Kotaku: purikura

Atlus Leaves Sticker Picture Business

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:00:00 MDT

In 1995, video game Atlus maker changed game centers forever when its first sticker picture (called "purikura" in Japanese) machine Print Club exploded onto the arcade scene.

When Space Invaders hit big in Japan in 1978, both men and women played the game; however, by the 1990s, male-dominated fighting games were in vogue. Girls didn't go to arcades — unless dragged there by their boyfriends.

But when girls went gaga over Print Club, teen started lining up in front of arcades to take low-res sticker pix of themselves with friends. Atlus revolutionized not only arcades, but the arcade demographic. And as of March 31, Atlus is officially no longer making sticker picture machines.

The company's purikura output in recent years has been waning, and Atlus was no longer a major purikura player. Machines continue to sport better cameras and software, and they carry price tags that are comparable to a mid-sized sedan.

Sure, purikura is still popular with teens (see pictured schoolgirls), but things like the wide-spread use of cameras embedded in cell phones and a shrinking arcade market has hurt business, and Atlus has decided to focus its resources elsewhere.

ゲームメーカー「アトラス」、利用者減少のため31日で「プリクラ」から撤退 [FNN]

No Men Allowed (For A Long Time Now...)

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:00:00 MST

Girls only. Japan's Asahi Shimbun has an article about how Japanese arcades are banning men from sticker picture machines. Why'd they do that?

According to the piece, "A growing number of arcade operators are banning men from areas around these machines—popularly known as purikura—to protect customers, such as high school students, from men trying to sneak camera shots, steal their belongings or even pick them up."

Male-female couples are okay, but not groups of guys or single dudes. Truth is, this has been going on for a while. A long while. A long, long, long while.

However! When I interviewed the folks who manage Shibuya landmark Purikura Mecca, Japan's most famous sticker picture arcade, for Arcade Mania, I was told that male customers would not be kicked out as long as they were "well-behaved." Because, hey, they have money, too. Ironic as Purikura Mecca was the first arcade not to allow male-only purikura customers.

'Purikura' booths take men out of the picture [Asahi]

Get Your Own Customized Japanese Arcade Chocolates

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:00:00 MST

Anyone who has been to a Japanese arcade has seen sticker booths. Popular with young girls, sticker pictures these days can be downloaded straight to cell phones. That, and put on chocolate wrappers. Yum.

Japanese chocolate maker Tirol has been offering its DecoChoco service since earlier this year. Users take pictures of themselves, upload them to the computer to create personalized chocolate wrappers. Now Tirol is collaborating with Japanese purikura maker Furyu to offer this same service via game centers. DecoChoco sticker picture machines let sitters upload their sticker pics to the Tirol site and order a set of 45 custom chocolates for ¥2,362 (US$29). The DecoChoco arrive at doorsteps a couple weeks later. Nothing quite like eating snacks with your own cute, smiling face on it. Nothing. Furyu [Official Site via CScout]

London Getting Sticker Picture Specialty Shops

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:40:00 MDT

Cute, glossy and girly. Yep, sticker pictures! Back in the mid-1990s, game developer Atlus (along with Sega) introduced the world to Print Club. The arcade machine let gals take snaps with buddies and printed them out on glossy sticker paper. Huge trend throughout the rest of the decade! That pic up there? That's not Japan, that's London. Arcade industry report The Stinger Report reports (look all at those reports) that London's popular Covent Garden shopping area is getting a print club smorgasbord called "Flora Print Club." The space is dedicated to importing sticker picture machines from Japan for Londoners to pose and picture take. All that's missing are schoolgirls squealing kawaii~!

A Look Inside The Flora Print Club [Arcade Heroes]

Fashion Model, Sticker Pictures, Infrared

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 26 May 2008 03:30:00 MDT

*Sigh* Yes, that's a sticker picture of me and Koakuma Ageha fashion model Rina Sakurai. Interviewed her in late April for work! Nice girl, very smart. Her blog is here.
Wondering what the latest purikura (sticker pictures) trend hitting Japanese arcades is? Click over to Wired for a blink-and-you'll-miss-it short piece I wrote about downloadable sticker picture machines.

Downloading Sticker Booth Pics [Wired]

Sega Tells Teens No "Smooking"

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:22:28 MDT

This was found in a Sega Station sticker picture booth in Shibuya, where the kiddies shop 24-7, party till dawn and have questionable vices like "smooking." Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Japundit]