of the film is '100 Yen - The Japanese Arcade Experience' Someone please tell me what the fuck a bar in the middle of a sand desert and Evo somewhere in North America has to do with that? This is what the vast majority of the film concentrates on. Trade descriptions or what?

This is an American production and the only way they can process and try to understand something so alien as to why arcades still thrive somewhere else is to relate it back to themselves and then just talk about themselves until the very end. It's embarrassing for the rest of us but this is their general mindset. They can do what they like to be fair as they made this film. But did they? I contributed financially and I feel conned, in a way.

Look at the front of the DVD for crying out loud-in all my days plan I have never seen video coin-op machines that look like that in Japan. This is American thinking right there.

And furthermore, there is nothing 'hardcore' about Game Centres in Japan, they are cheap as chips to participate in, everyone can enter and these games were/are produced in the thousands for a huge East Asian country with a massive population. Ketsui has been on location in the same arcades for everyone to play for as long as I have lived there for example. Game Centres are about as hardcore as a warm pint of London Pride and a packet of pork scratchings (to relate it back to something others might understand-American style).

Space Invaders to two white pillocks jumping around on DDR (I honestly can't remember the last time I saw anyone play a foot based music game in Tokyo-"It's so just like, you know, so like 2009, countryside, you know.") with some boring looking shooting games that look like they are running in permanent slow motion in the middle controlled by gormless zombies. Is this really Japanese arcading? Really?

At the end of the day I for one can and have experienced The Japanese Arcade Experience every day of my life and it has been/is utterly mint and nothing like how it was portrayed in this film. So I don't really care apart from it's a gross misrepresentation (skipping anything of real historical interest at the same time*) of a hobby/pastime that I am passionate about.

*Street Fighter II in Japan at the time. Where is the footage? What was it like? A game that is talked about and remembered fondly to this day by the general public. I rest my case.

[Skykid]

I can understand where JAPJAC is coming from. I mean, he's making it sound like it's an Ashcraft docu, which it isn't. But if it follows the Ashcraft 'Japan for idiots' sentiment - a completely bland style of journalism that does little to take advantage of such a colourful environment - then there's an element of failure for sure.

It isn't actually a completely wild notion to create a documentary that walks a fine line between really getting down to the details - those impressive aspects of gaming this forum is so familiar with - and marketing it to the masses at the same time. It's not an impossible mission and perfectly achievable - in-fact Chasing Ghosts and KOK did a very good job of being satirical, factual and educational at the same time. I'm not sure that 100 Yen going purely for the usual suspects, Daigo et al, is doing a whole lot that's interesting, and surface skimming arcade culture is basically a missed opportunity (especially considering this team raised about a billion dollars on Kickstarter and are all currently chilling in Hawaii beach condos.)

But that's cool, one day some one will do it right, and it will be recognised as such.

there is nothing 'hardcore' about Game Centres in Japan

Well not any more, but that's because most of the places are either closing down or being replaced with redemption machines and Pachinko parlours. No games, no hardcore - but it's not as though such a gaming contingent didn't once exist en masse.

a warm pint of London Pride and a packet of pork scratchings

Holy crap, you just hit on my exact Kryptonite combination. Suddenly got a huge urge to go home.

This is an American production and the only way they can process and try to understand something so alien as to why arcades still thrive somewhere else is to relate it back to themselves and then just talk about themselves until the very end.

It's a fair point considering the angle of the docu... but Japanese arcades 'thriving'? It's not like 2003 anymore. Last time I was in town it was pretty far from thriving, I really had to go out of my way to find the good places. Even had to dodge a bunch of hookers to find old Mikado.

[ancestral-knowledge]

I watched the documentary today and have to say that i agree with most of JAPJAC's points. Oh and the chiptune music was really annoying after a while.

:*(

There was one thing i didn't understand. At one point Daigo said that he spent 600 Dollars for a month of playing in the arcade. Aren't there monthly passes you can buy? And if so how much does one cost?

[JAPJAC]

This is not hardcore:



As taken last week in Shibuya.

Take Shibuya for example, only 1 game centre has fallen in my 10 years and that was the basement brawler one that used to be down Bastketball Street. Arcades are thriving and even more so if one compares this to how many all-you-can-drink places and dance clubs that have fallen in the same time frame in the same area during a world wide recession. I have never known a game centre to be reopened as a pachinko palour.

Shinjuku used to have the best arcades in Tokyo and now it's Akihabara which it should have for obvious reasons.

If this film was pitched, whored and trailed as 'Arcading - Alive And Kicking' then it would of been alright, but it wasn't.

Sofia Coppola showed the West that they still have arcades in Japan for whatever reason. Get over it.

I just hope that the makers of the utterly amazing 'Japon : Histoire Du Shooting Game' watch this film and then do it properly. Bon chance mes amis.

[GaijinPunch]

I know for a fact that they didn't get permission from everyone and for everywhere they filmed

I know for a fact they got releases for everything.

This is an American production

Only one American on the production crew, and he was a consultant. But it was funded through Kickstarter so that probably makes it Americun.

There's so much to cover, the evolution of shooters, and how the developers have pushed them to create new incredible challenges for the top players (second loops, tlb's, etc.), and continously deeper scoring systems so that better scores would always be attainable. Also, the industry in general, going from Toaplan and Data East, who were making money by just churning out tons of arcade games, riding on the popular trends of the time, to modern Cave having closed their arcade department, and Saidaioujou nearly being canned.

Indeed... however, as before, that information is out there if you don't mind scouring. There's of course more you could learn if you found the developers of that time. That in itself, is a job. Many are uncredited, many of those retired, etc., etc. It would be hard to find even a handful of "defining" developers from then to give an objective story. I think, anyway.

And of course, fighting games,

This is indeed a world of it's own, and is still going somewhat strong, although not as strong as it was. Each game generally has it's top players, and with those groups, a very rich history. A lot of this is truly undocumented as it's very dense. To some, interesting, to others not. Of course, this is more about the evolution of the community and not of the actual games themselves.

But that's cool, one day some one will do it right, and it will be recognised as such.

Will you get me out of my cryo-tube when they do?

Aren't there monthly passes you can buy? And if so how much does one cost?

Uh... no. I wish there was. Yusemi stated he spent 150,000 yen the first month practicing for Futari Ultra. O_O

Take Shibuya for example, only 1 game centre has fallen in my 10 years and that was the basement brawler one that used to be down Bastketball Street.

That's Center-gai, and that arcade (Shibuya Kaikan) saw a big transformation. It used to be two game centers (B1 operated on it's own). Their selection has taken a big hit over the years, but it still boasts of stale smoke and 50 yen games. Shibuya Gigo is no longer, which had a decent VF4 community back when that was going. I'm not sure what it is now, as it was multiple floors, and is now broken up. Also depends on the term 'fallen'. Club Sega in Maruhan (which is a Pachinko parlor) no longer has a single arcade game - they're all medal games and UFO catcher. That one used to have a decent selection of games up our alley.

In addition to that one factually and the other in spirit, there are at least 3 more minor arcades in Shibuya that are no longer... one was around the corner from Shibuya Kaikan, Game Inn Mitoya (Sorry, only pic of it is after it was closed) and was vacant for about 5 years. It's now a girls' clothing shop. The other is over on the dodgy side where the Chinese immigrants maul you for a massage. It is simply "gone". Not sure what became of it. The other 50 yen arcade on Center-gai down from Kaikan was wiped out about 4 years ago. Actually this is your basement brawler one. Namco INTI which was huge (and sported a DJ booth), was replaced somewhere around circa 2006, and is now just an event hall. It was definitely a "casual" arcade, but it was fun to go to w/ mates that didn't arcade. So yeah, I count like 5 arcades in Shibuya I used to go to which are no longer... and this was all before 2008. In fact, there's only 3 arcades in Shibuya which have been somewhat unscathed the last two years: the cheesy Namco one by Tokyuu Hands (almost no arcade games anyway), Sega High Tech Land, and Game Inn Las Vegas.

EDIT: There are two others that I'd have to go check out to make sure, but if they're still there, they are mainly medal games. One is under Mark City (1 floor), and the other is across the street from that (3 or so floors). I think one, or both, is gone. I won't be by there any time soon though. I know neither of them had shooters last I checked (years ago) even though they once had.

Shinjuku
Mikado is always a sore spot for me. I still like it better than Try but I'll be fucked if I ever want to go to Takadanobaba. I really hated them for moving it, even though the layout is way more accessible than that old church-looking shit they were in in Shinjuku. However, that was definitely a sign of the times. Rent in Takadanobaba is likely 35% cheaper than Kabukichou. What Sega Sportsland Nishiguchi has also transformed. They've kept Battle Arena on B1, but moved all of their retro games (all 3 of them) to that floor as well. It seems to be 80% Gundam battles, some Tekken, and 4 people playing VF5.

One of the Taito Stations, however, is pretty good.

[GaijinPunch]

If we really wanted to get technical we could talk about all the PCB shops which used to be all over town (not just Akihabara) and how there's now basically 4 in town... with at least one barely surviving. These guys are supported by the arcade business... surely this couldn't be a sign.

[dcharlieJP]

One is under Mark City (1 floor), and the other is across the street from that (3 or so floors).

the one under Mark City is still there - or at least was last time i was in Shibuya though that whole area is seeing some heavy development

[GaijinPunch]

In commodities other than blowjobs?

The one across the street was better. Crazy dingy.

[dcharlieJP]

In commodities other than blowjobs?

The one across the street was better. Crazy dingy.

i didn't venture in - that would be pretty crazy to have bj ladies disguised as Astro Cities!

[Skykid]

In commodities other than blowjobs?

The one across the street was better. Crazy dingy.

i didn't venture in - that would be pretty crazy to have bj ladies disguised as Astro Cities!

Take my 100 Yen.

[7711]

In commodities other than blowjobs?

The one across the street was better. Crazy dingy.

i didn't venture in - that would be pretty crazy to have bj ladies disguised as Astro Cities!

Take my 100 Yen.

Will pass on this film I think, I have a big feeling I'll be disapointed.

I just hope that the makers of the utterly amazing 'Japon : Histoire Du Shooting Game' watch this film and then do it properly. Bon chance mes amis.

Did you watch the making of for this one ? Tons of good stuff, including more footage of SWY answering his interview while playing Ketsui

[Stan]

Did you watch the making of for this one ? Tons of good stuff, including more footage of SWY answering his interview while playing Ketsui

Just searched for it.
Is it this one ?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... KtW9wgo1oY

[JAPJAC]

7711-I did yes thank you.

GaijinPunch-You're absolutely right of course, I beg your pudding. I wasn't sober for the first three years there so I'll blame my spasticated memory loss on that.

Cheers.



Today.

[7711]

Did you watch the making of for this one ? Tons of good stuff, including more footage of SWY answering his interview while playing Ketsui

Just searched for it.
Is it this one ?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... KtW9wgo1oY

Can't access Youtube because of stupid firewall but if it says both "histoire du shooting game" and "Making of" in the title it should be the one
I have the video in mp4 so if needed I can share it, its in french with no subs tho.

The guys who made it (Game One, a french TV channel on video games) did a few others episodes in the same series, including rythm games, fighting games, survival horror and "weird games". Tons of japanese interviews, its really great.

[brentsg]

Maysbe it's my small screen, but one of those playas looks like Tiger Woods.

[Skykid]

Engelbert Humperdink looks dapper in the leopard prints, as usual.

[GaijinPunch]

7711-I did yes thank you.

GaijinPunch-You're absolutely right of course, I beg your pudding. I wasn't sober for the first three years there so I'll blame my spasticated memory loss on that.

Cheers.



Today.

Most of us weren't!

[brentsg]

Fuck the haters, I bought a copy and it's on the way. Felt too bad to steel(tm) it.

[DEL]

Saw it at Stunfest in France.
Needed moar GaijinPunch.

[JAPJAC]

Fuck the haters, I bought a copy and it's on the way. Felt too bad to steel(tm) it.

What are you typing about?

It's trader terminology for buying it when the price comes down, sounds like steal you see.

'Don't buy it (as in now), steel it' (buy when the price lowers).

One would have to be stupid to encourage theft openly on a public forum.

Or you bought this film at full price and contributed in that way to the makers. Well done, I hope you enjoy.

Muppet (c).

[GaijinPunch]

baseball card traders?

[JAPJAC]

Trotters Independent.

[GaijinPunch]

Love the Globe Trotters.

[7711]

it would probably only be of interest to the people on here = no money.

Fuck money, just do it

More seriously I'm guessing people on this forum could make a very good documentary, with people all over the world taking pictures of arcades in their countries or interviewing players, would probably look like shit but I'd definitely watch something like that.

I don't care that much about visual style and quality, I'm sure that if some people here happened to start a project like this one it could be a great niche documentary. Who really need years of filming and tons of money to create something good ?

[Skykid]

it would probably only be of interest to the people on here = no money.

Fuck money, just do it

That's the kind of comment I like!

[viper_phase1]

This film might of well of been sponsored by Taito

It was.

This is an American production and the only way they can process and try to understand something so alien as to why arcades still thrive somewhere else is to relate it back to themselves and then just talk about themselves until the very end. It's embarrassing for the rest of us but this is their general mindset. They can do what they like to be fair as they made this film. But did they? I contributed financially and I feel conned, in a way.

This is a Canadian documentary.

The title of the film is '100 Yen - The Japanese Arcade Experience' Someone please tell me what the fuck a bar in the middle of a sand desert and Evo somewhere in North America has to do with that? This is what the vast majority of the film concentrates on. Trade descriptions or what?

The film asks: "why did the arcade business model survive in Japan but has struggled in North America?"

[JAPJAC]

I watched it again with the sound off and with my eyes shut and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's an awesome movie.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

This 100 Yen documentary is up on the USA region Xbox Live Marketplace under the movie listings for your downloading pleasure.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~