Time 80 is a popular arcade game where the player has to hit a number of pachinko jackpots in a limited amount of time. I have identified four artwork and cabinet variations of this game.
The first two have the iconic lion head prize dispenser, but different bezel art. The latter two have a stencil of a race car on the cabinet. One of the race car variants has a speaker grille.
This machine appears to have been copied by Play-Mate - プレイメイト by 新潟ジューク (Niigata Juke), but in all fairness there were already a number of similar games on the market since the 1960s.
The earliest appearance so far, with the original and more obscure artwork, was in March 1972.
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| Amusement 1972 – 03 |
We have scanned and shared two Universal corporate guides. In these documents, it lists Time 80 as 1970. That feels like a major discrepancy, and I wonder if that is one the project began and not when the game was released? Normally with a corporate document like that would I would defer to it, but in this case I am going to leave the year as 1972 until I can find further information.
If anyone has any corroborating evidence about Time 80 in 1970 or 1971, I would love to see it!
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| Excerpt from Universal corporate profile, approximately ~1981 |
If it was created in 1970, it was advertised as a new machine from Nihon Jidô Hanbaiki in 1972.
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| Amsuement 1972-06 |
Transcription:
いつも特異な製品を出して人気のある“日本自動販売機”がまたまた放ったヒット製品 『タイム80″がそれ。スピード時代にふさわしい時間に挑戦するスリルに富んだ面白いゲーム機。20円を入れると80秒間はどんなに早く打っても良い。その間に首尾よく10コのタマが入れば、キャラメルのおまけがでてくる仕掛け、 子供達にとっては、また一つの遊びの魅力が増えたようであり、人気をさらうことであろう。
<仕様> 高さ 1670/m 巾 670mm 奥行 465/m
電力 AC100V40W
重量 55kg
<問合せ先> 日本自動販売機株式会社
本社 東京都中央区日本橋通2の1(大同生命館709号室)
電話03 (271) 4547~8
大阪(営)大阪府守口市佐太平町3-37
電話06(903) 0240
Machine translation:
"Japan Vending Machine", which is always popular for its unique products, has released another hit product, "Time 80". It is a thrilling and interesting game machine that challenges the time suitable for the speedy era. After inserting 20 yen, you can play as fast as you want for 80 seconds. If you successfully get 10 balls in during that time, you will get a free caramel. It seems that another attraction for children has been added to the game, and it will surely be popular.
<Specifications> Height 1670/m Width 670mm Depth 465/m
Power AC100V40W
Weight 55kg
<Contact> Japan Vending Machine Co., Ltd.
Headquarters 2-1 Nihonbashi-dori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (Room 709, Daido Life Building)
Tel: 03 (271) 4547~8
Osaka (office) 3-37 Satahira-cho, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka
Tel: 06 (903) 0240
Time 80 does not appear in the 1972 machine directory, but does appear in the 1973 machine directory (which was printed at the end of 1972).
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| 1973 machine directory |
This is the most well-known version, with the sports car art and the lion-head dispenser.
In later versions, the lion head is gone, replaced by a rectangular slot. The cabinet now has a stencil of a race car.
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| I have no date reference for this specific cabinet, so I am assuming it is around 1973 |
In an advertisement from 1973, we can see an illustration of Time 80 with this stencil, blue cabinet, no speaker panel.
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| Amusement 1973 – 05 |
The off-white cabinet seems more obscure than this typical blue cabinet.
I am not considering the blue and off-white cabinets as separate games. But there is one more variation.
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| This version of Time 80 has a speaker grille |
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| instead of the circular holes the grille here is horizontal lines. For the sake of the database, I am considering these to be the same machine. |
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| this manufacturer plate is from the machine above, with the horizontal speaker grille. TAN 91-5539 日本自動販売機 | |
1973 is the last year I have for any games by Nihon Jidô Hanbaiki, and you can read all of the notes I have compiled about them.
Except for the very first version that we talked about, every Time 80 has the universal logo displayed front and center. This game would be followed up quickly by New Time 80.
