Encyclopedia Arcadia Japonica

"Arcade etiquette"

The 5 golden rules of proper game center mannerisms and etiquette to keep in mind while abroad.

#1 Taunting

Does your opponent speak English?

If so, avoid insults to his mother’s reputation as a 5 dollar ho, or advice such as "go and die in a toilet".

#2 Hygiene

Is there chocolate on the joystick?

Was the player before you eating half a roast chicken whilst button bashing? Is there a nicely placed ashtray in the middle of your set up, ready to jump out mid combo? Check and prep.

#3 The Weak

Punish the spammers.

Button bashers, noobs, and scrubs have all been placed here to mess with your day. Make sure to chew up their coinage and esteem.

#4 Outcomes

Economize on “shit talking”.

Save face and vocal cords by leaving it at least 2 mins before predicting outcomes. You are not Mystic Meg, don’t be a twat.

#5 Scrubbiness

Complaining about the controls, character handling or your set-up is the worst. Nobody wants to hear it; a bad workman always blames his tools.

What’s the connection?

Sol Campbell – Uri Geller – Sam Fox – Ronnie O Sullivan – Prince Naseem - Frank Bruno

That’s right, they all sold their souls to be guest stars on the UK's first and finest Video game TV show - Gamesmaster… Now, any gamer from the Uk is going to know this one, but just in case you weren’t lucky enough to catch it during the 90s, lets jump back a couple of decades.

Broadcasted through the 16, 32 and 64-bit era Gamesmaster is disputed as the first ever video game TV show.  Presented by Patrick Moore as the Gamesmaster and the cheeky chappy Scotsman, Domonik Diamond.

In a nutshell the 25 minute show would consist of a couple of challenges, some pre pubescent kids competing for a Golden Joystick, a celebrity challenge and some gaming news or reviews. The show evolved over the years, but the structure stayed true. Uniquely Gamesmaster had actual computer game journalists (from such magazines as “Mean Machines”) commentating over challenges, adding adrenaline and authority to what had been “that shit that nerds do”. Gaming was here and getting bigger..

Diamond, being a Scotsman, had a quirky, overwhelmingly, charming quality that really kept the show from getting stale. Patrick Moore (world renowned for his work in astronomy) was cast mainly due to his features looking like that of a baby (I kid you not).

To truly appreciate Gamesmaster impact on gamers in the Uk is hard to describe and properly still unrecognized. Way before game reviews and walkthroughs were accessible in seconds through the net, there were no real games conventions or demos to check out. Literally for a 10 year old buying a Megadrive or SNES game was a hell of an investment… Making a bad purchase (After Burner for example) would often leave you with 6 months playing the same garbage. Pocket money didn't kick it back in the day, and buying a game was like a buying a used car (a god dam, freaking minefield). Gamesmaster gave us the first look at new games, up to date news on the gaming industry, and guidance about what was hot, and what sucked balls.

Gamesmaster also hosted the first UK “Virtual Fighter Tetsujin”, where a single Japanese VF master held off 100 handpicked Uk gamers in a one episode special. Other competitions such as the Tekken Tournaments and Mortal combat best fatalities were introduced soon after that.

Too many highlights just check out these links and see what you think!

Street Fighter Special

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciUEnPHr_dE&feature=related

Dave Perry Pissed Off Super S

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEFr6ACZ8sI

Shibuya Gamin

Tokyo's Finest?

Could be!
It’s easy to miss, but “Game Shibuya Kaikan” has one hell of a variety of old school, new school game.  5 floors cover everything from Puzzlers (Columns, Tetris..) to Shooters (Time Crisis I, House of the Dead I..), a massive range of Beat Em Ups (Marvel Vs. Capcom, Street Fighter 3^rd Strike..), not to mention Gundam machines, medal games the list goes on…

Aside from the variety, every game is 50 yen! Superb value, giving you that extra chance to beat down on some lucky gamer scrub!

The “Kaikan” has everything, but for that old flavor gaming environment, hit up the 3^rd floor.  Here they have the best range of Beat Em Ups; King of Fighters, Street Fighter II, Tekken amongst many. The competition here is a sight to behold, knock back a Dr. Pepper and watch the fireworks!

Quick list - GOLDEN AXE, Columns, MARIO, Marvel Vs Capcom, King of Fighters, Taiko na Tetsujin, BOMBERMAN, Street Fighter II, 3rd Strike, 4 and Super Street Fighter 4, Tekken 6, HOUSE OF THE DEAD, Gundam, Alien Vs. Predator, Harrier Attack, Melty Blood, did I mention almost every Street Fighter??

Got 5 minutes free in Shibuya? Check the map and have a quick peek at this diamond of a game center, you won’t regret it. It's 3 mins from Hachiko (the cute dog statue outside the station).

Deep thanks to Dan for introducing the Kaikan! 

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=35.660112,139.699523&spn=0.001155,0.00213&z=19&layer=c&cbll=35.660128,139.699414&panoid=VB8jRCO123UrSiyyV8WQ1A&cbp=12,134.96,,0,-7.36

Time to Reboot!

Now this here was a cartoon series that some serious balls!

Reboot did so many things, on so many levels that made it an absolutely classic animation, and a must see for anyone with even the slightest love of video games or cartoons.

Airing sporadically between 1994 and 2001 the show took what was expected of animated cartoons and literally drop kicked it in the balls, being the first cgi cartoon series ever made. Even before Pixar’s “Toy Story“ became the shit!

Enzo Matrix (S03 Badass Merc.)

Spawning 2 direct to TV movies, an Imax ride and a (not so great) game on the PS1, Reboot was the show that had kids leaning, head first against the TV set, chewing their fingers and drooling on the carpet.

Mainframe city (CD)

Developed and created by the legendary Mainframe Entertainment animation group out in Canada (responsible for other amazing series such as “Beast Wars Transformers” and “Beast machine”), Reboot was in the works since the 80’s, held back until 1991 when software had matured to the point a weekly animation series could be synthesized. Can you imagine another TV show literally 10 years in the making!

In a nutshell, the show follows Guardian Bob (an antivirus) sent to protect Mainframe (the city) from Viruses.  Other characters include Dot, the female lead and owner of Dots Diner, and her little brother Enzo.

Simple huh? Nope!

Two Viruses threaten Mainframe throughout the series, Megabyte, a refined gentleman type Virus and his insane sister Hexadecimal, who is in love with the main hero (in a sick twisted kinda way..), Bob. Both characters were unique villains, In that each week there intent would change and grow then stagnate very similar to that of an actual virus. To anyone who has seen the show, perhaps this synopsis is going to get me into trouble, but for those who haven’t seen the show I don’t want to spoil a thing. Just to say, that in the series we are presented with redemption, love, tragedy, musicals, the reincarnation of the world, and finally the absolute greatest story arc ever (in an animated series!).

For the first year the show had to play it safe, with violence at a minimum and even the lead female having the famous monobreast, but come year two, the gloves were off, Becoming a hell of a lot darker, taking risks, and aiming to a much more mature crowd. 

.. Dam ..

Check out this episode on Youtube, the second episode to be aired, featuring the wonderful Hexadecimal. Besides the groundbreaking visuals and techniques developed by Mainframe Entertainment, the voice acting was a joy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH9sn_d1o44&feature=related

No more, check it out!