Gaming in Thailand (courtesy of HCK)

Even though I no longer update the Games of the World section on HG101, that doesn't mean interesting things aren't happening around the world. This photo, of an "arcade" in Thailand comes from GameFAN's Facebook page, courtesy of Charlie Maib, aka HCK, of Studio Happy Chicken Pink. I'm sure you'll agree it's pretty cool! As he put said in the original entry: Hey everybody, HCK here in THAILAND (yeah, I get around). While walking around the city of Pattaya, I stumbled onto an arcade, and it's nothing like I've seen in Japan or the States. Every cabinet was running off modified PS2 units, and 95% of them didn't even work. The biggest game they had? Ultraman 3. Take a look. The cabinet in the middle is stuck on the BIOS configure screen -HCK
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9YIgTry81VaGxpGwbmSHAbHnRI-ueWF1FxAJ7nBtK-KoHMV6GHIpaxGIQJQxKjCBu74RZH26UMrj7bPxMhezaF9zeNjR3NvKV0jN0SZ5gjeZAMOkpB_jegi0JpyZJZvpQ2p-MEUz_xzK/s1600/554833_347118515360446_63917335_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5750843081557160642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9YIgTry81VaGxpGwbmSHAbHnRI-ueWF1FxAJ7nBtK-KoHMV6GHIpaxGIQJQxKjCBu74RZH26UMrj7bPxMhezaF9zeNjR3NvKV0jN0SZ5gjeZAMOkpB_jegi0JpyZJZvpQ2p-MEUz_xzK/s400/554833_347118515360446_63917335_n.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" /></a><br />Even though I no longer update the <a href="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/GOTW/GOTWindex.html">Games of the World</a> section on HG101, that doesn't mean interesting things aren't happening around the world. This photo, of an "arcade" in Thailand comes from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/gamefanmag">GameFAN's Facebook page</a>, courtesy of Charlie Maib, aka HCK, of <a href="http://cltampa.com/dailyloaf/archives/2011/03/25/how-ex-army-journalist-charlie-maib-is-leading-the-western-invasion-of-erotic-japanese-gravure-films-pics-nsfw">Studio Happy Chicken Pink</a>. I'm sure you'll agree it's pretty cool! As he put said in <a href="http://www.facebook.com/gamefanmag#%21/photo.php?fbid=347118515360446&set=a.135674719838161.28354.111320565606910&type=1&theater">the original entry</a>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hey everybody, HCK here in THAILAND (yeah, I get around). While walking around the city of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattaya">Pattaya</a>, I stumbled onto an arcade, and it's nothing like I've seen in Japan or the States. Every cabinet was running off modified PS2 units, and 95% of them didn't even work. The biggest game they had? Ultraman 3. Take a look. The cabinet in the middle is stuck on the BIOS configure screen -HCK </span>

Super Power System cards revealed!

No one responded to our request for information on what the Super Power System cards actually are, so I went heavy Google Hunting, which sort of revealed an answer – IN THE THAI LANGUAGE NO LESS!

---

Turns out SPS cards are supposed to come with some kind of blacking-out semi-transparent plastic sheeting, which in the below photo shows that it combines with the black markers on the card to form numbers.


Presumably to then be used in some form of card battles. The plastic sheath appears to be called a “Scouter” and there was also an orange plastic one used for something else. Perhaps there were different types of Scouters, which augmented cards differently?



This would give the original SFII cards the following numbers, presumably:
Zangief – 90
Ryu – 43
M Bison – 80
Dhalsim – 48
E Honda – 04
Sagat – 94

And I couldn’t be bothered trying to work out what the rest meant. It’s all a bit disappointing, really, like some kind of cheap toy you’d get in a box of cereal.


But can you imagine, there must have been hundreds of kids all over Korea and Thailand trading and playing with these SPS cards back in the early 1990s. It was certainly similar in South Africa (where I recall Ninja Turtle stickers were hugely popular when I was young). I guess the urge for kids to collect and trade things is a universal trait, regardless of cultural background?

The photos were taken from a Thai forum. I Babelfished the original poster’s message:
***
DRAGON BALL CARDDASS COLLECTION & MORE ... Welcome friends. A visit to see friends this question to see the ball รา clot Card Collection of these I started accumulated since 1990 - 1991 ครับ. Some people may think it's tag is not just for me it is a great spiritual value. Just like many people like yourself is what's stored on them. Over time we see it back. Then give us a way to recall it when we do make? Happy every time I think the old days. We provide for this question. To people who are in love with me. Can talk and exchange experiences กันอ้อ! Also there is ด์ is the interchange can be done in the subject. This ครับ hope people have the same taste นะครับ caller. I will wait. If the old friends Rai Eriei to me. To see what may have passed from the hands of friends, some may view the other familiar objects that may be used to want to look? May be of ever existing. But later lost. One case or another. May be in store but not yet removed to the public. Hope this question will bring friends. To have these things. Be the subject of the meeting. Invite visits by disposition ครับ. After visits to be completed for complacency and smiles prior to a question from the other ครับ.
Dragon Ball CARDDASS Thai version ...... posted # 4.
* Device for playing cards SCOUTER, POWER SP SYSTEM.
* Three-dimensional cards.
* Card type energy use measured values of the human body temperature.
* Bonus cards from the pocket โอ de grandmother
* Card image circle.
* Book cards accumulated in the country.
* Types of cards found in Thailand
***

Well, the guy’s message certainly has passion, and it was kinda heart-tugging the way he spoke about cards traded with friends and given to him by his grandmother. Still, not quite the Barcode Battler of the South China Seas I was expecting.

If you want to read it yourself, see below
LINK

Click on the link at your own risk. This looks like the dodgiest foreign website I have ever seen... CAVEAT EMPTOR. Or rather, websurfer beware.

Man, someone should really archive his post, since I reckon it might be the only internet source for this stuff. Well, that and HG101!





<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5euDmerA0JBcrZd2EPycbBOTLf2oWs7k4zayRyWy3kweyL6LyqsJZdm2GO4mKMGXhGuHMY-Vus2mHCz4Bv5PplsMx-fBkGN9pFyt3hs-PeXaJzNJqtXXpfXHOfRI0I5eG2LJUAmre1UE/s1600-h/head2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373622919692456402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5euDmerA0JBcrZd2EPycbBOTLf2oWs7k4zayRyWy3kweyL6LyqsJZdm2GO4mKMGXhGuHMY-Vus2mHCz4Bv5PplsMx-fBkGN9pFyt3hs-PeXaJzNJqtXXpfXHOfRI0I5eG2LJUAmre1UE/s400/head2.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 200px;" /></a><br />No one responded <a href="http://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2009/08/super-power-system-cards-from-korea.html">to our request for information on what the Super Power System cards actually are</a>, so I went heavy Google Hunting, which sort of revealed an answer – IN THE THAI LANGUAGE NO LESS!<br /><br />---<br /><br /><span class="fullpost">Turns out <a href="http://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2009/08/super-power-system-cards-from-korea.html">SPS cards</a> are supposed to come with some kind of blacking-out semi-transparent plastic sheeting, which in the below photo shows that it combines with the black markers on the card to form numbers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Dq2sT0s66qVfI6Jz1OFXoPpzNNVRV9UId-Te2Q1piFu3DrxFzZgggSxn6Dz_WYRZg_iCZHszsouyu0mgCT8dDQIUhgwUT18QMVN8D5H-gUv2ZKcKRtu4Lss2eLXiMv9x2Ca2hx_ToCg/s1600-h/reveal.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373623558330598194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Dq2sT0s66qVfI6Jz1OFXoPpzNNVRV9UId-Te2Q1piFu3DrxFzZgggSxn6Dz_WYRZg_iCZHszsouyu0mgCT8dDQIUhgwUT18QMVN8D5H-gUv2ZKcKRtu4Lss2eLXiMv9x2Ca2hx_ToCg/s400/reveal.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 200px;" /></a><span class="fullpost"><br />Presumably to then be used in some form of card battles. The plastic sheath appears to be called a “Scouter” and there was also an orange plastic one used for something else. Perhaps there were different types of Scouters, which augmented cards differently?<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRP61FCh2S_n8DSikv-5MPIbXIQXvKFCUbyHX9_XMMKbuBMuQKl8NP0B0zg4bNMHyEEGeqFULdyWWGf584bovbwWFLBfP3UNWqV0tWghwn51gpcb8hexlFRgja1HcdLkHBx3p4TuHjY0/s1600-h/Scouters.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373623821008595586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRP61FCh2S_n8DSikv-5MPIbXIQXvKFCUbyHX9_XMMKbuBMuQKl8NP0B0zg4bNMHyEEGeqFULdyWWGf584bovbwWFLBfP3UNWqV0tWghwn51gpcb8hexlFRgja1HcdLkHBx3p4TuHjY0/s400/Scouters.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 200px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjES7-rtgG4jHKWTSmn1KKo7cMdzkQU3Rk3mcWn3svrRbsb296fVdsn9kM3g2H4XCW-pGgnGTWK5pw15qZxrdpGTVjBt9O1_qG_mfABzjzesawsF2E7ZU4WrCEppzIX5hfKr1armv_ykp8/s1600-h/Scouters2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373623681598110354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjES7-rtgG4jHKWTSmn1KKo7cMdzkQU3Rk3mcWn3svrRbsb296fVdsn9kM3g2H4XCW-pGgnGTWK5pw15qZxrdpGTVjBt9O1_qG_mfABzjzesawsF2E7ZU4WrCEppzIX5hfKr1armv_ykp8/s400/Scouters2.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 200px;" /></a><br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><a href="http://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2009/08/super-power-system-cards-from-korea.html">This would give the original SFII cards</a> the following numbers, presumably:<br />Zangief – 90<br />Ryu – 43<br />M Bison – 80<br />Dhalsim – 48<br />E Honda – 04<br />Sagat – 94<br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost">And I couldn’t be bothered trying to work out what the rest meant. It’s all a bit disappointing, really, like some kind of cheap toy you’d get in a box of cereal.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhprkabUJE94oO7n_AmlZpiySNhSWQWDPZm24vvnVNZeYdI0fmm8i5R_GOASwWrm-VH1WyYbp7y9yRxxDSGNPmoMjybhxB9kCxfYLiXzDT2lgsOq7C1AWaKH7aKPdU3D3tx2xAI1CgPk/s1600-h/more.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373623266852966946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhprkabUJE94oO7n_AmlZpiySNhSWQWDPZm24vvnVNZeYdI0fmm8i5R_GOASwWrm-VH1WyYbp7y9yRxxDSGNPmoMjybhxB9kCxfYLiXzDT2lgsOq7C1AWaKH7aKPdU3D3tx2xAI1CgPk/s400/more.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 200px;" /></a><br /><span class="fullpost">But can you imagine, there must have been hundreds of kids all over Korea and Thailand trading and playing with these SPS cards back in the early 1990s. It was certainly similar in South Africa (where I recall Ninja Turtle stickers were hugely popular when I was young). I guess the urge for kids to collect and trade things is a universal trait, regardless of cultural background?<br /><br />The photos were taken from a Thai forum. I Babelfished the original poster’s message:<br />***<br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">DRAGON BALL CARDDASS COLLECTION & MORE ... </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Welcome friends. A visit to see friends this question to see the ball รา clot Card Collection of these I started accumulated since 1990 - 1991 ครับ. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Some people may think it's tag is not just for me it is a great spiritual value. Just like many people like yourself is what's stored on them. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Over time we see it back. Then give us a way to recall it when we do make? Happy every time I think the old days. We provide for this question. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">To people who are in love with me. Can talk and exchange experiences กันอ้อ! Also there is ด์ is the interchange can be done in the subject. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">This ครับ hope people have the same taste นะครับ caller. I will wait. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">If the old friends Rai Eriei to me. To see what may have passed from the hands of friends, some may view the other familiar objects that may be used to want to look? </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">May be of ever existing. But later lost. One case or another. May be in store but not yet removed to the public. Hope this question will bring friends. To have these things. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Be the subject of the meeting. Invite visits by disposition ครับ. After visits to be completed for complacency and smiles prior to a question from the other ครับ. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br />Dragon Ball CARDDASS Thai version ...... posted # 4. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"> <br />* Device for playing cards SCOUTER, POWER SP SYSTEM. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /> * Three-dimensional cards. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /> * Card type energy use measured values of the human body temperature. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /> * Bonus cards from the pocket โอ de grandmother </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /> * Card image circle. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /> * Book cards accumulated in the country. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><br /> * Types of cards found in Thailand</span><br />***<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FWkmyNZVXMnn6D_u7tmV6SuBeY7TEiZZSXjGPNf-BgcRt-PmznpOAMh2d9bTAs_WMb-txr7I5JRSk2a63szrK0KJ_SK8aSJGFav38-N6yo0j0fnljux3r5EhkvZ6hUYdmS8QXkFgoRc/s1600-h/Gold+SPSP.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373623139362939874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FWkmyNZVXMnn6D_u7tmV6SuBeY7TEiZZSXjGPNf-BgcRt-PmznpOAMh2d9bTAs_WMb-txr7I5JRSk2a63szrK0KJ_SK8aSJGFav38-N6yo0j0fnljux3r5EhkvZ6hUYdmS8QXkFgoRc/s400/Gold+SPSP.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 200px;" /></a><span class="fullpost"><br />Well, the guy’s message certainly has passion, and it was kinda heart-tugging the way he spoke about cards traded with friends and given to him by his grandmother. Still, not quite the Barcode Battler of the South China Seas I was expecting.<br /><br />If you want to read it yourself, see below<br /><a href="http://forum.thaidvd.net/lofiversion/index.php/t62822.html">LINK</a><br /><br />Click on the link at your own risk. This looks like the dodgiest foreign website I have ever seen... CAVEAT EMPTOR. Or rather, websurfer beware.<br /><br />Man, someone should really archive his post, since I reckon it might be the only internet source for this stuff. Well, that and HG101!<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbQ1hQ710uUWpfwFF2_9urkfxiXL6mem-AxFkO0jmw7Z7WGk4g38tT-Qm0qCRZBhbIg3T4iSv1-VUzQYXKuVUCa6WDsqvFgi-Ew-xxWWVnQug5JZtlKorv6Jx6siE5cpSq0YtxHs1xus/s1600-h/Box+set.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373623049588606322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbQ1hQ710uUWpfwFF2_9urkfxiXL6mem-AxFkO0jmw7Z7WGk4g38tT-Qm0qCRZBhbIg3T4iSv1-VUzQYXKuVUCa6WDsqvFgi-Ew-xxWWVnQug5JZtlKorv6Jx6siE5cpSq0YtxHs1xus/s400/Box+set.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 200px;" /></a><br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><br /></span></span>