I have been a huge fan of pachinko ever since I made my pilgrimage to Tokyo in 2002 and spent some time in a parlor in Akasaka. The lights, the sound, the cute girls in outfits that would make a Hooters waitress blush. Boy I miss Tokyo! So if you are a fan of shiny objects, love to listen to your iPod at full blast, and are looking to finish off that new game room, read on!

Anyway - once I returned, I wanted to get a machine for the house but figured it would be too expensive to ship one from Japan. Then one day I came across <a href="http://www.pachitalk.com" target="_blank">www.pachitalk.com</a> and my life changed. The fine folks over there are a huge wealth of knowledge when it comes to both Pachinko (think of an upright pinball-style game) and Pachislo (slot machine style). From building cabinets, to reviews, to creating a working card reader and ball lifter - these guys know it all, and are happy to share the knowledge. The forum is always busy and even has it's own auction area for members to sell their machines and other items. Their museum is a machine reference library so you can see what you're getting before you blow all your Yen on it. If you want to get your feet wet and see if buying a machine is right for you, or perhaps you just want to learn how to control the obnoxious volume these machines come pre-set at (It's like someone hired a deaf person - seriously!) come on by and introduce yourself.