Roppongi GiGO
From Sega Retro
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| Roppongi GiGO |
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| 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 Japanese game centre jointly developed by Sega and Ibis, which owned the hotel it was situated in.[1]
The venue was the first GiGO[2] and one of Sega's largest up to that point in time, with its September 1992 opening representing one of the company's first steps in establishing large scale entertainment centres. Its high profile status and popularity among the area's young nightlife residents gave it significant mainstream media coverage,[3] as well as famous visitors - Michael Jackson visited the site in December 1992,[4] alongside other notable figures including Megumi Hayashibara.[5]
Roppongi GiGO is thought to have lost Sega's involvement sometime after the late 1990s, becoming known as Roppongi Vortex thereafter and later closing permanently at the end of 2013.[6]
Layout
Establishing an organised concept also seen in subsequent GiGO locations, Roppongi GiGO's four floors were generally devoted to different 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,[7] 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 | |
Magazine articles
- Main article: Roppongi GiGO/Magazine articles.
Gallery
Footage from Bad Influence! report on Japan, c. late 1992
Later "Vortex" façade in 2007
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Famitsu, "1992-10-09" (JP; 1992-09-25), page 10
- ↑ Sega Magazine, "1997-05 (1997-05, 06)" (JP; 1997-04-11), page 36
- ↑ https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/trn/pickup/15/1008498/102200986/
- ↑ https://mdshock.com/2020/12/08/michael-jackson-visits-sega-in-japan-december-1992/
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1994" (JP; 1994-04-08), page 63
- ↑ http://throwbackjapan.blogspot.com/2014/03/arcade-vortex-roppongi-tokyo.html
- ↑ Press release: 1994-02-07:Shisetsu-nai inshoku tenpo shirīzu `aisu biru'(Tōkyō Roppongi) hoteru goraku inshoku zōn
| GiGO venues in Japan |
|---|
| Akihabara | Gifu | Hiroshima | Ikebukuro | Roppongi | Shibuya | Shinsaibashi | Tenjin |