Wonder Bowl

Wonder Bowl (ワンダーボウル Wandā Bouru) is a chain of bowling alleys operated by Bandai Namco Amusement (formerly Namco) in Japan. The first location was opened on June 25th, 1997, as part of a "Namco Wonder Park" in Imabari.https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/corporate/press/namco/1997/1997_june/news_june02.html The chain originally had extensive Pac-Man branding; including featuring Pac-Man on bowling uniforms, and using Pac-Man-themed software on the TV scoreboards.
A number of Wonder Bowl locations remain in operation today; however, their Pac-Man branding has been somewhat diminished.https://bandainamco-am.co.jp/others/bowling/ At least two locations retain the Pac-Man software as of 2023-24.https://note.com/numadot/n/n997e11ce9d24https://note.com/numadot/n/n71c13ccbe9aa
== Trivia ==
*The Wonder Bowl software is built off of Brunswick BowlerVision, an early computer-based bowling system released in 1988.https://ameblo.jp/ambidextrous-bowler/entry-12791200681.htmlhttps://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/02/11/bowling-computer-style-can-be-a-family-affair/
*In addition to standard 10-pin bowling rules, a number of special gameplay rounds and formats can also occur; such as "Wonder Challenges", which challenge the player(s) to earn a strike after they complete two full games."Nours" magazine, vol. 33 (Summer 2001), pages 8-9 Some locations also offer "missions" that award the player prizes if completed.http://blog.livedoor.jp/kogepa6358kwtn/archives/39728312.html
*Some locations in the 90s appear to have provided coloring pages of Pac-Man for customers; completed pages were displayed on the entrance counter.
*As with many Namco-operated locations at the time, Entertainment Goods Store products could be specially ordered from Wonder Bowl locations in 1999 via an application form.
== Gallery ==
=== Screenshots ===
Wonder-bowl-tv-scoreboard.jpg|TV display, scoreboard
Wonder-bowl-tv-strike.jpg|TV display, Strike indicator
=== Venue images ===
Wonder-bowl-entrance-sign-0.jpg|A directional sign pointing to a Wonder Bowl location
Wonder-bowl-w-namco-EGS-1999-mail-in-0.jpg|A Wonder Bowl entrance counter, circa 1999
Wonder-bowl-tv-console.jpg|A Wonder Bowl bench monitor
Wonder-bowl-lane-mission-cards.jpg|Two Wonder Bowl lane cards and a mission card
=== Artwork ===
Wonder-bowl-artwork-pacman-0.png|Pac-Man
Wonder-bowl-artwork-pacman-1.png|Pac-Man
== References ==
Category:Real-World locations and events
Category:Amusement attractions
Category:Retail locations