Jonny
@saturnjaguar.bsky.social
I'm primarily interested in arcade history. The polygons were too sharp!!!
Within the latest batch of Coin Journal scans by @thestacks.ca, there are images of famous people we probably should've had a long time ago. Can YOU guess who they are without looking at the alts? #coinophistory #coinjournal
August 26, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Within the latest batch of Coin Journal scans by @thestacks.ca, there are images of famous people we probably should've had a long time ago. Can YOU guess who they are without looking at the alts? #coinophistory #coinjournal
Reposted by Jonny
By the way: We're still looking for more Origin of Game authors!
If you have a story about a game company's founding you want to tell, hit me up at the @gamingalexandria.bsky.social Discord. We want lots of varied views and unique research on the table!
Some upcoming will be really great too.
If you have a story about a game company's founding you want to tell, hit me up at the @gamingalexandria.bsky.social Discord. We want lots of varied views and unique research on the table!
Some upcoming will be really great too.
The second in our new series on @gamingalexandria.bsky.social - Origin of Game!
This one was written by an excellent contributor with lots of details published for the first time in English! Please give it a read.
This one was written by an excellent contributor with lots of details published for the first time in English! Please give it a read.
You love them - Tekken, Pac-Man, Mr. Driller - but do you know Namco? www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/2025/08/t... The latest in our Origin of Game series, how Namco was founded in Japan 70(!) years ago and became one of the most important video game companies! From Rocking Horses to...
August 20, 2025 at 12:12 AM
By the way: We're still looking for more Origin of Game authors!
If you have a story about a game company's founding you want to tell, hit me up at the @gamingalexandria.bsky.social Discord. We want lots of varied views and unique research on the table!
Some upcoming will be really great too.
If you have a story about a game company's founding you want to tell, hit me up at the @gamingalexandria.bsky.social Discord. We want lots of varied views and unique research on the table!
Some upcoming will be really great too.
My first ever written piece...I had a blast putting this together, and I wanted to contextualize as much of the company's early history as possible. Shout out to @playhistory.bsky.social for allowing me to write this, and for guiding me through the editing process!!! #namco #arcadehistory
You love them - Tekken, Pac-Man, Mr. Driller - but do you know Namco? www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/2025/08/t... The latest in our Origin of Game series, how Namco was founded in Japan 70(!) years ago and became one of the most important video game companies! From Rocking Horses to...
August 18, 2025 at 10:07 PM
My first ever written piece...I had a blast putting this together, and I wanted to contextualize as much of the company's early history as possible. Shout out to @playhistory.bsky.social for allowing me to write this, and for guiding me through the editing process!!! #namco #arcadehistory
Spent about the last 50 mins trying to ID as many of the devs as possible.
Front Row (L-R): Junichi Masuda, Satoshi Tajiri, Takenori Ota, Shigeki Morimoto
Back Row: ?, ?, Atsuko Nishida, Koji Nishino, Michiharu Nishihashi, Ken Sugimori, ? Motofumi Fujiwara, ?, ?
#vghistory #pokemon #gamefreak
Front Row (L-R): Junichi Masuda, Satoshi Tajiri, Takenori Ota, Shigeki Morimoto
Back Row: ?, ?, Atsuko Nishida, Koji Nishino, Michiharu Nishihashi, Ken Sugimori, ? Motofumi Fujiwara, ?, ?
#vghistory #pokemon #gamefreak
The Satoshi Tajiri interview goes into his design philosophy and has some photos from Game Freak's developer offices at the time.
June 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Spent about the last 50 mins trying to ID as many of the devs as possible.
Front Row (L-R): Junichi Masuda, Satoshi Tajiri, Takenori Ota, Shigeki Morimoto
Back Row: ?, ?, Atsuko Nishida, Koji Nishino, Michiharu Nishihashi, Ken Sugimori, ? Motofumi Fujiwara, ?, ?
#vghistory #pokemon #gamefreak
Front Row (L-R): Junichi Masuda, Satoshi Tajiri, Takenori Ota, Shigeki Morimoto
Back Row: ?, ?, Atsuko Nishida, Koji Nishino, Michiharu Nishihashi, Ken Sugimori, ? Motofumi Fujiwara, ?, ?
#vghistory #pokemon #gamefreak
@gamesack.net's video on M2 reminded me of a form of preservation that I think goes overlooked: cabinet recreations. Many of SEGA's 3DS arcade ports have an option that recreates the experience of playing on their deluxe cabinets (and in 3D too). Here are a few examples in this thread (1)
June 22, 2025 at 6:46 PM
@gamesack.net's video on M2 reminded me of a form of preservation that I think goes overlooked: cabinet recreations. Many of SEGA's 3DS arcade ports have an option that recreates the experience of playing on their deluxe cabinets (and in 3D too). Here are a few examples in this thread (1)
It's well known that Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri and artist Ken Sugimori collaborated on "Game Freak", the doujin gaming magazine from the 80s. After reflecting upon their love for video games, I now wonder if Red's design was inspired by the M.C. of Game Center Arashi? #vghistory #pokemon
June 20, 2025 at 11:21 PM
It's well known that Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri and artist Ken Sugimori collaborated on "Game Freak", the doujin gaming magazine from the 80s. After reflecting upon their love for video games, I now wonder if Red's design was inspired by the M.C. of Game Center Arashi? #vghistory #pokemon
During the developer Q&A stream for Ridge Racer's Arcade Archives release, a treasure trove of development materials and historical documents were shown off! It's truly wonderful to see all of these items well preserved after all these years. (1) #arcadehistory #coinophistory #namco
June 6, 2025 at 7:35 PM
During the developer Q&A stream for Ridge Racer's Arcade Archives release, a treasure trove of development materials and historical documents were shown off! It's truly wonderful to see all of these items well preserved after all these years. (1) #arcadehistory #coinophistory #namco
Within the flyer for the SEGA R360, there are specs which suggest that the machine is compatible with a Laserdisc player. I wonder if SEGA planned on releasing pure motion simulator content similarly to the offerings of Taito's D3bos? #arcadehistory #coinophistory #sega #taito
June 2, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Within the flyer for the SEGA R360, there are specs which suggest that the machine is compatible with a Laserdisc player. I wonder if SEGA planned on releasing pure motion simulator content similarly to the offerings of Taito's D3bos? #arcadehistory #coinophistory #sega #taito
I'm happy to report that I've partially solved the mystery behind the two clips that features Hi-Tech Land Sega Shibuya! I've managed to locate the source of one clip, while the second one was originally shared on Twitter. The latter's source is still unknown. (1) #arcadehistory #sega #segahistory
Researcher @ted90909.bsky.social and I are requesting assistance to locate the origins of two Japanese news reports that feature the historic Hi-Tech Land Sega Shibuya. These videos were shared onto social media platforms without the original context or source. (1) #arcadehistory #sega #segahistory
May 21, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I'm happy to report that I've partially solved the mystery behind the two clips that features Hi-Tech Land Sega Shibuya! I've managed to locate the source of one clip, while the second one was originally shared on Twitter. The latter's source is still unknown. (1) #arcadehistory #sega #segahistory
Reposted by Jonny
Thank you Jonny. I have extract what Ono Hiroshi said about that footage in Zekû's book, and MT it in English (to work faster). Then corrected the translation a bit to be closer to the Japanese meaning. But keep in mind that English is not my native language ;)
May 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Thank you Jonny. I have extract what Ono Hiroshi said about that footage in Zekû's book, and MT it in English (to work faster). Then corrected the translation a bit to be closer to the Japanese meaning. But keep in mind that English is not my native language ;)
FTR @ohfivepro.bsky.social filled me in on this one! This comes from the program "Atsuo Nakamura's Earth Report at 10 PM" (中村敦夫の地球発22時). According to @michelentongs.bsky.social, this footage was staged for TV post-development. Nonetheless, I hope a high-resolution version of this exists somewhere!
Dug up by Jonny at GA, this look at the development of Namco's Metro-Cross (1985) is some of the BEST behind-the-scenes I've seen from this era.
youtu.be/qoYlzQq9Eoc?...
You get pixel art, music, and even showing an incomplete build! This is rare stuff.
youtu.be/qoYlzQq9Eoc?...
You get pixel art, music, and even showing an incomplete build! This is rare stuff.
May 18, 2025 at 7:40 PM
FTR @ohfivepro.bsky.social filled me in on this one! This comes from the program "Atsuo Nakamura's Earth Report at 10 PM" (中村敦夫の地球発22時). According to @michelentongs.bsky.social, this footage was staged for TV post-development. Nonetheless, I hope a high-resolution version of this exists somewhere!
Reposted by Jonny
These have all been won, thank you from the bottom of my heart to all who donated and shared! This is the biggest win for games history we've had in my two years of scanning and it would not be possible without your support 💛
HELP WANTED: please donate so we can acquire & digitize Coin Journal issues! (月刊コインジャーナル)
We're pooling funds to purchase some of these incredibly rare magazines documenting a pivotal decade in Japan's arcade history.
any $ helps, and please share widely.
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/05/help...
We're pooling funds to purchase some of these incredibly rare magazines documenting a pivotal decade in Japan's arcade history.
any $ helps, and please share widely.
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/05/help...
May 12, 2025 at 1:36 PM
These have all been won, thank you from the bottom of my heart to all who donated and shared! This is the biggest win for games history we've had in my two years of scanning and it would not be possible without your support 💛
Reposted by Jonny
ANNOUNCEMENT: All donations are being matched at 100%!
An anonymous donor is doubling all donations, up to a total of $6000.
Our goal is to buy & digitize & share early Coin Journal (月刊コインジャーナル) issues, documenting a pivotal decade in Japan's arcade history
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/05/help...
An anonymous donor is doubling all donations, up to a total of $6000.
Our goal is to buy & digitize & share early Coin Journal (月刊コインジャーナル) issues, documenting a pivotal decade in Japan's arcade history
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/05/help...
May 11, 2025 at 2:54 AM
ANNOUNCEMENT: All donations are being matched at 100%!
An anonymous donor is doubling all donations, up to a total of $6000.
Our goal is to buy & digitize & share early Coin Journal (月刊コインジャーナル) issues, documenting a pivotal decade in Japan's arcade history
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/05/help...
An anonymous donor is doubling all donations, up to a total of $6000.
Our goal is to buy & digitize & share early Coin Journal (月刊コインジャーナル) issues, documenting a pivotal decade in Japan's arcade history
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/05/help...
If you enjoyed the mid-late 90s issues that were scanned by @detchibe.bsky.social, please consider donating to these lots. In addition to the ads, CJ issues contain headlines, essays, and profiles on numerous arcade companies. These are def worth it to understand more about the Japanese coin-op biz.
HELP WANTED: please donate so we can acquire & digitize Coin Journal issues! (月刊コインジャーナル)
We're pooling funds to purchase some of these incredibly rare magazines documenting a pivotal decade in Japan's arcade history.
any $ helps, and please share widely.
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/05/help...
We're pooling funds to purchase some of these incredibly rare magazines documenting a pivotal decade in Japan's arcade history.
any $ helps, and please share widely.
pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/05/help...
May 8, 2025 at 9:57 PM
If you enjoyed the mid-late 90s issues that were scanned by @detchibe.bsky.social, please consider donating to these lots. In addition to the ads, CJ issues contain headlines, essays, and profiles on numerous arcade companies. These are def worth it to understand more about the Japanese coin-op biz.
Reposted by Jonny
A clean video of Taito's 1993 futuristic arcade racing game VERTEXER has been uploaded to YouTube, showing a single course. The visual effects are a little eye-straining and flashy, so be warned!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P85...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P85...
【資料映像】VERTEXER "PLANET COURSE"
YouTube video by higenekodo
www.youtube.com
May 2, 2025 at 7:39 PM
A clean video of Taito's 1993 futuristic arcade racing game VERTEXER has been uploaded to YouTube, showing a single course. The visual effects are a little eye-straining and flashy, so be warned!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P85...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P85...
Following up on my SEGA taikan post from last week: Other arcade companies like Namco, Konami and Taito occasionally produced smaller upright versions of their contemporary games. #arcadehistory #coinophistory
April 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Following up on my SEGA taikan post from last week: Other arcade companies like Namco, Konami and Taito occasionally produced smaller upright versions of their contemporary games. #arcadehistory #coinophistory
I would love to try out these scaled-down versions of Sega's taikan games one day. These cabinets typically used smaller monitors, less power and had limited movement in comparison to the larger deluxe cabinets. #arcadehistory #coinophistory #sega
April 8, 2025 at 3:57 AM
I would love to try out these scaled-down versions of Sega's taikan games one day. These cabinets typically used smaller monitors, less power and had limited movement in comparison to the larger deluxe cabinets. #arcadehistory #coinophistory #sega
I particularly enjoyed Kellyn Beeck's arcade reporting! This is a must watch for early 80s arcade and personal computer footage :)
Happy National Pac-Man Day, y’all. Allow me to welcome you to The Pac-Man Zone www.13newsnow.com/mobile/artic...
Looking back at the early days of video games and home computing
13News Now revisits the early 1980s, revealing stories on gaming and the beginnings of the digital age.
www.13newsnow.com
April 4, 2025 at 3:00 AM
I particularly enjoyed Kellyn Beeck's arcade reporting! This is a must watch for early 80s arcade and personal computer footage :)
For context: Zolgear was a kit game designed to replace the "Project Dragoon" PCBs and laserdiscs in 1994. While the former has seen a console release via the 1996 Playstation port, the latter has never been released on home consoles, and it has yet to be emulated due to its complicated hardware.
March 29, 2025 at 6:58 AM
For context: Zolgear was a kit game designed to replace the "Project Dragoon" PCBs and laserdiscs in 1994. While the former has seen a console release via the 1996 Playstation port, the latter has never been released on home consoles, and it has yet to be emulated due to its complicated hardware.
Reposted by Jonny
If you have any interest in pre-video game history (going beyond retro gaming into *vintage* gaming), you should give this account a follow.
Where did Duck Hunt come from?
Today we explore the deeply fascinating history of the light gun – and the arcade game that changed the industry forever.
More than just its superb novelty, the light gun helped usher in a new epoch of the coin-op industry: The electronic age.
Today we explore the deeply fascinating history of the light gun – and the arcade game that changed the industry forever.
More than just its superb novelty, the light gun helped usher in a new epoch of the coin-op industry: The electronic age.
March 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
If you have any interest in pre-video game history (going beyond retro gaming into *vintage* gaming), you should give this account a follow.
Before making video games, Konami produced a popular series of medal games in the late 70s under the name "Piccadilly Circus." These were roulette machines where players inserted coins, placed bets, and hoped they got a good return. #arcadehistory #coinophistory #konami
March 18, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Before making video games, Konami produced a popular series of medal games in the late 70s under the name "Piccadilly Circus." These were roulette machines where players inserted coins, placed bets, and hoped they got a good return. #arcadehistory #coinophistory #konami
Within five years, Namco released 16 titles that used the System 21 hardware (not all pictured here). While most of those games were either updates or derivatives, its wildly impressive what they were able to accomplish with brand new 3D hardware. #arcadehistory #namco
February 27, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Within five years, Namco released 16 titles that used the System 21 hardware (not all pictured here). While most of those games were either updates or derivatives, its wildly impressive what they were able to accomplish with brand new 3D hardware. #arcadehistory #namco
A contender for the most unique taikan game created by SEGA is Super Monaco GP from 1989. Inside the deluxe cabinet was the "Air Drive" system which utilized compressed air to shift the driver's seat all around to the gameplay. An air compressor would also be used in Virtua Racing's deluxe cabinet.
February 20, 2025 at 2:46 AM
A contender for the most unique taikan game created by SEGA is Super Monaco GP from 1989. Inside the deluxe cabinet was the "Air Drive" system which utilized compressed air to shift the driver's seat all around to the gameplay. An air compressor would also be used in Virtua Racing's deluxe cabinet.
Sigma (maker of Japanese medal games) in 1993: Bad weather at the local derby? No problem, you and 62 other people can enjoy betting on mechanical horses within a nice warm room in our Rongo Rongo facility in Shibuya.
February 14, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Sigma (maker of Japanese medal games) in 1993: Bad weather at the local derby? No problem, you and 62 other people can enjoy betting on mechanical horses within a nice warm room in our Rongo Rongo facility in Shibuya.