Chequered Flag [Model GX717]

Arcade Video game published 35 years ago by Konami Industry

Listed in MAME

Info

Chequered Flag © 1988 Konami.

Chequered Flag is an overhead-view racing game featuring rotational sprite scaling. The player races over a series of twisting courses, trying to reach the finish line before the timer expires.

The game includes a Pit-stop facility, a feature that had appeared a year earlier in Taito's "Continental Circus". Should the player's car sustain too much damage, a pit-stop must be made to implement repairs. A 'damage meter' at the bottom of the screen shows the severity of the damage; highlighting what car components are in need of repair; Engine, Front Tires, Rear Tires and Brakes.

Goodies for Chequered Flag [Model GX717]

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TECHNICAL

Game ID : GX717

Main CPU : KONAMI (@ 3 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Zilog Z80 (@ 3.579545 Mhz)
Sound Chips : Yamaha YM2151 (@ 1.789772 Mhz), (2x) K007232 (@ 3.579545 Mhz)

Players : 1
Control : 2 pedals (analog gas pedal and digital brake), limited-range steering wheel and high-low gear shifter
Buttons : 1 > start

TRIVIA

Chequered Flag was released in May 1988.

Another title is accessible via dipswitches: Checkered Flag. It doesn't change the speed unit into a mile per hour despite US-only spelling.

Some machines feature only a gas pedal.

Stage 1's circuit is a recreation of Suzuka circuit east course, stage 2 is driven on a deformed Circuit De La Sarthe, where the last stage (#3) is nearly full layout of Suzuka circuit - GP course without Casio triangle.

King Records released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Konami Game Music Collection Vol.1 - K30X7705) on August 5, 1988. This album was reprinted (KCIA-2309) on May 21, 1993.

UPDATES

Japanese version has the copyright notice forbidding to play outside Japan; it's shown after a few demo plays.

TIPS AND TRICKS

* Stage #3 doesn't require you to refuel, so drive into the pit only when tires, brake or engine are broken.

SOURCES

Game's ROM.