BBC: Atlus recalls arm wrestling arcade game in Japan

Lo-Volt · (08-21-2007, 07:45 PM)

A Japanese arm wrestling game is being withdrawn from arcades across the country after three players broke their arms, company officials said. Arm Spirit, which is distributed by Atlus, is to be removed from 150 game emporiums as "a precaution". "We think that maybe some players get over-excited and twist their arms in an unnatural way," a spokesman said.

An investigation has been launched into the incidents and the machines are being checked for any malfunctions. "The machine isn't that strong, much less so than a muscular man. Even women should be able to beat it," company spokesman Ayano Sakiyama told AP news agency.

Arm Spirit gamers advance through 10 levels, pitting their strength against a French maid, a drunken martial arts master and a Chihuahua dog before reaching the final challenge - a professional wrestler. It is not available outside Japan. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6957339.stm

[A search for any previous thread on this subject failed because of a fatal error. -Lo-V.]

Tamanon · (08-21-2007, 07:46 PM)

Next time they should play it on easy.

GSG Flash · (08-21-2007, 07:47 PM)

I played that game in Saudi Arabia when I was 4 or 5 and I got my ass kicked by it.

Slayven · (08-21-2007, 08:01 PM)

150? Must have been the biggest run any Atlus game has ever had.

koam · (08-21-2007, 08:02 PM)

The game is easy, beat it a while back.

Shig · (08-21-2007, 08:09 PM)

Originally Posted by Lo-Volt:

"The machine isn't that strong, much less so than a muscular man. Even women should be able to beat it," company spokesman Ayano Sakiyama told AP news agency.

LOL, that'll make the people that got injured feel better.

SapientWolf · (08-21-2007, 08:09 PM)

I hope those guys had their arms broken by the wrestler. I don't think they could live it down if it was the french maid.

jooey · (08-21-2007, 08:10 PM)

Originally Posted by GSG Flash:

I played that game in Saudi Arabia when I was 4 or 5 and I got my ass kicked by it.

different game

Proc · (08-21-2007, 08:11 PM)

hahhahaha. Awesome story.

BuG · (08-21-2007, 08:13 PM)

@ "Even women should be able to beat it." Stupid womyn.

sprocket · (08-21-2007, 08:25 PM)

Originally Posted by Lo-Volt:

Arm Spirit gamers advance through 10 levels, pitting their strength against a French maid, a drunken martial arts master and a Chihuahua dog before reaching the final challenge - a professional wrestler. It is not available outside Japan. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6957339.stm

Most awesome game ever.

AstroLad · (08-21-2007, 08:27 PM)

Quote:

"The machine isn't that strong, much less so than a muscular man. Even women should be able to beat it," company spokesman Ayano Sakiyama told AP news agency.

Needs to be quoted and emphasized for brilliance.

BorkBork · (08-21-2007, 08:28 PM)

What a bizarre and hilarious story.

FTWer · (08-21-2007, 09:26 PM)

anyone has that Over the Top scene gif?

Jackson · (08-21-2007, 09:29 PM)

Hollywood_mIRC · (08-21-2007, 09:42 PM)

I scrolled down to the last response expected to reference to Over the Top, but it came. Now, where's my Over the Top autographed DVD at?

The M.O.B · (08-21-2007, 09:46 PM)

Any vids of this game in action?

echoshifting · (08-21-2007, 09:51 PM)

Quote:

Even women should be able to beat it

Quote:

Even women should be able to beat it

Quote:

Even women should be able to beat it

Wow.

Armitage · (08-21-2007, 09:51 PM)

Quote:

"The machine isn't that strong, much less so than a muscular man. Even women should be able to beat it,"

Japan is so progressive

Count Dookkake · (08-21-2007, 09:56 PM)

Memo to Japan: Milk, it does a body good.

Seriously, how weak must you be if a machine that can be beaten by an average woman breaks your arm?

LuCkymoON · (08-21-2007, 09:57 PM)

Originally Posted by Jackson:

LOL! Thats what I was thinking :)

AstroLad · (08-21-2007, 09:57 PM)

Originally Posted by echoshifting:

Wow.

I want to see Kutaragi say something like this about Ninja Dog mode.

shuri · (08-21-2007, 09:58 PM)

cicerone · (08-22-2007, 04:07 AM)

Interestingly, 2 of the 3 victims are not Japanese. A french guy and a korean guy.

ToxicAdam · (08-22-2007, 04:32 AM)

Didn't they have a Punch-Out game that was based on arm wrestling? Am I remembering correctly? Because that game is ooold. This must be a newer game.

ShockingAlberto · (08-22-2007, 04:43 AM)

Originally Posted by AstroLad:

I want to see Kutaragi say something like this about Ninja Dog mode.

Itagaki

knee · (08-22-2007, 04:30 PM)

Man, we used to gang up on the Arm Champs II machine as kids. It was the only way that we could beat SPECS!

AstroLad · (08-22-2007, 04:31 PM)

Originally Posted by ShockingAlberto:

Itagaki

Yeah, fuck, right. Doki doki.

Gattsu25 · (08-22-2007, 04:34 PM)

Originally Posted by Lo-Volt:

An investigation has been launched into the incidents and the machines are being checked for any malfunctions. "The machine isn't that strong, much less so than a muscular man. Even women should be able to beat it," company spokesman Ayano Sakiyama told AP news agency.

Dr. Zoidberg · (08-22-2007, 04:47 PM)

Originally Posted by Lo-Volt:

"Even women should be able to beat it,"

Heh. I wonder if this line would make it into the story of a major American paper. Not very PC.

AstroLad · (08-22-2007, 04:50 PM)

Originally Posted by Dr. Zoidberg:

Heh. I wonder if this line would make it into the story of a major American paper. Not very PC.

I know, as a corporate spokesman the guy should know better than to single out a specific group of people. Something like "Even women, small children, and the elderly should be able to beat it" would have been a lot more diplomatic but I'm sure at the time he didn't really consider how broadly disseminated the quote would be.

ParticleReality · (08-22-2007, 04:52 PM)

Originally Posted by Slayven:

150? Must have been the biggest run any Atlus game has ever had.

, That was pretty funny. Kudos to you.

Originally Posted by BuG:

@ "Even women should be able to beat it." Stupid womyn.

miguel_c_hammer · (08-22-2007, 04:53 PM)

Looks like the Sonic Blast Man team's been at it again

Tenkei · (08-22-2007, 05:03 PM)

Originally Posted by AstroLad:

I know, as a corporate spokesman the guy should know better than to single out a specific group of people. Something like "Even women, small children, and the elderly should be able to beat it" would have been a lot more diplomatic but I'm sure at the time he didn't really consider how broadly disseminated the quote would be.

Isn't Ayano a name for a woman?

AstroLad · (08-22-2007, 05:13 PM)

Originally Posted by Tenkei:

Isn't Ayano a name for a woman?

Right, that's not so bad then. Like a jewish guy making a jewish joke. Regardless though, PR people should choose their words a bit more carefully.

Count Dookkake · (08-23-2007, 05:58 PM)

Originally Posted by AstroLad:

I know, as a corporate spokesman the guy should know better than to single out a specific group of people. Something like "Even women, small children, and the elderly should be able to beat it" would have been a lot more diplomatic but I'm sure at the time he didn't really consider how broadly disseminated the quote would be.

Sexist!