Retro Video Gamer

The grand daddy of all modern racing games - it's Namco & Atari's Pole Position:

After looking through these, it is really impressive how well this game translated to the Vectrex.  The GBA version seems out of place in the comparison but it has the most accurate visuals.

I was surprised by the Vic-20 version. It actually looked good.

Quote from: "onthinice"I was surprised by the Vic-20 version. It actually looked good.

Same. The BBC version is also superb for a pretty basic machine.

I do not know much about the BBC but your right Laird it really looked good.

I was surprised by the BBC as well.  It does look very nice.

The BBC was an 8-bit computer released in 1981 and mostly used in schools here, it could only display 8 colours maximum with a variety of different graphics modes. It used a 6502 (same as the NES, C64, PC Engine and Lynx) at a then very fast 2mhz but could also have a co-processor fitted to speed it up further. The basic model only had 16k of RAM but 32k pretty much became the standard. All the games games came on disk or cassette tape.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bbc_micro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bbc_micro)

I am off topic but has anyone on the site thought about system reviews to go along with the game reviews?

Quote from: "onthinice"I am off topic but has anyone on the site thought about system reviews to go along with the game reviews?

We have talked about hardware reviews.  I wrote a review for the Overdrive controller for the Vectrex but I think that's the only one we have so far.

Good review! That is good it has been talked about. I think it would really help if someone was wanting to know more about a certain console, computer or handheld.

RVG as a site really goes in-depth with information. Myself, sometimes I just have questions about add-ons, memory or how well a certain product is built.

That BBC version really is a surprising version.. suppose that shows how good a game can be when the programmers get to grips..

As for the Hardware reviews , that something we can do as the systems area is already live..

Thanks zapiy!

Our then brand new sports hall had the coin op in, i used to play a fair bit of it at the time as hated sports!. Played the 2600 version in my day as well.

There was a cartoon based on it as well, if memory serves me well, on BBC 1, Sat.mornings..Live+Kicking????

Quote from: "Rogue Trooper"Our then brand new sports hall had the coin op in, i used to play a fair bit of it at the time as hated sports!. Played the 2600 version in my day as well.

There was a cartoon based on it as well, if memory serves me well, on BBC 1, Sat.mornings..Live+Kicking????

I don't remember a cartoon based on Pole Position but I wouldn't be surprised if there was one. 

Putting my neck on the line i know, but i swear there was a cartoon and i seem to recal being given a board game based on the game as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppmKSThhLKs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppmKSThhLKs)

There it is...turned into a crime fighting unit and as cheesy as i remember.

I just searched and, sure enough, there was a show.� Here is a link to the Wikipedia article:� Pole Position TV Show (http://http)


And here is the theme music for it!

Quote from: "Rogue Trooper"Putting my neck on the line i know, but i swear there was a cartoon and i seem to recal being given a board game based on the game as well.

Yep, there was both.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmWStzbiYg8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmWStzbiYg8)

Quote from: "Rogue Trooper"There it is...turned into a crime fighting unit and as cheesy as i remember.

It's an 80's cartoon based on an arcade game.  What would you expect?!  LOL

Of course there is also Pole Position 2 for the Atari 7800:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zPjpszldnk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zPjpszldnk)

At first I was disappointed that it wasn't included on the original "Let's compare" video but then I realized that was only for the original Pole Position.  Still, I think PP2 should have been included. 

There is also an updated Pole Position game for the SNES too:

An updated version of the comparison video has been added to the first post (the original video appears to have been removed from YouTube).  This new video compares Pole Position and Pole Position II.  Check it out because this version has 23 different versions!

Thanks for the update information, TrekMD. Wow, 23 versions. I have always wanted to try the Vectrex version as it looks amazing from the videos and screen shots.

Quote from: "onthinice"Thanks for the update information, TrekMD. Wow, 23 versions. I have always wanted to try the Vectrex version as it looks amazing from the videos and screen shots.

You're welcome.  The Vectrex version is really great!  You should try it out!

It is on my want list for the Vectrex. Thanks again!

You don't have a multicart with the game, ice?

I only wished back then that some company would have made a steering wheel controller to go along with the 2600/5200/7800 ports. Does anyone know if a PSX racing wheel controller works with PP on Atari Anthology compilation disc?

Quote from: "TrekMD"You don't have a multicart with the game, ice?

I have been looking but do not have one yet.

Quote from: "sloan"I only wished back then that some company would have made a steering wheel controller to go along with the 2600/5200/7800 ports. Does anyone know if a PSX racing wheel controller works with PP on Atari Anthology compilation disc?

I do not know. It would be cool if it worked.

Here is another video comparing various versions of the game, along with commentary...