Question about Japanese arcades

[sandruu]

From what I heard in Japan... people play pachinko, trade in the balls for a prize, then trade in the prize for money down the street. Right?

Well my buddy went to Japan and he informed me in an arcades they call tokens "medals". He won really big on a arcade game(not pachinko or pachislo) and it paid out tons of medals. I asked if he traded them in like pachinko balls and he said he was told he could not trade them in. So did he just win more medals for more plays on games or can you trade in medals in arcades for prizes/money like pachinko balls?

[p.opus]

From what I understand, Arcade machines are for entertainment only so there is no under the table cash exchange. The odd's on these machines are usually set lower. That is they ofgen use Yu-Pachi versions of the machine which has a higher fever frequency, (albeit smaller payout per fever), the pins are adjusted to allow more spins, or both.

The arcade machines payouts can be traded for prizes, (much like the "ticket" machines common in places like Dave and Busters here) but not for actual money.

Others may know better than I though...

[heima]

I have often wondered what would happen if you walked out of the parlor with a bucket of balls, tokens, or medals.

Would you be greeted by Yakuza friends?

[Chumsize]

I have often wondered what would happen if you walked out of the parlor with a bucket of balls, tokens, or medals.

Would you be greeted by Yakuza friends?

Don't know exactly... but they don't take any crap, from what I saw. When I was in Osaka, a dude two machines down dropped a few balls on the ground - which alerted the helpful attendants... who wanted to help, of course. While he was up, they (and I) saw he had a coin jammed in the shooter knob. Uh oh. They basically walked him out and kept the money he had in the machine. But they did give him his coin back. Very swift and professional like - but he did look a little worried as they walked him out...

[Drunkenclam]

but he did look a little worried as they walked him out...

Bye bye pinkys

[candyflip]

From what I heard in Japan... people play pachinko, trade in the balls for a prize, then trade in the prize for money down the street. Right?

Well my buddy went to Japan and he informed me in an arcades they call tokens "medals". He won really big on a arcade game(not pachinko or pachislo) and it paid out tons of medals. I asked if he traded them in like pachinko balls and he said he was told he could not trade them in. So did he just win more medals for more plays on games or can you trade in medals in arcades for prizes/money like pachinko balls?

He was in a kiddie arcade. The medals can be traded for small fluffy toys and other novelty game prizes, just like you can in an arcade here.
No money exchange is allowed.

If you try to take a pachislo medal/token or ball bucket out of a parlour, they'll stop you dead.
You RENT the balls/medals - you never own them.
You can only own the combined value they represent.

The whole standover Yakuza thing of parlours is overblown - they are owned by them, but it's not like they bother to actually set foot in their businesses (at least, not on the floor). The attendants are like all Japanese employees - firm, fair, and ridiculously polite.

[alby13]

it's funny 'cause at first you think he is in a "casino" but then you realize he was in the mc donald's play place lol not hardcore at all

[PachiPachi]

Don't know exactly... but they don't take any crap, from what I saw. When I was in Osaka, a dude two machines down dropped a few balls on the ground - which alerted the helpful attendants... who wanted to help, of course. While he was up, they (and I) saw he had a coin jammed in the shooter knob. Uh oh. They basically walked him out and kept the money he had in the machine. But they did give him his coin back. Very swift and professional like - but he did look a little worried as they walked him out...

A coin jammed in the shooter knob? That's where you jam a coin in the metal of the knob so you just hold the coin to activate the shooter? That's illegal?

When I went to Japan, long before I found out about pt, the ppl I went with did that for me. It was very nice. Put your finger on the count to start and remove it to stop the shooter. Other than damaging the machine what's the problem?

[PachiPachi]

Oh and contrary to popular belief, the parlors are NOT ran by the Yakuza anymore. They are mostly ran by Koreans, furthermore they are North Koreans. True story.

I was hesitant to believe it at first until I heard from many sources. Two of which are active in the industry.

[Chumsize]

A coin jammed in the shooter knob? That's where you jam a coin in the metal of the knob so you just hold the coin to activate the shooter? That's illegal?

When I went to Japan, long before I found out about pt, the ppl I went with did that for me. It was very nice. Put your finger on the count to start and remove it to stop the shooter. Other than damaging the machine what's the problem?

Don't think its illegal... but they say its a no-no... not allowed. They will 86 you out if they catch you. The problem isn't the activating the shooter part... its the "finding your sweet spot and locking the shooter knob at that location" that gets them. Just a cheat to improve your odds, you know...

[compirate]

More than a few people have found coins inside their shooter knobs.

[PachiPachi]

I don't think its possible to do with the v-trigger frame. I actually tried it. There's a metal band in the back that you have to touch. Unless I'm doing it wrong lol

[Chumsize]

I don't think its possible to do with the v-trigger frame. I actually tried it. There's a metal band in the back that you have to touch. Unless I'm doing it wrong lol

Like I said... the point isn't making it easy to touch the metal band easier, it's to jam the knob at the sweet spot. Thin guitar pick works on the vtrigger... cover with palm, touch metal band to shoot.

[hanabi]

More than a few people have found coins inside their shooter knobs.

and some of us have cosmetically 'chewed up' shooters where the coins have damaged them

[Drunkenclam]

and some of us have cosmetically 'chewed up' shooters where the coins have damaged them

[PachiPachi]

Like I said... the point isn't making it easy to touch the metal band easier, it's to jam the knob at the sweet spot. Thin guitar pick works on the vtrigger... cover with palm, touch metal band to shoot.

Ah got it! Now I just have to find the sweet spot...