Smash T.V. [Model 3044-U1]

36 Years old Arcade Video game Williams Electronics Games, Inc. [Chicago, IL, USA]

Smash T.V. © 1990 Williams Electronics Games, Incorporated.

Smash TV is a single-screen shoot-em-up for one or two players and is set in a futuristic game show in the year 1999. Contestants must enter enclosed arenas and compete to collect prizes, money and keys, while fighting to stay alive as they are attacked on all sides by waves of enemies.

The game is a sequel to the legendary Robotron: 2084 and like its prequel, utilizes a dual joystick control system, with the left stick controlling player movement and the right controlling the direction of fire.

Enemy waves enter each arena from four directions via open doorways and all must be killed before players can progress to the next stage. Some arenas feature static gun emplacements set into a wall that must also be destroyed. Power-ups that improve weapons, speed and armor appear at regular intervals, although each only lasts for a limited time.

Smash TV is broken down into stages, each with a set number of arenas. Tough end-of-level bosses await at the end of each stage. As well as the prizes and power-ups, keys can be collected and if enough have been picked up by the end of the game, players can access a bonus level called the Pleasure Dome.

Click to enlarge
(members only)

TECHNICAL / MACHINE PICT.

The first series of cabinet was released with 19-inch monitors while the more common second series was fitted with 25-inch monitors.

Williams Y Unit hardware
Game No. 3044-U1

Main CPU : TMS34010
Sound CPU : Motorola M6809
Sound Chips : Yamaha YM2151, DAC, HC55516

Players : 2
Control : Double 8-way joysticks

Machine Picture
(members only)

TRIVIA

Smash T.V. was released in April 1990 in North America.

A superb spiritual sequel to 1982's legendary single screen shoot-em-up, Robotron: 2084. The Classic Robotron game-play is enhanced further with the addition of power-ups and imaginative and challenging end-of-level bosses. The two-player game introduced a very high level of competitiveness as both players try to beat each other to the power-ups, prizes and keys.

The game seems to be based, at least in part, on the sci-fi action movie, 'The Running Man', starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. This movie itself was based on a book of the same name by Stephen King (under the pseudonym 'Richard Bachman').

One of Smash TV's more memorable elements was the game show host; at random intervals, a garishly suited, grinning host would pop up and enthusiastically announce such memorable sound-bites as, 'Total carnage! I love it!', 'I'll buy that for a dollar!' (taken from the 1987 movie Robocop), 'I love it!', 'Big money! Big prizes! I love it!'.

A Smash T.V. sequel was planned, but the project never got past the planning stage and nothing more was heard of it. While Smash TV has yet to see a fully-fledged sequel, it WAS followed by a semi-sequel in the form of 'Total Carnage'; a military-themed scrolling shoot-em-up which was housed in a cabinet very similar to that of Smash T.V.s and shared the same dual joystick controls. Upon completion of Total Carnage's incredibly difficult first level, a message screen appeared stating that "all Smash T.V. players should quit and flee from this machine" before Total Carnage's already high difficulty level increased further. A solid follow-up to an already challenging game.

On the 2005 video game Grand Theft Auto - Liberty City Stories, there is a side-mission called 'Slash TV', which parodies this game, where the player's character is surrounded by enemies, and is awarded cash for eliminating waves of them. The camera angle changes from the game's traditional third-person to a slightly angled overhead view so it looks like the original.

UPDATES

Revision 1 :
* Software version 3.01.

Revision 2 :
* Software version 4.00.

Revision 3 :
* Software version 5.00.
* Added the 'Reset secret warp' (see 'Tips And Tricks' section for more info).
* Reduced difficulty (Factory setting : 3 (easy) instead of 5 (medium)).

Revision 4 :
* Software version 6.00.

Revision 5 :
* Software version 8.00.
* Added the famous 'Pleasure Dome'.
* Changed some 'in-game texts'.

TIPS AND TRICKS

* Smash TV Game Rules:
1. Move with LEFT joystick to avoid enemies and gather prizes (cash and game show gifts).
2. Fire weapons with RIGHT joystick and collect power-up icons for increased firepower.
3. Advance to next game arena when enemies are gone.

* Secret Warp (Works on 5.00 and Up):
When you start a game of Smash T.V. on the first level, reset the machine, it'll take you to the 'Secret Warp 3' and take you to the third boss stages.

* Difficulty:
The game is known to adjust its difficulty by the daily high score list. If the high scores are too high, making the game too hard, just reset the machine :).

* Don't try to conserve ammo. Your shots should be efficient and kill as much as possible, and you won't have time to think about conserving shots (especially in the latter stages). The pattern of moves you should follow at the end of each board to reach the easiest boards is:
Level 1: right, up; and then you have no choices.
Level 2: up, right; and then again, no choices.
Level 3: right, right, down; and then you have no choices.

* When playing with 2 people, if one player finishes the level near an exit, the other will 'walk through the wall' to the next room. Can be useful on some levels.

STAFF

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