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Pole Position
Boxart of the Atari 2600 version
Developer(s)	Namco
Publisher(s)	Namco (Japan), Atari (USA)
Platform(s)	Arcade
Release date(s)	1982
Genre(s)	Arcade-style racing
Mode(s)	Single-player
Input methods	Steering wheel, Gear shifter, Pedals
Cabinet	Standard and Sit-down
Arcade system	Namco Pole Position
CPU	Z80 @3.072 MHz 2x Z8002 @3.072 MHz MB8844 @256 kHz
Sound	Namco @48 kHz Namco 52XX @1.536 MHz
Display	Raster, 256 x 224 pixels (Horizontal)

Pole Position is a racing video game released in 1982 by Namco. It was published by Namco in Japan and by Atari, Inc. in the United States. The game popularized the use of sprite-based, pseudo-3D graphics with its "rear-view racer format"—where the player’s view is behind and above the vehicle, looking forward along the road with the horizon in sight—which would remain in use even after true 3D computer graphics became standard for racing games.

[edit] Gameplay

Gameplay of Pole Position.

In this game, the player controls a Formula One race car. The player completes a time trial lap within a certain amount of time to qualify for an F1 race at the Fuji Racetrack. After qualifying, the player race against other cars in a championship race.

Pole Position was the leading game in arcades worldwide due to its relatively realistic graphics for the time. While it wasn't the first game to use the "rear-view racer format" (the first was Turbo (1981) by Sega), it pioneered the format which is used in many games today. It also led to contemporary imitators of the format, most notably Sega's Out Run in 1986.

[edit] Development

For release in the United States, Namco approached Bally Midway with a choice of two games in 1982. Bally Midway chose Mappy while Atari was left to publish Pole Position, which turned out to be the most popular game of 1983.

[edit] Advertising

This game was an early example of product placement within a video game, with billboards around the track advertising actual products.^[1]

The game has also become synonymous with the original television commercial promoting the game.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Legacy

[edit] Ports

Pole Position was ported to a number of home computers and consoles by Atarisoft in the early 1980s. In the mid-1990s Pole Position made a comeback on Windows PCs when it was included as part of Microsoft Return of Arcade. It later appeared on the Sony PlayStation system in a game collection named Namco Museum. Since then, Pole Position has been included in most Namco Museum releases, such as on the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Xbox. Fuji Speedway was renamed in the Museum releases and a plug-in and play tv version.

A Pole Position (Puffer Version) was created—but not published— that used the Puffer exercise bike controller.

A version of Pole Position was released for iPod on January 21, 2008. On September 14, 2008, a version of Pole Position was released for the iPhone and iPod touch titled Pole Position: Remix. The game features upgraded graphics and several different control methods, but remains similar in content to the original. The version of Pole Position also has tracks from Pole Position II and new track called Misaki Point.

[edit] Sequels

Pole Position II was released in 1983, and adding three additional courses along with the original Fuji track. It features slightly improved graphics, as well as a different starting tune.

While many considered the three-screened racer TX-1, released in 1984 by Atari and designed by Tatsumi to be a sequel to Pole Position II, the true sequel arrived in 1987 with the release of Final Lap, which may be considered an unofficial Pole Position III.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Other Media

The title spawned a cartoon of the same name despite there being very little in common between the two.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References

1. ^ "ポールポジション／Ⅱ" (in Japanese). http://qtchicks.hp.infoseek.co.jp/namco_pp.html. Retrieved 2009-07-03. 

[edit] External links

• Pole Position at the Killer List of Videogames
• Pole Position guide at StrategyWiki
• Pole Position at MobyGames
• "Arcade History Database entry". Archived from the original on 2007-12-12. http://web.archive.org/web/20071212232601/http://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=2000. 
• Pole Position at World of Spectrum
• Information on the Vectrex Arcade version of Pole Position