Final Lap
Encyclopedia
Final Lap is a racing video game produced by Namco
, and released by Atari Games
for the United States in 1987. It was the unofficial sequel to the popular Pole Position
games.
In many ways this game can be considered Pole Position 3, as it improved upon its original formula and bears much similarity to its predecessor.
In Final Lap, up to eight players would simultaneously race on the Suzuka Circuit
in a Formula One
race. There was also a single player mode, in which player score was based on how far the car traveled until time ran out or if the player completes four laps (on default settings), which was close to impossible.
The player either piloted the Williams/Lotus or McLaren/March F1 cars on the Suzuka track, rendered perfectly, even down to sponsor billboard
s. The only music is the theme when race being start, which plays for three seconds and sounds like the Pole Position start music, only more late '80s synth style.
It ran on Namco's System 2 hardware, which was composed of:
in 1990, which featured courses in Japan, USA, Italy and Monaco, Final Lap 3
in 1992 and Final Lap R in 1993.
, the tobacco
conglomerate
, filed a lawsuit claiming copyright infringement
against Namco, Atari Games
(the Final Lap distributor in the U.S.) and Sega
on behalf of their Super Monaco GP
game because both of these games featured a Marlboro billboard, which was found on the real-life Suzuka and Monaco
tracks.
Philip Morris was under investigation at the time for their role in preteen smoking
, and the appearance of one of their brands in games aimed towards children and teens did not help their image. Namco was forced to pay a settlement and Sega had to edit their game to remove all Marlboro signs.
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
, and released by Atari Games
Atari Games
Atari Games Corporation was an American producer of arcade games, and originally part of Atari, Inc..-History:When, in 1984, Warner Communications sold the Atari Consumer division of Atari Inc...
for the United States in 1987. It was the unofficial sequel to the popular Pole Position
Pole Position
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...
games.
In many ways this game can be considered Pole Position 3, as it improved upon its original formula and bears much similarity to its predecessor.
In Final Lap, up to eight players would simultaneously race on the Suzuka Circuit
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
in a Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
race. There was also a single player mode, in which player score was based on how far the car traveled until time ran out or if the player completes four laps (on default settings), which was close to impossible.
The player either piloted the Williams/Lotus or McLaren/March F1 cars on the Suzuka track, rendered perfectly, even down to sponsor billboard
Billboard (advertising)
A billboard is a large outdoor advertising structure , typically found in high traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertisements to passing pedestrians and drivers...
s. The only music is the theme when race being start, which plays for three seconds and sounds like the Pole Position start music, only more late '80s synth style.
It ran on Namco's System 2 hardware, which was composed of:
- Motorola 68000Motorola 68000The Motorola 68000 is a 16/32-bit CISC microprocessor core designed and marketed by Freescale Semiconductor...
x2/12.288000 MHz - Motorola 6809Motorola 6809The Motorola 6809 is an 8-bit microprocessor CPU from Motorola, designed by Terry Ritter and Joel Boney and introduced 1978...
3.072000 MHz - HitachiHitachi, Ltd.is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The company is the parent of the Hitachi Group as part of the larger DKB Group companies...
HD63705 2.04800 MHz - Namco C-140 Custom PCMPulse-code modulationPulse-code modulation is a method used to digitally represent sampled analog signals. It is the standard form for digital audio in computers and various Blu-ray, Compact Disc and DVD formats, as well as other uses such as digital telephone systems...
chip - Yamaha YM-2151 sound processorSound chipA sound chip is an integrated circuit designed to produce sound . It might be doing this through digital, analog or mixed-mode electronics...
Sequels
Final Lap was succeeded by two sequels: Final Lap 2Final Lap 2
Final Lap 2, as the name suggests, is the sequel to Final Lap, released by Namco in 1990.-Gameplay:This is a racing game featuring courses set in Japan, Italy, Monaco and the USA. Players can compete head-to-head up to a maximum of eight when four cabinets are linked together.-External links:*...
in 1990, which featured courses in Japan, USA, Italy and Monaco, Final Lap 3
Final Lap 3
Final Lap 3, as the name suggests, is the third title in the Final Lap series, released by Namco in 1992.-Gameplay:This is a racing game featuring courses set in England, France, San Marino and Spain. Players can compete head-to-head up to a maximum of eight when four cabinets are linked together....
in 1992 and Final Lap R in 1993.
Controversy
In 1990, Philip MorrisAltria Group
Altria Group, Inc. is based in Henrico County, Virginia, and is the parent company of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, Inc., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Inc., Philip Morris Capital Corporation, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. It is one of the world's largest tobacco corporations...
, the tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
, filed a lawsuit claiming copyright infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
against Namco, Atari Games
Atari Games
Atari Games Corporation was an American producer of arcade games, and originally part of Atari, Inc..-History:When, in 1984, Warner Communications sold the Atari Consumer division of Atari Inc...
(the Final Lap distributor in the U.S.) and Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
on behalf of their Super Monaco GP
Super Monaco GP
Super Monaco GP is an arcade-style Formula One racing sim released in arcades and multiple platforms by Sega Corporation in 1989. It is a sequel to the arcade game Monaco GP....
game because both of these games featured a Marlboro billboard, which was found on the real-life Suzuka and Monaco
Circuit de Monaco
Circuit de Monaco is a street circuit laid out on the city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine around the harbour of the principality of Monaco. It is commonly referred to as "Monte Carlo" because it is largely inside the Monte Carlo neighbourhood of Monaco.The circuit is used on one weekend in...
tracks.
Philip Morris was under investigation at the time for their role in preteen smoking
Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is the practice where tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke is inhaled. The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes...
, and the appearance of one of their brands in games aimed towards children and teens did not help their image. Namco was forced to pay a settlement and Sega had to edit their game to remove all Marlboro signs.