Japanese arcade companies scale back operations, donate funds for earthquake relief

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While this certainly isn’t the most important story to be coming out of Japan right now, as we are covering arcade gaming this will apply. While the headquarters of the various Japanese arcade manufacturers were not located in the areas where most of the damage occurred due to the tsunami’s, the other issues caused by earthquake damage, are having a ripple effect on industry there. Sega Sammy has issued a statement (which can be found below the break) about their short-term plans, which starts off first by looking into human causalities, suspending operations are their arcade centers  in eastern Japan and shortening the hours of stores in other areas of the country which are being affected by rolling blackouts. This also could affect game development and sales but it isn’t clear yet how that will pan out at the moment as everyone takes care of the most pressing matters first.

The story is the same for other companies as well, as Namco, Taito and others have announced similar measures as they try to cope with the situation. Japanese amusement game news site AM-Net has many stories tracking the situation and particularly how companies there are coping. Various companies are also pledging financial support to the relief efforts – Bandai Namco will donate 100 million yen; Square Enix (which Taito is a part of) is donating 100 million yen;  and Sega Sammy will donate 200 million yen, which is all a helpful piece of the many donation drives taking place all over the world. I truly hope that the situation there will improve as quickly as possible but it’s certain that for many people affect by this terrible set of events, their lives will never be the same again.

UPDATE: Thanks to oga_gicho via Twitter is a link showing one arcade that was destroyed by tsunami. A couple of pics below, the rest can be found here. The feeling I get with any pics of the destruction there is after efforts to find survivors has passed, where do you start the clean up from there?

(Translation)
March 15, 2011
Dear Sirs,
Name of Company: SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS INC.
Name of Representative: Hajime Satomi,
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
(Code No. 6460, Tokyo Stock Exchange 1st Section)
Further Inquiry: Koichiro Ueda,
General Manager of Group
Executive Office and Group
Communications Office
(TEL: 03-6215-9955)
Notice Regarding the Impact of the Earthquake in the Pacific Coast of the Tohoku Region

SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS INC. (the “Company”) extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to all
those who have suffered as a result of the Earthquake in the Pacific Coast of the Tohoku Region which occurred
on March 11, 2011.

Notice is hereby given of the impact of the earthquake on the Company’s Group, as described below.

1. Concerning damage and response

(1) Human casualties
We are currently collecting information and investigating the conditions of possible human casualties.

(2) Amusement center conditions
Regarding the amusement centers operated by the Group, amusement centers in East Japan will suspend
operations for confirmation of safety and other reasons.

In addition, the resumption of operation has not been decided yet, but the operating hours of the
amusement centers in the jurisdiction of Tohoku Electric Power and Tokyo Electric Power will be
shortened for the time being after the resumption as a response to the shortage of supply of electricity,.
For amusement centers in areas where rolling blackouts are to be conducted, operating hours will be
shortened or operations will be temporarily suspended, according to the impact of blackouts.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

2. Concerning impact on business results

The Company is currently investigating the impact caused by this earthquake and will promptly disclose
any information in the event any matters of significant impact are confirmed.

– END –