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INTERESTING JAPANESE MAGAZINE #2:

e.t. PACHINKO how-to guidebook

 

sorry, but i can't read the name of the magazine. . . it's one of SEVERAL magazines (a whole little industry in fact) that ALL claim to help people win at pachinko.

there's also Batman pachinko, and gangster pachinko games. The games aren't just bouncing metal balls anymore. they ALL have a tiny video screen in the middle. the video serves 2 functions: first, it plays a sort of vegas-style video slot machine game WHILE you're playing the bouncing ball game! the 3 ETs in the center are the equivalent of a slot machine coming up 3 aces, or 3 bananas or something. BUT ALSO the video tells a story, between games. so, if you play long enough, and score enough points, you will move on to chapter 2 and eventually chapter 3 or something. i guess this is designed to keep you from switching to another machine.

here is what i don't understand about japan: if you are so obsessed with a video game that you buy magazines about video games, you're a nerd. (otaku). but if you are so obsessed with pachinko that you buy pachinko magazines (and honestly think that they'll improve your odds!) . . .you're not a nerd.

what's the difference?