Arcade Game: Pole Position (1982 Namco/Atari)
411,857
Published 2015-04-07
This was the world's first 16-bit arcade game as well as video game powered by a 16-bit processor. Namco was the first company to accomplish this.
Pole Position was the first driving/racing game to be based on a real circuit
Note: The infinite time cheat was used since the time for the middle of the race is too short. The atari version is slightly different than the Namco originally which begins at 6:23.
All Comments (21)
-
That "PREPARE TO QUALIFY" voice was magic.
-
Graphics are beautiful for 1982. I think it's amazing that they were able to create an illusion of depth, rather than just racing from an isometric/overhead perspective.
-
No kidding the voice samples probably took up 1/8 of the entire game's memory. God bless them.
-
2:09 After a careful listen, my best guess is "Great driving, you've qualified to race". Good grief, audio compression is a bitch.
-
This game is one of my earliest and most infuriating memories!
-
back in the days, hearing this still amazing...sample and those arcades were magical in 1982..
-
This is the game that paved the way for all DRIVING VIDEO GAMES to follow after
-
Man it feels good to revisit this after all these years. I've actually realized now how accurate this game was. In the 80s they had turbo V6 engines, not the high pitched wailing V8/10/12 engines of the 90s-00s many are accustomed to. And Fuji Speedway was the track of choice for the Japanese Grand Prix back in the day before Suzuka Circuit. I'm glad they omitted the twisty turns before the straightaway. And you gotta love the cigarette and booze ads all strewn about haha. Good times.
-
The first ever Formula 1 game I played in my life ... The year was 1986 and my dad used to shift gears for me while I was stomping the pedal and steering the rudder -- sweet sweet memories 😢
-
I remember going to an arcade when I was a teen in Apartheid South Africa and spending all day at the Pole Position cabinet, Pole Position ate my 50c like it was nothing. Man I loved that game.
-
These were excellent graphics for 1982
-
Quick tip: you should probably shift into high gear when you are in a straightaway but shift back into low when you are turning
-
Forty years ago, this is how I got into simracing. We've come a long way. :-)
-
Loved this game when I was a kid. Wasn't any good at it so nice to see the game in full. I was amazed that the 16-bit computers never got a port of this but this is nice :)
-
Nostalgia! This game always “GAME OVER” message remains due to screen burn-in.
-
Um...you do know the car has a second gear, right?
-
"Prepare to qualify" just took me right back in time to Boscombe Pier in the 80s!
-
I don't always race my friends, but when I do, I race in low gear. lol
-
Amazing graphics, good enough for Corporations to do their product-placements in the game! This game was actually advertising Marlboro (to kids, no less).
-
That voice must’ve been mind blowing back in the day
