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Comment by danans | Hacker News Reader

As an aside, I had no idea Sega were still making "old fashioned" mechanical games, which is how they started with slot machines and jukeboxes in the 1940s. I thought they had long since become a mobile game and IP licensing company (i.e. Sonic the Hedgehog)

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Sega also runs Sega-branded arcades in Japan. They even have virtual horse-racing games where the patrons can game real money and watch the "races" on a huge screen. Actual video games are about 50% of all the machines in there, the rest is all gambling-related, like electronic versions of slot machines and also the ubiquitous rigged "UFO-Catcher" games (where you move an arm to grab a prize).

But here's the thing: Once you step into an arcade in Japan, it's absolutely obvious that you've entered a shady business run by shady people (so in Japan - the Yakuza). It's a dark, smoke-filled room with no windows, and always in the shadier parts of the city next to massage parlours and hooker bars.

There were some shady arcades in over a decade ago, but now usually not shady (unless you choose shady area like where massage parlours and hooker bars exists, arcades are ubiquitous). Every young people visit there to play games, get items, and shot photos.

Are you familiar with the Yakuza series, Persona series, or Puyo Puyo series of video games (among many others)?

Sega is one of the top publishers of video games in the world.

In 2020, they were ranked #1 publisher by metacritic based on average game score:

https://www.metacritic.com/feature/2021-game-publisher-ranki...

They were also #1 in 2016, and are usually in the top 5.

It's a running meme on social media that despite Sega's success as a publisher, many people only know them for Sonic the Hedgehog :)

I'm not familiar with those games. My personal Sega saga began in the 80s with the Master System, and ended with the Genesis and Game Gear (which I still own!), and which I credit with sparking my original interest in computing technology.

I did of course play plenty of Sega arcade games, but I didn't know until much later that they started out supplying coin-op slot machines and amusements to military bases in the 1940s and 1950s.

It seems like the company went through 3 or 4 lifespans before they entered my awareness in the 80s.

I was curious about what else they make, looks like their parent conglomerate still does make gaming machines.

I think I've probably played some of these in the US... https://www.segasammycreation.com/en/cabinets?office=usa

Sega makes all sorts of arcade games, not just PC and console compatible ones but those ones at arcades (or barcades, bowling alleys, etc.) where you sit on a plastic motorbike or fake skis or rumbling carseats with steering wheels, those are usually Sega.

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