Okay, well I decided to take the plunge and purchase a Japanese refurbished Pachinko machine. I say refurbished because it is very difficult, and very expensive to get new Pachinko games here in the U.S. Besides, if you get a good refurbished one, you don't really need a brand new one. If you purchase from a reputable place, they will give you a warranty on the unit anyway!

So I invested about $300, and purchased a Pachinko game called Texas Western. If you are not familiar with Pachinko, it is a Japanese game that is the rage all over Japan. There are many Pachinko parlors where folks come in to spend money and play these games. I guess you can call it a vertical type of a pinball game.

For a complete explanation of Pachinko, here is a piece written by Curt from Pachinko Slots about the derivation of the game:

"The Pinball game of Pachinko is extremely popular in Japan and can be found in many American Casinos. The term Pachinko is derived from the Japanese word pachi-pachi, translated means the clicking of small objects.

While the origins of Pachinkos are unknown, most feel their beginning came from the game "Corinth" which began in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century. Pachinkos started appearing in Japan between 1915 and 1920 and the first Pachinko Parlor was opened in the Osaka Prefecture.
The systematic placement of nails on the play board to direct the flow of the Pachinko ball is attributed to Takeichi Masamura and is still used with today's new electronic Pachinko Machines throughout the world.
Pachinko is similar to the Pinball Machine in that a steel ball is shot onto the playing surface where it bounces through a network of nails called the "Masamura Gauge". The object of the game is to have the balls enter into the winning pockets, whereby you receive free balls that is equal to machines that payout coins.

The New Electronic Pachinko Machines are outfitted with many lights and sound effects that have made this the #1 gambling machine in all of Japan! Today there are almost 20,000 Pachinko Parlors in Japan and wagering exceeds 300 million US dollars annually.

In this classic game of skill, flashing lights and sound effects are abound as the steel balls bounce through the maze of pins and spinning wheels to hit the fever mode and jackpots. When the ball lands in one of the payout pockets it activates the Slot Machine. At this point you are instantly rewarded free balls. The play board has a blemish free high luster finish, multiple levels of lights and sounds. The center of the play board is a fully functional Animated adventure! Pachinko Pinball machines have multiple spinning wheels, multiple payout pockets and a JACKPOT TRAP DOOR."

Well, there in a nutshell is a brief rundown on the game. The truth is, some people find the game highly addictive and can't put it down, while others are bored by it! Before you buy it, try it out somewhere if you can. You don't want to spend $200-$400 on this game and not want it any more.

My game, I have yet to master. I must figure out what the real story is on the game and the right way to play it. Once I do that, I will update this review immediately!

The newer games have lights, synthesized music, effects, and LCD video screens showing action on the playfield, pertaining to the game itself. Gone are the Pachinko machines with no noise and no lights! Everything is electronic, to attract the player, and to make the game more exciting!

Anyway, give me a couple of weeks and I will revise this review with full information and updates. Stay tuned for a comprehensive review and the truth asking, is it worthwhile to purchase these games or not ?

UPDATE-10/17/03:

I have now used this machine more extensively, so I am now able to give you some more detail. I believe the problem is that in the U.S. we have nothing like these machines, so the concept of the game play is rather foreign to us. The only counterpart is a standard pinball machine, which is horizontal and plays differently. In a pinball, you release the ball, hit it with flippers and have it go into various holes, hit bumpers, or up and down ramps. With Pachinko, balls are released from the top, as many as you can handle! You turn a knob to release the ball and have it hit various fixed pins. When the balls hit these pins, they bounce all over the playfield, some of which fall into various holes, slots and openings. Points are gained when the ball(s) enters these areas. It is similar to the pinball but uses multiple balls and you do not have a flipper to work with. Once the ball is released it bounces on the fixed pins, and that's it. You have no more control.

So there in a nutshell is how it plays. The question arises, would I recommend this machine? The answer is, if you like pinball, and don't mind not really controlling the play of the ball, sure, go out and buy it. If you want a game with ball control and some more action, a pinball game is for you. To be honest with you, I don't quite understand the craze in Japan over these things. Maybe I am missing something, as I said earlier, but it does not seem that addictive to me.

I will continue to play with the Pachinko machine, and report back any new developments that may help you make up your mind to purchase one or not. In the meantime, see if you can try it before you buy it!

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 300
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: Whole Family