1993 Scotfield - スコットフィールド by シグマ (Sigma)

Name: Scotfield - スコットフィールド
Year: 1993
Company: シグマ (Sigma)

Scotfield is probably the largest single electromechanical arcade game ever built.  It is like all of Sigma's prior derby games, where electromechanical horses ride around a track and numerous players bet on them.  It is a very simple kind of idea that spawn decades of iterations.  Derby games from the 1920s were run off bellows, had mechanical horses, and allowed multiple bets.  This is the same idea, writ grand.

The image I am using for this game is from a flyer for Rongo Rongo, a multi-floor arcade that featured a casino on floors 1 and in the basement, Scotfield occupying floors 2 and 3 to accommodate the tiered seating, and then the legendary BATTLETECH immersive multiplayer game set up on the floors above it.  More on Rongo Rongo from nazox2016. (archive)

Rongo Rongo map:

Here is an article on the launch:

Game Machine 1993-11-15

 Translation provided by tweakbod @ GA:

Game Machine No. 461 – Nov. 15, 1993 (page 12)

Amusement Dome

RONGO RONGO

A space intended for adults in Dogenzaka district, Shibuya, Tokyo

New Dome-type Location

"RONGO RONGO"

"BattleTech" also installed and operated by Sigma

　On October 15th, "RONGO RONGO," a location operated by Sigma Inc. (head office: Tokyo, president Katsuki Manabe), opened in the Dogenzaka district of Shibuya, Tokyo, and has become a hot topic of conversation.

　Regarding the location, the company said, “The aim is to create a healthy AM space for adults only, rather than relying on game machines that cater to children and adults alike. In other words, this is an attempt to transform the space into an amusement operation that can be enjoyed by adults only, based on the concept that 'the space itself is the product,' rather than the individual games that are being enjoyed.”

　The new building, with one basement floor and six floors above ground, was constructed on a site of approximately 300 square meters. The total investment (excluding land costs) was approximately 2 billion yen, and sales in the first year are expected to be 600 million yen.

　"RONGO RONGO" refers to the mysterious writing system passed down in Easter Island, and was chosen as a motif for the store name for its mysterious atmosphere and history.

　The exterior of the building has a unique dome-shaped design, reminiscent of the moai statues of Easter Island and a "time capsule flying through time and space," and the interior has a theme for each floor. The basement thru third floors is a medal game area, the fourth and fifth floors are the "BattleTech Center," and the sixth floor is the office.

.

Super large derby for 63 players

　The most distinctive feature of this location is the "Derby Dome," which is a medal game facility that takes up the entire large room of the 2nd and 3rd floor atrium. This floor is approximately 175 square meters and is equipped with the "Scotfield," which was specially developed for this floor with the company's derby game know-how. It was developed over a two year period with an investment of approximately 250 million yen, and consists of a 1.4 meter x 3.5 meter horse racing field surrounded by 60 BET stations arranged in a bowl-shape, with three special "Royal Rooms" at the top. These rooms have a control panel and TV monitor, and are designed for two people, with an attendant providing drink service. Each station is equipped with a medal lending machine (handling 1000 yen notes). Players sit in a chair as if they were in the owner's seat at the racetrack, and enjoy watching the field where the horses run via CCD cameras, which show their status on a nine-panel multi-screen display. 8 horses proceed along a defined groove without crossing each other along the way.

　The first floor basement is called "Stanlay Palace" and is a vaulted atrium with a central spiral staircase. Three opponents' games are located on a portion of the second floor. In addition there are approximately 80 single player medal games installed, as well as 4 mass medal game machines.

　There is also a bar counter on the first floor where alcoholic beverages are sold, which can be brought to each floor.

　The medal rental fee is 40 yen per medal, which is 10 yen more than the company's "Game Fantasia." The medal deposit system allows customers to deposit and withdraw their medals on any floor from the first basement to the third floor by registering their signatures on a computer terminal. The medal game floor is quite elaborately and luxuriously decorated with carpets, lighting, and displays.

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　The "BattleTech Center" on the 4th and 5th floors has a reception desk for gameplay on the 4th floor, and 16 "BattleTech" units on the 5th floor. This is an upgraded version of the type installed in Yokohama's "Trell-One," with a compact cabinet design. The usage fee is 1,000 yen per round (10 minutes).

　Business hours up to the third floor are from noon on weekdays until 11:40 pm, and from 10:00 am on weekends and holidays. The 4th and 5th floors are open from 4:00 pm until 11:30 pm on weekdays, and from 1:00 pm on weekends and holidays. The medal game floor refuses entry to those under the age of ten.

　In addition, the company is also promoting the "Amusement Bus," a classic bus that runs between the location and "Game Fantasia Shibuya" in Udagawa-cho, which will be operated free of charge for one month from the opening. 

[photo captions]

[top left] All the photos are "Scotfield." Above is the horse racing field surrounded by miniature buildings and trees to create a lively atmosphere, player seats (left) set in a bowl-shape surrounding the field, below is the operation part, with a 1,000-yen bill insertion type medal dispenser set into the left edge.

[right middle] Above is the ribbon cutting at the "Rongo Rongo" opening event held at Shibuya 109. (from left) Mr. Nakamura, president of Fuji Building, who owns the store, President Manabe of Sigma, President Takasaka of Mode Associates, who was in charge of the store design. Below is the first floor.

[bottom right] AM Tour Bus that connects the store and "GF Shibuya."

[the sign on top of the bus says: Sigma Amusement Tour]

Floor plan of "RONGO RONGO"

[in the diagram, the top floor is labeled offices, and bottom is labeled 1st basement floor]

[bottom left] The photo above shows the 5th floor with a total of 16 "BattleTech" machines, and below is a view of the opponents' game tables on the long, narrow floor surrounding the first floor atrium.

A zoom on that playfield photo:

I can't stress enough how cool the promotional material for this place is:

"touching gold butts" is how true hardcore gamers greet each other

From the English-language section of Game Machine, the beginning and end of Rongo Rongo:

Game Machine 1993-11-15 

Game Machine 2002-04-15