Casio Mini Up

Mini Up
Katakana	ミニアップ; ミニアップ14
Rōmaji	MINIAPPU
AKA	Mini Up 14; Mini Up 18 (later option)
Type	Sitdown
Released	1982
Dimensions	450 x 460 x 1300 mm
Monitor	stock:14 in; per request: 18 in (Toei)

One of the most iconic Dagashiya type cabinets is the Casio Game Mini Up with its stock 14" monitor, the big brother of the minuscule Casio Mini Mini B 14". It bears the same 18mm thick plywood construction as the Mini Mini, same width and depth too, same internal light system turning on when opening the service door and similar smoked glass planel.

Casio Mini Up is of the same generic format as the Jaleco 18" Pony Video Game

As the name implies, "mini upright", a format used not only by Casio but soon by many other competitors, describes a very small upright, in fact a sitdown with an exotic naming as one would need to hunch over to an incomfotable degree or be of rather very small stature to play in true upright style, which means children might have been the public aimed. As means of comparison the Capcom Mini Cute stands at exactly the same height: 1300mm yet is considered a sitdown type. In times when Dagashiya style cabs ruled in small venues such as Japanese candy shops, small bars and snacks, the term "mini upright" might have been a commercial ploy to give the cabinet some sort of value to the potential owner, giving the impression one had the quality and aura of a full sized cabinet but in an extremely compact format that could fit virtually anywhere.

Initially available only in 14", shortly after Casio Game offered the same cabinet in 18" as an option, *keeping all other dimensions the same (to be confirmed...)*. The brand and model of monitor are not specified in most ads and flyers yet available, but an 1982 small ad specified 14" Toei Musen (Toei). Rotation of the monitor to Tate is possible according to a couple of rare adverts, but according to some seasoned owners, it is not very practical and difficult to adjust once positioned in Tate.

A Casio Mini Up DX (DX = Deluxe) cabinet was released around the same time, but with different dimensions , featuring a pair of striated vents and surprisingly 10cm smaller than the non DX Mini Up. Also the Dx version differed in width depending if it was 14" or 18" versions, whereas the non DX kept its original dimensions with both monitor sizes.

• Note: It seems Taito sold a "Mini Upright" cabinet in late 1982-early 1983, manufactured and or distributed by TOAI (トーアイ) company of Tokyo, that was quasi identical if not the exact same. It seems to have been be so popular in Japan that lately a commemorative miniature decorative 1/12th scale repro has been sold for die hard collectors (called "Helmets Retro Upright Arcade Cabinet Taito Kit"). It is highly possible the Casio Mini Up was a generic "dagashiya" model that has seen numerous rebrandings for big name videogame companies.

Gallery

• 
  1984 advert
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  Flyer (Mini Up : bottom, middle)
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  Light bulb supposed to turn on when service door is opened, for ease of maintenance
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  1982 advert : 14" monitor by Toei Musen, rotatable.