![Omega Race [Upright model] [Model 929] Omega Race [Upright model] [Model 929] screenshot](images/game/1880_1.png)
Omega Race © 1981 Midway
Omega Race is a vector-based single-screen shoot-em-up set in the year 2003, in which the Omegan system has developed a way of training its warriors to protect their star colonies against invading alien androids. Players must pilot an Omegan Space Fighter to engage and destroy the aliens and the mines they have planted.
The Omegan Fighter can rotate through 360 degrees and thrust to move forwards, it's also armed with forward-firing lasers with which to shoot the enemy ships. Battles take place in an enclosed area and when the player's ship reaches the edge of the screen it bounces off an invisible barrier, although the barrier briefly appears when hit or shot.
As well as firing lasers at the player, some enemy ships also drop mines that must be shot or avoided. As players progress through the waves, the number of enemy attackers and their aggression increases.
![Goodies for Omega Race [Upright model] [Model 929]](images/covermini160/1880_1.jpg)
[Upright model]
[No. 929]
Main CPU : Zilog Z80 (@ 3 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Zilog Z80 (@ 1.5 Mhz)
Sound Chips : (2x) General Instrument AY8910 (@ 1.5 Mhz)
Screen orientation : Horizontal
Palette colors : 32768
Players : 2
Control : Spinner knob
Buttons : 2 (FIRE, THRUST)

Omega Race was released in June 1981 and was Midway's only vector game created.
According to Arcade Engineering co-founder (and former Allied Leisure designer) Jack Pearson, the idea for Omega Race came when some designers obtained a copy of Atari's Asteroids and created a new game by putting masking tape on the screen to create a track and they ignored the asteroids and were trying to fly around the track.
Omega Race differed significantly from Asteroids in a few respects. First, there was no 'wrap-around' (where you exit on one edge and return to the opposite edge). The walls would stop the player's fighter if it impacted them. Second, all the information such as high score and ships left were in a box in the middle of the playing field. Last, you could be expected to encounter multiple attackers in each wave. Although Omega Race wasn't a big seller, it still created a following. Unfortunately, this game came out when games such as Pac-Man were at their peak.
One thing of note is that the high score table will not display the initial FUK or FUC (early censorship at its best).
Thomas Gault holds the official record for this game with 3290900 points.
| Photon Mine | 350 points |
| Vapor Mine | 500 points |
| Droid Ship | 1000 points |
| Command Ship | 1500 points |
| Death Ship | 2500 points |