Introduction to GameCenter CX: Specials

Ouch... sorry about the delay.
I know I said I'd post yesterday, but I got tied up with some Christmas errands, so...

So from time to time, GameCenter CX would put on a few specials, some challenging and others relaxing...

For the challenging ones--and by challenging, I mean possibly even more challenging than the regular challenges, at least for the viewers who are watching through it--GameCenter CX did three live specials (plus one "Fan Appreciation Day" special in 2006 where Arino played in the Fuji TV Multi-theatre in front of a live audience), in which Arino would play a game that he had previously challenged on live TV. Since I don't want to spoil things too much, finding out what exactly Arino challenged would be an exercise for the reader--let's say that you should be able to find your desired spoilers one click away from the blog.

For the relaxing ones--GameCenter CX would send Arino and the production staff to famous tourist areas in and beyond Japan in search of game centers and other amusement attractions. Here's a sampling, in chronological order:

Hot Springs and Games: A Travelogue
(温泉ゲーム紀行, Onsen Game Kiko)

A special aired at the end of the 1st season, in which Arino and staff travelled to Hakone, Japan--famous for its hot spring resorts--and hopped from one resort to another in search for various arcade games and amusement machines, and not to mention a nice place to take a relaxing bath. This special became the precursor to the recurring TamaGe segment where Arino visits various game centers and amusement attractions in Japan.

The Northernmost Game in Japan: A Travelogue
(最北端ゲーム紀行, Saihokutan Game Kiko)

A multi-part special aired in 2006 in which Arino, using time from his paternity leave, brought his GPS along and headed to Hokkaido--the northernmost island of the four islands that make up Japan. His mission: To find the arcade game / amusement machine with the northernmost latitude in all of the country.

GameCenter CX - A Commemorative 50th Episode: TamaGe in Korea by Economy Class
(ゲームセンターCX ５０回記念 たまゲーin韓国 byエコノミークラス

In July of 2007, to mark the 50th anniversary of the show, GameCenter CX flied Arino (via economy class, natch) to Seoul, Korea, where he visited several gaming establishments and interviewed one of Korea's best pro gamers.

The Southernmost Game in Japan: A Travelogue
(最南端ゲーム紀行, Sainantan Game Kiko)

Aired as part of the GameCenter CX 2008 Year-End Special. Similar in goal to the northernmost trip, except it took place in Okinawa, with 100% less half!nekkid!hotSpringSoaking!Arino.

The show's staff has also visited Cannes and Dubai to promote the show to international distributors, under the name Retro Game Master.

There are also year-end specials in 2008 and 2009; unlike the main episodes which air on Fuji TV TWO and Fuji TV Next (both pay-to-view satellite channels), these specials air on Fuji TV's main terrestial TV channel. In this special, Arino would invite fellow comedians and TV personalities to to sum up the year in GameCenter CX, current-gen gaming in Japan, as well as (at least for both of the specials) playing through one of the latest games in the Final Fantasy franchise (Dissidia: Final Fantasy for the PSP for 2008, and Final Fantasy XIII for 2009).

Inaugural GCCX Translation: Last Continue

So in the last post, I mentioned that GameCenter CX has aired 3 live specials since its inception.

In the most recent live special, which aired in August 29-30 2009, Arino struggled through a 24-hour marathon of a certain game that shall remain unspoiled (although again, spoilers can be accessible to the reader with one click of a mouse) until I start doing a review on it. To commemorate said 24-hour live marathon, the show's staff composed, wrote lyrics for and sang a theme song for Arino called Last Continue--which served as the full inspiration for this blog's name until December 20, 2009 (and still serves as a partial namesake for the blog).

Without further ado, I shall present the first translation ever for this blog--a lyrics translation for the song Last Continue.
I have also included a video of the song for your viewing pleasure. Please sit back and enjoy!

( Last Continue - the music video, the translation and the Japanese original )