Pachinko

A pachinko machine resembles a vertical pinball machine, but is different from Western pinball in severalways. It uses small ( diameter) steelballs, which the owner (usually a "pachinko parlor", featuring many individual games in rows) rents to the player, while pinball games use a larger, captive ball. The player loads one or more balls into the machine, then presses and releases a spring-loaded handle, which is attached to a padded hammer inside the machine, launching the ball(s) into a metal track. The track guides the ball over the top of the playingfield; then when it loses momentum, it falls into the playingfield. The playing field is populated by numerous brasspins, several smallcups into which the player hopes the ball will fall (each catcher is barely the width of the ball), and a hole at the bottom into which the ball falls if it does not enter a catcher. The ball bounces from pin to pin, both slowing its descent and deflecting it laterally across the field. A ball that enters a catcher triggers a payout, in which a number of balls are dropped into a tray at the front of the machine. The game's object is to win as many balls as possible, which can be exchanged for prizes. Pachinko machines were originally strictly mechanical, but have since incorporated extensive electronics, becoming similar to videoslot machines. Another type of machine often found in pachinko parlors, called a "pachislot", does not involve steelballs, but are loadedwith tokens or coins and comparable to those of a traditional . Online casinos also offer "pachislot" games to tailor their product to the Japanesemarket. == History ==

Pachinko machines were first built during the 1920s as a children'stoy called the , based on and named after the American "Corinthian bagatelle". It emerged as an adult pastime in around1930, and spread from there. All of Japan's pachinko parlors were closed down during World WarII but in the late1940s. Pachinko has remained popular since; the first commercial parlor was opened in in1948. An estimated 80 percent of pachinko parlors in Japan are owned by ethnic Koreans. In2001, British company bought a stake in Tokyo Plaza|, which was running almost 20parlors in Japan, and had also looked into opening parlors in the UnitedKingdom. Until the 1980s, pachinko machines were mechanical devices, using bells to indicate different states of the machine. Electricity was used only to flash lights and to indicate problems, such as a machine emptied of its balls. Balls were launched using a flipper; their speed was controlled by pulling the flipper down to different levels. Manufacturers in this period included and SANKYO|; most of these machines available on online auction sites today date to the1970s. After that time, pachinko machines incorporated more electronic features, thus requiring electricity for operation. File:Early Pinball.jpg|, SouthernGermany/Alsace File:Masamura Gauge All 15.jpg|A pre-war pachinko machine File:Mechanical sankyo pachinko machine.jpg|A SANKYO| mechanical pachinko machine from the1970s File:Pachinko machine, Tokyo (screen blurred).jpg|A modern, electronic pachinko machine in a parlor == Mechanisms ==

, , Japan To play pachinko, players get a number of metal balls by inserting cash or cards directly into the machine they want to use. They then shoot the balls into the machine. Older pachinko machines use a spring-loaded lever for shooting balls individually; while later ones use a round knob, controlling the strength of a mechanically fired plunger that shoots the balls. The balls fall vertically through an array of pins, levers, cups, trapsand obstacles until they enter a payoff target or reach the bottom of the playfield. The player has a chance to get more balls if a launched ball lands in one of certain places as it falls. More balls allow the player to remain in the game longer, creating a larger chance to win. Newer "pachislot" machines have a digital slot machine display on a large screen, where the objective is to get three numbers or symbols in a row for a jackpot. Every ball that goes into the center gate results in one spin, but there is a limit on the number of spins at onetime because of the possibility of balls passing through the centergate while a spin is still in progress. Each spin pays out a small number of balls, but the objective is to hit the jackpot. Design Pachinko machines vary in several aspects—including decorative mechanics, sound, gimmicks, modes, and gates. The playing field is usually a wooden board with a transparent acrylic overlay containing artwork. Most modern machines have an LCDscreen over the main start pocket. The game is played by keeping the stream of balls to the left of the screen, but many models have their optimized ballstream. Vintage machines vary in pocket location and strategy, with most having a specific center area containing winpockets. Payout mode If the first two numbers, letters, or symbols of the spin match up, the digital program will display many animations before the third reel stops spinning, to give the player an added excitement. This is called a "reach" (or ) and sometimes longer animations are played, called "superreaches". Pachinko machines offer different odds in hitting a jackpot; if the player manages to obtain a jackpot, the machine will enter into "payoutmode". The payout mode lasts for a number of rounds. During each round, amidst more animations and movies playing on the center screen, a large payoutgate opens up at the bottom of the machine layout and the player must try to shoot balls into it. Each ball that successfully enters into this gate results in many balls being dropped into a separate tray at the bottom of the machine, which can then be placed into a ballbucket. Hidden modes, hints, and instant wins To enhance gameplay, modern machines have integrated several aspects not possible in vintage machines. A common one is the ability to switch between different playmodes, including rare and hidden modes that can differ significantly from normalplay. Twoexamples can be seen in the NeonGenesis Evangelion series of pachinko machines, which include "MissionMode" and "BerserkerMode", ranging from having little effect on winning to being an almost-guaranteed win. Graphics in videos and light patterns can also give players a general idea of what these winningodds are. For example, a "superreach" may cause a change in animation, or show an introductory animation or picture. This adds excitement, with some changes having much more significance than others in terms of odds of winning on a given spin. Some machines feature instant wins. There are also second-chancewins, where a spin that appears to have lost, or to have a verylow winning chance, gives the player three matching numbers and starts "fevermode". Post-payout systems After the payout mode has ended, the pachinko machine may do oneof two things. Most pachinko machines employ the system (short for ), where some percentage of the possible jackpots on the digital slotmachine result in the odds of hitting the next jackpot multiplying by a large amount, followed by another spin regardless of the outcome. The probability of a occurring is determined by a random number generator. Hence, under this system, it is possible for a player to get a string of consecutive jackpots after the first one, commonly referred to as "fevermode". Another type of system is a "specialtime" or "ST"'. With these machines, every jackpot earned results in a ', but in order to earn a payout beyond the first jackpot, the player must hit a certain set of odds within a given number of spins. When a jackpot does not result in a combination, the pachinko machine will enter into (short for ) mode, with a much larger number of spins than '. Under the original payoutodds, the centergate widens to make it considerably easier for balls to fall into it; this system is also present in '. To compensate for the increase in the number of spins, the digital slotmachine reveals the outcome of each spin sooner. STpachinko machines do not offer this mode; after it ends, the machine spins as in ''''. Once no more jackpots have been made, the pachinko machine reverts to its original setting. Koatari Starting in 2007, the majority of Japanese pachinko machines started to include into their payout systems. is shorter than the normal jackpot and during payoutmode the payoutgate opens for a shorttime only, even if no balls go into it. The timing of the opening of the gates is unpredictable, effectively making it a jackpot where the player receives no payout. jackpots can result in a as per normal operation, depending on the payout scheme of the machine in question. The main purpose of is so that pachinko manufacturers can offer payout schemes that appear to be largely favorable to customers, without losing any profit. In addition to being able to offer higher percentages, this made it possible for manufacturers to design machines. Unlike pachinko machines that offer a fullpayout or a for any type of jackpot earned, these machines require players to hit a jackpot with a certain probability in order to get a fullpayout. This is orchestrated by the player entering into "battle", where the player, in accordance with the item that the machine is based on, must "defeat" a certain enemy or foe in order to earn another ''''. If the player loses, it means that a normal has been hit and the machine enters into mode. Another reason for incorporating every is that they have made it possible for a machine to go into mode without the player's knowledge. This is referred to as because it does not occur in any of the jackpot modes. A player sitting at a used pachinko machine offering the chance of hitting a jackpot in normalmode can hit it within xspins easily because the previous player did not realize that the machine was in '. This induces players to keep playing their machines, even though they may still be in normalmode. Japanese pachinko players have not shown significant signs of protest in response to the incorporation of '; on the contrary, pachinko machines have become a major part of most parlors. == Prizes ==

Winnings take the form of additional balls, which players may either use to keep playing or exchange for prizes (). When players wish to exchange their winnings, they must call a parlor staff member by using a callbutton located at the top of their station. The staff member will then carry the player's balls to an automated counter to see how many balls they have. Besides the special prizes, prizes may be as simple as , pens or cigarette lighters, or as complicated as electronics, bicycles and other items. Under Japaneselaw, cash cannot be paid out directly for pachinko balls, but there is usually a small establishment located nearby, separate from the gameparlor but sometimes in a separate unit as part of the same building, where players may sell special prizes for cash. This is tolerated by the police because the pachinko parlors that pay out goods and special prizes are nominally independent from the shops that buy back the special prizes. Some pachinko parlors may even give out vouchers for groceries at a nearby supermarket. The yakuza (organized crime) were formerly often involved in prize exchange, but a greatdeal of police effort beginning in the1960s and ramping up in the1990s has largely done away with their influence. The "three-shop system" is a system employed by pachinko parlors to exchange for (prizes), usually with items such as cigarette lighters or . These items are carried to a nearby shop and exchanged for cash as a way of circumventing gambling laws. == Recreational pachinko ==

Many arcades in Japan feature pachinko models from different times. They offer more playing time for the same amount of money, and have balls that can be exchanged only for gametokens to play other games in the establishment. As many of these arcades are and gambling is removed, they are popular venues for casual players, newcomers, children, and those wanting to play in a more relaxed atmosphere. In such arcades, thrifty gamblers may spend a small amount on a newly released pachinko model to get a feel for the machine before going to a realparlor. These machines can also be found in many stores, where they payout capsules containing a prize coupon or store credit. == Regulations ==

Smoking Smoking is allowed in pachinko parlors, although there are discussions in Japan to extend public to them. Crime Gambling is illegal in Japan, but pachinko is regarded as an exception and treated as an amusement activity. Although awarding direct money prizes for it is illegal, parlors may reward players with tokens which can then be sold for cash at nearby exchange centers. With growing public and political pressure in recent years, since passage of Japan's blanket in the1990s, police are more active in regulating parlors. Ball designs It is forbidden for pachinko balls to be removed from a parlor to be used elsewhere. To help prevent this, many parlors have a design or name engraved on each of their balls, inspiring some people to collect pachinkoballs with various designs. == Addiction ==

A 2014 study showed that pathological gambling among Japanese adults was 9.04% inmen and 1.6% inwomen, higher than the NorthAmerican prevalence of 1.6%, particularly for men. In1999, 29% ofplayers thought of themselves as addicted and needing treatment. Another30% said they exceeded their budgets and borrowed money to play. == Franchising ==

A number of media franchises, mainly the media mix—including Japanesefilm, anime, manga, television and video game franchises—have generated significant revenue from sales of licensed pachinko and pachislot machines to pachinko parlors and amusement arcades. SegaSammy Holdings and Konami are two major license holders for most mediamix pachinko machines. Some original pachinko games were adapted into anime: examples include , BattleGirls: TimeParadox!, Rio: Rainbow Gate!|, and Yoshimune (TV series)|. == See also ==