Re-release

Space War (c) 1977 Vectorbeam.

Vectorbeam license of Cinematronics' Space Wars.

The classic Space War game.

When the game starts, the ships would be in opposite corners, with a sun in the middle. The sun had an artificial gravity that would attract the ships to the center. If the ship would touch the sun, it would be destroyed. There were several options the players could choose at the beginning of the game:
- black hole (no sun)
- bounce off edges of screen
- travel through screen (like Asteroids)

If a ship was hit, a few parts could blow off, but the ship could still move and fire. A direct hit would destroy the ship.

- TRIVIA -

The game was also released in an upright cocktail model.

- SOURCES -

Machine's picture.

Unreleased

Scramble (c) 1978 Vectorbeam.

- TRIVIA -

It is not known if this ultra-rare game was ever actually released. Even the game play is unknown and has been variously described as a video pinball game and an 'inside-out Breakout'. It was the first original game Vectorbeam produced and was shown at the 1978 AMOA show. Larry Rosenthal vaguely recalls 65 units being sold to an overseas distributor (adp-Automaten, Germany) but notes that it may not have been released in the U.S. at all.

- STAFF -

Programmer: Dan Sunday
Add. Staff: Larry Rosenthal

- SOURCES -

Machine's picture.
All In Color For a Quarter - Keith Smith.

Star Destroyer Bosconian (c) 1981 Namco.

Bosconian is a multi-directional shoot-em-up set in space, in which the player pilots a small craft called the 'Star Fighter' and must destroy waves of green space stations that form part of a huge enemy fleet. Each station consists of six cannons arranged in a hexagon, surrounding a central core. To destroy a station, the player must either destroy all six cannons or shoot the core. The core can only be reached by precisely firing through a single, narrow channel that leads directly to it. In later rounds, the core is more heavily defended, with both a rotating shield and missiles. All enemy stations must be destroyed to progress to the next round.

Players must also avoid or destroy asteroids, mines, enemy missiles and fighter ships. The space stations will also occasionally launch squadrons of ships that attack in formation. Destroying the leader of a formation causes all remaining enemies to disperse but destroying all enemies in a formation scores extra bonus points.

A spy ship will often appear and if this is not destroyed quickly, the enemy alert level will change to red, and the alien ships will attack the player with much greater aggression and speed. The spy ships can be identified by their yellow and green coloring.

The game's three alert levels are:
* GREEN: No enemies are within view.
* YELLOW: A small number of enemies are present.
* RED: The enemy are aware of the player and will attack aggressively and at speed.

Although there is no in-game power-up available, the player's ship fires from both the front and rear simultaneously. A radar map to the right of the play area shows the position of the player ship relative to any remaining enemy space stations. Active enemy squadrons are also shown.

- TRIVIA -

Bosconian was released in November 1981 in Japan.

The game's complete title is "Star Destroyer Bosconian". The "Star Destroyer" part of the title appears exclusively on the game's title screen.

The 'Spy Ship' in this game also makes a cameo appearance in "Galaga" as one of the three "transform" ships.

The radar map to the right of the screen is identical in appearance to the radar map in both "Rally-X" and "New Rally-X".

In the game "Ridge Racer", a car has this game as a sponsor. It is a white and red car named 'RT Bosconian'. Its sister car, from another Namco game is a white and blue car named 'RT Nebulasray'. They were used in "Ridge Racer", "Ridge Racer 2", "Ridge Racer 64", and "Ridge Racer DS".

The origin of the keywords in Bosconian (as in the 'Zwilniks of Boskone') is the Lensman space-opera saga, which in Japan always enjoyed high popularity.
Bosconian : Boskonian
I-Type missile : Eich
P-Type missile : Ploor
E-Type misslle : Eddore

Ken McLeod holds the official record for this game with 2,913,150 points on February 24, 1983.

Other releases:
"Star Destroyer Bosconian [Cocktail Table model]" (Namco)

Export releases:
"Star Destroyer Bosconian [Model 550]" (Midway, Upright model)
"Star Destroyer Bosconian [Model 555]" (Midway, Mini-Myte Model)
"Star Destroyer Bosconian [Model 557]" (Midway, Cocktail Table model)

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Easter Egg :
1) Enter service mode.
2) Keep B1 pressed and enter the following sequence : Up(x5), Right(x6), Down, Left(x4). '(c) 1981 NAMCO LTD.' will be added at the bottom of the screen.

* The action starts immediately as soon as you start your game (the synthesized voice will say "Blast Off!" at the start of each new stage and each new life). Your fighter will be put on the screen. Your radar display will show how many space stations need to be taken out. The radar doesn't show, though, all the space debris all over the place and the enemy fighters (unless they are in formation). Your fighter stays in the middle of the screen.

* Be aware that the enemy missiles are faster than your ship. This means you will have to learn to use the joystick proficiently so that you can maneuver away from these enemy missiles attempting to commit suicide on your ship.

* At the beginning of the round, quickly look at your radar to determine where the Enemy Stations are. Then quickly figure out a systematic way of destroying them since time is one's enemy in this game. Just because they are lined up in a row doesn't mean that the missile bays are facing the same direction.

* By that same token, your ship fires lasers from both the front and back. This means if anything is trying to 'sneak' up on you, they won't stand a chance.

* Use the space debris to your advantage. You score points regardless of whether you hit the enemy, or if you use other means to assist, such as the mines or rocks. Just keep in mind that the space debris doesn't return until the next round.

* The Enemy Stations can be destroyed two ways :
1) The first way is to fire a shot directly into their missile bay. This is easy to do on the first two rounds. By round three, the missile bay has a door which opens and closes to make it more of a challenge. After round three, the station will fire a missile if your fighter is in the missiles path. You can easily destroy this missile with your ship.
2) The other way is to destroy all six cannons around the space station. This method also enables you to get more points in the long run. To do this, though, means you will have to deal with more enemy missiles since you have to constantly loop around to hit the cannons. In addition, the pods fire back on your ship.

* Enemy Stations can be oriented with the missile bay facing left/right or up/down. Keep this in mind if you are taking on multiple stations in one area. While you are pounding on one Enemy Station, three more may be firing at your ship to prevent you from destroying your target.

* The warning conditions tell you how safe it is for the moment :
1) GREEN means no enemies within view.
2) YELLOW means enemies present.
3) RED means that either you have taken too long, or you failed to destroy the Spy Ship while it was within range, and the enemy is now moving twice as fast to ram you.

* You will also hear a synthesized voice saying, "Blast Off!" at the start of each new round, "Alarm! Alarm!" when enemies attack, "Battle Stations!" when an enemy formation approaches, "Spy Ship Sighted!" when the Spy Ship appears, and "Condition Red!" when you enter the red condition.

* At regular intervals, a formation of enemy missiles will head toward your ship. You can see what the formation of these enemy missiles are in by looking at the area above the top, left corner of the radar. This will show you if they are in a line, checkerboard pattern, etc. You will also see this formation (represented by a red dot) on your radar screen. Some quick tips for tangling with formations :
1) Enemy formations always appear as a control missile with four missiles.
2) If you destroy the control missile, the other missiles will spread out. You can still destroy them, but it is much harder to get the points for taking out the entire formation.
3) Try to maneuver in such a way as to be able to rapidly hit all the missiles. This is of course barring the fact there is no other things (rocks and mines) in the way that can destroy these missiles. This works well when they are in a line. If they are in a checkerboard pattern, you will have to move back and forth so you can hit everything but the control missile.
4) When you hear the synthesized voice say "Battle Stations", it announces that a formation is present.

* As mentioned before, if you take too long to take out the Enemy Stations, the condition will go to RED and enemy missiles will pour into the area with the only intent of ramming your ship. You will know this also by the sound the machine makes, as well as the synthesized voice repeatedly saying "Condition Red!"

* Continue to fly erratic patterns (unless you are going after Enemy Stations or formations) because the enemy missiles do move quicker than you do plus you will probably be able to take them out more effectively.

* Just as in "Time Pilot", there is a way you can stay on a level for as long as you want (This works best on level 2) : Stay away from all the bases, and fly horizontally from left to right. Just fire continuously at all the formations that come at you. The other ships will never be able to come after you. There is no time limit in the game, and it never gets any harder. You can stay on this level for as long as you want. It takes a VERY LONG TIME, though, to get a LARGE score.

Bubbles (c) 1982 Williams.

- UPDATES -

A little-known strategy of the game is available once your bubble becomes large enough to have a face. The sponges and brush can no longer destroy it. Working from the right angle, a player can rack up extra points by shoving the sponges and brushes down the drain. The only drawback is that every time you throw your weight around in this manner you lose a little in size, until eventually you become vulnerable again.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Keep moving...you won't attract dirt if you just stand there. Also, Roaches are like heat-seeking missiles...they won't aimlessly wander because they WANT you.

* Go around the circumference/perimeter of the sink first, since they are the easiest to collect. Then work your way inwards.

* Dirt and crumbs will slowly head for the drain so you could spin around the drain, collecting them as they come.

* If the drain is flashing RED, back off! A Giant Ant/Roach is coming your way! Seek and capture the Cleaning Lady's broom (if there is one) to counter this threat.

* Do not try to out-run Roaches, because they are actually faster than your poor, slow-poke Bubble. Instead, out-maneuver them. Go in circles around them and pick up materials in the process. Once you have a smile, bid the ugly duckling farewell and head for the drain before you get bitten!

* If there is a low supply of materials abroad and you're not even close to getting a smile on your face...don't get the materials because it would speed your death up. Instead, use the remaining time to wait for the green light and go in! It might take a while. Hell, maybe the light will never come...

* DON'T BE SELFISH! You might want to try to collect more materials when you have a big, big smile on your face...it's not worth it. Take the safe road and go into the drain before someone kicks your head in.

* Try to collect the items around the drain, you get double points that way.

* Once you have a smile on your face, you can make the brushes/sponges bounce off without getting blown up. Try to aim them to the drain to add injury to the insult!

* Not really a tip... but the number of the level you are currently playing is on the top left corner. Once it goes past 99, it comes back to 01.

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[US] Sega Saturn (1996) "Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model T-9703H]"
[US] Sony PlayStation (apr.10, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLUS-00201]"
[EU] Sony PlayStation (sept.1, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLES-00323]"
[US] Sega Dreamcast (june.27, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9713N]"
[EU] Sega Dreamcast (jul.28, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9710D-50]"
[US] Sony PS2 (nov.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLUS-20801]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX (nov.24, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[US] Nintendo GameCube (dec.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model DOL-GAKE-USA]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] Sony PS2 (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLES-51927]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[US] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLUS-31083]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[EU] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLES-01768]"

* COMPUTERS:
[US] PC [MS Windows 3.1/DOS, CD-ROM] (1995) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[US] PC [MS Windows 95/DOS, CD-ROM] (1996) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[US] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (aug.27, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (nov.23, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Game's picture.
Many trivia from Williams Bubbles' Tribute page; http://www.bubblestribute.com

Sinistar (c) 1982 Williams.

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[US] Atari 2600 (1984) : was a prototype only. It was never released.
[US] Sega Genesis (1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits"
[EU] Sega Mega Drive (1996) "Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model T-97126-50]"
[US] Sega Saturn (1996) "Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model T-9703H]"
[US] Sony PlayStation (apr.10, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLUS-00201]"
[EU] Sony PlayStation (sept.1, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLES-00323]"
[US] Nintendo SNES (oct.1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SNS-AW8E-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo SNES (jan.8, 1997) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SNSP-AW8P-EUR]"
[US] Sega Dreamcast (june.27, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9713N]"
[EU] Sega Dreamcast (jul.28, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9710D-50]"
[US] Nintendo 64 (nov.14, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model NUS-NAIE-USA]"
[US] Sony PS2 (nov.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLUS-20801]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX (nov.24, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[US] Nintendo GameCube (dec.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model DOL-GAKE-USA]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] Sony PS2 (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLES-51927]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[US] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLUS-31083]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[EU] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLES-01768]"

* HANDHELDS:
[US] Nintendo GBA (nov.22, 2001) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits [Model AGB-AM3E-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo GBA (nov.30, 2001) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits [Model AGB-AM3P-EUR]"
[US] Sony PSP (dec.13, 2005) "Midway Arcade Treasures Extended Play [Model ULUS-10059]"
[EU] Sony PSP (feb.24, 2006) "Midway Arcade Treasures Extended Play [Model ULES-00180]"

* COMPUTERS:
Tandy Color Computer 3 (1989) "Sinistaar"
[US] PC [MS Windows 3.1/DOS, CD-ROM] (1995) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[US] PC [MS Windows 95/DOS, CD-ROM] (1996) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[US] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (aug.27, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (nov.23, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"

* OTHERS:
[US] Palm OS (aug.2001) "Midway Arcade Classic"
[US] Tiger Game.com (1997) "Williams Arcade Classics [Model 71-722]"

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Game's picture.

Robotron: 2084 (c) 1982 Williams.

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[US] Atari 2600 [unreleased prototype]
[US] Atari 5200 (1983) "Robotron: 2084 [Model CX5225]"
[US] Atari 7800 (1986) "Robotron: 2084 [Model CX7809]"
Atari XEGS
[US] Sega Genesis (1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits"
[EU] Sega Mega Drive (1996) "Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model T-97126-50]"
[US] Sega Saturn (1996) "Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model T-9703H]"
[US] Sony PlayStation (apr.10, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLUS-00201]"
[EU] Sony PlayStation (sept.1, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLES-00323]"
[US] Nintendo SNES (oct.1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SNS-AW8E-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo SNES (jan.8, 1997) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SNSP-AW8P-EUR]"
[US] Sega Dreamcast (june.27, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9713N]"
[US] Sega Dreamcast (jul.28, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9710D-50]"
[US] Nintendo 64 (nov.14, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model NUS-NAIE-USA]"
[US] Sony PS2 (nov.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLUS-20801]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX (nov.24, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[US] Nintendo GameCube (dec.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model DOL-GAKE-USA]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] Sony PS2 (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLES-51927]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (dec.2, 2005) [retired in 2010]
[US] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (dec.16, 2005) [retired in 2010]
[JP] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (dec.17, 2005) [retired in 2010]
[US] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[US] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLUS-31083]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[EU] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLES-01768]"

* HANDHELDS:
[US] Atari Lynx (1991) "Robotron: 2084 [Model PT5003]"
[US] Nintendo GBA (nov.22, 2001) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits [Model AGB-AM3E-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo GBA (nov.30, 2001) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits [Model AGB-AM3P-EUR]"

* COMPUTERS:
[EU] BBC Micro (1982)
[US] Atari 800 (1983) "Robotron: 2084 [Model RX8033]"
[US] Tandy Color Computer (1983) "Robotack"
[US] Commodore VIC-20 (1983) "Robotron: 2084 [Model RX-8520]"
[EU] Commodore C64 (1983)
[US] Commodore C64 (1983) "Robotron: 2084 [Model RX8521]"
[US] PC [Booter] (1983)
[US] Apple II (1983)
[EU] BBC B (1984) by Atarisoft
[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (unreleased)
[EU] Atari ST (1987)
[US] PC [MS Windows 3.1/DOS, CD-ROM] (1995) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[US] PC [MS Windows 95/DOS, CD-ROM] (1996) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[US] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (aug.27, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (nov.23, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"

* OTHERS:
[US] Tiger Game.com (1997) "Williams Arcade Classics [Model 71-722]"
[US] Mobile Phones (apr.5, 2005)

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Game's picture.
F.A.Q. by Kevin Butler A.K.A. War Doc
Passport @ everything2

Joust (c) 1982 Williams.

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[US] [JP] Atari 2600 (1983) "Joust [Model CX2691]"
[US] Colecovision : Unreleased prototype
[US] Atari 5200 (1983) "Joust [Model CX5240]"
Atari XEGS
[US] Atari 7800 (1986) "Joust [Model CX7806]"
[JP] Nintendo Famicom (oct.30, 1987) "Joust [Model HAL-JU]"
[US] Nintendo NES (Octboer 1988) "Joust [Model NES-JU-USA]"
[US] Sega Genesis (1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits"
[EU] Sega Mega Drive (1996) "Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model T-97126-50]"
[US] Sega Saturn (1996) "Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model T-9703H]"
[US] Sony PlayStation (apr.10, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLUS-00201]"
[EU] Sony PlayStation (sept.1, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLES-00323]"
[US] Nintendo SNES (oct.1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SNS-AW8E-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo SNES (jan.8, 1997) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SNSP-AW8P-EUR]"
[US] Sega Dreamcast (june.27, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9713N]"
[EU] Sega Dreamcast (jul.28, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9710D-50]"
[US] Nintendo 64 (nov.14, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model NUS-NAIE-USA]"
[US] Sony PS2 (nov.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLUS-20801]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX (nov.24, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[US] Nintendo GameCube (dec.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model DOL-GAKE-USA]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] Sony PS2 (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLES-51927]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (nov.22, 2005) [retired in 2010]
[EU] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (dec.2, 2005) [retired in 2010]
[JP] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (dec.10, 2005) [retired in 2010]
[US] Sony Playstation 3 [PSN] (may.24, 2007)
[EU] Sony Playstation 3 [PSN] (june.15, 2007)
[US] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[US] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLUS-31083]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[EU] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLES-01768]"

* HANDHELDS:
[US] Atari Lynx (1992) "Joust [Model PT5005]"
[EU] Nintendo Game Boy (1995) "Arcade Classic No. 4 - Defender & Joust [Model DMG-ADJP-UKV]"
[US] Nintendo Game Boy (oct.1995) "Arcade Classic No. 4 - Defender & Joust [Model DMG-ADJE-USA]"
[US] Nintendo Game Boy Color (mar.1999) "Arcade Hits - Joust & Defender [Model DMG-AADE-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo Game Boy Color (apr.1999) "Arcade Hits - Joust & Defender [Model DMG-AADP-EUR]"
[US] Nintendo GBA (nov.22, 2001) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits [Model AGB-AM3E-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo GBA (nov.30, 2001) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits [Model AGB-AM3P-EUR]"
[US] Sony PSP (dec.13, 2005) "Midway Arcade Treasures Extended Play [Model ULUS-10059]"
[EU] Sony PSP (feb.24, 2006) "Midway Arcade Treasures Extended Play [Model ULES-00180]"

* COMPUTERS:
[US] PC [Booter] (1983)
[US] Atari 800 (1983) "Joust [Model RX8044]"
ZX Spectrum (unofficial port) (1983)
Apple IIE (Jouster) (unofficial port) (1983)
Vic-20 (Space Joust) (unofficial port) (1983)
[US] [EU] Commodore C64 (1984) "Jouste"
BBC Micro (Atarisoft - unreleased)
Commodore 64 (Atarisoft - unreleased)
Vic-20 (Atarisoft - unreleased)
TI99/4A (Atarisoft - unreleased)
Sinclair QL (Knight Flight) (unofficial port) (1985)
[EU] Atari ST (1986)
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1986)
[US] Apple MacIntosh (1994)
[US] PC [MS Windows 3.1/DOS, CD-ROM] (1995) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[US] PC [MS Windows 95/DOS, CD-ROM] (1996) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[US] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (aug.27, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (nov.23, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"

* OTHERS:
[US] Palm OS (aug.2001) "Midway Arcade Classic"
[US] Tiger Game.com (1997) "Williams Arcade Classics [Model 71-722]"
[US] Mobile Phones (nov.1, 2004)
[US] Apple iPhone/iPod (feb.23, 2012) "Midway Arcade [Model 476467441]"

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Game's picture.
F.A.Q. by Kevin Butler A.K.A. War Doc

Stargate (c) 1981 Williams.

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[US] Atari 2600 (1984) "Stargate [Model CX26120]"
[US] Atari 5200 (1984) "Stargate [Model CX5219]"
[JP] Nintendo Famicom (sept.24, 1987) "Star Gate [Model HAL-SB]"
[US] Atari 2600 (1988) "Defender II [Model CX26120]"
[US] Nintendo NES (jul.1988) "Defender II [Model NES-SB-USA]"
[US] Nintendo SNES (oct.1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SNS-AW8E-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo SNES (jan.8, 1997) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SNSP-AW8P-EUR]"
[US] Sega Genesis (1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits"
[EU] Sega Mega Drive (1996) "Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model T-97126-50]"
[US] Sega Saturn (1996) "Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model T-9703H]"
[US] Sony PlayStation (apr.10, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLUS-00201]"
[EU] Sony PlayStation (sept.1, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLES-00323]"
[US] Sega Dreamcast (june.27, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9713N]"
[US] Sega Dreamcast (jul.28, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9710D-50]"
[US] Sony PS2 (nov.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLUS-20801]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX (nov.24, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[US] Nintendo GameCube (dec.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model DOL-GAKE-USA]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] Sony PS2 (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLES-51927]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[US] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLUS-31083]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[EU] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLES-01768]"

* COMPUTERS:
[US] Commodore VIC-20 (1982) "Defender II"
[US] Apple II (1983)
[US] PC [Booter] (1983)
[US] [EU] Commodore C64 (1984) "Guardian"
[US] PC [MS Windows 3.1/DOS, CD-ROM] (1995) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[US] PC [MS Windows 95/DOS, CD-ROM] (1996) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[US] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (aug.27, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (nov.23, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"

* OTHERS:
[US] Palm OS (aug.2001) "Midway Arcade Classic"
VFD handheld game (1982) by Entex
[US] Tiger Game.com (1997) "Williams Arcade Classics [Model 71-722]"

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Game's picture.
F.A.Q. by Kevin Butler A.K.A. War Doc

Defender (c) 1980 Williams.

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[US] Atari 2600 (1981) "Defender [Model CX2609]"
[US] Atari 5200 (1982) "Defender [Model CX5218]"
[US] Entex Adventure Vision (1982) "Defender [Model 6075]"
[EU] Emerson Arcadia (1982) "Space Squadron"
Atari XEGS
[JP] Atari 2600 (1983)
[US] Colecovision (1983) "Defender [Model 70002]"
[US] Mattel Intellivision (1983) "Defender [Model 70252]"
[US] Sega Genesis (1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits"
[EU] Sega Mega Drive (1996) "Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model T-97126-50]"
[US] Sega Saturn (1996) "Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model T-9703H]"
[US] Sony PlayStation (apr.10, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLUS-00201]"
[EU] Sony PlayStation (sept.1, 1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SLES-00323]"
[US] Nintendo SNES (oct.1996) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SNS-AW8E-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo SNES (jan.8, 1997) "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits [Model SNSP-AW8P-EUR]"
[US] Sega Dreamcast (june.27, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9713N]"
[EU] Sega Dreamcast (jul.28, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model T-9710D-50]"
[US] Nintendo 64 (nov.14, 2000) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Vol. 1 [Model NUS-NAIE-USA]"
[US] Sony PS2 (nov.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLUS-20801]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX (nov.24, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[US] Nintendo GameCube (dec.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model DOL-GAKE-USA]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] Sony PS2 (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLES-51927]"
[US] [EU] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (nov.15, 2006) [retired in 2010]
[US] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[US] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLUS-31083]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
[EU] Sony PlayStation 3 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLES-01768]"

* HANDHELDS:
[EU] Nintendo Game Boy (1995) "Arcade Classic No. 4 - Defender & Joust [Model DMG-ADJP-UKV]"
[US] Nintendo Game Boy (oct.1995) "Arcade Classic No. 4 - Defender & Joust [Model DMG-ADJE-USA]"
[US] Nintendo Game Boy Color (mar.1999) "Arcade Hits - Joust & Defender [Model DMG-AADE-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo Game Boy Color (apr.1999) "Arcade Hits - Joust & Defender [Model DMG-AADP-EUR]"
[US] Nintendo Game Boy Advance (nov.22, 2001) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits [Model AGB-AM3E-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo Game Boy Advance (nov.30, 2001) "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits [Model AGB-AM3P-EUR]"
[US] Sony PSP (dec.13, 2005) "Midway Arcade Treasures Extended Play [Model ULUS-10059]"
[EU] Sony PSP (feb.24, 2006) "Midway Arcade Treasures Extended Play [Model ULES-00180]"

* COMPUTERS:
[US] Tandy Color Computer (1982) "Starfire"
[US] Tandy Color Computer (1982) "Planet Invasion"
[US] Tandy Color Computer (1982) "Offender"
[US] Atari 800 (1982) "Defender [Model CXL4025]"
[EU] BBC B (1982) by Acornsoft
[EU] Sinclair Zx-Spectrum (1982) "Orbiter [Model 1]" by Silversoft
[US] TI99/4a (1983) "Defender [Model RX8506]"
[EU] Commodore C64 (1983)
[US] Commodore C64 (1983) "Defender [Model RX8508]"
[US] PC [Booter] (1983)
[US] Apple II (1983)
[EU] Oric-1 (1983) "Defence Force" by Tansoft
[US] Commodore VIC-20 (1983)
[EU] BBC B (1983) "Super Defender" by Acornsoft
[EU] Acorn Electron (1984) "Guardian" by Alligata
[EU] Acorn Electron "Gauntlet" by Micropower
[EU] BBC B (1984) "Guardian" by Alligata
[EU] BBC B "Gauntlet" by Micropower
[EU] Sinclair ZX-Spectrum (1984) "Starblitz" by Softek Software
[EU] Sinclair ZX-Spectrum (1984) "Defenda" by Interstella Software
[EU] Commodore C64 (1984) "Guardian" by Alligata
[EU] Commodore C64 (1985) "Guardian II" by Hi-tech Software
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1985) "Defend or Die" by Alligata
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1985) "Gauntlet" by Micropower
[EU] Sinclair ZX-Spectrum (1986) "Defenda" by Interstella Software : 128k version improved sound/graphics.
[EU] Sinclair ZX-Spectrum (1990) "Guardian II" by Hi-Tech Software Ltd 'UK'
[EU] Atari ST (1990) "Defender II" by ARC developments, Atari UK, limited
[EU] Commodore Amiga (1990) "Defender II" by ARC developments, Atari UK, limited
[EU] Commodore Amiga (1991) "Zeron" by Acid software
[EU] Commodore Amiga (1994) "Defender" - Shareware
[US] PC [MS Windows 3.1/DOS, CD-ROM] (1995) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[US] PC [MS Windows 95/DOS, CD-ROM] (1996) "Williams Arcade Classics"
[EU] Sam Coupe (1998) by Persona
[US] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (aug.27, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (nov.23, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] Tangerine Microtan 65

* OTHERS:
VFD handheld game (1982) by Entex
VFD handheld game (19??) by Gakken : the screen is a little smaller than the Entex version.
[US] Palm OS "Midway Arcade Classic"
[US] Tiger Game.com (1997) "Williams Arcade Classics [Model 71-722]"
[US] Mobile Phones (june.13, 2003) by THQ Wireless
[US] Apple App Store (feb.23, 2012) "Midway Arcade [Model 476467441]"

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Game's picture.
F.A.Q. by Kevin Butler A.K.A. War Doc

Asterix and the Secret Mission (c) 1993 Sega Enterprises, Limited.

- TECHNICAL -

[Model 2513]

- TRIVIA -

This game is based on the series of French comic books Asterix, originally written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo.

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.

Viper Phase 1 New Version (c) 1995 Seibu Kaihatsu.

- TRIVIA -

Released in August 1995 in Japan.

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Game's screenshots.

Viper Phase 1 (c) 1995 Seibu Kaihatsu.

A spin-off of the "Raiden" series.

- TECHNICAL -

Seibu SPI Hardware

Main CPU : I386 (@ 25 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Zilog Z80 (@ 7.15909 Mhz)
Sound Chips : YMF271 (@ 7.15909 Mhz)

Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 2

- TRIVIA -

Released in May 1995 in Japan.

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Game's screenshots.

Bank Panic (c) 1984 Sega.

A reaction-based shoot-em-up in which the player takes on the role of a gun-slinging Deputy, who has been charged with protecting the town bank from outlaws.

Each stage contains twelve numbered doors, with three doors visible on-screen at any one time. The player must scroll the screen left or right to bring other doors into view. At regular intervals, one or more doors will open to reveal either a bank customer or an outlaw. The customers must be allowed to deposit their money unharmed while the outlaws must be shot before they have a chance to shoot the deputy. Some of the outlaws must be shot twice before they are killed. If the player kills an innocent citizen, a player life is lost.

Doors will only open when they are on-screen and a level is only completed once cash has been deposited safely into the bank via each of the twelve doors. Each level has a tight time limit, so it's important to ensure that the player reaches the doors that are about to be opened as quickly as possible. Imminent visitors are indicated by a bar graph situated above each door, with a moving red marker showing the approach of either a customer or robber.

In addition to the outlaws, players must also be wary of time bombs that occasionally appear on one of the doors; this is indicated by both a timer and an icon above the door with the bomb. The bomb must be reached and its fuse shot before the timer runs out. As well as the outlaws and customers, a small, bow-legged cowboy occasionally appears holding gifts above his head, these can be shot for bonus points. Occasionally, an open door will reveal a town citizen bound by ropes. The player must shoot the ropes with a single shot to free the citizen.

Bonus points are awarded for the completion of a level, with the amount determined by remaining level time and the number of moneybags deposited. Players can choose to start the game on either level one, three or six, with the harder levels earning higher bonus points for stage completion.

- TECHNICAL -

Cabinet dimensions : 69,5inch. high x 27inch. wide x 32,25inch. deep.

Main CPU : Zilog Z80 (@ 3.86712 Mhz)
Sound Chips : (3x) Texas Instruments SN76496 (@ 3.86712 Mhz)

Players : 2
Control : 2-way joystick
Buttons : 3
=> [A] Left fire, [B] Center fire, [C] Right fire

- TRIVIA -

Bank Panic was released in December 1984.

Sanritsu is the actual developer of this game, and Sega produced and distributed it. In fact, if you look through the graphical data, you can see Sanritsu's logo amongst the different tiles and sprites.

The character's names are John, Sam (with a robber behind him), Hope (tied up with rope), Mary and Ann (with a robber behind her). Your character is simply referred to as the Hero.

Alessandro Giuriato and Gary Hatt share the official record for this game with 9,999,999 points on March 5, 1985 and May 27, 1987, respectively.

- SCORING -

Killing a gunman :
Before he draws his gun : 100 or 200 points.
With the timer on 0.00 : 5,000 points for red shirt gunman (may also earn EXTRA letter).
With the timer on 0.00 : 3,000 points for green shirt gunman.
With the timer on 0.00 : 2,000 points for brown shirt gunman.
With the timer on 0.01-0.10 : 1,000 points.
With the timer on 0.11-0.15 : 800 points.
With the timer on 0.16-0.20 : 700 points.
With the timer on 0.21-0.25 : 600 points.
With the timer on 0.26-0.33 : 300 points.

Shooting the bomb : 100 points.

Deposits :
First bag of money : 200 points.
Second bag of money through the same door : 400 points.
Third bag of money through the same door : 600 points.
Fourth or more bag of money through the same door : 1,000 points.
A money bag deposited at a door with a cashier present: 1000 points bonus.
Regaining a stolen money bag : 1000 points.

Shooting the rope on a customer who is tied up: 3 bags of money worth 1,000 points each (3,000 points total).

Shooting the hats: 100 points for the first one, 200 points for the second, 300 points for the third, etc...
Shooting the bag of money after all the hats : 1,000 points bonus.
There are only three and four hats on rounds 1 and 2 respectively.

Sometimes after a woman is help up and the gunman is killed, a 500 points bonus is awarded (woman peeks in the door before it closes, winks and a red heart is shown).

Sometimes after a man is help up and the gunman is killed, a 200 points bonus is awarded (man peeks in the door before it closes, smiles and waves).

If EXTRA is spelled, the player earns an extra life plus 20,000 bonus points, and the game advances to the next level.

End of level bonuses :
Money bags 1-12 : 50 points each
Money bags 13-24 : 100 points each
Money bags 25-36 : 150 points each
Money bags 37-48 : 200 points each

Fair average bonus :
0:00 awards 10,000 points.
0:01 awards 9,000 points.
0:02 awards 8,000 points.
0:03 awards 7,000 points.
0:04 awards 6,000 points.
0:05 awards 5,000 points.
0:06 awards 4,000 points.
0:07 awards 3,000 points.
0:08 awards 2,000 points.
0:09 awards 1,000 points.
0:10 and above awards no points (game displays 'non points').

Timer bonus : 100 points per click of time remaining.

Starting on Level 3 : 20,000 points bonus for clearing level 3.
Starting on Level 6 : 60,000 points bonus for clearing level 6.

Robber Bosses must be shot twice to be killed - you get two scores based on the time of each hit.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Try to always allow a gunman to draw, as you only score 100 points if he doesn't. If two or more gunmen appear take one out straight away, as it is a lot more difficult to kill more than one when they draw.

* You don't have to shoot the little guy with the hat an exact number of times, just once for each hat or more. So fire as many times as you can and you will get the bonus points.

* You should try to defuse bombs as soon as possible.

* Doors cannot be opened while you are moving, so move directly to the door you require without stopping.

* Watch the indicators above the door numbers to see which doors will be opening soon. If there are two next to each other, try to get only one of them on screen so you do not have to possibly contend with more than one gunman simultaneously.

* Sometimes after depositing money, the departing customer has a wanted poster with a number on it on their back. This indicates that the next customer at this door number will be a robber.

- STAFF -

Developed by: Sanritsu

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] Sega SG-1000 (1985)
Sega Master System (1987)

* COMPUTERS:
Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1985, "West Bank")
Amstrad CPC (1986, "West Bank")
Commodore C64 (1986, "West Bank")
MSX

- SOURCES -

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

Penguin Adventure (c) 1988 screen.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Heart: there is 4 types: red, green, blue and yellow.
Red: 1000 pts
Green: Timer +50
Blue: Ride a cloud and you can fly
Yellow: Invincibility and you can break by body-attacky

* Basic Items you can buy:
Gun: Fire and kill an enemy/boss.
Gold Feather: It enables moving left/right in jumping.
Hat with Propeller: It enables long jump. Flight duration is increased with holding Jump button.
Speed Shoes: Max speed up (8 though default is 6)
Bell: Warning tone is played when "Warp" point comes near.
Necklace: You can play a slot-machine as many times as you want (Default is 3 times)
Ring: No damage against sea anemone in the sea
Bracelet: It is required to get secret items
Gold Helmet: Guard a lighting attack by Mun-muku 3 times
Silver Helmet: Guard body-attack by Uniya and Harisen-uni 3 times
Cloth: Guard body-attack by Ahou and Bat 3 times
Glasses: It enables you to see the invisible enemy "Vega".
Torch: No damage when you hit the attack by Ika-dasu.
Map: It requires to finish several stage (otherwise, you zapped...)

* Bonus Stage: If you are in jumping at Dist = 420, wing item appears and you can go to bonus stage.
Get normal fish and golden fish (1UP!) before you hit a meteo or time over.

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.

The Grid (c) 2000 Midway Games, Incorporated.

- TECHNICAL -

Midway Zeus 2 hardware

Main CPU : TMS32031 (@ 50 Mhz)
Sound CPU : ADSP2104 (@ 16 Mhz)
Sound Chips : (2x) DMA-driven (@ 16 Mhz)

Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 6

- TRIVIA -

The Grid was released on July 17, 2000.

- PORTS -

Rumors to be released on Sega Dreamcast, Sony Playstation 2, even a less stronger system- Nintendo 64. The idea was canceled as the designers were concentrated on "Mortal Kombat V".

- SOURCES -

Game's picture.
Game's ROMs.

Traverse USA (c) 1983 Irem corporation.

An excellent moto racing game.

Enjoy the wind of American landscape, accelerating hard your motorbike across highways and desert roads, evading the rivals cars and obstacles on challenging narrow roads and curves, and take a good amount of fuel, to finish the race before running out of fuel!

The levels (and cities) are:
Los Angeles,
Las Vegas,
Houston,
St. Louis,
Chicago,
New York.

The 3 engine classes in this game are: 500 cc, 750 cc and 1200 cc. The higher the engine class is, the higher the speed is, but the motorcycle\motorbike is harder to control.

The Las Vegas -> Houston and St. Louis -> Chicago stages are ridden across deserts, where the remaining stages - on asphalt roads.

- TECHNICAL -

Irem M-52 hardware

Main CPU : Zilog Z80 (@ 4 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Motorola M6803 (@ 894.886 Khz)
Sound Chips : (2x) General Instrument AY8910 (@ 894.886 Khz), (2x) MSM5205 (@ 384 Khz)

Players : 2
Control : 2-way joystick
Buttons : 2

- TRIVIA -

Traverse USA was released in June 1983.

Later re-released as "Zippy Race".

Exported to the USA as "MotoRace USA" with license for Williams electronics inc.

The title can be changed in dip switches, from Traverse USA to Zippy Race.

The speed unit is also changeable in the switches, from a mile per hour to a kilometer per hour.

The engine classes are written in a cubic centimeter, independent on the release.

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Machine's picture.

Arkanoid Returns (c) 1997 Taito Corp.

The 3rd chapter in Taito's legendary 1 or 2-player bat and ball game, in which players once again control a paddle and must try to rebound a ball into patterns of bricks to remove them from the play area.

Each level is patrolled by enemies and certain bricks, when hit, release power-ups which then roll down the screen and can be collected by the player.

While the 3rd chapter contains 50 brand new levels for players to fight through, the actual gameplay itself remains unaltered from the first 2 games. The only real differences are a revamp of both the graphics and sound, as well as a number of minor enhancements to the in-game power-ups.

- TECHNICAL -

Runs on the "Taito F3 System" Hardware.

Prom Stickers : E36

Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick (or dial, changeable in the test mode)
Buttons : 2

- TRIVIA -

Arkanoid Returns was released in March 1997.
The only way to get an extra life is to pick a silver "P" capsule. There is no point threshold which awards an extra life.
Players can join the game at any time.
Completion of the game on regular set of levels (#1~#50) will show only a staff roll with no flying parts. But completion of more difficult levels (#51~#100) will show a bit different ending - Vaus flying around the space ship scrambled into parts. The parts themselves will fly on the staff roll occurring after the CGI sequence.
Level #100 is a confrontation with DOH.
The J release (probably for Japan) has a territorial notice not allowing to play outside Japan.
The A rom (probably for America) has a territorial notice not allowing to play South and North America.
The O rom (probably export rom for the rest of the world) has a copyright notice showing the rights to this game are owned by Taito corporation around the world.

Zachary Hample holds the official record for this game with 1589770 points on June 5, 2000.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -
OTHER SET OF LEVELS: to start the game on a different (way more difficult) set of levels, press (after you inserted a coin) button #1 3 times, then button #2 once and finally Start. The game will begin on stage #51.

- SERIES -

1. Arkanoid (1986, Arcade)
2. Arkanoid - Revenge of DOH (1987, Arcade)
3. Arkanoid - Doh It Again [Model SHVC-A6] (1997, Super Famicom)
4. Arkanoid Returns (1997, Arcade)
5. Arkanoid DS (2007, Nintendo DS)

- STAFF -

Planners : Atsushi Taniguchi, Yuji Koga
Programmed by : I.T.L.
Program support : Shunsuke Ono
Character designers : Chiho Maeda, Mari Fukusaki, Tomohiro Kagawa
Sound : Yasuhisa Watanabe (YACK), Ishikawa Babio (BABI)
Designer : Kumi Mizobe

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] Sony PlayStation (aug.7, 1997) [Model SLPS-00948]
[JP] Sony PlayStation (jul.1, 1999; "Arkanoid R 2000 [Model SLPS-86262 (TCPS10006)])"

- SOURCES -

Game's ROMs.
Game's screenshots.
Staff roll after game completion.

Tank Battalion (c) 1980 Namco, Limited.

Tank Battalion is a multi-directional shooter arcade video game.

The player, controlling a tank, must destroy 20 enemy tanks in each level, which enter the playfield from the top of the screen. The enemy tanks attempt to destroy the player's base (represented on the map as an eagle), as well as the player's tank. A level is completed when the player destroys all 20 enemy tanks, but the game ends if the player's base is destroyed (independent on the number of lives) or the player loses all his lives.

- TECHNICAL -

Game ID : TB

Main CPU : MOS Technology M6502 (@ 1 Mhz)
Sound Chips : Discrete circuitry

Screen Orientation : Vertical
Video Resolution : 224 x 256 Pixels
Screen Refresh : 60.00 Hz
Palette Colors : 512

Players : up to 2 (alternate)
Control : 4-Way Joystick
Buttons : 1 (Fire)

- TRIVIA -

Tank Battalion was released in October 1980.

Tank Battalion was licensed for manufacture in the United States by Game Plan, Inc.

High score is anonymous.

A Tank Battalion unit appears in the 1982 movie 'Jekyll & Hyde... Together Again'.

- SERIES -

1. Tank Battalion (1980)
2. Vs. Battle City (1985)
3. Tank Force (1991)

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
Emerson Arcadia 2001 [US] (1982) "Tanks A Lot" [Model 1007]

* COMPUTERS:
[JP] MSX (1984)
[JP] Sharp X68000 (1989) by Pineapple
[JP] Sharp X68000 (L. Sound)
Sord-M5 [JP]
PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] [JP] (nov.28, 1997) "Namco History Vol.2"

- SOURCES -

Game's picture.
Game's ROM.
Game's screenshots.

Tank Force (c) 1991 Namco.

- TECHNICAL -

Namco System 1 hardware
Game ID : TF

Main CPU : Motorola M6809 (@ 1.536 Mhz)
Sub CPU : Motorola M6809 (@ 1.536 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Motorola M6809 (@ 1.536 Mhz)
MCU : HD63701 (@ 1.536 Mhz)
Sound Chips : Yamaha YM2151 (@ 3.57958), Namco advanced 8-channel stereo WSG, stereo DAC

Screen orientation : Horizontal
Video resolution : 288 x 224 pixels
Screen refresh : 60.61 Hz
Palette colors : 24-bit RGB palette

Players : 2 (or 4)
Control : 4-way joystick
Buttons : 1 (FIRE)

- TRIVIA -

Released in December 1991.

The round 17 is an illustration of "Pac-Man".
Bosses are encountered every 4 rounds.
Players can join the game at any time.
The game has no high score table.
The powerups are mostly inspired by these from Battle City.
Extra life can be earned only after getting a tank powerup. There is no point threshold which awards an extra life here.

Victor Entertainment released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Namco Video Game Graffiti Vol.9 - VICL-8089) on 22/09/1993.

- UPDATES -

The US version is slightly different, it has the 'Winners Don't Use Drugs' screen. Moreover, it's fully in English.
The 4-player rom has no start button; instead the game begins after pressing the shoot button.

- SERIES -

1. Tank Battalion (1980)
2. Vs. Battle City (1985)
3. Tank Force (1991)

- STAFF -

Producers : Masaya Nakamura, K. Sawano
Director : Wan Wan
Game designers : Mr. Demo, Y. Kounoe
Programmer : Boku
Graphic designers : Mr. Demo, Mita Chan
Music composer : John
Adviser : Devil, S. Shimizu

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM,
Staff roll after game completion.

F1 Grand Prix Star (c) 1991 Jaleco Company, Limited.

A Formula 1 racing game.

- TECHNICAL -

Main CPU : (3x) 68000 (@ 12 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Motorola 68000 (@ 6 Mhz)
Sound Chips : Yamaha YM2151 (@ 3 Mhz), (2x) OKI6295 (@ 12 Khz)

Players : 1
Control : paddle
Buttons : 4

- TRIVIA -

F1 Grand Prix Star was released in December 1991.
Setting the region to USA or Europe (in dip switches) will display the speed in a mile per hour, where Japan or France setting will show a kilometer per hour.
Japanese setting doesn't have an option to choose a race course.
Germany course resembles (more or less) Hockenheimring before reconstruction.
Monaco course seems to be a bit wider in this game than on actual streets.
Japan course is a Jaleco's original.
This game has no scoring system; instead it has a top time table. If your time is 4th or lower-ranked, it will not be registered.
Up to 2 Grand Prix Star machines can be linked for double-player game.

- SERIES -

1. F1 Grand Prix Star (1991)
2. F1 Grand Prix Star II (1993)
3. F1 Grand Prix Star Jr. (1994)

- SOURCES -

Game's picture.
Game's ROM.
Game's screenshots.

Magic Garden (c) 1997 Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty, Ltd.

- TECHNICAL -

Aristocrat MK5 hardware.

- TRIVIA -

This game is also known as "Enchanted Forest". Despite the similar name and theme, it is not a clone of "Mystic Garden".

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.

Rapid Riches (c) 2005 Aristocrat.

A 5-reel video slot machine.

- TECHNICAL -

Aristocrat MKVI hardware.

- TRIVIA -

This game is known in the US as "White Water".

- SERIES -

1. White Water (2003)
2. Rapid Riches (2005)


- SOURCES -

Game's ROMs.

White Water (c) 2003 Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty, Ltd.

- TECHNICAL -

Aristocrat MKVI hardware.

- TRIVIA -

This game is known as "Rapid Riches" outside the US.

- SERIES -

1. White Water (2003)
2. Rapid Riches (2005)

- SOURCES -

Game's ROMs.

Hoss Shoes (c) 1971 Global Industries.

Horseshoes game.

- SOURCES -

Machine's picture.

Air Combat (c) 1993 Namco.

A cockpit flying game from Namco that tries to simulate an F-16 like aircraft. The game mainly involves dog fighting and has three levels of play; Cadet, Captain and Ace.

- TECHNICAL -

Dimensions :
77,12in. (195,5cm) High
110,62in. (279,4cm) Deep
42,81in. (106,6cm) Wide

Weight : 1041 lbs (471.5 kg)

Namco System 21 hardware
Game ID : AC

Main CPU : (2x) Motorola 68000 (@ 12.288 Mhz), M6809 (@ 3.072 Mhz), HD63705 (@ 2.048 Mhz), (2x) TMS32025 (@ 24 Mhz)
Sound Chips : C140 (@ 32 Khz), YM2151 (@ 3.57958 Mhz)

Screen orientation : Horizontal
Video resolution : 496 x 480 pixels
Screen refresh : 60.00 Hz
Palette colors : 32768

Players : 2
Control : Throttle lever, 8-way joystick
Buttons : 2

- TRIVIA -

Even if the title screen says 1992, Air Combat was released in June 1993 in Japan.

Note : You never die in this game! Instead you eject from the aircraft giving you a non-violent ending.

Victor Entertainment released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Namco Video Game Graffiti Vol.10 - VICL-40097, 40098) on 16/12/1993.

- SERIES -

1. Air Combat (1993, ARC)
2. Air Combat 22 (1995, ARC)
3. Ace Combat (1996, PSX)
4. Ace Combat 2 (1997, PSX)
5. Ace Combat 3 - Electrosphere (2000, PSX)
6. Ace Combat 04 - Shattered Skies (2001, PS2)
7. Ace Combat 5 - The Unsung War (2004, PS2)
8. Ace Combat Advance (2005, GBA)
9. Ace Combat Zero - The Belkan War (2006, PS2)
10. Ace Combat X - Skies of Deception (2006, PSP)
11. Ace Combat 6 - Fires of Liberation (2007, X360)
12. Ace Combat XI - Skies of Incursion (2009, Apple Store)
13. Ace Combat - Joint Assault (2010, PSP)
14. Ace Combat - Assault Horizon (2011, MULTI)
15. Ace Combat Infinity (2014, PS3)
16. Ace Combat 7 - Skies Unknown (2019, MULTI)

- STAFF -

Music composition by : Hiroyuki Kawada

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
Sony PlayStation (1995)

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Machine's picture.

Air Combat 22 (c) 1995 Namco.

The sequel to "Air Combat" featuring better graphics.

- TECHNICAL -

Was available as a dedicated deluxe cabinet or as an update kit for the original "Air Combat".

Deluxe cabinet dimensions : 78'' High x 43'' Wide x 111'' Deep.
Deluxe cabinet weight : 1090 lbs.

Namco Super System 22 hardware
Game ID : ACS

Main CPU : Motorola 68EC020 (@ 24.576 Mhz), (2x) TMS32025 (@ 49.152 Mhz), M37710 (@ 16.384 Mhz)
Sound Chips : C352 (@ 16.384 Mhz)

Players : 1
Control : Throttle lever, analogue joystick with trigger (2)
Buttons : 1

- TRIVIA -

Released in March 1995 in Japan.

This game was named Air Combat 22 because it ran on Namco's Super System 22 hardware.

The game has heavily influenced the Bandai Namco franchise/sequel; Ace Combat. Ace Combat's developers still admire Air Combat 22.

Victor Entertainment released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Namco Video Game Graffiti Vol.18 - VICL-15040) on 25/05/1995.

- SERIES -

1. Air Combat (1993, ARC)
2. Air Combat 22 (1995, ARC)
3. Ace Combat (1996, PSX)
4. Ace Combat 2 (1997, PSX)
5. Ace Combat 3 - Electrosphere (2000, PSX)
6. Ace Combat 04 - Shattered Skies (2001, PS2)
7. Ace Combat 5 - The Unsung War (2004, PS2)
8. Ace Combat Advance (2005, GBA)
9. Ace Combat Zero - The Belkan War (2006, PS2)
10. Ace Combat X - Skies of Deception (2006, PSP)
11. Ace Combat 6 - Fires of Liberation (2007, X360)
12. Ace Combat XI - Skies of Incursion (2009, Apple Store)
13. Ace Combat - Joint Assault (2010, PSP)
14. Ace Combat - Assault Horizon (2011, MULTI)
15. Ace Combat Infinity (2014, PS3)
16. Ace Combat 7 - Skies Unknown (2019, MULTI)

- STAFF -

Music & Sound by: Kazuhiro Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kawada, Keiichi Okabe

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Machine's picture.

Toobin' (c) 1988 Atari Games Corp.

Toobin' is a unique fantasy-adventure game. 1 or 2 players can race Bif and Jet, the Toobin' dudes, in their inner tubes, down 45 different rivers. The players try to keep Jet and Bif afloat, avoiding sharp objects, gaining points, and throwing cans at obstacles. Toobin' appeals to both males and females of all ages who both find it just 'fun to play'.

Toobin' has a continuous buy-in feature so players can join in at any time. Toobin' has a color-coded control panel and players can identify Jet in the yellow inner tube and Bif in the black inner tube and red shorts.

Each player has a set of four buttons to steer Bif or Jet forwards, backwards, and sideways. Pressing the two Paddle Forward buttons moves the inner tube forward. Pressing the two Back Paddle buttons moves the inner tube backwards. Pressing only one Paddle button makes the inner tube turn. The player uses the Throw Can button to destroy obstacles in the river and stun riverside pests.

Toobin' players can enjoy amusing game play and an incredible variety of rivers and environments for their long-term enjoyment.

The player races Bif or Jet against other players, or against the game, down Toobin's 45 different rivers, paddling through six classes of play, and cruising the 15 unique river environments. The player can choose almost 200 courses through the rivers, finding his own way through rapids, obstacles, riverside pests and waterfalls.

The player has to guide Bif or Jet around obstacles, go through gates and pick up treasure to accumulate points to get more inner tube patches, collect cans to throw at obstacles and to stun riverside pests, and paddle fast enough to avoid the big 'gator lurking in all the rivers.

At the finish line, players are treated to a party. Each party grows in size until the player reaches the final super party at the end of the game.

Inner-Tube Patches : At the beginning of each game, the player has a certain number of inner-tube patches, which represent game lives. A player receives extra patches by scoring the number of points required for another patch. The number of points required changes from level to level, and is displayed in the lower left and right corners of the playfield. A player can also receive more patches by picking up patches floating in the rivers.

Cans : The player must accumulate cans to throw at obstacles and pests. All cans are the same value. The player can pick up individual cans floating in all the rivers or six-packs hidden under obstacles or in back waters (Six packs give unlimited cans). The player throws the cans by pointing Bif or Jet at the obstacle and pressing the Throw Can button.

Most of the obstacles in the river can be eliminated by hitting them with a can.

Dangers : The player must avoid or eliminate dangers in the river and stun pests on the river banks. The dangers in the river include falling rocks, floating logs, deadly falling coconuts, icebergs, mines, stampeding cattle, snakes, crocodiles, barbed wire, and thorny bushes.

Dangerous riverside pests throw and shoot objects at Bif and Jet. The player can stun most of these objectionable characters with a can thrown in their direction. These pests include Casting fishermen, Hillbillies, Terrorists, Devils, Martians, Street punks, Pistolaros, Natives, Penguins, Bears, Dinosaurs, and Cavemen.

Big 'Gator : If a player is slow, the big 'gator comes up from behind to discourage slow play and hurry the player through the gates. A loud thumping sound warns the player of its presence. One escape from the big 'gator is to quickly paddle downstream or pass through a gate. If the gator catches Bif or Jet, one inner-tube patch is lost.

- TECHNICAL -

Game ID : 136061

Main CPU : Motorola 68010 (@ 8 Mhz), MOS Technology 6502 (@ 1.7895 Mhz)
Sound Chips : Yamaha YM2151 (@ 3.579 Mhz), POKEY (Pot Keyboard Integrated Circuit) (@ 1.7895 Mhz)

Players : 2
Buttons : 5

- TRIVIA -

Toobin' was released in June 1988.

1500 units were produced in the USA. The selling price was $2395. This was an unique cabinet (as did many Atari games of the time) that featured a large marquee behind which were two rotating drums, designed to give the impression of a flowing waterfall.

Toobin' was a classic example of Atari's genius approach to abstract game design, that would typify their heyday of the mid-to-late 80s.

Per the game designer, Dennis Harper: "Toobin' was my favorite game to make. It was totally my idea and creation. I hijacked mechanical designer Milt Loper into being a playfield designer. I wrote this complex tile-based playfield editor that made making playfields super quick. That's how just Milt and I cracked out dozens and dozens of the levels. Also, I am a fairly experienced musician, and I got to direct the music team to create super-unique tunes for each world. Generally, a ton of fun.

It took 4-5 months just to get the concept right. It was originally a kayaking simulator (hence the gates in the rapids). We even developed a custom "rowing" controller, based on the Star Wars gimbal. But we soon learned that people didn't understand how to row a kayak and were having no fun at all. Then, after playing a lot of Track and Field I came up with a way to re-use the "river technology" in a new, fun way. The Atari management showed patience and was always encouraging. Thank you Dan Van!"

The default high score screen of "Cyberball 2072" features names of many Atari arcade games, including TOOBIN.

Special Contest Feature : Every Toobin' game in the U.S. has a special contest. A player can win a free Toobin' t-shirt just for playing the game and finding and picking up all seven characters to spell the word Toobin' (including the apostrophe). These characters are hidden in the river below obstacles and hazards. The letters collected by the player are shown at the beach party at the end of the run. For more contest details, see the game (The offer expired December 1, 1988).

- UPDATES -

REVISION 1 :
* Build date : OS 09JUN1988 15 :25 :18 / PG 09JUN1988 18 :29 :59

REVISION 2 :
* Build date : OS 09JUN1988 15 :25 :18 / PG 14JUN1988 13 :49 :21

REVISION 2 (European release) :
* Build date : OS 16JUN1988 12 :45 :40 / PG 16JUN1988 11 :58 :15

REVISION 3 :
* Build date : OS 23JUN1988 10 :31 :30 / PG 23JUN1988 10 :29 :31

REVISION 3 (European release) :
* Build date : OS 23JUN1988 10 :42 :33 / PG 23JUN1988 10 :43 :06

REVISION 3 (German release) :
* Build date : OS 28JUN1988 12 :39 :41 / PG 28JUN1988 15 :38 :41

- SCORING -

The player can score points by :
* Time of Travel : The player receives points simply for traveling down the river.
* Passing through Gates. The player receives points for passing through the gates in the river. Different colored gates are worth different amounts of points. The green gates give the lowest points, then the red, gold, and finally crystal gates give the highest points.
If a players swishes a gate, that is, paddles through it without hitting the poles, he adds to his Score Multiplier (This is described in Score Multiplier below). For maximum points, the player should be the first through the gate and swish the gate. Each time the gate poles are hit, the point value of the gate falls.
* Score Multiplier. If a player swishes the gate, the score is multiplied. Each gate that is swished adds to the multiplier. For example, if the player has a 2X multiplier, each point scored is multiplied by 2.
Every point the player scores is multiplied by the score multiplier. The score multiplier is shown in the upper left and right of the playfield, underneath the game scores. The minimum multiplier is 1 and the maximum is 5. The player must pass through every gate (whether he swishes it or not) to maintain the score multiplier. If the player misses a gate, the score multiplier is reduced by one. As long as the player passes through the gate, even if he bumps it, the score multiplier is maintained. However, if a player's tube is punctured, his score multiplier falls to one.
* Treasures. The player can pick up treasures floating on the river or hidden under obstacles to gain extra points. The lowest-value treasure is green, next is red, and gold is the highest.
* Warp. The warp feature moves the player to the intermediate or advanced play classes. When the player warps, he is rewarded with warp bonus points. Warping is a good way to quickly score points.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* When you pick up a six-pack of cans, it's possible to park yourself close to a non-player character and rack up points by hitting them with the cans. The faster you are the better, so the beachball speed-up can be a big help here.

* When the alligator comes to eat you (because you're taking too long to progress down the river) just hit him with one of the cans. This also works for certain other obstacles such as the floating mines (seeking or non-seeking). If you are quick enough, you can re-destroy the same mine several times and release multiple bonuses such as letters, treasures, sixpacks, etc. You can only throw one can at a time so any can already thrown will disappear once you press throw again.

* Collect as many points as possible and try to push your opponent into obstacles. Swish up to five gates in a row and you will correspondingly advance your score multiplier (very important). Basic gates start at 2000, 1000, 500, 250. Once passed through the gates will decrease in points until they reach 100. Swishing a gate and then bumping it numerous times before your opponent can pass is an effective move. Pick-up cans (you can carry up to 9 at a time) or a sixpack (which gives you unlimited cans). The cans are used as "ammo" to hinder your opponent, stun other game characters, or to destroy certain obstacles (some obstacles are only temporarily destroyed). When you have a blowout you lose your sixpack and your score multiplier resets to 1. Your multiplier will go down each time you miss a gate.

* Obstacles in the water (icebergs, bushes, mines, etc.) can reveal hidden points, sixpacks, patches (extra life), beachballs (speedup), including the fabled colorful letters. These letters are worth 10,000 points a piece. Try to have your score multiplier as high as possible to maximize the letter bonus at the end of each class. Be on the lookout for the 25,000 point gate since swishing it can give you up to 125,000 points if your score multiplier is 5! Unlike the other gates however, you only get one chance at the 25,000. Also be on the lookout for falling rocks, jumping penguins, submarines with nasty torpedoes, etc. On the first and second start gate you can utilize the warp whirlpool that will send you to a higher class. Many non-player characters chase you along the way. Watch out for the alligator, he likes to come out when you stall and he always comes from the top of the screen. You must go through a gate to repel that alligator before he appears or before he gets you.

* A simple way to get a very high score : In only a minute or so, there's a way you can rack up over a million points. On Class 1, after going towards the first gate, direct your innertube to the right-hand side of the screen. You should see a sign that says 'This Way to Class 2' and a whirlpool should appear next to it. Shoot the twigs in front of the entrance and paddle back up. You will now be at the start of Class 2. Immediately move to the right of the screen, the same sign will appear, only this one warps you to Class 3. Shoot the iceberg in front, paddle back up and end up on class 3. The best part about the warps is that after each one, you get 600,000 points each. That's 1,200,000+ for doing very little work. An added bonus is that you will have four patches left in reserve thanks to the excess points you will have accumulated.

- STAFF -

Game designer : Milt Loper
Game programmer : Dennis Harper
Support programmers : Gary Stark, Russel Dawe (Rusty)
Animators : Will Noble, Mark West, Deborah Short
Audio : Brad Fuller, Hal Canon
Engineers : Gary Stempler, Doug Snyder
Technician : Dave Wiebenson

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[US] Atari 7800 (unreleased prototype)
[US] Nintendo NES (1989)
[US] Sony PlayStation (sept.30, 1999) "Arcade Party Pak [Model SLUS-00952]"
[EU] Sony PlayStation (feb.23, 2001) "Arcade Party Pak [Model SLES-02339]"
[US] Sony PS2 (nov.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLUS-20801]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX (nov.24, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
Nintendo GameCube [US] (dec.18, 2003) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model DOL-GAKE-USA]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] Sony PS2 (feb.6, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures [Model SLES-51927]"
Microsoft XBOX 360 [US] (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
Sony PlayStation 3 [US] (nov.6, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLUS-31083]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX 360 (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins"
Sony PlayStation 3 [EU] (nov.15, 2012) "Midway Arcade Origins [Model BLES-01768]"

* HANDHELDS:
Nintendo Game Boy Color [US] (may.18, 2000) "Toobin' [Model CGB-AOIE-USA]"
[US] Sony PSP (dec.13, 2005) "Midway Arcade Treasures Extended Play [Model ULUS-10059]"
[EU] Sony PSP (feb.24, 2006) "Midway Arcade Treasures Extended Play [Model ULES-00180]"


* COMPUTERS:
MSX [EU] (1988)
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1989)
[US] Commodore C64 [EU] (1989)
[EU] Commodore Amiga (1989)
[EU] Atari ST (1989)
[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1989)
PC [MS-DOS] [US] (1992)
[US] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (aug.27, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"
[EU] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (nov.23, 2004) "Midway Arcade Treasures"

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Game's picture.

Roadsters '98 [Prototype] (c) 1998 Titus

- STAFF -
Programmer: Jeff Frohwein
Sound: Robert Baffy
Tools: Robert Baffy
Misc Support: Mike Mika

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.

Mortal Kombat 4 (c) 1998 Midway Home Ent.

North American release.

- TECHNICAL -

Game ID: DMG-A4KE-USA

- TRIVIA -

Mortal Kombat 4 for Game Boy Color was released in December 1998 in North America.

- STAFF -
Programmer: Jeff Frohwein
Sound: Robert Baffy
Support: Robert Baffy, Mike Mika
Producers: William S. Schmitt, Troy Sheets
Executive Producer: Andrew Ayre
Technical Producer: Jeff Vavasour

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.

Yars' Revenge [Model DMG-AYVE-USA] (c) 1999 Telegames

- STAFF -
Code: Mike Mika
Music: Bob Baffy
Dedicated to: Micki, Jenny
Special Thanks: Howard Scott Warshaw

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.

Shamus [Model DMG-AVXE-USA] (c) 2000 Vatical Ent.

- STAFF -
Programmer: Cathryn Mataga
Sound: Bob Baffy
General Manager: Megan Quattrochi

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.

Freeze (c) 1996 Atari Games Corporation.

Freeze is a highly addictive, head-to-head, 3-D action-puzzle game where players join a wild cast of characters on an underwater fish sorting adventure. Players sort combos out of cute little fishies that swim, smile and wink. Challenge and strategy build as players learn different characters each possessing a unique special weapon. An exciting quiz game offers players an opportunity to race against time solving a multitude of colorful fishie puzzles. Combining these playful characters with the simple addictive gameplay will have players sorting fish in their sleep. The true challenge of any puzzle game.

- TECHNICAL -

Main CPU : R3000 (@ 33 Mhz), (2x) Jaguar (@ 26 Mhz)
Sound Chips : (2x) DAC (@ 26 Mhz)

Palette colors : 65534

Players : 2
Buttons : 3

- TRIVIA -

This game is an unreleased prototype running on the Cojag hardware (but don't use a hard disk). Two Freeze machines was showed up at the 2003 classic arcade games show 'California Extreme', San Jose, California.

- STAFF -

Producer: Mike Hally (MLH)
Programmer: Jun Amanchi (JUN), Norm Avellar (NLA)
Audio : John Paul (J P)
Animators: Nicholas Weigel
Sr. Engineering Tech. : Patrick Hubbell

- SOURCES -

Game's picture.
Game's ROM.
Game's screenshots.

Fishin' Frenzy (c) 1995 Time Warner Interactive.

You goal is basically to catch as many fish as you can without getting caught by one of the enemy creatures.

- TECHNICAL -

Main CPU : R3000 (@ 33 Mhz), (2x) Jaguar (@ 26 Mhz)
Sound Chips : (2x) DAC

Screen Orientation : Horizontal
Video Resolution : 360 x 240 Pixels
Screen Refresh : 59.00 Hz
Palette Colors : Unknown

Players : 2
Buttons : 3

- TRIVIA -

This game is an unreleased prototype running on the Cojag hardware.

- STAFF -
Game Design : Mike Hally
Programmers : Norm Avellar, Jun Amanai
Software : Mike Albaugh
Support : Dave Shepperd
Animator : Rhizaldi Bugawan
Music/Sounds : John Paul
Producer : Mark Stephen Pierce

- SOURCES -

Game's picture (bossyman15)
Game's ROM.
Game's screenshots.
See goodies section.

S.C.I. - Special Criminal Investigation (c) 1989 Taito corporation.

A direct sequel to 1988's "Chase H.Q.", S.C.I. once again puts the player in charge of an unmarked police car - this time a red Nissan 300ZX [Z32] T-Top turbo - in which the player must chase and capture a criminal mastermind before the time limit expires. Graphically, S.C.I. is very similar to its predecessor, although there are slight improvements with both a better use of color and the introduction of some weather effects; such as the rain on the stages #1 and #4. Unlike the first game, the player is armed with a gun; this is used to take out criminals and roadblocks as the player races against the time limit, and also to capture the criminal mastermind and make an arrest before the time limit expires.

- TECHNICAL -

This game was available in at least 3 different dedicated cabinets, plus it was also sold as a conversion kit for "Chase H.Q".
* The sitdown version is a strange plastic monstrosity with a huge monitor. This may have been a Japan only release, as the cabinet looks very similar to the popular Japanese cabinet style.
* The standup versions are all very solid wooden affairs, covered with full painted sideart (very few games still used painted sideart in the late eighties).
All versions use Happ Controls force feedback steering wheels (the ones that can spin all the way around), a high low shifter (different versions had this on different sides), and a single pedal (gas, but some versions featured also a brake pedal).

Taito Z System hardware
Board Number : M4300140A
Prom Stickers : C09

Main CPU : (2x) Motorola 68000 (K1100492A, K1100491A)
Sound CPU : Zilog Z80
Sound Chips : Yamaha YM2610

Players : 1
Control : Steering wheel, 2-speed gear shifter (high & low) + 1 or 2 pedals (depending on version)
Buttons : 3

- TRIVIA -

S.C.I. - Special Criminal Investigation was released in October 1989.

The player is given to control a red Nissan 300ZX [Z32] T-Top turbo.

The arrow on stages #3 and #4 always points right.

The player will always get only 1 turbo on stage #6. Failure to complete this stage will result in a game over with no possibility to continue.

Soundtrack releases :
S.C.I / Taito - Pony Canyon / Scitron - PCCB-00024 - April 21, 1990

- UPDATES -

The Japanese version shows speed in a kilometer per hour, world and US version use a mile per hour.

Nancy, in the World version, is called "Halen" or "Karen".

The Japanese version has a different voice and has less English text than in releases for the US and the rest of the world. Additionally, it has a territorial notice not allowing to play outside Japan.

The US version has the "Winners Don't Use Drugs" screen. Moreover, it has a territorial notice not allowing to play outside Mexico, Canada and the US.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

A little known, serious bug is in this game: Start a new game, and accelerate VERY slowly until your score reaches 90. Now STOP and just let the time run out. Once your game ends, don't continue, just let the timer run down. Once that happens, you'll notice that your score will SKYROCKET to the ridiculous amount of 76,543,210. Now go ahead and claim your top spot on the hi-score table (cheater!).

- SERIES -

1. Chase H.Q. (1988)
2. S.C.I. - Special Criminal Investigation (1989)
3. Super Chase - Criminal Termination (1993)
4. Ray Tracers (1997, Sony PlayStation)
5. Chase H.Q. 2 (2007)

- STAFF -

Project leader : George Jyuttute
Game designers : Hiroyuki Sakou, Fumio Horiuchi, Eiji Nishikawa
Software : George K-5, Yuichi Kikuchi, David Uematsu, Kazunori Sako
Character designers : Oolong Yamada, Gyoza Ohmae, Kawamoyan, Gishikun, Kazumasa Fuseya, Gomachan, Neko Minako, Kohzoh Igarashi, Senba Takatsuna, Tetsuya Shinoda, Takayuki Ogawa
Sound created by Team Zuntata : Takami Asano (Godiego)
Hardware : Masahiro Yamaguchi, Yuzuru Yoshimura
Mechanical designers : Itsuji Yamada, Kazuaki Sasaki, Takaaki Deguchi
Designer : Atsushi Iwaoka

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] NEC PC-Engine (jan.25, 1991) "S.C.I. - Special Criminal Investigation [Model TP03016]"
Amstrad GX4000 [JP] (1991)
[EU] Sega Master System (1992) "Special Criminal Investigation [Model 7079]"
[US] Sega Genesis (oct.22, 1992) "Chase H.Q. II [Model T-11106]"
[JP] Sega Mega Drive (oct.23, 1992) "Super H.Q. [Model T-11163]"
[JP] Sega Saturn (june.9, 1996) "Chase H.Q. + S.C.I. [Model T-1105G]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (jan.25, 2007) "Taito Memories II Joukan [Model SLPM-66649]"

* COMPUTERS:
[EU] Atari ST (1990) "Chase H.Q. II - Special Criminal Investigation"
Commodore Amiga [US] (1990) "Chase H.Q. II - Special Criminal Investigation"
[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1990) "Chase H.Q. II"
Amstrad CPC+ [EU] (1991)
[US] Commodore C64 [EU] (1990) "Chase H.Q. II - Special Criminal Investigation"

- SOURCES -

Game's manual.
Game's picture.
Game's ROMs.
Game's screenshots.

Full Throttle (c) 1987 Taito corp.

Full Throttle is a point-to-point racing game in which the player drives a Mazda RX-7 [FC] and must reach each stage's end-of-level checkpoint before the time limit expires to progress to the next stage.

The car is equipped with a limited number of nitro boosts that gives the car a temporary burst of speed when engaged. Forked junctions appear mid-way through each stage, allowing players to choose which route they wish to take.

- TECHNICAL -

Board Number : K1100273A
Prom Sticker : B14

Main CPU : (2x) Motorola 68000 (@ 12 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Zilog Z80 (@ 4 Mhz)
Sound Chips : Yamaha YM2151 (@ 4 Mhz), OKI MSM5205 (@ 384 Khz)

Players : 1
Control : Steering wheel + 2 pedals
Buttons : 2

- TRIVIA -

Full Throttle was released in October 1987 in Japan. It was known outside Japan as "Top Speed".

The Japanese version has a territorial notice not allowing to play outside Japan.

All versions show speed in a kilometer per hour, even the US release.

Full Throttle can be converted into Chase H.Q. - one of Taito's police themed games.

This game is Taito's response to Sega's "Out Run". This game was the forerunner of the Taito Z system on which Taito's driving games were based from 1988-91 (You can spot some similarities with "Continental Circus", the first of the Taito Z games).

The player is given to control a red Mazda RX-7 [FC].

Default high-score table (Best Drivers, score, stage, time and 3 initials):
1ST 450000 4 3'44''78 TAK
2ND 350000 3 2'55''45 ESH
3RD 260000 2 1'47''21 I.I
4TH 240000 2 1'50''14 RGV
5TH 220000 2 1'54''19 VFR
6TH 200000 2 1'55''21 YZF
7TH 180000 2 1'59''99 CBR

Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (The Ninja Warriors : G.S.M. Taito 1 - D28B0001) on June 21, 1988.

Zuntata Records released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Zuntata History L'ab-normal 1st - ZTTL-0038) on April 1, 1999.

- STAFF -

Project leader / Game designer : Hiroyuki Sakou
Game programmers : Kyoji Shimamoto, Takeshi Murata, Takeshi Ishizashi
Music composer : Masahiko Takagi
Sound effects : Eikichi Takahashi
Sound adviser : Hisayoshi Ogura
Hardware designer : Masahiro Yamaguchi
Custom I.C. designers : Shyugi Kubota, Katsujiroh Fujimoto, Toshiyuki Sanada
Graphic designers : Yoshihiko Wakita, Tetsuroh Kitagawa, Takako Uenoyama, Naoko Toshimitsu
Mechanical designer : Tomio Suzuki
Mechanical engineers : Nobuyuki Iwasaki, Akira Takahashi
Cabinet designer : Takeo Shiraishi
Art designer : Hiroyasu Nagai

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] Sony PS2 (mar.29, 2007) "Taito Memories II Gekan [Model SLPM-66713]"

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.

Chase H.Q. (c) 1988 Taito Corp.

"Chase H.Q." is a checkpoint-based racing game in which the player takes on the role on an undercover cop called Tony Gibson in this 'Miami Vice' inspired game from Taito corporation. Gibson drives a powerful unmarked police car (resembling an anthracite Porsche 928) along with his partner, 'Raymond Broady' and must chase down and apprehend various criminals.

The player has between fifty-five and seventy seconds (depending on the game's Dip switch; factory setting = 60 seconds) to catch up with the fleeing criminal(s), then the same time period again to repeatedly ram into the criminal's car until it is too damaged to drive. The criminal's car is constantly moving away, so if the player repeatedly crashes or drives too slowly, the criminal will escape and the game ends.

As with Sega's seminal "Out Run", "Chase H.Q." features forked junctions offering players a choice of routes. In this game, however, the route selected is only a temporary diversion and dictates how quickly the criminal is caught up with. The player's Porsche is equipped with a limited number of turbo boosts, when used a turbo boost pushes the car to incredible speeds, at the expense of control. The turbos must be used wisely if the player is to have a chance of capturing the criminal before the time limit expires.

The game consists of five levels, each with its own villain to capture.

The game's villains and the cars they drive are:
1. Ralph, the Idaho Slasher (white Lotus Esprit type 82)
2. Carlos, the New York armed robber (yellow Lamborghini Countach)
3. Chicago pushers (silver Porsche 911 [930])
4. L.A. kidnapper (blue Ferrari 288 GTO)
5. Eastern Bloc spy (red Porsche 928, initially unknown)

- TECHNICAL -

Taito Z System hardware
Prom Stickers : B52

Main CPU : (2x) Motorola 68000
Sound CPU : Zilog Z80
Sound Chips : Yamaha YM2610

Players : 1
Control : Steering wheel + 2 Pedal
Buttons : 2

- TRIVIA -

Chase H.Q. was released in October 1988 in Japan. It was arguably the first sprite-scaled racer since Sega's legendary "Out Run" - released 2 years' earlier - to truly capture the gaming public's imagination.

The names main characters of chase H.Q. are as follows:
The Caucasian cop : Tony Gibson
The African-American cop (A.K.A. Mr. Driver) : Raymond Broady
Chase H.Q.'s Dispatcher : Nancy (she doesn't have a last name).

The 1st stage always shows right arrow. The arrow on the 3rd stage, on the other hand, directs left. The 2nd, 4th and 5th stages feature a helicopter and the arrow direction is always random.

Full Throttle or Top Speed can be converted into Chase H.Q.

The main player's car (the black Porsche) makes an appearance in the spin-off to the Chase H.Q. series : "Crime City".

Brian Kuh holds the official record for this game with 3,596,680 points on June 1, 2006.

Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Syvalion : G.S.M. Taito 3 - D28B0014) on March 21, 1989.

- UPDATES -

The Japanese version has different voices and a territorial notice not allowing to play outside Japan.
The US release shows speed in a mile per hour.

- SERIES -

1. Chase H.Q. (1988)
2. S.C.I. - Special Criminal Investigation (1989)
3. Super Chase - Criminal Termination (1993)
4. Ray Tracers (1997, Sony PlayStation)
5. Chase H.Q. 2 (2007)

- STAFF -

Game Designer : Hiroguki Sakou
Game Programmers : Takeshi Ishizashi, Takeshi Murata, Kyoji Shimamoto
P.C.B Designer : Masahiro Yamaguchi
Sound Designers : Yoshio Imamura, Naoto Yagishita, Eikichi Takahashi, Fumiaki Imaoka
Music Composer : Takami Asano
Cabinet Designer : Nobuyuki Iwasaki
Proposer : Yoshiharu Suzuki
Special Thanks : Junji Yarita, Kazuya Mikata, Atsushi Iwata

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] Nintendo Famicom (dec.8, 1989) "Taito Chase H.Q. [Model DTF-H9]"
[JP] NEC PC-Engine (jan.26, 1990) "Taito Chase H.Q. [Model TP02006]"
[EU] Sega Master System (1990) "Chase H.Q. [Model 7038]"
[JP] Sega Saturn (aug.9, 1996) "Chase H.Q. + S.C.I. [Model T-1105G]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (mar.29, 2007) "Taito Memories II Gekan [Model SLPM-66713]"

* HANDHELDS:
[EU] Nintendo Game Boy (1991) "Chase H.Q. [Model DMG-HQ-NOE]"
[JP] Nintendo Game Boy (jan.11, 1991) "Taito Chase H.Q. [Model DMG-HQJ]"
[JP] Sega Game Gear (mar.8, 1991) "Taito Chase H.Q. [Model T-11017]"
Nintendo Game Boy Color [EU] (aug.1999) "Chase H.Q. - Secret Police [Model DMG-AH9P-EUR]"
Nintendo Game Boy Color [JP] (may.26, 2000) "Taito Memorial - Chase HQ - Secret Police [Model DMG-AH9J-JPN]"

* COMPUTERS:
[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1988)
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1989)
[EU] Commodore Amiga (1989)
[EU] Atari ST (1989)
[EU] Commodore C64 (1990)
[JP] Sharp X68000 (oct.1992)
FM Towns PC [JP] (1993)

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Machine's picture.

Rad Mobile (c) 1990 Sega.

Another in the long line of ground-breaking racing games from Sega, Rad Mobile is a twenty-stage race across America; starting in Los Angeles and finishing in New York. With the game's release, Sega yet again introduced new gameplay elements to the genre, primarily in the form of dynamic weather effects. Sega's 1989 racer, "Turbo Out Run", also included limited weather effects, but they were far less prominent as a gameplay feature and a good deal less impressive than they are here.

Another Sega innovation is that many of Rad Mobile's stages have banked corners; with the car's cockpit view tilting to match the driving surface. Some stages also have police patrols, and players must either avoid or outrun the police cars or risk being pulled over. Being pulled over will result in a loss of valuable seconds.

In addition to the tight time limit, rival drivers (represented as red cars) and heavy, two-way traffic, players now had to contend with heavy rain, thick fog and darkness. Windscreen wipers and headlights had to be manually switched on by the player which, together with the first-person in-car view, gave a more realistic and interactive feel to standard but undeniably superb racing action.

- TECHNICAL -

Deluxe model

Runs on the Sega "System 32" hardware.

Players: 1
Control: paddle
Buttons: 2

- TRIVIA -

Even if the title screen says '1990', the game was released in February 1991 in Japan.

Also released as "Rad Mobile [Upright model]".

Rad Mobile was Sega's first 32bit arcade game.

Sega's legendary game mascot, Sonic The Hedgehog, is shown in this game dangling from the player's rear view mirror. This is actually the first time Sonic ever appeared in a video game.

Round 17 (Pittsburgh) is driven after dark, but the game doesn't display a notification obliging you to turn the light on, unlike on previous rounds.

Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Formula : G.S.M. Sega 5 - PCCB-00059) on April 21, 1991.

A Rad Mobile unit appears in the 1992 movie 'Encino Man'.

- UPDATES -

The US version is slightly different, it has the "Winners Don't Use Drugs" screen. Moreover, the speed is shown in a mile per hour.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Rad Mobile's stages and relative driving conditions are as follows :
1. Los Angeles - Day
2. Mojave Desert - Day (2-way drive)
3. Las Vegas - Night
4. Provo - Rain (features police patrol cars)
5. Salt Lake City - Day
6. Rocky Mountains - Day (2-way drive)
7. Cheyenne - Thunder Storm (features police patrol cars)
8. Lincoln - Night
9. Omaha - Day
10. Kansas City - Fog (features police patrol cars)
11. St. Louis - Night
12. Springfield - Rain (2-way drive)
13. Chicago - Day
14. Indianapolis - Night
15. Cincinnati - Day (features police patrol cars)
16. Columbus - Dusk
17. Pittsburgh - Night
18. Washington - Fog (features police patrol cars)
19. Philadelphia - Day
20. New York - Day

* The two-lane, oncoming traffic levels, such as the Rocky Mountains, are easier than they appear. Rather than trying to pass cars on the left and risk a head-on collision, pass them on the right. This is particularly good advice for the Rocky Mountains stage as it's possible to fall over the cliff edge that is situated on the left-hand side of the course.

* A truck is blocking the route on round 12. You have to drive onto the rail tracks to avoid collision with it. Stay on these tracks until you see "DANGER" sign just before the "Round 12 end" banner. Then go back onto the road. Don't slow down on this round; the train's speed is more or less the same as the player's car.

* There are at least two endings to this game depending on what place the player finishes in and whether or not he or she used any shortcuts. The best ending is achieved by finishing in first place without using any shortcuts.

- SERIES -

1. Rad Mobile (1990)
2. Rad Rally (1991)

- STAFF -

Developed by Sega-AM2.

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] Sega Saturn (1994) "Gale Racer [Model GS-9003]"

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Machine's picture.

Super High Impact (c) 1992 Arena

- TECHNICAL -

GAME ID: T-81146

- STAFF -
Programmer: Darren Stubbington, Jeff Spangenberg
Graphics: Matt Stubbington
Music: Rick Fox

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.

1942 (c) 1984 Capcom.

1942 is a vertically-scrolling shoot-em-up set in the Pacific theatre during World War II, in which the goal is to reach Tokyo and destroy the entire Japanese air fleet.

The player pilots a plane dubbed the "Super Ace" (its appearance is that of a Lockheed P-38 Lightning) and has to shoot down waves of enemy planes while avoiding incoming enemy fire. The 'Super Ace' can perform a limited number of rolls or 'loop-the-loops' to evade enemy planes and shots. Just two lives are given to the player.

During the game, waves of red enemy planes periodically appear. If the player manages to destroy a red wave, a power-up, in the form of a 'POW' symbol, will be dropped and can be picked up. The power-up will award either increased fire-power (doubling the player's guns from two to four), a smart bomb that destroys all on-screen enemy planes the instant it's collected, two wingmen planes that flank the Super Ace and increase fire power, or simply extra points.

At the end of each stage the 'Super Ace' lands on an aircraft carrier and bonus points are awarded based on player performance. 1942 differs from other games in that its levels are numbered in reverse order, so the game begins at stage 32 and ends at stage 1.

- TECHNICAL -

Main CPU : Zilog Z80 (@ 4 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Zilog Z80 (@ 3 Mhz)
Sound Chips : (2x) General Instrument AY8910 (@ 1.5 Mhz)

Screen Orientation: Vertical.
Screen Resolution: 256x224
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Palette colours: 256

Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 2

- TRIVIA -

1942 was released in December 1984 in Japan. 1942 wasn't a Yoshiki Okamoto title, but designed by his former-classmate who joined Capcom a few years afterwards.

It was the first Capcom title to spawn a successful series of sequels, with six titles in the 19XX line released from 1984 to 2000.

Stage names:
Stages 32–29: Midway
Stages 28–25: Marshall
Stages 24–21: Attu
Stages 20–17: Rabaul
Stages 16–13: Leyte
Stages 12–09: Saipan
Stages 08–05: Iwojima
Stages 04–01: Okinawa

After the last boss plane on stage 02 is destroyed the screen displays:
CONGRATULATION
YOU ARE THE BEST OF PLAYER !
FIGHT LAST ONE STAGE

Stage 01 is displayed as LAST STAGE.

After the last stage is complete the screen displays :
WE GIVE UP!
SPECIAL BONUS
10000000 PTS
GAME OVER
PRESENTED BY CAPCOM
PS. HOPE OUR NEXT GAME.
(c) CAPCOM

Default High-score table ('Top 5 ranking score!!') :
TOP 40000 (c) CAPCOM 0
2ND 35000 ALL 0
3RD 30000 RIGHT 0
4TH 25000 RESERVED 0
5TH 20000 EXEDEXES 0

In the default high-score table, some previous Capcom Games appear. Since the Demo Mode only shows the top five, you need to play the game and to make a score of approximately 10,000 points (To enter in the top ten).
The number 5 (20,000 points) appears as 'EXEDEXES'.
Number 6 is 'VULGUS' (9,999 points).
Number 7 is 'SONSON' (8,888 points).
Number 8 is 'HIGEMARU' (7,777 points).
Number 9 is again 'EXEDEXES' (6,666 points).

The game ROM contains an unused Bomb sprite and an unused Star bonus items sprite.

Martin Bedard of Saint-Lazare, Quebec, Canada holds the record for this game with 13,360,960 points on November 19, 2006.

Soundtrack album releases :
Capcom Game Music (28XA-94) (August 25, 1986) [Alfa Record]
Capcom Game Music [Reprint] (SCDC-00193) (June 19, 2002) [Scitron Discs]
Legend of Game Music~Premium Box (SCDC-00410~7) (March 24, 2005) [Scitron Discs]

- UPDATES -

In the two oldest versions of the game, there's a bug in the scoring system for earning bonus lives. This bug was fixed in Revision B.

- SCORING -

Small planes are 30, 50, 70, 100, 150, or 200 points each.

The small red planes that fly formations of five or ten are 100 points each. Shooting all the planes in the five-plane formation awards 500 bonus points. Shooting all the planes in the ten-plane formation awards 1,000 bonus points. In both cases, when the last plane of a formation is destroyed, a power-up marker appears and is worth 1,000 points when picked up.

Occasionally a small airplane comes slowly out of the lower left or lower right hand side of the screen and flies towards the top. When hit, it turns into a special figure which awards 5,000 points when picked up.

Medium size planes are 1,000 or 1,500 points each.

Large bomber planes start at 2,000 points each. The score for each consecutive bomber destroyed without the player dying is 500 points more than the previous one, up to a maximum of 9,000 points. When the player's ship is destroyed, the score for the bombers is reset back to 2,000 points.

There are four boss planes. They appear at the end of stages 26, 18, 10, and 02 :
The stage 26 boss plane is worth 20,000 points.
The stage 18 boss plane is worth 30,000 points.
The stage 10 boss plane is worth 40,000 points.
The stage 02 boss plane is worth 50,000 points.

For all enemy planes that require more than one hit to kill, each hit on them gives 100 points.

At the end of each stage a bonus is awarded for shooting down percentage and for unused loops :
100% = Special bonus 50,000 points (in older revisions, the game displays 10,000 points bonus but 50,000 points are actually awarded).
95-99% = 20,000 points
90-94% = 10,000 points
85-89% = 5,000 points
80-84% = 4,000 points
70-79% = 3,000 points
60-69% = 2,000 points
50-59% = 1,000 points
Under 50% = 0 points
Unused loops are 1,000 points each.

Finishing the final stage awards 10,000,000 points.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* On Stages 27, 20, 15, 08, and 04, a V-formation of red planes will come straight down from the top. If all five of the planes are destroyed, a Black/Red POW appears, giving the player an extra airplane when picked up.

* On stages with the wingman power-ups, use them to kill off the large bombers easily by crashing a wingman into them. You will get a second chance to get them back later on.

* On the stages with the boss planes, save all your loops; shoot at it quickly, loop down to avoid the shots, shoot at it again and THEN loop. You should be able to kill it this way.

* Most of the time it is easier to keep only one wingman rather than both; that way it's easier to maneuver around enemies. If you miss the red airplanes that give you the wingman powerup, kill off your plane (assuming you have some remaining) and the game will place you back before them.

* An interesting bug : If you win an extra plane from points when killing a boss plane, no extra planes will be awarded on the basis of points. Extra planes can still be obtained by getting the Black/Red POW, but no point-based bonuses will be awarded for the rest of the game.

* The end of stage bonus for 100% shooting down is actually 50,000 points, even though the game displays a 'special' bonus of only 10,000 points.

When the player loses all of his ships, the game offers to continue for another credit. If this option is chosen, the game continues where it left off but the score is reset to zero.

* There are six kinds of powerups : Quad fire, destroy all enemies on screen, two wingmen, make enemies stop shooting temporarily, extra loop, and extra life. Note that the destroy all enemies powerup does not destroy the small slow plane that has the 5,000 bonus item pickup.

Quad fire power-ups are found on Stages 32, 28, 24, 20, 16, 12, 08, and 04.
Destroy all enemies power-ups are found on Stages 31, 21, 19, 18, 11, 07, 03, and 01.
Wingman power-ups are found on Stages 30, 26, 22, 18, 14, 10, 06, and 02.
Extra life power-ups are found on Stages 27, 20, 15, 08, and 04.
Stop shooting power-ups are found on Stages 27 and 15.
Extra loop power-ups are found on Stages 23, 18, 17, 13, 09, and 05.

* % and point up Stages are 29, 25, 21, 17, 13, 09, 05, 01. During these stages none of the enemies fire on the player except the large bomber planes.

* If the player earns enough bonus planes so that ten ships or more are in the reserve, the ten remaining ships indicators are replaced by the Greek letter Sigma (?).

- SERIES -

1. 1942 (1984)
2. 1943 - Midway Kaisen (1987)
3. 1943 Kai - Midway Kaisen (1988)
4. 1941 - Counter Attack [B-Board 89625B-1] (1990)
5. 19XX - The War Against Destiny [Green Board] (1995)
6. 1944 - The Loop Master [Green Board] (2000)
7. 1942 - Joint Strike (2008, PSN/XBLA)

- STAFF -

Designed by: Yasushi Okawara
Programmed by: Tamio Nakazato
Backgrounds by: Kuramo-san
Music by: Ayako Mori
Hardware designed by: Hiroshi Maki

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] Nintendo Famicom (dec.11, 1985) "1942 [Model CAP-19]"
[US] Nintendo NES (nov.1986) "1942 [Model NES-NF-USA]"
[JP] Sega Saturn (aug.27, 1998) "Capcom Generation Dai 1 Shou Gekkitsui Oh no Jidai [Model T-1232G]"
[JP] Sony PlayStation (aug.27, 1998) "Capcom Generation Dai 1 Shou Gekkitsui Oh no Jidai [Model SLPS-01535]"
[EU] Sony PlayStation (sept.3, 1999) "Capcom Generations 1 - Wings of Destiny [Capcom Generations Disc 1] [Model SLES-01881]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX (sept.27, 2005) "Capcom Classics Collection"
[US] Sony PS2 (sept.27, 2005) "Capcom Classics Collection [Model SLUS-21316]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX (nov.18, 2005) "Capcom Classics Collection"
[EU] Sony PS2 (nov.18, 2005) "Capcom Classics Collection [Model SLES-53661]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (mar.2, 2006) "Capcom Classics Collection [Model SLPM-66317]"
[JP] Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console Arcade] (dec.21, 2010)
[AU] [EU] Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console Arcade] (jan.21, 2011)
[US] Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console Arcade] (jan.24, 2011)
[JP] Sony PlayStation 3 [PSN] (feb.19, 2013) "Capcom Arcade Cabinet [Model NPJB-00210]"
[EU] Sony PlayStation 3 [PSN] (feb.20, 2013) "Capcom Arcade Cabinet"
[JP] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (feb.20, 2013) "Capcom Arcade Cabinet"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (feb.20, 2013) "Capcom Arcade Cabinet"
[AU] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (feb.21, 2013) "Capcom Arcade Cabinet"
[US] Sony PlayStation 3 [PSN] (apr.16, 2013) "Capcom Arcade Cabinet: Game Pack 5 [DLC]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (apr.17, 2013) "Capcom Arcade Cabinet: Game Pack 5 [DLC]"
[US] Sony PlayStation 3 [PSN] (may.21, 2013) "Capcom Arcade Cabinet: All-In-One Pack [DLC]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX 360 [XBLA] (may.22, 2013) "Capcom Arcade Cabinet: All-In-One Pack [DLC]"

* HANDHELDS:
[US] Nintendo Game Boy Color (may.2000) "1942 [Model CGB-AQ4E-USA]"
[EU] Nintendo Game Boy Color (aug.24, 2001) "1942 [Model CGB-AQ4E-EUR]"
[JP] Sony PSP (sept.7, 2006) "Capcom Classics Collection [Model ULJM-05104]"
[US] Sony PSP (oct.24, 2006) "Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded [Model ULUS-10134]"
[EU] Sony PSP (nov.10, 2006) "Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded [Model ULES-00377]"
[AU] Sony PSP (nov.16, 2006) "Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded"

* COMPUTERS:
[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1986)
[US] [EU] Commodore C64 (1986)
[JP] MSX (1986)
[JP] MSX2 (1986)
[EU] Amstrad CPC [Disk] (1986) by Elite
[EU] Amstrad CPC [Tape] (1986) Encore Edition by MCM
[EU] Amstrad CPC [Tape] (1986) Elite
[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1987) Budget Edition
[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1987) Encore Edition by Elite
[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1987) Encore Edition by MCM
[JP] FM-7 (may.1987)
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1987) "6-Pak"
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1988) "Frank Bruno's Big Box"
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1989) "12 Top Amstrad Hits"
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1990) "Top 17"
[US] PC [CD-ROM](2003) "Capcom Arcade Hits Volume 2"
[US] PC [CD-ROM] (dec.21, 2004) "Capcom Coin-Op Collection Volume 1"

* OTHERS:
[US] Apple iPhone/iPad (nov.4, 2010) "Capcom Arcade [Model 397347348]"

- SOURCES -

Game's ROM.
Game's picture.

CDPL1 (c) 1995 Almathera Poland

- TRIVIA -

The author compiled the CD twice due to a hard disk failure. Almathera Poland was a company owned by his wife, based in Ostrow Wlkp, Poland.

- STAFF -

By: Andy Beard

- SOURCES -

Compilation's disc.