I’ve just got back from a trip to Japan, and one of the distinctive things about their culture as compared to the modern West is their still-thriving arcades. Some are all crane games and UFO catchers, some are all pachinko, slot machines, virtual horse racing, and other gambling. Some collect retro machines or have retro games on those generic white cabinets, while others have the latest popular things. Often it’s a mix of all of the above, as well as purikura, many odd rhythm games, other prize games, and even one popular among my co-travelers where you can choose designs to be printed on nail stickers. I’m going to do a little series for a bit about the different kinds of games I encountered.