TX-1
Encyclopedia
TX-1 is a 1983 racing arcade video game
developed by Tatsumi. It was licensed to Namco
, who in turn licensed it to Atari
for release in the United States, thus the game is considered a successor to Pole Position II
. It was also released in the United Kingdom, Ireland and mainland Europe via Atari Ireland.
TX-1 placed a greater emphasis on realistic simulation racing
than previous games in the genre, with details such as forcing players to brake or downshift the gear during corners to avoid the risk of losing control, and let go of the accelerator when going into a skid in order to regain control of the steering. It was also the first car driving game to use force feedback technology, which caused the steering wheel to vibrate, and the game also featured a unique three-screen arcade display for a more three-dimensional
perspective of the track. It also introduced nonlinear gameplay by allowing players to choose which path to drive through after each checkpoint, eventually leading to one of eight possible final destinations
.
similar to the 1982 release Pole Position
, developed by Namco and published by Atari, TX-1 used a unique surround-style, sit-down three-screen display. In this design, the primary monitor was mounted directly in front of the steering wheel and a secondary monitor, angled at thirty degrees, was mounted both to the left and the right of the primary monitor. At the top of the left monitor was a display of the score and the car's current position; at the top of the right monitor was a running total of cars passed during the race. A display of stage, speed, and time remaining was at the top of the primary screen. The immense size of the cabinet limited the number of arcades
which could display this game.
racecar, needed to reach a check point
in a certain period of time in order to continue playing. While negotiating the course, the driver needed to exercise caution in the turns, as excessive speed would cause the car to skid
; additionally, the driver needed to pass slower cars carefully to avoid a fiery crash.
Unlike Pole Position, each stage ended at a branch point; depending on which way the driver turned, the course would be substantially different. The final two stages of this five-stage game were based upon famous Formula One races of the time and were identified by the name of the country; the path chosen during the previous three stages determined which "races" could be run in the final two stages. TX-1 was a pioneer in this style of play, which would be copied by myriad other games, especially Sega
's successful Out Run
series.
The game Buggy Boy
(aka Speed Buggy), also released by Tatsumi, uses the same 3-screen technology.
There is a testdriver in MAME
since version 0.94. As of Mame 0.128 TX-1 has come out, but the original has a bad dump while TX-1a Atari and Namco has sound issues. No matter that these problems, both works.
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...
developed by Tatsumi. It was licensed to Namco
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...
, who in turn licensed it to Atari
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 release in the United States, thus the game is considered a successor to Pole Position II
Pole Position II
Pole Position II is a racing arcade game that was released by Namco in 1983 as the sequel to Pole Position, which was released the previous year. As with the original, Namco licensed Pole Position II to Atari for US manufacture and distribution...
. It was also released in the United Kingdom, Ireland and mainland Europe via Atari Ireland.
TX-1 placed a greater emphasis on realistic simulation racing
Sim racing
Sim racing is the collective term for computer software that attempts to simulate accurately auto racing , complete with real-world variables such as fuel usage, damage, tire wear and grip, and suspension settings...
than previous games in the genre, with details such as forcing players to brake or downshift the gear during corners to avoid the risk of losing control, and let go of the accelerator when going into a skid in order to regain control of the steering. It was also the first car driving game to use force feedback technology, which caused the steering wheel to vibrate, and the game also featured a unique three-screen arcade display for a more three-dimensional
2.5D
2.5D , 3/4 perspective and pseudo-3D are terms used to describe either:* 2D graphical projections and techniques which cause a series of images or scenes to fake or appear to be three-dimensional when in fact they are not, or* gameplay in an otherwise three-dimensional video game that is...
perspective of the track. It also introduced nonlinear gameplay by allowing players to choose which path to drive through after each checkpoint, eventually leading to one of eight possible final destinations
Multiple endings
Multiple endings refer to a case in entertainment where the story could end in different ways, described as an alternate ending.-Literature:...
.
Cabinet
Though TX-1 used raster graphicsRaster graphics
In computer graphics, a raster graphics image, or bitmap, is a data structure representing a generally rectangular grid of pixels, or points of color, viewable via a monitor, paper, or other display medium...
similar to the 1982 release 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...
, developed by Namco and published by Atari, TX-1 used a unique surround-style, sit-down three-screen display. In this design, the primary monitor was mounted directly in front of the steering wheel and a secondary monitor, angled at thirty degrees, was mounted both to the left and the right of the primary monitor. At the top of the left monitor was a display of the score and the car's current position; at the top of the right monitor was a running total of cars passed during the race. A display of stage, speed, and time remaining was at the top of the primary screen. The immense size of the cabinet limited the number of arcades
Video arcade
An amusement arcade or video arcade is a venue where people play arcade games such as video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, merchandisers , or coin-operated billiards or air hockey tables...
which could display this game.
Gameplay
Gameplay was similar to Pole Position, in that the player, piloting a Formula OneFormula 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...
racecar, needed to reach a check point
Check Point
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. is a global provider of IT security solutions. Best known for its firewall and VPN products, Check Point first pioneered the industry with FireWall-1 and its patented stateful inspection technology...
in a certain period of time in order to continue playing. While negotiating the course, the driver needed to exercise caution in the turns, as excessive speed would cause the car to skid
Skid
Skid may refer to:* Skid, a pallet, a metal, wood or plastic platform for holding machinery or equipment* Skid , an outward side-slip in an aircraft turn* Skid steering, a method of steering in which wheels or tracks are skidded sideways...
; additionally, the driver needed to pass slower cars carefully to avoid a fiery crash.
Unlike Pole Position, each stage ended at a branch point; depending on which way the driver turned, the course would be substantially different. The final two stages of this five-stage game were based upon famous Formula One races of the time and were identified by the name of the country; the path chosen during the previous three stages determined which "races" could be run in the final two stages. TX-1 was a pioneer in this style of play, which would be copied by myriad other games, especially 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...
's successful Out Run
Out Run
is an arcade game released by Sega in 1986. It was designed by Yu Suzuki and Sega-AM2. The game was a critical and commercial success. It is notable for its innovative hardware , pioneering graphics and music, a choice in both soundtrack and route, and its strong theme of luxury and relaxation...
series.
Successors
A successor game, TX-1 V8, was released by Tatsumi in 1984. However, Atari did not license this game, and it was rarely seen in the United States.The game Buggy Boy
Buggy Boy
Buggy Boy, also known as Speed Buggy, is a driving style arcade game developed by Tatsumi in 1985. The object of the game was to drive around one of five courses in the shortest time possible. Each course has five legs, each filled with obstacles such as boulders and brick walls...
(aka Speed Buggy), also released by Tatsumi, uses the same 3-screen technology.
There is a testdriver in MAME
MAME
MAME is an emulator application designed to recreate the hardware of arcade game systems in software on modern personal computers and other platforms. The intention is to preserve gaming history by preventing vintage games from being lost or forgotten...
since version 0.94. As of Mame 0.128 TX-1 has come out, but the original has a bad dump while TX-1a Atari and Namco has sound issues. No matter that these problems, both works.
External links
- A short video from the StarcadeStarcadeStarcade was a game show where contestants competed against one another by playing arcade video games. The series originally aired on WTBS from 1982–1983, followed by a run in syndication for the following season....
TV show (navigate via the Game Movies link in the sidebar, then the TX-1 link on the main panel)