Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Pole Position (Video Game)

 Pole Position (Video Game)
type
TVTItem
 Pole Position (Video Game)
label
Pole Position (Video Game)
 Pole Position (Video Game)
page
PolePosition
 Pole Position (Video Game)
comment
Pole Position is a racing game released by Namco in 1982 (and published by Atari in the United States the same year). Your goal is to drive your Formula One race car around the Fuji Speedway while avoiding crashing into other cars. The game is broken up into two segments: a qualifying round, where you try to complete a lap of the course for positioning and points; and a race segment, where you have to complete four laps around the track before time runs out. Crossing the start/finish line gives you a time bonus.Pole Position became the most popular arcade game in 1983 due to its realistic-for-the-time graphics, and was one of the pioneers of the pseudo-3D "rear-view racer" format, though Sega's Turbo beat it by one year.note Atari's Night Driver is even older, although in that game, the "car" was simply a decal that was put on the monitor.A sequel, Pole Position II, was released in 1983. It added somewhat improved graphics and the ability to choose from one of four courses, including the Fuji Circuit from the original game, and the famous Suzuka International Racing Course (by far the hardest of the four). It also adds wheel spin, making the game slightly harder. It was also available in a deluxe sit-down cabinet configuration, using three monitors to give a panoramic view.The 1984 cartoon of the same name has nothing to do with the games, even though DiC Entertainment did in fact pay Namco to use the name.
 Pole Position (Video Game)
fetched
2024-03-18T19:48:14Z
 Pole Position (Video Game)
parsed
2024-03-18T19:48:14Z
 Pole Position (Video Game)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_10e7d43c
type
Fanfare
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_10e7d43c
comment
Fanfare: In both games, after putting in a coin (and selecting a course in the second game), it cuts to the title screen where this plays before the qualifying laps starts.note The fanfare is unique to the two games. There's also two that play when the actual race starts: a special one for starting the race in the pole position, and a standard one for starting in any other position.
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_10e7d43c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_10e7d43c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_10e7d43c
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_18d15922
type
Title Drop
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_18d15922
comment
Title Drop: Just like in real auto races, if you can get a fast enough qualifying time, you'll get the "pole position" and start the race in first place.note That said however, like most racing games at the time, the goal is not to place first, but to beat the clock. The player "wins" after making through a certain amount of laps.
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_18d15922
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_18d15922
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_18d15922
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_259d5879
type
Anachronism Stew
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_259d5879
comment
Anachronism Stew: The Namco Museum versions feature references to at least one game that didn't exist in 1982 (original game) or 1983 (second game): The Tower of Druaga.
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_259d5879
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_259d5879
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_259d5879
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_26b2747
type
Alliterative Title
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_26b2747
comment
Alliterative Title
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_26b2747
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_26b2747
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_26b2747
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_3c9b7d54
type
Driving Game
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_3c9b7d54
comment
Driving Game
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_3c9b7d54
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_3c9b7d54
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_3c9b7d54
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_3ec7c277
type
Every Car Is a Pinto
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_3ec7c277
comment
Every Car Is a Pinto: Your car explodes spectacularly when you so much as touch another car or billboard, costing you time.note Indeed, while the first game just has the car explode, the second game has the car exploding "into pieces" (that is, with parts playing). Though apparently your driver is invincible or something. (This went on to be a common trope for Atari, NES and Genesis-era racing games.)
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_3ec7c277
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_3ec7c277
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_3ec7c277
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_62259825
type
Nintendo Hard
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_62259825
comment
Nintendo Hard: Even just qualifying successfully is a feat in and of itself, as you have to finish the course within the qualifying time which is not shown in-game and is lower than the time limit, going off-course risks slamming into a sign and blowing your car up into a million pieces making you wait several seconds to respawn, and so much as a fender-bender will also blow your car up. Then you get to the actual race and depending on how well you did in qualifying, you may have to contend with racers in front of you at the start.
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_62259825
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_62259825
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_62259825
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_7228d0cb
type
Game Over
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_7228d0cb
comment
Game Over: Played straight in the first game, but the second game simply displays the title instead (although it still says "game over" during the Attract Mode).
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_7228d0cb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_7228d0cb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_7228d0cb
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_bb48f8ba
type
Timed Mission
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_bb48f8ba
comment
Timed Mission: You have to finish the course before time runs out in the qualifying round to even make it to the actual race.
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_bb48f8ba
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_bb48f8ba
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_bb48f8ba
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_c03fec8b
type
Non-Standard Game Over
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_c03fec8b
comment
Nonstandard Game Over: If you fail to fulfill the qualifying time, the game will not move on to race mode. You'll just keep driving until the time runs out. For most casual players, this is actually the standard game over.
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_c03fec8b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_c03fec8b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_c03fec8b
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_f511ea9b
type
Product Placement
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_f511ea9b
comment
Product Placement: Seen on the billboards in certain versions.note That said, the Dunlop Tires arch is replaced by a spectator bridge in the non-Japanese versions (the Namco Museum keeps the arch, but replaces the Dunlop reference with "Namco Museum".
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_f511ea9b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_f511ea9b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_f511ea9b
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_name
type
ItemName
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_name
comment
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Pole Position (Video Game) / int_name
 Pole Position (Video Game) / int_name
itemName
Pole Position (Video Game)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Arcade Game
seeAlso
Pole Position (Video Game)
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Collision Damage / int_31aec894
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Every Car Is a Pinto / int_31aec894
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Free Wheel / int_31aec894
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
In-Vehicle Invulnerability / int_31aec894
 Intellivision
seeAlso
Pole Position (Video Game)
 PolePosition
seeAlso
Pole Position (Video Game)
 Pole Position (Video Game)
hasFeature
Port Overdosed / int_31aec894
 ZXSpectrum
seeAlso
Pole Position (Video Game)