Friday, 12 May 2023

1968 Indy 500 [M-type] - インディ500 [M型] by 関西精機 (Kansai Seiki)


Name: Indy 500 [M-type] - インディ500 [M型]
Year: 1968
Company: 関西精機 (Kansai Seiki)


Indy 500 was a revolutionary game.  It first appeared in 1968 (according to the book ミニドライブ大百科,) and we see it in the 1969 machine directory.

1969 machine directory


It was made in a few colours, including a deep orange.

One note is that the "Kasco" brand name does not seem to appear on the Indy 500 machines.

The original version here is called M型 (M Type) because the cabinet is made from metal.  The W型 (W Type) model was made of wood.  It was made in response to enthusiastic international orders.  The marquee was built into the cabinet on the W type.  Here is a great comparison of the physical measurements:


The M-type cabinets were still advertised overseas, but it was the W cabinet made for exports in mind.  Here is an English language flyer for the original M-Type model.



Indy 500 M-type at Expo '70

Indy 500 M-Type would be followed in 1969 by the W-Type and in 1970 by the F-Type model.

In 1969 the USA company seemingly Chicago Coin copied Indy 500 for their game Speedway.

1969 Speedway by Chicago Coin

1969 Speedway by Chicago Coin



excerpt from the 20th Century Youth Culture Clip Magazine
 
The above excerpt claims that Speedway was licensed from Kansai Seiki, but it also says Speedway was 1970, so I am unsure how authoritative that is.  I have heard other people say they assume it was licensed, but I would like to see a more definitive source.
Transcription: シカゴコイン社が関西精機製作所の許諾品『スピードウェイ』、中村製作所『レーサー』、太東貿易『スーパーロードセブン』を発表
Machine translation: Chicago Coin released the licensed products "Speedway" by Kansai Seiki Seisakusho, "Racer" by Nakamura Seisakusho, and "Super Road Seven" by Taito Boeki.


Wednesday, 10 May 2023

announcement: 3500 machines listed! // 掲載台数3500台!

We have now surpassed 3500 machines listed!  Wow!  Thank you to everyone who has generously assisted me with this project.
掲載台数3500台を突破しました! おお! このプロジェクトに寛大に協力してくださった皆様に感謝いたします。





Monday, 24 April 2023

1978 Ninja Gun - ニンジャガン by 関西精機 (Kansai Seiki - Kasco)


Name: Ninja Gun - ニンジャガン
Year: 1978 
Company: 関西精機 (Kansai Seiki - Kasco)


The earliest appearance of Ninja Gun I've seen is in a 1978 issue of Coin Journal,
Coin Journal 1978-11

    

Japanese flyer

English flyer







This game was obviously made for export, something Kasco did for a number of their games.







More shots of the game:






A different copy of Ninja Gun, this one is in Japan.  You can tell it was made for overseas because of the English instructions, and the NAA plaque above the coin return slot.


The inside features an elaborate diorama.  Ninjas are controlled by electromechanical motors.


Sunday, 16 April 2023

1972 Go Back Go - ゴー・バック・ゴー by タイトー (Taito)


Name: Go Back Go - ゴー・バック・ゴー
Year: 1972
Company: タイトー (Taito)


Go Back Go has you use a wheel to rotate a trio of forks left and right to catch a falling ball.  




In the Taito history book, Go Back Go is listed as being 1972.  Since the flyer uses タイトー, it must be after they changed their name.

Taito 40th anniversary book


The game appears to be based on a German game

280 Meilen Racing Flip by JDO Apparatebau




I do not know when this game was released.  An auction house says 1950s, an owner quipped 60s, and a videomaker said 70s.  I think it's safe to say this way probably around 1970, or late 1960s based on the cabinet build.  Go Back Go swaps the solid wood look for the more stylish late 60s wood paneling.

Go Back Go swaps the dual launchers for a single launcher, and replaces the center handle with a steering wheel.  Those changes make Go Back Go a much more attractive machine.


Similar to what they did with Football, Taito added a side vendor.

1974/1975 machine directory




Saturday, 15 April 2023

1977 Super-Scope [Oriental Super-Scope] - スーパースコープ by オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo)


Name: Super-Scope [Oriental Super-Scope] - スーパースコープ
Year: 1977
Company: オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo)


Super-Scope is a classic rotary merchandiser game, where you press a button to time a pusher arm to see if you can knock prizes off.  

Super-Scope is a game with a messy history.  As with most Oriental Kogyo machines, this is a modified design of a foreign machine. But not quite, as their version comes after the Bonanza. There is also a variant called Jungle Treasure!  This article covers all of them.


The original Super Scope was imported by リバーストン (Riverstone) in 1974.  (see Game Machine article further below)

Super Scope - スーパースコープ [import, 1974] by Nuversions & リバーストン (Riverstone)

From an old home video of a UK arcade, we have the original Super-Scope:






We see this version in Japan in 1974 when リバーストン (Riverstone) held an exhibition to showcase arcade machine.  The easiest 2 differences are the marquee shape, and the lack of front arm rest.

Game Machine 1974-09-30

The full article:

Game Machine 1974-09-30


Bonanza produced their version:

1975 Super-Scope - スーパースコープ by ボナンザ (Bonanza)

This one seems to be identifiable by the two front coin slots / coin returns.  These do not exist on the later model we see being sold in the 1977 Sega catalogue.


 

In 1975 Riverstone is advertising the new Bonanza version of Super-Scope.

Game Machine 1975-06-01
ad by リバーストン (Riverstone)


This next articles mention that in 1975 ボナンザ (Bonanza) sued オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo).  In March 1975, Bonanza hired Oriental Kogyo to make Super-Scope.  If Oriental wanted to sell them they would have to pay a 50k yen licensing fee.  Oriental sold many copies without paying the fee to Bonanza.


Game Machine 1980-04-15

The payment was reduced to $8 million yen.

Game Machine 1980-11-15


The Oriental Super-Scope, as indicated by the sticker on the right near the front,  was made by オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo).  It does not have coin slots on the front facing outward.

The earliest date we see so far is 1977, appearing in a Sega price list.

Sega price list from 1977


 

 






"Oriental Super-Scope" sticker visible


A different version of this machine briefly appeared on YJA:
 
Jaguar Treasure by ボナンザ (Bonanza) [presumed]

I wish there were additional photos, but this is all that was shared.  The marquee is different, but remember the "Oriental Super Scope" plaque near the front right?  That appears modified on this machine as well.
 
detail of Jaguar Treasure by ボナンザ (Bonanza) [presumed] 

 
 
detail from Super-Scope [Oriental Super-Scope] - スーパースコープ by オリエンタル興業 (Oriental Kogyo)

If it was the "Oriental Super-Scope" plaque we would be able to see it in our single Jaguar Treasure photograph.

 

I believe that this is another Bonanza version because of the design of the marquee.


here are 2 large cats on either side of a diamond on the Clean Sweep marquee:

1976 Clean Sweep - クリーンスウィープ by ボナンザ (Bonanza) & ツムラ (Tumura)

I think Tumura might have just been distributing Bonanza machines, BUT Tumura did have a strong tiger theme in their branding and I wonder if the large cats reflect their influence in any way?


for example, we have the Tumura tiger surrounded by 2 jaguars. 

1975 Little Harness Derby Jaguar X-V - リトル ハーネスダービージャガーX・V by ツムラ (Tumura)

the dual jaguars are instantly comparable to Jaguar Treasure

Bonanza and Tumura both liked to use large swooping text effects like this.  Not the easiest trick in the mid 1970s!



Note that these 3 companies were not known for devising original machines.  Little Harness Derby Jaguar X-V seems to be based off the design of Exciting Race, release a year earlier:

1974 Exciting Race - エキサイティング・レース by アムコ (Amco) & ダックス (Ducks)

 

a foreigners' guide to eremeka arcades - 外国人のためのエレメカアーケードゲームガイド: introduction & main page - 紹介&メインページ

eremeka search tool  // エレメカ検索ツール begin browsing at the beginning / 最初から閲覧を開始する begin browsing at 1960 / 1960年代から閲覧する begin browsing at 1970...