A look back at JAMMA 1986

Shaggy January 8, 2009 5

replay86GameSetWatch posted a very interesting arcade article today they call “The RePlay Files: A Trip to the 1986 JAMMA Arcade Game Show”. JAMMA is still held in Japan every year, but it’s always cool to take a look back at what it was like ‘back in the day’. 1986 would be two years after the video game market crash in the US, which crash didn’t affect Japan really due to the way the markets worked at the time. Of special interest to Sega fans, this is the show where Sega introduced OutRun to the market and as you’ll read in the article, the game caught quite a bit of attention there, which was a sign of things to come for the rest of arcades. The article we’re linking to is part I, they will be posting a second part shortly which takes a look at more of the games seen at the show which is sure to induce some kind of nostalgia for any of us who played some of these games from the late 80’s.

The info comes from the arcade trade magazine RePlay, which is still going strong today and is one of the magazines worth picking up if you’re interested in getting into the arcade business. Hit the link below for the article.

[The RePlay Files @ GameSetWatch] [Discuss on the Forum]

5 Comments »

  1. Old School J January 9, 2009 at 1:34 am - Reply

    That’s a great read and it rounds off neatly with me wanting to hear more about my all time favourite Outrun. The picture of the cabinet looks interesting as I did not come across that design whist playing the game in the UK back in the 80s. Could be for Japan only or a prototype for the show. Anyhow, look forward to reading more, thanks for the link.

  2. Editor January 9, 2009 at 1:43 am - Reply

    Oh this makes me feels old!

    I first came into the amusement scene in 1984 – remember going to the launch of OutRun in the UK that year!

    I now occasionally write for RePlay – full circle!

    Oh the cabinet was the Standard type: http://www.arcadeflyers.com/flyers_video/sega/16189802.jpg

    • Shaggy January 9, 2009 at 4:02 am - Reply

      I’d have to double check but I believe that the Outrun that we’re going to have at the new arcade place is the Standard type. For some reason the seat uses a carpet on it, I’m not sure if that’s original but it’s a little weird.

      I do wonder why they chose 1986 out of all the years they could have picked though

  3. Old School J January 9, 2009 at 2:38 pm - Reply

    Thanks for the update Editor, thought the cabinet looked like the standard type just the shape mouldings near the seat seemed a bit different.

    Hi Shaggy, I believe some of the standard type cabinets I played had carpet placed in them on the seat, not sure if this was a normal feature or an addition on the part of the operators because the player found themselves sliding about too much during the game. Think it might have been the latter.

    Loved the deluxe model and came across lots of upright and mini upright cabinets at various arcades over the years, all gone now ofcourse but am always on the lookout if I pass by one of the old seaside arcades in the UK. Nothing like a game of classic Outrun the way it was meant to be played.

  4. Bill January 10, 2009 at 3:37 pm - Reply

    Like Editor, this makes me also feel old. I came in to the industry back in 1977. Haha, I remember routing that Hollywood Heat pinball on the cover of that replay, and remember being dissapointed that it was a lower earning pinball at 225.00 a week. Now the best earning new pinball grosses 85.00 for us. My times have changed. We bought over 30 of those Outrun’s. One great game!

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