1985 · Bear's · Parlour · Sports

Pachicom

Nintendo console exclusive

Pachinko-themed game released in Japan for the MSX, PC-88, Family Computer, and Famicom Disk System.

Released: 21 November 1985
Platforms: Famicom Disk System Family Computer Disk System MSX NES PC-8800 Series
Genres: Parlour Sports
Developers: Bear's
Publishers: EMI Music Japan Toshiba EMI Ltd.
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Country: Japan

About

Pachicom (パチコン, Pachikon) is a parlor video game released for multiple platforms that is themed around pachinko. It was released in 1985 exclusively to the Japanese market.

The game of pachinko is hugely popular in Japan, since it involves playing pinball with an element of slot machines mixed in along with gambling. There are four different gameplay modes to choose from (two of them assign a player with a pachinko machine while the other two allow players to choose their own machine).

Keywords

gambling
pachinko
easter egg
countdown timer

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The game is based on standard pachinko rules, replicating the experience of playing pachinko in a parlor. The game board has a layout with nails sticking out. Metal balls would either of or fall in between the holes created by the pegs in order to traverse the board. Certain compartments are added to the board.

Should a metal ball find its way to one of these compartments, the player will receive points that are similar to credits on a slot machine. Players can expect to lose that ball (and a point) if it falls below the bottom of the board (similar to falling down a bottomless pit in an action game). Initially, the player starts off with one hundred balls (points).