Hooked on the claw: how crane games conquered Japan's arcades

In one of these gaming meccas in the Japanese capital's Ikebukuro district, aisles of crane games stretch as far as the eye can see. The crown jewels of the arcade industry, they occupy the building's first two floors, relegating video games to the basement and upper levels. "Crane games are keeping the sector afloat," said Morihiro Shigihara, an industry expert and former arcade manager. "Arcade operators, machine manufacturers, and even prize suppliers depend on this business," he told AFP....