Original run 1978 – 1984 Directed by Tameo Ogawa Adaptations Game Center Arashi (1982) | Volumes 17 Original network NTV Genre Action fiction Publisher Shogakukan | |
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Similar Ninpen Manmaru, Arcade Gamer Fubuki, Kaibutsu‑kun, Ultra B, 430 Space Shuttle | ||
Game Center Arashi (ゲームセンターあらし, Geimu Sentā Arashi) is a Japanese manga by Mitsuru Sugaya, which ran in CoroCoro Comic from 1978 to 1984. It sold over 5 million copies and won the 1983 Shogakukan Manga Award for children's manga. The series was adapted as a popular anime television show that aired in 1982 in Japan on Mondays from 7:00pm to 7:30pm.; and in Hong Kong.
Contents
In Japanese, the word "Arashi" means "storm". In Hong Kong, the show aired under the title 電子神童, which translates to "Electronic Prodigy". The series was considered iconic in Asia, since it came at a time when the public was being exposed to video games for the first time. The manga and TV series opened the imagination and possibilities of what gaming entertainment was about, while boosting its popularity as a new phenomenon.
Story
The story is about a young boy named Arashi Ishino who is obsessed with video games. He would spend all his time trying to beat the games and conquer the local arcades. He would meet competitors like Satoru Daimonji and Ishii, who would try to out match him with higher scores. At a certain point in each episode, he would display his special skill of unleashing a top which will spin so fast that both the top and his hands would catch on fire. On release, the spin would land on or near the cabinet panels, turning the ordinary button into a turbo button thus giving him a major advantage. His appearance is known for being bucktoothed, and he always wears a hat labeled "Arashi" with a picture of a sprited alien.
Game Center Arashi was the first animation with a gamer as the lead character and have the plot revolve around life with competitive gaming. Some of the games featured in the show include Space Invaders, Breakout, Galaxian, though they were not explicitly named. Some of Arashi's gaming techniques even have special names like "Blazed Top", "Vacuum Hurricane Shot", "Fish Stance".
Characters
Additional versions and appearances
In 1999, the series spawned a PlayStation novel called Game Center Arashi R. In 2004 Microsoft Tokyo used the character of Arashi as a mascot to boost Xbox sales and image.
While the 2002 manga Arcade Gamer Fubuki reused the concept of a powerful gamer in the arcades, and also spawned a TV series of the same name, that show used entirely different characters and plots, modernizing while separating itself from the 1982 counterpart.
In 2006 the Let's TV Play Classic series of Plug and Plays used Arashi as a mascot.