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Arcade Mania: The Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Game Centers: The Turbo-charged World of Japan's Game Centers [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Brian Ashcraft (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Kodansha International (15 Nov 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 4770030789
  • ISBN-13: 978-4770030788
  • Product Dimensions: 18.6 x 13.2 x 1.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 46,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #1 in  Books > Computing & Internet > PC & Video Games > History & Culture
    #24 in  Books > Computing & Internet > Programming > Games
    #28 in  Books > Computing & Internet > PC & Video Games > Programming

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More About the Authors

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Brian Ashcraft
Brian Ashcraft
Jean Snow
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Product Description

Review

Intelligent, witty and informative - even if you're not an arcade lover, you'll get lost in this amazing book. --Neo magazine, November 2008

Product Description

Home of Sega, Nintendo, and Sony, Japan has a unique and powerful presence in the world of video games. Another thing that makes Japan unique in the gaming world is the prevalence of game arcades. There are 9,500 game centres in Japan with more than 445,000 game machines. Arcade Mania introduces overseas readers to the fascinating world of the Japanese gemu senta. Organised as a guided tour of a typical game centre, the book is divided into nine chapters, each of which deals with a different kind of game, starting with the UFO catchers and print club machines at the entrance and continuing through rhythm games, fighting games, shooting games, retro games, gambling games, card-based games, and only-in-Japan games. Covering classic games from Space Invaders to Street Fighter, games that are familiar to Westerners in their home console versions (Rock Band, Guitar Hero and Dance, Dance Revolution), as well as the unique, quirky games found only in Japan, Arcade Mania is crammed full of interviews with game makers and star players, and packed with facts about the history, background and characteristics of each game, all lavishly illustrated with photographs and game graphics. This book is a must-have for gamers everywhere.
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Arcade Mania: The Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Game Centers: The Turbo-charged World of Japan's Game Centers
59% buy the item featured on this page:
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Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time by Bill Loguidice Paperback 5.0 out of 5 stars (5)
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The Ultimate History of Video Games
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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:
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3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
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Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars Works on every level, 27 Dec 2008
By Gaius Baltar (Durham UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Arcade Mania: The Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Game Centers: The Turbo-charged World of Japan's Game Centers (Paperback)
The style of writing is involving in the informal house style of WIRED magazine, the structure of the book is well thought out (chapters on the different sections of a typical Japanese games arcade, a pen portrait of a notable player of each type of game, side bars on particular points of interest) and the graphics and artwork of the book are just gorgeous. I am not a gamer so I can say that it would be a mistake to think that this book's appeal is limited to that sector- anyone interested in tech or Japanese culture will find it a good buy.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars ARCADE MANIA : TOUR GUIDE NOTES FROM ONE HAPPY READER, 11 Dec 2008
By S. MCILROY "shaunomacx" (Northern Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Arcade Mania: The Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Game Centers: The Turbo-charged World of Japan's Game Centers (Paperback)
After spending the past few years following author Brian Ashcraft via his daily post work on respected gaming site Kotaku I was more than interested in picking up this, his first published book covering arcade game centers in Japan.

The book starts off with an introduction from the author that sets the tone for the rest of the book, its feels obvious that it is written by a man who has a great love of his subject matter (games) regardless of genre and design.

As you are led through the chapters from the front of the Arcade "Mania" with "UFO catchers" through to the "Games of Luck" and onto the "Dedicated Cabinets", "Shmups" and "Card Games", Brian keeps your interest firmly between the pages with his unique style of writing which feels more conversational to me rather than formal. Its more telling I think when an author writes as if from one fan to another rather than coming off as pretentious and overbearing which in this case isn't an issue in fact think of this as the ideal pocket guide to have as you walk around the Game Centers of Tokyo and Osaka. While it really covers the arcades on a broad basis it does mention some specific ones such as Taito Hey and from that it pieces together the elements of an arcade from his travels to quite a few of them for "research" which is a cool way of saying playing a few rounds, interviewing some of the key arcade players who are both currently on the scene or played competitively for a protracted period of time. The player profiles are in depth without being too invasive and add color to the world of Arcade Mania.

The visual presentation of the book is a joy to behold with Jean Snow and Brian Ashcrafts collaborative design giving the book a life of its own.
It feels what some would call "retro" but has a high level of polish and gloss to it which I guess makes it "Bashcraft Retro HD".

It just all feels like a complete package!

I'm giving this book 4/5 based purely on the fact that this is "Bashcrafts" first book and I'd like to set the bar to a certain height that Brian can definitely do better than. This is not to say the book is not great, it really is everything a book should be : engaging and informative, funny and intelligent and most of all, essential!

Once its sequel becomes available for pre-order you have guaranteed yourself one guaranteed customer!!!

Shaun Mc
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Little Gem of a Book., 10 Jan 2010
By John Carbery "www.wetalkgames.com" (Enniscorthy, Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Arcade Mania: The Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Game Centers: The Turbo-charged World of Japan's Game Centers (Paperback)
I'd wanted to read this book for quite a while, the image of Ryu on the cover was more than enough to make me want to leaf through it, and I have to say it wasnt dissapointing in the least. What makes it unique is down to the fact that its an account of Japanese arcade culture more than it is a history lesson on Game Centre's per se.

The book basically breaks down into sections each discussing a popular part of what makes up the average game centre. The author follows many top players as they go about their day and interviews some industry behemoths not only about the difference their games made to the arcade scene but what really sparks their imagination and continues their love for the game centre in general. Reading the interview with Goichi Suda as he describes the tough kids who hung around his local, and the tricks they pulled to get free games will bring back many memories to anyone who was lucky to have similar experiences when arcades were great here in the west so many moons ago.

Simply put, this is a light and breezy book which excellently describes a wonderfully light and breezy culture.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars A guide book not a history book
If your goal is to learn about arcades in general (Japanese or not) then the internet will always be the best source of information. Read more
Published 19 months ago by W. Baer

4.0 out of 5 stars good stuff
If you are a fan vidoe games and if you go nuts for all things japan, this book is for you the kotaku editor, has done a great job with this book and the layout of each page draws... Read more
Published 19 months ago by AM LANE

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