UFO Catcher

From Sega Retro

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UFOCatcher.jpg

UFO Catcher
System(s): UFO Board
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code

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UFO Catcher (UFOキャッチャー) is a crane game released by Sega in 1985.

UFO Catcher was Sega's first arcade machine of this nature, becoming so popular with Japanese consumers that the term "UFO Catcher" became a widespread term for describing these types of game, regardless of whether they were produced by Sega (or had claws shaped like UFOs). Its success ensured numerous updates in the years which followed, although many 1985 models are still in active service today.

The 1985 model is a boxy machine with a pink/red finish. It is reportedly more susceptible to breakdowns, and the angluar nature of the cabinet was at one point identified as a safety hazard.

During development the machine was known as Eagle Catcher (the claw being an eagle's foot), although was reportedly changed due to mechanical limitations, creating a crane that looked more like a UFO. References to this older name can be found in technical manuals and part descriptions.



Games in the UFO Catcher Series
UFO Catcher (1985) | UFO Catcher DX (1987) | UFO Catcher DX II (1990) | New UFO Catcher (1991) | UFO Catcher Excellent (1994) | UFO Catcher 21 (1996) | UFO Catcher 7 (Max Edition | Second) (2001) | UFO Catcher 8 (Second) (2008) | UFO Catcher 9 (Second | Third) (2016) | UFO Catcher 10 (2023)
UFO Catcher Mini (1991) | UFO Catcher 800 (1998) | Baby UFO (1998) | (2004) | Sega UFO Catcher (2006) | UFO Colon (2007) | UFO Catcher Double (2009) | UFO Balance Catcher (2010) | UFO Catcher Triple (Twin | Second) (2017) | UFO Catcher Duet (2018)
Dream Catcher Games
Dream Catcher (1989) | Dream Catcher Re-dress (1999) | UFO Dream Catcher (2008)
Dream Palace Games
Dream Palace (1992) | Dream Palace II (199x) | Dream Palace 3 (unreleased)
UFO Á La Carte Games
UFO À La Carte (1996) | UFO À La Carte II (2002) | UFO À La Carte DX (2009) | UFO À La Carte 3 (2023)
Capto Crane Games
Capto Crane (2019) | Capto Crane MIDI (2023) | Capto Candy (2023)
Others
Dream Town (1990) | UFO Circus Land (1992) | UFO SegaSonic (1992) | School Kids (1993) | Dream Kitchen (1994) | Aqua Paradise (1995) | UFO Pusher (1995) | UFO Pusher Twin (1995) | Funky Dice (1996) | Prize Sensor (1998) | Paradise Carry (1996) | Super Guru Guru Station (2000) | UFO Prize Stage (2000) | Dream Throne (2002) | UFO Dream Town JP (2004)
Space Crane (1986) | Super Chance (1987) | Diga Mart (1984)
Spin-offs
CR UFO Catcher (1998) | UFO Catcher Ride (2001)