Build Your Own HangOn Cab: Dorimaga Papercraft Model

Here's another model from Dorimaga's Papercraft series. This time, Vol 2 - HangOn!

High resolution versions available here

Sega Game Cards

Western arcade gamers were accustomed to overflowing pockets of loose change, but Japanese arcade centres had a more elegant solution: Game Cards. These were magnetic cards, similar to Japanese phonecards of the era, pre-loaded with credits and read by a card reader attached to the arcade cabinet. As the card was used, the reader punched holes to denote the number of credits used.

The system was introduced in October 1986 at Hi-Tech Land, Kanada. Two types of card were common: 500 cards provided 12 credits and 1000 cards 24 credits. Most games were set to 2 credits per play, although this was variable. For ¥500 you therefore gained credits and a collectible card to keep.

Game Card Creation & Vending System

Cards were branded by game, but could be used with any compatible machine. It was common for game centres to add their personal branding to the cards and many variants exist. The system was reportedly not successful in the long-term (source: Sega Arcade History).

Card vender & cabinets with card readers

Trade Show Image: Everything you need to manufacture your own game cards!

The Sega cards were numbered as follows. I'll complete missing entries as I find out more information.

1 SPACE HARRIER (Number not shown on card)

2 FANTASY ZONE (Number not shown on card)

3 OUTRUN

4 ALEX KIDD

5 SUPER HANG-ON (1000 version)

6 DUNK SHOT

7 SUPER HANG-ON (500 version)

8 AFTERBURNER

9 SUPER LEAGUE

10 HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP

11 THUNDER BLADE

12 HOT ROD

13 GALAXY FORCE II

14 POWER DRIFT

15 UNKNOWN

16 UNKNOWN

17 TURBO OUTRUN

18 SUPER MONACO GP

19 G-LOC (1000 Version)

20 G-LOC (500 Version)

21 R-360

Cards were also available exclusively at the AM and AOU trade shows from Sega booths. Some example follow.

24th AM SHOW (OUTRUN & HOTROD)

25TH AM SHOW (HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP & THUNDER BLADE)

87 AOU SHOW (SUPER HANG-ON, then HANG-ON II)

88 HAPPY NEW HARRIER

SEGA ATTRACTIONS

OTHER GAMES

Special thanks to Sean Tagg for helping me with images and information for this post. Don't let this man spend any more money on game cards. Or at least donate him some for free!

Game Machine Article - December 1986

Build Your Own OutRun Cab: Dorimaga Papercraft Model

Following on from the Space Harrier model, I've (finally) scanned the the September 2004 issue of Dorimaga magazine.

This includes Sega History Papercraft Vol 3, a constructable model of the deluxe sitdown OutRun Cabinet. How cool is that?

If you have any issues in the series, please let me know.

High resolution scans here.

Build your own Space Harrier cab: Dorimaga papercraft model

Thanks to Sean Tagg for scanning the Space Harrier papercraft model included with Dorimaga magazine.

Sean mentions, "I enlarged the sheet to A3 and laminated it. I have used this to then make a model from balsa wood. The screen is a photo keychain. The seat is fabric too! Just need to add the coin tower."

Here's the finished article, now with coin tower:

Finally, a link to the scan if you want to build one yourself.

...and yes, I need to scan my Dorimaga OutRun magazine at some point soon. I've misplaced it for the time being, but it will show up somewhere! 

Gamest Issue 4 - November 1986

Check out this issue of the Japanese magazine Gamest, that covers the 1986 Amusement Machine (AM) show, where Sega previewed OutRun. Gamest is an amazing publication although it would be even better if I understood Japanese.

I've scanned the colour pages relating to OutRun below. I love the cover advert; it's similar in style to the Japanese flyer. Click the images for a full-size version.