Game bars in Japan

A friend of mine in Osaka posted me that link :

http://continue.uijin.com/

Seems self explanatory but the fact is this place is actually in Osaka and i was wondering if the tokyoïtes here knew a place like this around Tokyo ?

If it's the case could be definitely a nice place to have fun and meet...

 

That place is awesome !

 

oh, they stole my idea! damit!

 

My friend and his fiance are building one here, locally. They've got their loans set up and are just finding a location. Will be more of an arcade with a bar than a bar with an arcade.

I think this sort of thing is a great way to bring back the arcade in the west... The bar can be profitable without relying on the actual income of the hardware. Even if it's person by person.

 

In Tokyo there are so many small bars it wouldn't be too hard for one to spring up

 

hey i think there's room for one or two more bars like this in Japan.
It's not as if japanese people don't like drink and play video games...

 

Don't these people know that drinks and video games consoles don't mix.... I'd be like "Get that f\#*|/g beer away from that Sony MSX 2+" or "The toilet is over f&%$/}g there, don't you dare throw up over the Virtual Boy or I'll make you clean it up with your tongue".

Still I was hoping for at least one Taito arcade tabletop for a table... wouldn't be that expensive to important one from the UK or America...

 

There is at least one ramen shop in Asakusa that has tabletop arcade games as tables. I saw it on an episode of Game Center CX. They're out there...

 

there are several gaming bars in Tokyo, there's one just opened up in Shibuya in fact. Each have a different atmosphere. Big fan of 16shots, mainly because of knowing a fair number of the regulars, though the place if full with 10 people.

 

who gives me some credits?

 

we should all totally open up a games bar and live together for ever of the proceedings!

oh shit, need capital ... ah well, i could sell the house, car, and child? that might get us going for a month?

Actually, in reality, it seems like it's fairly easy to set up a bar. A few friends have done it though only one in a prime location (Roppongi). Hell, the mother in law has ran businesses and restaurants so i'm sure i could ask her... if i wasn't joking about it !

 

Googl'd some on the short (all Tokyo):

http://www.gamesradar.com/f/tokyos-underground-game-bars/a-20090724103528600022

http://16shots.jp/i/
http://ameblo.jp/pitvallay/entry-10221065687.html
http://8bitcafe.net/index.html

http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/drink/tokyos-8bit-bars-gaming-under-influence-459616

http://gamebar.blog113.fc2.com/

http://www.kotaku.jp/gallery/b0003.html

If you know more, please feel free to post 'em here

 

I'm sure we would have great ideas of how the interios of such a GAME BAR should be designed.

PLUS, we have to arrange periodic competitions and celebration events for special days like system and game/character birthdays etc.
Invite game icons. Make caravan events. Prepare a shooting watch table for daily competitions. All you can Game happy hours. Win drinks at games. "Who drinks most and still can beat R-Type?"-competitions. Drunken Fighter II' etc etc etc.. the potentials are sheer endless.

 

we could have a reverse competition...

Sonic 4 pretest...
regulars cost : 1980 yen all time nomihodai
people here for the test : 54,980 yen 30 mins nomihodai

 

Went to the Game Bar "A Button" in akiba today and it was great fun. The owner is a young nice guy and his wife helps him in the bar. They both love retro games, especially everything related to PCE, what is great! The have a lot of obscure hard ware as well.

Had a lot of games, beers and talks till late night and also met some other guys which like retro gaming.

Will be back there soon for sure

 

It seems they took the Bar-Cade idea to the next level by including actual retro consoles.

I was thinking of something similar but I thought it would be too ghetto to work.

 

Yeah.. Japan may be the one and only country on mother earth, in which this idea actually works.

 

yeah i guess its orderly enough whereas if you were to have it in UK it'd get trashed

 

I think people here in the USA play so many games that I think they'd actually be turned off to the idea of playing even more video games when going to the bar. But who knows for sure.

Also they would probably get trashed like Legion said. US and UK drinkers are pretty rowdy.

 

Tatsujin, give me a shout if you fancy hooking up next time you go to Akiba.

Chances are i can't get out of the house, but once in a blue moon i might be there. Would be good to say "hi!"