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The following is a selection by Ikeda “Minorock” Minoru from the “Game Center Mikado” Nico Nico Channel. This translation is for educational and fan use only.

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“Ikeda Minorock’s Mikado Diary: AmiPara Hiroshima (Part 1)”

Hello there! This is Ikeda Minorock!

The arcade “AmiPara Hiroshima x Game Center Mikado” finally opens on August 31, 2019. Formerly common in the industry, it was an unimaginable operation. But, this arcade is said to be the most robust game center ever made. In the AmiPara Hiroshima and Game Center Mikado collaboration, each one is agreeing to strengthen one another, so they’ll cover each others’ weaknesses. I think it’s going to be the best kind of operation if that’s the case.

This gives me a chance to think about this arcade’s story ―

■ For the past several years, Akira and I have expanded our events

I’ve definitely accumulated achievements locally for music shows and gaming tournaments during the past 10 years. Back then, I didn’t really have other plans, so that was how I made a living. Recently, though, because Mikado was advertised through the media and eSports, we have been trying to speak with other companies about new plans. All that is to say: I’ve been responsible for Mikado’s leadership and the business we’ve been doing. We began our projects to stimulate different areas, produce new promotions, and more. Since our projects have usually been outside of the norm, they vary from things like movie theaters. We would always plan for the cheapest way to do things whenever we spoke about our other projects, though. With these projects, being cheap wasn’t our goal, though. We really didn’t have to orient our goals that way to leave an impression. These projects were able to garner support for us, allowed us to have live performances, and we were able to make a living that way … These were all really great for me to spend my time on. Thanks to everyone who has supported us since then!

■ The increase in available broadcasting technology

Of course, I’d heard advice like “you should be broadcasting this kind of stuff” around me. The decision to start doing broadcasts in 2018 was because our proposed “Game Center Mikado Machine Broadcasting Set” was ready to be sold in the market. We dealt with the machines’ problems, like with their security and operation, but since we do plenty of research before selling our products anyways, we didn’t have many of these problems when we implemented them. Though we still did a lot of research when we started this business, looking back, we really didn’t think we could implement the things we have established now.

■ Increasing how much the exA-Arcadia sells can grow Mikado more

We think helping the exA-Arcadia’s business could make it a big success. It’s natural that we’ll need to do that sort of thing since the exA-Arcadia doesn’t have a history it can be judged on. The developers might get stuck in a situation like, “because of our lack of history, we can’t use any kind of business contracts or negotiations to make money, and since we can’t use past negotiations to make money, development will get delayed, and we’ll lose more money.” So, they could get stuck in the same circumstances as us during our INH Company’s early days (laugh). One game, Aka & Blue Type-R, was really great, but, unfortunately, the purchasers (arcade distributors and location contacts) in many places didn’t know much about shooting games. Sometimes, there are people aware of it who think, “I see shooting game after shooting game coming out, and I’m really uncertain about them, but the older games are great.” Franchises like Super Mario and Dragon Quest are established, so their games have content that’s clear to consumers, but these consumers might not understand how cute Blue* actually is. Despite this situation, we have to try selling the exA-Arcadia.

* Character from Aka & Blue Type-R

To solve these different problems in one fell swoop, we had this idea for an arcade: the “Game Center Mikado Collaboration.”

By adding Mikado, it will reach people at local events. Other than that, the purpose of what’s called a “lively arcade” was clear. In this case, we’re aiming to raise the sales standards for new customers at Amipara Hiroshima. Of course, through customers’ texts and other kinds of communication, Mikado will market Amipara Hiroshima through Takadanobaba Mikado and even Ikebukuro Mikado.

As for broadcasts, we’ll be periodically hosting these events in this collaborative store, but we will operate them for the staff. Though, in a situation that a broadcast can be planned without us, a client’s rising sales won’t just be tied to the Mikado Collaboration corner. Besides that situation, we were the best choice to be this consultant for now. This is not just a simple broadcast, things like rapid-fire installations, button replacements, and more are also particularly related to these kinds of events.

To say it in a rougher kind of way, the Mikado Collaboration development was “increase Mikado’s rent by 0 yen” … that’s not it, I’d rather say it’s “because of our clent, we’re increasing the money Mikado makes.” Overturning opposing business has been how we’ve done business until now. That part of our duty was serious, and that work was exactly what we really needed to do. But, as these collaborative stores grow, they’ll each increase the possible reach of the exA-Arcadia. Again, the Mikado Collaboration corner was possible because a larger number of cabinets could be developed with the exA-Arcadia. With this hardware, a client can freely select a game based on what fits their local gaming community, and because of that, that client could also be at a lower risk.

… Looking back and noticing what I’m writing, paying for things around the beginning of the INH Company with business events isn’t really the same kind of situation as the exA-Arcadia, is it? (laughs) Looking back at the hardware’s origins, It’s possible to say that anything can happen with this timing.

Carefully written above was everything off the top of my head by now. At least now I’m thinking, “I was seriously able to do that!”

That was “AmiPara Hiroshima x Game Center Mikado.” Next time, since it will reflect on the opening and whatever happens afterwards a bit more, I’ll remember to share my plans.

(Continued in the next entry of “Ikeda Minorock’s Mikado Diary.”)