Difference between revisions of "Roppongi GiGO"

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{{sub-stub}}'''{{PAGENAME}}''' (六本木GiGO), is a former Japanese game center jointly developed by [[Sega]] and Ibis, which owned the hotel it was situated in{{magref|famitsu|199|10}}. It was an adults-only game center housed on the fourth floor. Customers had to be 18 years of age to enter, and 20 to access the casino area.
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'''{{PAGENAME}}''' (六本木GiGO) is a former [[GiGO]] venue jointly developed by [[Sega]] and [[wikipedia:Ibis (hotel)|Ibis]], which owned the hotel it was situated in.{{magref|famitsu|199|10}} Located in Roppongi, a district of Tokyo noted for its nightlife, the venue was at one stage the largest urban amusement facility in Japan,{{magref|gamemachinejp|437|11}} initially creating positive results. Sega are thought to have dropped involvement with the center in the late 1990s.
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==History==
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Inaugurated with a press event on September 10{{magref|gamemachinejp|437|2}} and opened with the aim of becoming a fixture of Roppongi's adult nightlife, Roppongi GiGO was the first [[GiGO]] center{{magref|segamagjp|7|36}} and the largest urban amusement facility in Japan up to that point in time.{{magref|gamemachinejp|437|11}} Its public opening the following week represented one of Sega's first steps in establishing large scale entertainment centres in prime inner-city locations; the facility's large size, elaborate décor, and themed zones{{intref|Press release: 1994-02-07:Shisetsu-nai inshoku tenpo shirīzu `aisu biru'(Tōkyō Roppongi) hoteru goraku inshoku zōn}} significantly outclassed the [[Hi-Tech Land Sega]] and newer [[Sega World]] locations opened previously in the country.
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For a time, GiGO maintained a high-profile status and popularity among the clientele of Roppongi,{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210226035808/https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/trn/pickup/15/1008498/102200986/}} generating front-page coverage from [[wikipedia:The Asahi Shimbun|The Asahi Shimbun]] newspaper and strengthening the view of video amusements as a healthy, social form of entertainment;{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210507020538/https://blog.goo.ne.jp/lemon6868/e/c05a21f4c655a617cf9ce433e0651744}} women regularly accounted for about half of the facility's customer base.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210507020538/https://blog.goo.ne.jp/lemon6868/e/c05a21f4c655a617cf9ce433e0651744}} Celebrities made appearances at the venue, both locally, as a result of its close proximity to [[wikipedia:TV Asahi|TV Asahi]]'s studios, and from around the world - [[Michael Jackson]] visited the site in December 1992,{{ref|https://mdshock.com/2020/12/08/michael-jackson-visits-sega-in-japan-december-1992/}} alongside other notable figures including [[wikipedia:Megumi Hayashibara|Megumi Hayashibara]]{{magref|bemega|1994-05|63}} and [[wikipedia:Christian Fittipaldi|Christian Fittipaldi]].{{fileref|Roppongi_GiGO_Christian_Fittipaldi.mp4}}
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In the months following its opening, it became the debut location of the four-player ''[[Virtua Formula]]'' model,{{magref|gamemachinejp|448|14}} as well as a site for numerous events.{{fileref|Roppongi_GiGO_FV_1995.mp4}} Roppongi GiGO is thought to have lost Sega's involvement sometime after the late 1990s. It continued to operate as a game center in a downsized capacity under the name of Roppongi Vortex,{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20010426214157/http://www.st.rim.or.jp/~k-nishi/tgm/roppongi.html}} later closing permanently at the end of 2013.{{ref|http://throwbackjapan.blogspot.com/2014/03/arcade-vortex-roppongi-tokyo.html}}
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==Layout==
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[[File:Roppongi_GiGO_Interior.jpg|thumb|250px]]
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Establishing an organised concept also seen in subsequent GiGO locations, each of Roppongi GiGO's four floors were devoted to specific machines and attractions - the first floor featured video games, including deluxe ''[[Virtua Racing]]'' and [[R360]] units, the second housed prize redemption, sports games, and a bar,{{intref|Press release: 1994-02-07:Shisetsu-nai inshoku tenpo shirīzu `aisu biru'(Tōkyō Roppongi) hoteru goraku inshoku zōn}} the third featured medal games, and the fourth contained a casino area and karaoke rooms. Customers had to be at least 18 years of age to enter, and 20 to access the fourth floor's casino area.{{magref|famitsu|199|10}}
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The floors were featured in segments of the ''[[Mega Drive Perfect Video '92~'93]]'' promotional video, with ''[[Dream Palace]]'' and ''[[Royal Ascot]]'' machines demoed.
  
 
==Branding==
 
==Branding==
 
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{{VenueBrandingRow|name=Roppongi GiGO|name_jp=六本木GiGO|branding=[[GiGO]]|date=1992-09-18{{magref|famitsu|199|10}}}}
 
{{VenueBrandingRow|name=Roppongi GiGO|name_jp=六本木GiGO|branding=[[GiGO]]|date=1992-09-18{{magref|famitsu|199|10}}}}
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{{VenueBrandingRow|name=closed|date=1998}}
 
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==Videos==
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*[https://segaretro.org/File:Roppongi_GiGO_Bad_Influence_S1E8.mp4 Footage from ''Bad Influence!'' report on Japan, c. late 1992]
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*[https://segaretro.org/File:Roppongi_GiGO_Christian_Fittipaldi.mp4 Footage of Formula 1 driver Christian Fittipaldi's visit, 1992]
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*[https://segaretro.org/File:Roppongi_GiGO_FV_1995.mp4 ''Fighting Vipers'' tournament in 1995 filmed for ''Tonight 2'']
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==Gallery==
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<gallery>
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Roppongi_Vortex_Exterior.jpg|Later "Vortex" façade in 2007
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</gallery>
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==Magazine articles==
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Latest revision as of 14:52, 3 February 2022

Roppongi GiGO 1992.jpg
Roppongi GiGO
Location: 東京都港区六本木七丁目14番4号 アイビス共同ビル5階, Japan
Opened: 1992-09-18[1]
Closed: 1998

Roppongi GiGO (六本木GiGO) is a former GiGO venue jointly developed by Sega and Ibis, which owned the hotel it was situated in.[1] Located in Roppongi, a district of Tokyo noted for its nightlife, the venue was at one stage the largest urban amusement facility in Japan,[2] initially creating positive results. Sega are thought to have dropped involvement with the center in the late 1990s.

History

Inaugurated with a press event on September 10[3] and opened with the aim of becoming a fixture of Roppongi's adult nightlife, Roppongi GiGO was the first GiGO center[4] and the largest urban amusement facility in Japan up to that point in time.[2] Its public opening the following week represented one of Sega's first steps in establishing large scale entertainment centres in prime inner-city locations; the facility's large size, elaborate décor, and themed zones[5] significantly outclassed the Hi-Tech Land Sega and newer Sega World locations opened previously in the country.

For a time, GiGO maintained a high-profile status and popularity among the clientele of Roppongi,[6] generating front-page coverage from The Asahi Shimbun newspaper and strengthening the view of video amusements as a healthy, social form of entertainment;[7] women regularly accounted for about half of the facility's customer base.[7] Celebrities made appearances at the venue, both locally, as a result of its close proximity to TV Asahi's studios, and from around the world - Michael Jackson visited the site in December 1992,[8] alongside other notable figures including Megumi Hayashibara[9] and Christian Fittipaldi.[10]

In the months following its opening, it became the debut location of the four-player Virtua Formula model,[11] as well as a site for numerous events.[12] Roppongi GiGO is thought to have lost Sega's involvement sometime after the late 1990s. It continued to operate as a game center in a downsized capacity under the name of Roppongi Vortex,[13] later closing permanently at the end of 2013.[14]

Layout

Roppongi GiGO Interior.jpg

Establishing an organised concept also seen in subsequent GiGO locations, each of Roppongi GiGO's four floors were devoted to specific machines and attractions - the first floor featured video games, including deluxe Virtua Racing and R360 units, the second housed prize redemption, sports games, and a bar,[5] the third featured medal games, and the fourth contained a casino area and karaoke rooms. Customers had to be at least 18 years of age to enter, and 20 to access the fourth floor's casino area.[1]

The floors were featured in segments of the Mega Drive Perfect Video '92~'93 promotional video, with Dream Palace and Royal Ascot machines demoed.

Branding

Name Branding Date
Roppongi GiGO (六本木GiGO) GiGO 1992-09-18[1]
Closed 1998

Videos

Gallery

  • Later "Vortex" façade in 2007

Magazine articles

Main article: Roppongi GiGO/Magazine articles.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Famitsu, "1992-10-09" (JP; 1992-09-25), page 10
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Game Machine, "1992-11-01" (JP; 1992-11-01), page 11
  3. ↑ Game Machine, "1992-11-01" (JP; 1992-11-01), page 2
  4. ↑ Sega Magazine, "1997-05 (1997-05, 06)" (JP; 1997-04-11), page 36
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Press release: 1994-02-07:Shisetsu-nai inshoku tenpo shirīzu `aisu biru'(Tōkyō Roppongi) hoteru goraku inshoku zōn
  6. ↑ https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/trn/pickup/15/1008498/102200986/ (Wayback Machine: 2021-02-26 03:58)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://blog.goo.ne.jp/lemon6868/e/c05a21f4c655a617cf9ce433e0651744 (Wayback Machine: 2021-05-07 02:05)
  8. ↑ https://mdshock.com/2020/12/08/michael-jackson-visits-sega-in-japan-december-1992/
  9. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1994" (JP; 1994-04-08), page 63
  10. ↑ File:Roppongi_GiGO_Christian_Fittipaldi.mp4
  11. ↑ Game Machine, "1993-05-01" (JP; 1993-05-01), page 14
  12. ↑ File:Roppongi_GiGO_FV_1995.mp4
  13. ↑ http://www.st.rim.or.jp/~k-nishi/tgm/roppongi.html (Wayback Machine: 2001-04-26 21:41)
  14. ↑ http://throwbackjapan.blogspot.com/2014/03/arcade-vortex-roppongi-tokyo.html
GiGO venues in Japan
Akihabara | Gifu | Hiroshima | Ikebukuro | Roppongi | Shibuya | Shinsaibashi | Tenjin
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