Taito: 120 yen arcade price just a test

This completely unrelated image is of Taito's JAMMA booth from last year.

Have you read all those reports about increased pricing on arcade games at Taito arcades? Apparently, Taito arcades have switched cabinets from a 100 yen price to a 120 yen price. There's an image showing the new pricing structure at this blog.

IT Media apparently decided to get the official word on just what's going down. The site posted a report yesterday with a quote from a Taito PR person saying "It's just a test. It's not the case that we've finalized a price hike at all shops moving forward."

The PR statement continued, "This company has offered games at 100 yen per play for 30 years since Space Invaders." It also noted that it did not change the price a few years back when it became required by law that the 5% consumption tax be included in marked prices.

According to the IT Media story, a Taito arcade in Shibuya adopted the price from the 2nd on some crane games and video games. A shop in the city of Ebina in Kanagawa will make the switch on the 8th.

I'd express an opinion about this, but I'm totally indifferent to arcades. I suppose having to carry a supply of 10 yen coins would be annoying, though.