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Before arcade video games and home consoles, Sega ventured into another coin-operated amusement market in its native Japan. Pinball was a small but consistent part of the company’s arcade wares for most of the 1970s, with original and licensed titles bringing that unique Sega style. Join us as we examine the history of Sega’s pinball business in Japan!
Sega was one of the first coin-op manufacturers to push tournaments as part of its marketing. As early as 1974, the company held competitions at local game rooms where participants competed for cool electronic prizes. One of its earliest events featured its Table Hockey game and saw thousands of players take part across Japan.
Video game tournaments are nothing new, and Sega has been holding them since the 1970s. One of its first big competitions included the hit game Head-On, where Japanese players competed for prizes. The event helped show the popularity of video games worldwide.