GameCenter CX

[Mr. Foetus]

(Not sure if this is the right section, since it could also go into "Contemporary Pop Culture" as it's a TV show. But due to its huge emphasis on video games, and the fact that it has two video games based on it, I figured this was a better spot for it)

GameCenter CX (known outside of Japan as Retro Game Master) is a show where Shinya Arino (of the comedy duo Yoiko) takes the roll of a Kacho (chief) worker at a fictional company where he has to play retro games in their entirety, only failing the challenge if he can't meet the required time limit. He's usually aided by a seasonal "AD", who helps him through certain difficult parts of the games he plays.

There are various other side-segments, the main one being where he travels around the country (and sometimes even to another country) and tries out different arcades and/or game stores. Other random segments range from Arino singing silly, viewer-submitted lyrics to game tunes, to Arino being a creeper and finding sexy scenes in games. There have also been several live-shows, in which Arino plays games in front of an audience.

This show's been going for over a decade, but I only started watching this in mid-2011, after some crappily edited episodes (with a horrible narrator) were posted on Kotaku. Wanting to see the true show, I found the proper episodes and it quickly became my favourite show of all time. That feeling I get when Arino clears a hard and tiring part of a game, or when he has to say bye to an AD who's been there for a while, or when he's kicking back enjoying a bowl of noodles while playing a game at an arcade...You just can't get that from other shows. Does anyone else like this show? Or at least know about it? If you've played Retro Game Challenge on the DS then you probably know something about it.

If you haven't seen the episodes, and if you're interested in retro video game culture (specifically in Japan), I very much urge you to watch them! You can just head over to YouTube and do a search for "GameCenter CX". Not all of the episodes are subbed, but the majority of them are. You can also acquire them by other means, like [non-translated] DVDs or certain "tools used to acquire things in a specific manner".

_{SPOILER;GAME...CENTER...CX! KACHO.......ON!!!}

[Handlebar-Orion X.]

Oh yeah I've heard of that guy. I saw his show on the Asian rush channel on my Roku box. (if you don't know what a Roku is, look it up. You'll seriously contemplate owning one.)

Asian Rush has the narrated version, but I really liked his genuine reactions It's one of the few let's play type gaming shows I'll sit through besides Game Grumps and Video Games AWESOME.

[Mr. Foetus]

Yeah, the English narrated version is terrible. The guy sounds like some horrible 1950s radio-show host ripoff. I much prefer the original Japanese narration, it actually sounds normal instead of silly. XD

It's hard for me to lump GCCX with LPs, though. Both because it's actually aired on TV, and because the show isn't completely made up of game challenges. It's filled with a huge amalgamation of stuff, all centered around retro gaming. And the emotions I get from it are on a much larger scale than the emotions I get from LPs.

Then there are random moments like this:

[Kyle]

GameCenter... CX. Kacho.... ON!

Alright. Mr. Foetus, I have to give you major props for introducing me to GameCenter CX. This show is just... the tits. I don't know how he manages to pull it off, but Arino is just so damn likable. His relentless attitude towards the more difficult games is pretty dang inspiring, too. So. Thanks for showing me this awesome show.

By the way, which AD (Abe doesn't count) is your favourite? Mine probably has to be Nakayama. That karaoke scene in Rainbow Islands cements him as the best AD for me.

[Bean]

I first found about this show from a video game wrestling stream of all things. I've seen him take on three Mega Man games, and it's insane both how shaky his gaming skills are but how unyielding he is at times.

[Mr. Foetus]

Mar 18, 2013 8:32:43 GMT -5 Kyle said:

GameCenter... CX. Kacho.... ON!

Alright. Mr. Foetus, I have to give you major props for introducing me to GameCenter CX. This show is just... the tits. I don't know how he manages to pull it off, but Arino is just so damn likable. His relentless attitude towards the more difficult games is pretty dang inspiring, too. So. Thanks for showing me this awesome show.

By the way, which AD (Abe doesn't count) is your favourite? Mine probably has to be Nakayama. That karaoke scene in Rainbow Islands cements him as the best AD for me.

Hahah, no problem. I think I'd have to go with Nakayama as well. He's super awkward (which is hilarious in itself, especially the "pin-pon" noise they played in his first episodes whenever he bowed) but he gets stuff done. And that karaoke was brilliant. XD My second favourite is probably Watanabe, since she's adorable and her and Arino doing random funny things always made me smile. Though it always annoyed me how she was constantly picked on. She didn't show annoyance on camera, but I feel like it might have been diffent off-cam.

Mar 20, 2013 6:44:14 GMT -5 Bean said:

I first found about this show from a video game wrestling stream of all things. I've seen him take on three Mega Man games, and it's insane both how shaky his gaming skills are but how unyielding he is at times.

He's so bad at certain kinds of games (puzzlers not included XD), but he's so determined to get the ending. It's so damn inspirational.

[Mr. Foetus]

Auuugh. I want to play Arino's Challenge so much. But I don't have a DS. T___T There's also an Arcade cabinet with an Asteroids-style game on it where Arino makes all the sound effects. So awesome. Think it's only in Japan, though.

[Kyle]

Mar 20, 2013 9:51:09 GMT -5 Mr. Foetus said:

My second favourite is probably Watanabe, since she's adorable and her and Arino doing random funny things always made me smile. Though it always annoyed me how she was constantly picked on. She didn't show annoyance on camera, but I feel like it might have been different off-cam.

Watanabe? You don't mean... MAJIN BUU?!

All joking aside, I can see your point. Though, I'd say that any of Arino's comments are in good-spirit, given his status as a comedian. Besides. He does have a habit of acting... like Arino towards all of the ADs, y'know.

[Bean]

I know it's been awhile since a post was put here, but I've finally found a genre he's pretty good at, and that's the golfing games. He pretty much steamrolled through both Kirby's Dream Course and this Battle Golfer Yui game. I think my least favorite episode that I've been able to watch was Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures. A friend and I thought he was fighting the final boss wrong, but no, it was actually meant to be that tedious.

[ravenf6]

I think my favorite one has to be Ghouls 'n Ghosts- a lot of the reactions were pretty good:

"Yay, the goal.-OOOOOAAAAAAHHH....!!!!!" *his reaction to seeing the lv.1 boss, Shielder

Outside seeing Arino bumble his way through the games, I like how they check out various arcades/ gamecenters and take a look at some old consoles and games, from time to time.

For the most part, I'm seeing this series via youtube, though it's getting tricky to find some of the better ones. last I heard, ep. 178 is currently being fansubbed, and that one, I believe, covers Mega Man X. 

[Kyle]

May 5, 2014 9:42:00 GMT -5 Bean said:

I know it's been awhile since a post was put here, but...

Don't sweat it. GameCenter CX is still relevant in today's world, and definitely a good candidate for a thread-revival.

I also enjoy rewatching his Castlevania playthroughs. Of course it has to be Arino, of all freakin' people that finds the obscure tricks of avoiding most of Dracula's attacks in Castlevania III, like crouching to avoid the mouth-goo. 

[ravenf6]

I remember that one being a failure, despite that trick. Dracula's 'statue' form took him by surprise. Though such things pale when compared to his most hated enemies- birds and dragons.