IGT Now Makes Pachislo Slots.

[Joeylc]

A History of Pachisuro Slot Machines

In 1925, a Japanese company created its own version of a European candy vending machine, and it became popular among Japanese children. In Osaka, Japan, the candy machine was modified for amusement games, not for gambling, and the new Pachinko device enjoyed popularity especially in Nagoya and Kanazawa.

A Pachinko machine is a Japanese gambling device similar to an American pinball machine except that a Pachinko is upright and launches metal balls vertically into a big circle in the center of the machine. Pachinkos also have nails placed on the play board so the ball will land in different places. The goal is to get the metal balls to land in one of the winning pockets, which will make the machine pay out more metal balls so the player can keep playing. In Japan, the balls are equal in number to the machines that pay out coins.


All new Pachinko machines feature a variety of lights and sounds. Many Pachinko machines have LCD screens or bonus reels that will trigger bonus screens when certain play criteria are met.

In 1965, Pachisuro slot machines were introduced to the Japanese market. They differ from U.S. slot machines in that they do not have a handle that activates the game. Instead, they feature a small pull lever that looks like an arcade joystick and is located on the front of the machine. The player activates the lever to spin the reels. Pachisuro machines also feature skill stop reels, three small buttons on the front of the machine that allow the player to stop each reel.

There are currently about 16,000 halls (casinos) throughout Japan. Although some halls have only Pachinko or only Pachisuro machines, most of the halls operate both types of machines. There are about 1,800,000 Pachisuro machines installed nationwide, with an estimated 50 percent turnover every year. About 3,500,000 Pachinko machines are installed throughout Japan.

IGT Japan became a member of the Nichidenkyo Pachisuro Manufacturers Association in 1992. In 2004, IGT Japan entered into an agreement with Sega Sammy Holdings, Inc., the largest Japanese Pachisuro manufacturer, for the support of IGT Japan's development and manufacturing. In the past two years, IGT Japan sold approximately 19,000 units of its Nobunaga™ and 30,000 units of The Terminator® themed product.

Your new IGT'S 

IGT's The Terminator® Pachisuro Machine

[Joeylc]

Have a look at this link http://www.igt.co.jp/slot2007.htm

THIS AINT YOUR GRANDADS CAR SLOT MACHINES!!!!

[Brianzz]

how disappointing...

[jay]

There are a lot more Pachinkos and Paschilos on the market than there are other machines. Japan law dictates that a machine may only be used for 2 years before it must be removed. Japanese appartments and houses are limited on space so not many of these machines make it into the domestic market. Japanese also like "new" things and unlike the NorthAmerican market homes and appartments devaluate with time and not inflate. Being the orginal consumer market even things like clothing does not get rotated for the season but discarded and new purchased. This culture does promote the purchase of "used" gaming devices as a result most of them are put into containers and shipped to North America.

Japan also regulates its gaming industry and prohibits gambling. The first indication of this is the term "metals" are used rather than coins. At a Pachi parlor you would exchange cash for either pachislo tokens or pachinko balls. Some of the higher end establishments also have "play fees" which are the equivelent of a entry fee.  Gaming wins are strictly limited to 5x the bet. So with 3 "metals" played the maxium payout is 15. Pachislos get around this by going into bonus rounds, where you do have to play 3 coins, the wheels spin but you are guarenteed to win 15. These are either timed or a set number of spins. In Pachinko these are called Fever rounds and as you shoot the balls up a certain number are guarenteed to come out.

Because you are not "gambling" you can only trade in your won metals for prizes, such as stuffed bears, lava lamps etc. Much like the arcades do here with the tickets. You will usually find that right next door to the Pachi Parlor there is a "prize redemption center" in which they will purchase your prize and give you cash. Again by law these are never related to the Pachi Parlor owner. To build loyalty to a particular parlor or branded-chain of parlors many will have a frequent redeemers card and as your status rises you will get more cash for your 7th redemtion. Subsequently you will find a black market for stuffed bears (or other prizes), where they will give you nominally more than what you would get as a first time redeemer and the guy who does the redeeming then gains in status making more on the spread.

Personally I find Pachislo slots a lot of fun as they are more interactive than our traditional slot and do involve a bit of skill. Of course at my advanced age my reflexes are not what they used to be - or so my 14 year old son likes to remind me of as he is kicking my boot around the field in an online match of Call-of-duty-5. So I always feel that I could have done better. As noted these machines are geared to have a 2 year life so don't expect things like Coin-Compariors, you get very unsophisticated coin-mechs, plastic parts and the game you got is the game you get as there is no point of a game kit.

[StatFreak]

All good points Jay.

I have said many times that these machines should not be compared to American slot machines. Their design, intent, and even their expected life cycle are completely different. But they are fun machines to play. Even with plastic parts they will last for years in a private home if properly taken care of. Just enjoy them for what they are and don't bash them for what they are not.

If it's the Nevada-style slot experience you are after, then buy an American slot. If you want the Japanese experience, then buy a Pachislo or a Pachinko. Don't go to a Sushi restaurant and complain because their hamburgers suck! And for that matter, don't go to a good hamburger joint and complain because they don't even know what Sushi is! That's my opinion, anyway.