On this SEGA Talk, we jump way back to SEGA’s early years as an Electro-Mechanical Arcade Machine manufacturer! So plug in and take a break from screens as we take a look at ten Electro-Mechanical SEGA Arcade Machines!
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The official SEGA Youtube channel revealed the first follow-up to the UFO A La Carte arcade machine series since 2009. A video was released showcasing the UFO A La Carte 3, the newest UFO machine developed by SEGA and the first under the GiGO license. The new catcher has bubbled pull strings to pull down using a fork-like gripper, with prizes on the end or next to it. How it works is you try to line up the gripper with the string to center it and it pulls the prize string down. You might have to get it a few times in order to win the prizes, which include plushes, keychains, figures and more. The video shows a small tutorial on how to use and is very familiar with other UFO machines with the two button layout. No information for distribution or a release date has come up but you can check out the video above.
Sega is an interesting company when it comes to their origins. There are companies like Namco, Taito and Konami that started in the 60s with electromechanical games and there are those like Capcom and Square that started in the 80s with video games. Sega is different.
Sega had its roots even earlier with slots and jukeboxes in the 1940s in Hawaii, when they were known as Standard Games. Today, Sega of Japan would rather say that Sega didn’t start until it was moved to Tokyo and renamed to Service Games in 1951. However all that expertise in manufacturing slots and jukeboxes during the Standard Games days really gave Sega the boost they needed when they entered the market to manufacture their very first “Amusement Machine” in 1965, Periscope, which the company still prides itself for as it was their first worldwide commerical success.
The blue rat’s 20th Anniversary is picking up speed in Japan and Sega have released a commercial to get the ball rolling. The commercial highlights just a few of the promotions for Sonic this year, including a mention of Sonic Colours, Sega’s arcade/theme park Joyopolis (possibly holding some kind of events), Sonic plush UFO catchers and of course Sonic Generations!
Looks like Sega’s going all out for the 20th anniversary of our favourite blue Hedgehog! May it be a good one!