Help Identify a early arcade videogame

[Gabriel]

I'm trying to find the name of a game.

 

It was probably made sometime between 1977 and 1981.

 

The player controlled a space fighter that looked like Darth Vader's from Star Wars. The control stick was a flight yoke like the one later used on the actual Star Wars arcade machine a few years later.

 

The player flew down a trench. Further down the trench (up above) were 2 rows of Y-Wing looking fighters. I can't remember if these fighters would ever divebomb the player.

 

The trench itself was an overlay, not an in-game graphic.

 

The game was timed. When your fighter was hit, you would fly out of the trench spiralling out of control for a few moments. Then you'd resume your flight down the trench and shooting rebel scum.

 

The cabinet was very ornate with textured plastic materials to give it the look of something from the first Star Wars movie.

 

It was definitely NOT an official Star Wars game.

 

I've played this game on emulation before. I'm trying to find it on the Killer List of Videogames to show someone. It was the third or forth arcade machine I ever played (first was Space War by Cinematronics, the second was Tank, and I may have played Galaxian before this). I remember being grounded for a week because I was spending too much time down at the 7-11 playing this game. Sometime after that, I discovered Missile Command.

[Troy_Whelan]

Not sure if it is the one you are looking for, but the only other game I remember having a trench like that is Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom which was also released for the ColecoVision.

 

Troy

[Ralph3]

Star Strike!

Same as the Intellivision version but it was in B&W. It is NOT in the KLOV (for some wierd reason) but I have played it in the last couple years at a video game auction.

or Star Hawk: but that one is joystick controlled-Same premise though.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter...=S&game_id=9781

[Ralph3]

Then there is the rip off of Star Wars called Star Fire-Same type of controller but not in a trench.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter...=S&game_id=9758

[joeybastard]

If you want to play Star Fire may I suggest:

http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html...areLabelID=2385

[NE146]

Was it possibly Tunnel Hunt?

 

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter...=&game_id=10215

 

Of course klov only shows you b.s. MAME screenshots however

 

[Gabriel]

I don't think that's it (Star Hawk).

 

My memory may be clouding things, but here are the reasons why I don't think it's Star Hawk.

 

1) The game I remember was single player only. I recall waiting in line for long periods of time in order to play .

 

2) The gameplay was Space Invaders/Galaxian like. Your tie fighter had a Centipede style area of the lower screen in which it could roam and shoot upward. Control was analog of some sort (or just really unresponsive).

 

3) The cabinet had a white plastic boxy style of decoration to make it look similar to one of the ship hallways from Star Wars. I distinctly remember this style of decoration around the marquee.

 

It definitely isn't Star Fire or Tunnel Hunt.

[NE146]

The gameplay was Space Invaders/Galaxian like.  Your tie fighter had a Centipede style area of the lower screen in which it could roam and shoot upward.  Control was analog of some sort (or just really unresponsive).

 

Oh sorry... I see, YOU CONTROL the Tie Fighter Ok then it's probably most likely Space Encounters(?)

 

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter...=S&game_id=9649

 

 

And of course the usual crappy Mame screenshot

 

[Gabriel]

Space Encounters looks like a winner. That second cabinet looks like the one, and the date seems right.

 

I just wish the MAME screenshot showed the background image of the trench.

 

Thanks.

[NE146]

I just wish the MAME screenshot showed the background image of the trench.

 

Here ya go then.. was easy enough to find the Flyer for it at www.arcadeflyers.com (check it out for other cabinet shots).

 

Yep Mame unfotunately is a pretty poor indicator of how many of the pre 1984 video games really presented themselves

[NE146]

Here's a closeup of one.. looks a little beat though