Nibbler [Model G-208]

Arcade Video game published 42 years ago by Rock-Ola Mfg. Corp.

Listed in MAME

Info

Nibbler © 1982 Rock-Ola Mfg. Corp.

A maze game where you control Nibbler the snake to eat food around the maze. With each food you eat, Nibbler gets bigger. Complete each level by eating all the food on the screen. You lose a life if Nibbler hits his own body.

Click to enlarge
(members only)

TECHNICAL/MACHINE PICT.

Model G-208

Main CPU : MOS Technology M6502 (@ 930 Khz)
Sound Chips : Custom (@ 930 Khz), SN76477 (@ 930 Khz)

Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick

TRIVIA

Released in December 1982, this is the first game to support a billion point score.

Japanese sales by Taito.

Rock-ola offered a free Nibbler machine to the first player to turn the game over by scoring a billion points. The early favorite was Tom Asaki, who came close but failed in attempts at Twin Galaxies arcade in Ottumwa IA (once when the joystick broke after he scored 793 million points). Tim McVey finally broke the billion-point barrier with a score of 1,000,042,270 points after six unsuccessful attempts (he passed out after one of them) and January 28 1984 was declared Tim McVey day in Ottumwa.

On December 25th, 2011, Tim McVey ended a lengthy Twitch stream with the new world record, 1,041,767,060 points.

UPDATES

There were at least 8 revisions of the game.

SCORING

Food Item	10 points x level.
Time Bonus	10 points per remaining second on clock x level.

TIPS AND TRICKS

* Nibbler does pause for a split-second when it hits a corner, so use this pause to decide your next turn.

* Try to collect the items on the inside of the maze first, as you can use the outer edges to move relatively safely when Nibbler is longer.

STAFF

Designed & programmed by : Joe Ulowetz (JHU), John Jaugilas (JMJ), Joe Bak (BAK), Lonnie Ropp (LDR)

PORTS

COMPUTERS:
Amstrad CPC (1984)
Apple II

SOURCES

Game's ROM.
Machine's picture.
Arcade Retro Lounge; http://tips.retrogames.com/