{"id":47020,"date":"2025-04-14T16:58:06","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T07:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=47020"},"modified":"2025-04-14T16:58:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T07:58:09","slug":"japan-uses-classic-arcade-games-like-space-invaders-and-vs-super-mario-bros-to-collect-donations-for-akihabara-redevelopment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/japan-uses-classic-arcade-games-like-space-invaders-and-vs-super-mario-bros-to-collect-donations-for-akihabara-redevelopment\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan uses classic arcade games like Space Invaders and VS. Super Mario Bros to collect donations for Akihabara redevelopment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Amidst huge redevelopment plans and many prolific businesses closing their shops, it wouldn\u2019t be so far-fetched to say that that Tokyo\u2019s famous Akihabara district is struggling to survive. Affectionately known as Akiba, it\u2019s become synonymous with Tokyo\u2019s computer, anime and idol geek culture. However, in recent years, it\u2019s been slowly losing its reputation as a gathering point for everything otaku. In numerous efforts to retain its old shine and bring the town back to life, the district of Akiba is doing the most Akiba thing ever \u2013 turning retro arcade games into a measure to collect donations and support the town\u2019s economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"ja\" dir=\"ltr\">JR\u79cb\u8449\u539f\u99c5\u69cb\u5185\u306b\u8a2d\u7f6e\u3055\u308c\u305f\u3001\u30d7\u30ec\u30a4\u3059\u308b\u3068\u5bc4\u4ed8\u306b\u306a\u308b\u30b2\u30fc\u30e0\u6a5f<br>\u30ab\u30c3\u30af\u30a4\u30a4\u7b50\u4f53<br>\u300c\u79cb\u8449\u539f\u5468\u8fba\u306e\u6d3b\u6027\u5316\u306b\u7e4b\u304c\u308b\u65bd\u7b56\u300d\u3063\u3066\u3069\u3093\u306a\u3093\u3084\u308d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eQa6iw7AUO\">pic.twitter.com\/eQa6iw7AUO<\/a><\/p>&mdash; \u3055\u3089\u3060\u3070\u30fc\u3080\/SaladbarM (@saladbarM) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/saladbarM\/status\/1909897191889715629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 9, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the grand opening of a new department store in Akihabara on April 7, as a next effort to support the town\u2019s growth, several arcade game machines have been placed all around the JR Akihabara station. Donning the slogan \u201cPLAY FOR THE FUTURE -AKIBA DONATION-,\u201d the concept is quite straightforward \u2013 you pay to play the games and all of the proceeds go into revitalizing the district. The machines are cleverly placed near the Akihabara station ticket gates, so you don\u2019t have to go all the way to game centers \u2013 you can play some of the most iconic retro games as soon as you step out of the train. Plus, you\u2019re helping boost Akiba\u2019s economic growth just by playing the games you love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"ja\" dir=\"ltr\">JR\u79cb\u8449\u539f\u99c5\u6539\u672d\u5185\u306eVS.\u30b9\u30fc\u30d1\u30fc\u30de\u30ea\u30aa\u30d6\u30e9\u30b6\u30fc\u30ba \u30af\u30ea\u30a2\u3057\u307e\u3057\u305f<br>\u8a18\u9332\u306f13\u520638\u79d2\u3067\u3057\u305f<br>\u5b8c\u8d70\u3057\u305f\u611f\u60f3\u3067\u3059\u304c\u3001\u4ed5\u69d8\u4e0a\u30b3\u30f3\u30c6\u30a3\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\u304c\u3067\u304d\u306a\u3044\u3088\u3046\u306b\u3055\u308c\u3066\u3044\u305f\u306e\u3067\u3001\u610f\u5916\u3068\u5927\u5909\u3067\u3057\u305f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vUPwlUSXQf\">pic.twitter.com\/vUPwlUSXQf<\/a><\/p>&mdash; \u307e\u3093\u307e\u308b (@mammaru339) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mammaru339\/status\/1910615138312581532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 11, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing that was brought to attention by Japanese X users is that there\u2019s currently no way to continue where you left off mid-game, so if you ever decide to try the games yourself, be prepared to clear them in one sitting without failing. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, three classic games are available to play: VS. Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong and Space invaders. The price for one try is 200 yen (around $1,40 USD), however cash is not supported \u2013 if you ever find yourself in Akihabara and want to play the games, make sure to bring your credit card or your Suica!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Related articles: <a href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/20231013-22302\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">With Japan\u2019s otaku haven Akihabara soon undergoing redevelopment, some fear it may lose its charm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Japan uses retro arcade games as a new measure to bring the Akihabara district back to life &#8211; you can donate to the cause just by playing. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":47027,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[17],"class_list":["post-47020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-japan-related-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Japan uses classic arcade games like Space Invaders and VS. 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