.gif)
Indy 500 (video game)
Encyclopedia
This article is for the video game. For the race, see Indianapolis 500
.
Indy 500 is a video game developed by Atari
for its Video Computer System
(later known as the Atari 2600). The game was one of the nine launch title
s offered when the Atari 2600 went on sale October 1977. Sears Telegames later released Indy 500 as Race; no changes were made to the gameplay. Indy 500 was based on the earlier 8-player arcade game Indy 800
.
This video car racing game — ostensibly named after the Indianapolis 500
— offered a number of games (listed below).
Included with each game was a set of two driving controllers, which were identical in appearance to the paddle controller
, with two differences. First, driving controllers can rotate continuously. The paddles had stops. Second, each driving controller was wired to its own plug. Paddles were paired to a single plug. They are not interchangeable as the paddle controllers used a potentiometer
to measure absolute position, and the driving controllers used an incremental rotary encoder
to measure relative position- two very different ways of inputting data.
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
.
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
for its Video Computer System
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
(later known as the Atari 2600). The game was one of the nine launch title
Launch title
A launch game, or launch title, is a video game released to consumers synchronously with the release of its respective video game console, meaning they are the only available games at the time of the console's launch. Several of these games are also packaged with the console...
s offered when the Atari 2600 went on sale October 1977. Sears Telegames later released Indy 500 as Race; no changes were made to the gameplay. Indy 500 was based on the earlier 8-player arcade game Indy 800
Indy 800
Indy 800 is an 8 player arcade game by Atari Inc., originally released in 1975.-Technology:The game is housed in a large custom rectangular cabinet that takes up . Each side of the cabinet has two steering wheels and four pedals. The monitor is set in to the top face of the cabinet and looked...
.
This video car racing game — ostensibly named after the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
— offered a number of games (listed below).
Included with each game was a set of two driving controllers, which were identical in appearance to the paddle controller
Paddle (game controller)
A paddle is a game controller with a round wheel and one or more fire buttons, where the wheel is typically used to control movement of the player object along one axis of the video screen...
, with two differences. First, driving controllers can rotate continuously. The paddles had stops. Second, each driving controller was wired to its own plug. Paddles were paired to a single plug. They are not interchangeable as the paddle controllers used a potentiometer
Potentiometer
A potentiometer , informally, a pot, is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used , it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat. Potentiometers are commonly used to control electrical devices such as volume controls on...
to measure absolute position, and the driving controllers used an incremental rotary encoder
Rotary encoder
A rotary encoder, also called a shaft encoder, is an electro-mechanical device that converts the angular position or motion of a shaft or axle to an analog or digital code. The output of incremental encoders provides information about the motion of the shaft which is typically further processed...
to measure relative position- two very different ways of inputting data.
Game variations
Among the racing games included:- Standardized racing games: Players could opt to race against the clock or complete 25 laps around the course the soonest. A number of courses were featured (either dry or "ice-covered").
- Crash and Score: Players competed — either against each other or a computer opponent — to crash into a white square randomly placed on the track. The square was moved whenever one player crashed into it.
- Tag: Each player controlled a car. One was blinking and had to avoid being struck by the other car (which was "it").
- Ice Race: Standardized racing, but with a race course that was supposed to be covered in ice, and thus behaved as if it were slippery.
Options
Each game allowed the player to determine the following:- Whether the game had a time limit or continued until a certain score was reached.
- The number of players (one or two). In one-player games, the player competed against a computer opponent.