Haha I don't know what's worse, this arcade machine breaking peoples arms or the spokesperson's remarks. "Even women should be able to beat it"? Granted Japanese women tend to be tiny, but my cousin could probably twist that arm into a pretzel! Toughest girl I know.

Charlie Bear and I were JUST talking about this the other day! The machines themselves weren't designed to apply dangerous amounts of force, which leads me to believe either a malfunction caused a surge leading to a jerk which, in turn, broke an arm... or, as people have a tendeceny to do, people were being morons with the machines.

It happened with the wiimote when people realized sweat + nun-chaku = ouchies and broken windows/tv monitors.

It'll happen with all kinds of technology.

Hell, even DDR mats come with tons of procedures to follow to avoid injury.

Does it mean people won't get hurt?

OF COURSE NOT. People get hurt all the time because they ignore warnings.

In this case, it could be both the machine and the man to blame... but personally, I agree with the company when they say it might be people using it oddly. Hell, I can just PICTURE it.

"GUYS! I CAN ARM WRESTLE THIS THING _BACKWARDS_!"

Yeah. I'm siding with the company. :D

I've played an arcade very similar to this. It's very difficult.

Even with two people, doing what some may refer to as "cheating", we couldn't get very far.

As to how arms broke, I have no idea. It must be more comsumer stupidity like with the Wii remotes breaking TVs.

I believe Altus Co has a medical supplies division that makes the plaster and bandages used in arm casts. I'd be willing to bet they did this on purpose to increase revenue for a struggling product line. And also, should we trust the author of this story? He's obviously using a pseudonym.

As someone who's played the game before it was removed, I have to completely disagree with you Filip. Such a statement is unfounded and cruel to the corporation. They're trying to make something fun and it went wrong; now they're taking it out.

Your argument is basically the same as saying:

Well, XBox360 does this and Microsoft makes this, so when their XBoxes broek and cost them millions, it was on purpose.

Think again, thanks. :D