Season 1
11 listed episodes · First aired November 4, 2003
Season overview
The CX in the title comes from JOCX, the call sign of Fuji TV. Arino's Challenge began as a short segment in Season 1. Interviews made up most of each episode. ADs (Assistant Directors) introduced in Season 1: Naoki Yamada (M1 only) and Shinichiro Tojima (M5 onward). ADs typically "graduate" from the show after a season or two, but old favorites often return in new roles or on special occasions.
Episodes
In the first episode of Game Center CX, Arino visits Taito to learn it's history and play one of it's most difficult and cruel games Takeshi no Chousenjou. Upon first entering Taito he marvels at the Space Invaders mach…
E2Koei: Angelique TroisArino visits the headquarters of Koei to speak with the two men behind the Dynasty Warriors and Nobunaga’s Ambition series of games. He then speaks to a PR representative about another of their popular series, Angelique…
E3Capcom: Tekki (Steel Battalion)Arino enters the Capcom building in Osaka and meets his first interviewee: Keiji Inafune, the creator of Mega Man and Onimusha, among others. Then he interviews Hiroyuki Kobayash and Atsushi Inaba. Lastly, Arino takes a…
E4Sega: Roommania #203Rather than center on one company, this episode of Game Center CX explores an entire game series: specifically, Sega’s Sakura Taisen. Arino challenges Sega's Roommania #203 for the Sega Dreamcast. Contains interview wit…
E5Hudson: Star ForceThis episode centers on Hudson, featuring some of their hit games in the collection. The Challenge centers on Star Force where Arino must get the 50,000 bonus from Rarios; Takahashi Meiijin shows up to help Arino as wel…
E6ASCII: Astro Robo SASADuring this episode Arino's challenge is to defeat Astro SASA! Will he surpass this challenge or give in? Contains an interview with Hiroyuki Sonobe.
E7Namco: GalagaCan Arino blast every enemy in the arcade classic Galaga's first bonus stage?! Featuring interviews with Iwatani Toru (Pac-Man) and Endo Masanobu (Xevious, Tower of Druaga).
E8Chunsoft: Door DoorArino must trap six aliens at once behind one door in the Famicom classic Door Door. Featuring the game's creator, and Chunsoft founder Nakamura Koichi as well as an interview with Shinichiro Tomie.
E9Konami: Yie Ar Kung-Fu, Gradius, and Track & FieldIn this episode Arino is faced with a 3 round Konami challenge. He must go through challenges on the games Yie Ar Kung-Fu, Gradius, & Konami Hyper Olympics. Features extensive interviews with developers (Shingo Takatsuk…
E10Nintendo - Super Mario Brothers 2 - The Lost Levels (Part 1)Arino is faced with the difficult challenge of beating Super Mario Brothers 2 for the Famicom Disk System. He first practices is skills with the original Super Mario Brothers before moving onto Super Mario Brothers 2; w…
E11Nintendo - Super Mario Brothers 2 - The Lost Levels (Part 2)Previously bested by Super Mario Bros 2 (SMB: The Lost Levels), Arino vows revenge. Staff involved in the Pokemon games are interviewed including Satoshi Tajiri.