Arm wrestling arcade game recalled due to penchant for arm breaking

It's all fun and games until somebody gets their arm broken by a robotic arm wrestling machine. Atlas Co. is recalling its "Arm Spirit" arm wrestling arcade game from the market in Japan after the 150 machines scored three broken person arms between them. Spokeswoman Ayano Sakiyama had some smack for gamers puny enough to get their arms broken over the pink barrel: "The machine isn't that strong, much less so than a muscular man. Even women should be able to beat it." Yeah, she just shot down any robo-warrior cred you suckers might've been hoping for out of the situation. "We think that maybe some players get overexcited and twist their arms in an unnatural way," but they're recalling the machine as "a precaution."

[Via Engadget Japanese]

[Kamokazi @ Aug 21st 2007 4:01PM]

You know if you turn that table into a chair, and modify the gears in that arm to move a different direction...

[Andrew Jones @ Aug 21st 2007 4:06PM]

That's one thing I'd NEVER trust a robot capable of breaking my arm to do.

[LinuxIdiot @ Aug 21st 2007 4:07PM]

Ugh, you just put a pic in my head of walking up to someone in a chair and wondering why their head is laid back and their eyes are rolling. *goes off to be sicl*

[Craig @ Aug 21st 2007 4:07PM]

you want an hj from a simulated man?

[Anthony @ Aug 21st 2007 4:08PM]

I'm not sure I'd want to read that Engadget headline.

[Matt B @ Aug 21st 2007 4:31PM]

Symbian for men?

[Le Master @ Aug 21st 2007 4:46PM]

F**king hilarious Kamokazi. You know it wouldn't be long until you heard reports of accidental castrations.

[Rainier @ Aug 21st 2007 4:51PM]

Maybe that arm belongs to Jubei from Evil Genius...

"They cannot defeat me with their slender arms!!!"

[Alan C. @ Aug 21st 2007 4:50PM]

Great! First, they broke their arms. Then, insulted them by saying they're weaker than... the ladies. lol

[larek @ Aug 21st 2007 4:51PM]

This game might have been a little bit "Over the Top"

[DG @ Aug 21st 2007 5:18PM]

Ha. Good one.

[OnimushaSoki @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:33AM]

"...When I turn my hat around to the back, it's like a switch!"

[Stephen Colbert @ Aug 21st 2007 4:52PM]

I for one won't stand for continued violence against wrists! Stay wrist strong, nation.

[Billy Fiul @ Aug 21st 2007 7:34PM]

Dugg for the Cobare Rapore reference.

[Billy Fiul @ Aug 21st 2007 7:34PM]

Wait... this isn't digg.

[HineyWipe @ Aug 21st 2007 4:54PM]

Was I the only one the exhorted a giggle after this line... "Even women should be able to beat it" ???

[Grant @ Aug 21st 2007 5:03PM]

This just in:
Some people are in fact dumb enough to hurt themselves!

[Wolfie @ Aug 21st 2007 5:58PM]

We had these machines years ago in our seaside arcades; I remember them from at least 20 years ago. They were supposed to be Popeye, after he'd had his spinach, and you got to impress your girl or your mates at how strong you were. Of course, all you had to do was time your move to the split-second when the gears disengaged just after you put your money in and you could win easily. Now a bunch of wimps are getting their arms broken? Please!

[marshall @ Aug 21st 2007 9:14PM]

I remember one of these here in the states back in Gatlinburg TN or thereabouts. We were there for the Worlds Fair, held in nearby Knoxville TN, so that would have been 1982. Good times. I didn't try it because the arm looked like something out of some future horror movie of the 70s like Westworld which always goes horribly wrong. A couple of friends, we were 16yo then, tried it on a higher level and got beat. The table was not at an ideal level though. I remember it being a sit down model.

[Mason @ Aug 21st 2007 6:18PM]

Looks like the machine is only for righties though, wheres the left handed love?

[Phuket @ Aug 21st 2007 6:33PM]

A metal cage with a muscled arm jerking out and a cute PVC seat with a massive pink stool dangling underneath. Obviously made in the Shinjuku Ni-Chome district, Tokyo.

[Pal @ Aug 21st 2007 6:35PM]

The company name is Atlus, not Atlas!

[Joe Pak @ Aug 22nd 2007 11:49PM]

lol.

[Fabio @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:07PM]

A friend of mine broke his arm while playing against another man, neither of them were strong at all! It's probably a matter of calcium in the bones... Remember to drink milk before playing arm wrestling, folks!! :D