October 12, 2013

Are you familiar with the show Game Center CX that's broadcast on Fuji TV CS? It's a rather plain program where Shinya Arino of Yoiko takes on retro games, but it has a passionate fandom. This November, it welcomes its tenth anniversary.

A Budokan event will be held on November 5th, and "Game Center CX: The Movie" is planned for release next spring. We talked to Arino -- known as "Chief Arino" in the show -- and heard his thoughts on the upcoming events and the ten-year-old Game Center CX.

Game Center CX will surpass its tenth year. When did you think "this show's going to make it"?

Chief Arino: When we were about to go from Season 1 to 2 ten years ago, the staff asked me, "what should we do?" When I said, "I'd like to do it if there's more games," they said "we have seven games." We were like, "there's ten episodes so we're three games short." "Well, let's just do it and see how it goes." And now it's been ten years. (laughs) When they asked, "what should we do with the show?" it was only that one time, and it's been going on ever since.

Why do you think Game Center CX went on for ten years?

Chief Arino: The Chief's perseverance where he never gives up on clearing the game until the very end, and the staff's perseverance where they take that perseverance and edit it into one hour. (laughs). Also, the show owes its run to the game makers. I mean, the makers get nothing out of me playing their old games on "Game Center CX." But they allow us to use their games, and I think that's why we've been able to do this for so long.

http://i.imgur.com/EM4t5e9.jpg
Photo: The many games used in past challenges, decorating the production company's wall

You've done various things such as a 24-hour live challenge, overseas trips, and game creation. Is there something you would like to do in the show?

Chief Arino: I've been saying this since the very beginning, but I'd like to make a Famicom cartridge. But we don't have a production line for that. (laughs) I've been saying for a long time, "isn't there something we can do about that?"

The staff themselves appear on Game Center CX. Do you have any fond memories of the show staff, or anecdotes you can reveal now that time has passed?

Chief Arino: When I got married eight years ago, I kept it a complete secret until I announced it on MetchaIke [Arino's other show]. That put a bigger distance between me and this show's staff. (laughs) They'd say things like, "You're more about 'MetchaIke', huh?"

Also, one of the head staff of Happinet (who makes this show's DVDs) married a Fuji TV show producer. You can call it a love tied together by the Chief, I'd say. (laughs) The two got married, and I did a "Twin Bee" challenge just so they could play it at their wedding. In that game, the two ships can link together. So I'd make dirty comments while linking them, and they played that at the wedding, apparently. (laughs) I did the challenge and the staff spent a whole day editing it. But you probably can't broadcast that anywhere. (laughs)

The show's assistant directors always assist your challenges. There have been many ADs in the show's history, but if you could invite someone on, what kind of AD would you like to have?

Chief Arino: I'd like the Hollywood actress who starred in "Kick-Ass," Chloe Grace Moretz. This is just my impression of her, but I think she probably likes video games, so she just needs to study Japanese. But she might beat me up whenever I make mistakes.

Please tells us what the fans have to look forward to in November's Budokan event and the spring movie release.

Chief Arino: I've done challenges in front of a live audience before, and the audience members shout words of advice at me. They mostly end up sounding like orders. Like, "up! Up!" or "Grab it!" On the day of the Budokan, I will walk onto stage with the mindset that I'm the youngest person there. Whenever I mess up, there's going to be ten thousand angry hollers directed at me. (laughs) I need a tough heart that can endure that!

There isn't much I'm allowed to reveal about the movie, but one thing I can say is: it's a grandiose tale about borrowing-without-returning. It's based in the 1980's, so you can look forward to see how the Chief will play into the story. And look forward to what exactly is going to be borrowed. (laughs)

What is the goal for the next ten years of Game Center CX?

Chief Arino: I have a habit of keeping gifts and letters I receive. Like birthday cards from my family. Five years ago, the Game Center CX staff bought me a Wii. Inside, there was a letter from them saying, "you're going to use this for challenges in ten years, so take good care of it." That time is going to come in five years. (laughs) Also, right now we mostly use Famicom and Super Famicom games for challenges, but I'd like to take on more disc games. But apparently, the show's writers say "it's too soon for those." I think what they mean by that is, "it's not within the Chief's range to be able to clear it in one day"...

Show's Producer: Whenever we use a PlayStation game every so often, the Chief will say "the graphics are so nice!" I think he's the only person these days who would look at PS graphics and call that "nice." (laughs)

Chief Arino: I do nothing but retro game challenges, so I can't really play modern games any more. When it comes to new games, I think my partner Hamaguchi is better at them. I also play Monster Hunter for several hours, even though it's not a game challenge.

Show's Producer: That's how everyone is with Monster Hunter. (laughs)

Chief Arino: Ah. I see. Then when they get bored, they stop playing. In my case, even when I get bored, I can't stop.