Shinya Arino, a member of comedy duo Yoiko, plays Japan's most popular video games and records his progress as he works through a time limit, usually lasting up to one day. He is supported by his Assistant Directors and Staff, both via moral support and actual gameplay. He also gets the chance to interview game designers and to play arcade games occasionally.
May 30, 2004 - 1h 0m
After 13 hours of playing, Arino died mere inches from the flag at level 8-2. Exhausted and depressed our intrepid host threw in the towel. Revenge shall be had in this special episode of Game Center CX! Meanwhile, Arino and the staff visit a variety of hot spring resorts to learn more about the retro game centers that can be found there.
Dec 23, 2005 - 25m
No overview available.
Apr 12, 2006 - 1h 0m
Arino starts the journey at Tonekko no Yu, an indoor hot spring center in Monbetsu-cho. He steps into the game center, where the "Money Exchanger" sign is bigger than the actual "Game Corner" sign. Consider it all too telling: as soon as he steps in, Arino’s surprised by the small size of the place compared to the rest of the building. And there are more prize and pachislo machines than video games.
Apr 26, 2006 - 1h 0m
The gang travels to downtown Asahika. Unfortunately the larger number of people around hasn’t made it any warmer. At any rate, he walks down to the next target: a dedicated game center called the Sugai Amusement Factory.
May 10, 2006 - 1h 0m
This time we’re in Kayoru, and the gang is getting ever closer to the northern tip of the island. The next place to visit is Sun Pillar, another hot spring center surrounded by trees.
May 24, 2006 - 1h 0m
Arino’s arrived at Wakkanai Station, signifying the northernmost town in Hokkaido and the home stretch of the journey. But there’s still a couple more places to check out! Arino heads over to Hitoshi no Mise for a bite to eat, and he asks the owner about the area before settling down with an order of kanimeshi (crab & rice).
Jun 23, 2006 - 43m
It's time for Arino to take on Sunsoft's Ikki in a challenge that carries an ending so shocking that viewers are asked not to spoil it for others. But don't go in thinking that the ending will be the only thing to leave you in awe. It's a challenge filled with twists and turns with a riddle at the center of it that will leave Arino guessing till the very end.
Dec 22, 2006 - 39m
No overview available.
Dec 21, 2007 - 1h 5m
In this exclusive challenge from the fourth DVD box set, Arino will attempt to finish all 50 stages of the seminal Bomberman. At least that was the original intent of the staff but when Arino is cruising they decide to spice things up. To get his own back Arino grills them about their personal lives but they needn't worry as no one will ever see this challenge, right?
Sep 24, 2008 - 10m
No overview available.
Oct 1, 2008 - 9m
No overview available.
Dec 15, 2008 - 1h 0m
Arino and company search for the game center that's the farthest south possible in Japan.
Dec 31, 2008 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Feb 26, 2009 - 1h 0m
Special episode released as a bonus DVD with the release of Game Center CX: Arino no Chosenjou 2.
Apr 8, 2009 - 15m
Games included: Youkai Douchuuki, Ninja JaJaMaru-kun, The Super Shinobi, Kaizou Ningen Shubibiman, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Golden Axe, Super Gussun Oyoyo.
Apr 15, 2009 - 14m
After sampling the best of what the Wii's Virtual Console has to offer, Arino will be challenging the arcade version of Star Force. But before he sits down with the Virtual Console version an actual arcade machine is wheeled in for him to warm up on. What challenge is he warming up for exactly? A challenge he succeeded in all the way back in season 1, defeat Larios and be awarded 50,000 points.
May 14, 2009 - 15m
The unbelievably wordy Downtown Special: It's Kunio's Samurai Drama! Gather 'Round Everybody! is the subject of today's challenge. This instalment in the long running Kunio series of game is set in the Edo period and Arino has been tasked with beating this period piece in only 5 hours. Downtown Special features the same great cooperative gameplay that made another Kunio game, River City Ransom, such a big hit and Arino will have to make use of that feature if he has any hope of completing this time sensitive challenge.
Jun 13, 2009 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Jun 17, 2009 - 15m
A bright conference room isn't the ideal environment for playing horror games but chills will soon run down Arino's spine when he challenges Splatterhouse. This gory arcade classic follows the possessed protagonist Rick as he tries to rescue his girlfriend Jennifer from the clutches of evil. Arino has 5 hours to clear this challenge and save Jennifer otherwise she'll be lost forever in the blood soaked halls of the West Mansion.
Jul 1, 2009 - 15m
No overview available.
Jul 22, 2009 - 15m
In this Nintendo Channel challenge Arino will take to the asphalt of Super Mario Kart's first track. Arino will attempt to beat Nintendo's goal time of 1 minute and 3.68 seconds to claim victory and stand atop the podium. It's not long before the challenge hits a road block though, as Arino can't even decide which racer to pick.
Nov 11, 2009 - 20m
No overview available.
Nov 25, 2009 - 20m
No overview available.
Dec 2, 2009 - 20m
No overview available.
Dec 18, 2009 - 18m
No overview available.
Dec 18, 2009 - 21m
No overview available.
Dec 25, 2009 - 1h 0m
Game Center CX first 24 live show held in the Fuji TV Multi Theater on August 29th, 2009 in front of a live audience. Arino once again challenges Lemmings.
Apr 28, 2010 - 20m
No overview available.
May 6, 2010 - 20m
No overview available.
May 12, 2010 - 20m
No overview available.
Jul 7, 2010 - 26m
No overview available.
Dec 24, 2010 - 42m
The goal of the game is to reunite the two love birds. In order to spice things up, the staff has prepared cards with romance questions written on them. Each time Arino clears 10 stages he must draw one of the cards and answer the questions written on them.
Jun 7, 2011 - 17m
No overview available.
Jun 15, 2011 - 15m
No overview available.
Jul 6, 2011 - 26m
No overview available.
Dec 22, 2011 - 37m
No overview available.
Dec 22, 2011 - 21m
Immediately after his DVD special challenge City Connection, Arino is given a chance to get his revenge on The Genji and Heike Clans, however he has a 3 hour time limit to do so. If he loses this time, the challenge will be declared a loss forever. To help him through this hurdle AD Takahashi summons a special helper...
Feb 22, 2012 - 33m
No overview available.
Jun 22, 2012 - 20m
When the Kirby series turned 20 Nintendo decided to celebrate by releasing Kirby's Dream Collection which contains 6 entries from the beloved series. Today Arino will be challenging one of the games on the collection that he has unfinished business with, Kirby Super Star. During the new year's special he managed to clear 5 of Super Star's mini-games with his comedy partner Hamaguchi. Today he will attempt the clear the sixth, a boss rush style mode, The Arena.
Jun 22, 2012 - 7m
No overview available.
Oct 5, 2012 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Oct 26, 2012 - 15m
Just as Arino sits down to record a Nintendo Channel challenge of Balloon Fight he's informed that he'll have a rather special guest for today's challenge. That guest is none other than Satoru Iwata, the CEO of Nintendo and one of the developers who worked on Balloon Fight. It turns out the President is here to interview the Chief for his Iwata Asks series were he interviews various game creators and luminaries. They discuss their own relationship to and histories in gaming before taking turns at a Balloon Fight challenge.
Dec 21, 2012 - 36m
No overview available.
Jan 24, 2013 - 18m
Balloon Fight was recently released on the Wii U Virtual Console to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Famicom. This makes for a great excuse to film a challenge in HD as well as revive a recent Nintendo Channel challenge. That challenge was to pop 20 green balloons in trip mode and was attended by the CEO of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, who explained he later went home and cleared it on his own time. He suggests that Arino should try and get his revenge as well, but it isn't long before things start to escalate.
Feb 20, 2013 - 45m
Arino previously challenged Fire Emblem: Mystery Of The Emblem when it appeared on the Wii Virtual Console but its release on the Wii U makes for a perfect excuse to double dip. Given that Arino has played it before you may think he has an advantage but fortunately he has absolutely no memory of playing the game let alone what it even entails. So his challenge to clear Book One: Chapter 3 without the loss of a party member could prove tough.
Mar 20, 2013 - 35m
No overview available.
Oct 14, 2013 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 20, 2013 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Jan 1, 2014 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 19, 2014 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 18, 2015 - 1h 20m
Join Arino as journeys into darkness to solve the mystery of the Spencer Mansion in Resident Evil: Director's Cut. This is going to be a spooky DVD Challenge so Arino is going to have a few very special companions along the way.
Sep 2, 2016 - 1h 21m
No overview available.
Dec 16, 2016 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 22, 2017 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 21, 2018 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 21, 2018 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 20, 2019 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 18, 2020 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Mar 28, 2021 - 1h 0m
A one-hour special broadcast where GameCenter CX staff writer Masayuki Kibe takes on the main character role, and Chief Arino appears as a guest.
Dec 17, 2021 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 16, 2022 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 15, 2023 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
