Tuesday, 16 December 1992
The day after Zaboru's surprise birthday party, he expressed his appreciation by treating all ZAGE employees to free lunch and dinner. It was a small but heartfelt gesture that left the team smiling and even more motivated.
That morning, Zaboru decided to visit the Dream Catcher Arcade, where the new UFO Catcher arcade machines had already been installed. Two shiny units stood proudly in the game hall, matching the ones already set up in Bakudan Arcade. In parallel, Zaboru had finalized a short commercial for the UFO Catchers, scheduled to air on Thursday, 18 December 1992, to promote the official launch.
Instead of spending his morning at the office as usual, Zaboru told his secretary Yumi to treat all employees to lunch and dinner as a thank-you. Then, choosing to take a rare break from his typical routine, he decided to spend the day at the arcade. It felt like the perfect opportunity to observe firsthand how players interacted with the newly installed UFO Catcher machines.
Satonaka, the cheerful and energetic owner of Dream Catcher Arcade, welcomed him with a grin. "UFO Catcher really fits in with my arcade's name, doesn't it? Dream Catcher and all!"
Zaboru chuckled. "Yeah, Satonaka-san. Maybe that's a sign they're going to be a huge hit here."
Satonaka rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Let's hope so, kid."
The machines were stocked and ready. The first UFO Catcher held an assortment of attractive prizes: a small Mario plush, a small Sonic plushie, medium-sized Pikachu and Charmander plush, a Woody doll from Toy Story, and in the center—a boxed Z-RED Z-Hawk action figure labeled as a Rare Thing.
The second machine featured its own prize lineup: a Little Samson plushie, an Alex Kidd toy, plushies of Bulbasaur and Squirtle, a Pac-Man doll, and its star item—a shiny metalic RoboCop action figure. Each machine was priced at 100 yen per play, with players receiving three tries per coin. The variation in prizes was designed to encourage players to check out both machines for different rare items, and even seek out other UFO Catcher machines at various arcades and spots to find unique offerings.
Satonaka examined the figures through the transparent panels. "That RoboCop figure and Z-RED figure look amazing! These can't be cheap to make, right? What happens if someone actually wins one?"
Zaboru grinned slyly. "Then that just means they've got skills. Why don't you give it a go, Satonaka-san? Let's see if you can claim that RoboCop."
Satonaka raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "Why not? Let's give it a shot."
He inserted a 100-yen coin and focused intently. With three tries, he came close but ultimately missed his forehead bulged he really pissed. "What?! I almost had it!"
Zaboru laughed. "Close, Satonaka-san! You're almost there. Just a little more practice go on try again!"
"You bet i'm!" Satonaka, now determined, kept trying. A few minutes later, after spending 1,000 yen, he stared at the machine, defeated.
"Wait a second... I've spent 1,000 yen and haven't won anything!"
Zaboru smirked. "Exactly."
Satonaka narrowed his eyes. "Hold on... is this thing a scam?"
Zaboru laughed. "Yes and No , Depends on your perspective. It's totally possible to win—you just need enough precision. Watch this."
He stepped up, inserted a coin, and carefully analyzed the positioning. With a swift and precise movement, he maneuvered the claw to nudge the RoboCop box toward its plastic edge. The claw gripped the box just right, and with smooth control, Zaboru guided it to drop perfectly into the prize chute.
Satonaka gasped. "No way. You actually got it!"
Zaboru picked up the figure with a satisfied grin. "See? It's not rigged. Just tough. But that's what makes it fun. And don't worry—like HanDai mentioned, you'll receive regular status fee payments to restock the machines. Each restock includes another rare prize figure no additional cost even though its missing rare things."
Satonaka nodded in approval. "I can see why people would keep coming back for these. I'm loving these machines already. The money's gonna flow, I can feel it!"
Zaboru smiled. "That's the plan."
Satonaka nodded thoughtfully. "So, I just need to pay the restock fee? And what if I want to request specific prizes? Like that RoboCop action figure—can I ask to have one placed in my arcade?"
Zaboru grinned. "That's not how it works. When it's time to restock, the HanDai representative will ask you to pick a number between 1 and 10. Based on your selection, you'll receive a randomized set of restocked items. It's all up to chance—so think of it as a game of luck every time."
Satonaka's eyes widened. "Hey, that's basically gambling!" Then he laughed and gave a thumbs-up. "But I'm all in—don't worry, I live for this kind of thrill!"
Zaboru smiles and nods "Hahaha that's a spirit Satonaka-san!"
As the morning rolled in, Satonaka began adjusting the placement of the machines, making sure everything looked neat and inviting. Zaboru stayed close by, both of them waiting patiently for the first wave of Dream Catcher Arcade players to arrive and try their luck.
To be continued
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