What is Pachinko?

[MYX]

My wife says that she really enjoyed it when she played it. I went on line to look at it and it is like pinball but as I see it no interaction from you. So what is the point?

[albybum]

"Pachinko (パチンコ) is a device used for gambling and is related to pinball machines. Although originally strictly mechanical, modern pachinko machines are a cross between a pinball machine and a video slot machine. It is said to have been invented sometime after World War II in Nagoya, though the date is sometimes questioned. They are widespread in Japan in establishments called "pachinko parlors", which also often feature a small number of slot machines.

The player purchases a large number of small steel balls which are inserted, in bulk, into the machine. Originally, machines had a spring-loaded lever for shooting the balls, but modern machines use a round "throttle" that merely controls how quickly an electrically fired plunger shoots the balls onto the playfield. The balls then drop through an array of pins, and usually simply fall through to the bottom, but occasionally fall into certain gates which make the machine pay out more balls.

Most current machines include a slot-machine (these are called "pachi-slo"), and the big winnings are ultimately paid not from the balls falling into gates, but from the slot machine matches that follow. In fact, many modern machines do not use the balls at all to determine winnings; they are based strictly on electronic random number generators.
"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachinko

[deadkenndys1105]

I have play them be for. They are very fun to play. In japan the parlors are so loud there said to be louder than a 7-40-7 taking off. I have been trying to get the one of my uncle that he got when he was in japan.

[Xiaou2]

 You launch balls upward from the bottom of the feild.. much like launching a pinball from the plunger.   The old ones, are spring based, like plungers,  so you can vary the power used.   The new ones you just vary the power used with a knob that controls the auto ball launcher.

 WHen the ball reaches the top,   it falls thru a bunch of Nails.   The goal, is to get the balls into the target holes.   These sometimes open up with a wider opening, sort like a flower that blooms  (two side fins raise and lower). 

 The skill, is trying to vary the power so that you get close to the areas where the targets are.   Of course, theres much luck involved, because you cant control the feild.   The pins alter the path of the balls as they pass thru and bounce off them.

 The  gamble aspect...

 In the parlors,  you Buy a set of Pachinko Balls.   You are gambling these - much like chips at a casino.   You insert the balls into the machines input area.    If you score well, you will Win more balls than you put in. 

 Since gambling is illegal in many of these countries... they get arround this law,  by a special setup,  in which they either offer a set of prizes,  or a special prize in which is worthless... however,  you then take that worthless prize to a nearby underground shop... and they give you cash for that prize.

 As a game, its not really all that deep, and so youd probably get board of it very quickly.   At least, thats been said by some pinball collectors who have bought them.

 I would imagine that the old fashion spring versions may be a little more fun than the automatic launchers.   But who knows.

 The prices they go for can be arround 150 to 300+.    At 300$,  its a quarter worth twords an "OK"  pinball machine, which would be much more worth saving for Imop.

  The old  fashion ones are purely mechanical I believe.  They only have one jackpot light that lights if you hit it.   I think there are kits that you can buy to rewire them for  your power output.

 The new ones usually are sold by people who have already converted them over to use the usa type of power input...   though, its always a good idea to make sure just in case.

 The Themes of the new ones seem to be very Adult in nature : )   heh

 There are a few pachinko simulators arround.  Some in  visual pinball.. and a few games in mame.   Try these first to get an idea what they play like before deciding to purchase.

[kenmelk]

I have 6 pachinko machines, they are very attractive, and have a very cool sound to them as the balls drop down the play feild.  One major advantage is that they are wall mountable and only are about 8" thick, i have the older style machines as i do not like the new electric style ones.  If anyone here has any for sale, i am interested and i am looking for pachinko balls, they are NOT just steel bearings, they have the name of the pachinko parloe inscribed on them, kinda like a vegas chip...

[Ken Layton]

Visit www.pachitalk.com for more information.

[ArtMAME]

Hey, check it out.  A Pachinko machine on craigslist...pretty interesting.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/clt/139837443.html

[Lilwolf]

You could always get her to play Pachinko Sexy Reaction (sxyreact)