Indy 800
Encyclopedia
Indy 800 is an 8 player arcade game
by Atari Inc.
, originally released in 1975.
The processing electronics consisted of a card cage that included a "Backplane" or "Motherboard", eight identical car function boards, and three unique, common processing boards that the backplane board supported and interconnected. Each of the eleven boards had its own, on-board, fixed 5 volt regulator IC. All of the logic circuitry was TTL, and no microprocessors were used.
Each game was sold with two spare car boards and one each of the three processing boards, so that the game owner could ordinarily repair it by simple circuit board substitution. Two "card extender" boards were furnished with each game sold that enabled technicians to probe individual components on suspect boards while they were still operating in the game. A complete set of circuit board logic diagrams was also furnished, as was a set of schematics for the modified GE color monitor.
The cabinet also features overhead mirrors to allow spectators to watch the game while it's being played.
style race, in which players compete by racing each other with simulated IndyCar race cars. The player car colors are purple, peach, yellow, green, light blue, white, red and dark blue.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
by Atari Inc.
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...
, originally released in 1975.
Technology
The game is housed in a large custom rectangular cabinet that takes up 16 square feet (1.5 m²). 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 down upon. The game uses a 25 inch full color RGB display and does not use color overlays, representing the first full color video game.The processing electronics consisted of a card cage that included a "Backplane" or "Motherboard", eight identical car function boards, and three unique, common processing boards that the backplane board supported and interconnected. Each of the eleven boards had its own, on-board, fixed 5 volt regulator IC. All of the logic circuitry was TTL, and no microprocessors were used.
Each game was sold with two spare car boards and one each of the three processing boards, so that the game owner could ordinarily repair it by simple circuit board substitution. Two "card extender" boards were furnished with each game sold that enabled technicians to probe individual components on suspect boards while they were still operating in the game. A complete set of circuit board logic diagrams was also furnished, as was a set of schematics for the modified GE color monitor.
The cabinet also features overhead mirrors to allow spectators to watch the game while it's being played.
Gameplay
Gameplay is a simulation of a Indianapolis 500Indianapolis 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...
style race, in which players compete by racing each other with simulated IndyCar race cars. The player car colors are purple, peach, yellow, green, light blue, white, red and dark blue.
Legacy
- A clone of the game, bearing the same name, was released by Atari subsidiary Kee GamesKee GamesKee Games was an arcade game manufacturer that released games from 1973 to 1978. Kee was headed by Joe Keenan, a long-time friend of Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell. Keenan managed to hire several defectors from Atari, and began advertising itself as a competitor...
.
- Indy 800 was followed up the following year with a smaller 4 player version entitled Indy 4Indy 4 (arcade game)Indy 4 is a 4 player arcade game by Atari, originally released in 1976. It was preceded by its larger 8 player counterpart, Indy 800, in 1975.-Technology:...
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- A scaled down version of Indy 800 was released on the Atari 2600Atari 2600The 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...
as Indy 500Indy 500 (video game)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 . The game was one of the nine launch titles offered when the Atari 2600 went on sale October 1977. Sears Telegames later released Indy 500 as Race; no...
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