The VC Advantage: The Meijin Advantage
by JC Fletcher 
{ Apr 2nd 2008 at 10:30PM }
At last week's Hudson WiiWare event, two very awesome things were displayed: 1) Hudson's awesome WiiWare games, and 2) Hudson's spokesperson and mascot, Takahashi Toshiyuki, known to the world as Takahashi Meijin ("Famous Takahashi"). He's managed to carve out quite a career for himself based on his ability to jiggle his index finger sixteen times a second.
He first came into the public eye for being awesome at Star Soldier, which, in the days of the Hudson Shooting Caravan (a national, traveling shooter competition put on by Hudson), was a big deal. Hudson even began selling a device called the Shooting Watch that gauged your button presses per second. Beat 16 and you've beaten the Meijin! (You can simulate the Shooting Watch experience on the DS, or pick up a miniature version from Play-Asia).
Why do we bring up Takahashi now? Star Soldier R on WiiWare is based around the idea of the Shooting Caravan, with timed challenges designed to test your skill in a short period. Unlike previous Shooting Caravan games, you'll be able to compete from home, thanks to Wi-Fi leaderboards. With the competition opened up so, the next Takahashi Meijin could pop up any time now, from anywhere.
Both Super Star Soldier and Soldier Blade on the Virtual Console feature timed "Caravan Modes," so you can start training your reflexes, and your index fingers, now. Or you could get a Hori Periborg Ore-Commander and become a Takahashoid cyborg.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SoshiKitai @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:41AM
I wish I had one of them watches...
I have a technique that I use that can at least get NEAR if not the same (maybe even over) that record... but I'm not really pressing the button, in fact, I'm not even moving my finger...
...instead, I vibrate my hand, letting the vibration make all the movement.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:43AM
Just to be sure: Does he vibrate his hand or move his hand up and down so fast that it's impossible to track? ...because if it's the latter, no one can truly claim to be better.
TheCoats @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:46AM
WOW-I read a couple of sentences....then i starngly found myself looking at my index finger a shaking it......then i looked over and realized......another employee in the office was staring at me...........mustve looked stupid