Pole Position - MAME software

GCE Vectrex published 41 years ago:

Pole Position © 1983 GCE [General Consumer Electric]

The spectacular arcade game, Pole Position, takes on an exciting new look through the magic of Vectrex! Experience all the challenge of a Grand Prix racing event with non-stop action that'll leave you breathless!

Do you possess the skill, dexterity and courage to pull out from the crowd for qualification in one of the exclusive starting positions... or will you end up as an also ran?

Pole Position transports you into the exciting sport of world class Grand Prix auto racing. Buckle yourself into your high performance Formula I racer, adjust your safety helmet and get ready for an exhilarating and danger-filled challenge.

You first goal in Pole Position is to race through a lap fast enough to qualify for one of the four exclusive starting positions -- passing competitors and avoiding hazardous obstacles along the way. Once you have qualified, your challenge continues into four successive laps as you race to maintain your position and complete laps in progressively shorter time periods.

As the game begins, you'll find yourself at the starting line of the world renowned Fuji Speedway. The words "Prepare To Qualify" will travel across the screen and you will hear the sound of your engine starting. The moment your engine sound begins, you should take off on your qualifying lap. Press buttons 3 or 4 to accelerate. When you hear your engine laboring, change to second gear by pressing button 2. (Your speed will never exceed 135 m.p.h. in first gear.) You can return to first gear during your lap by pressing button 1.

While you speed through your qualifying lap, be sure to avoid your competitors' racers and the treacherous obstacles in the roadway -- contact will mean loss your car! There will be no warning of obstacles, so pay close attention to the condition of the track. Steer your car to avoid hazards and gain a better track position by pushing the joystick either left or right.

Although you are provided with an unlimited number of cars in Pole Position, you will lose a great deal of time whenever a car is crashed. So be careful! It is possible to drive off the speedway track -- but doing so will slow you down, cost you valuable time and increase your chances of losing a car.

You are provided with 120 seconds to complete your qualifying lap although you must complete the lap well ahead of 120 seconds to qualify for on of the four starting positions. If you qualify, you will be provided with 90 seconds to complete your first actual race lap. Completion of the first lap within the 90 second time period permits you to continue with a second, third and fourth lap which must be completed in 60 seconds. During the actual race, the time remaining on the clock after completion of a lap will be carried over to the next lap -- allowing you more than the usual time provided to complete the lap.

Game play will continue until you are unable to complete a lap in the allowable time or when you have completed all four race laps. If you complete all four laps, you'll receive 200 bonus points for each second remaining on the clock!

You will also earn points for distance traveled on the track, competitor's cars passed, and having achieved a starting position on your qualifying lap.

TECHNICAL
Model 3206

Controls
Joystick: Push right or left to change direction of your racer.
Button 1: 1st Gear.
Button 2: 2nd Gear.
Button 3: Gas. Press to accelerate, release to slow down.
Button 4: Gas. (Same as button 3)

TRIVIA
Obviously the most noticeable differences are cosmetic, what with the Vectrex' vector graphics (the machine is actually capable of raster graphics, but the majority of the game is in vector), having no color, and there being no voice synthesis announcing the beginning of the race either. However, the course for the Vectrex version is also totally different from the original's, mainly consisting of very long curves.

SCORING
Passing competitor's cars: 50 points per car
Completing one lap: 12,000
Achieving first position: 4,000
Achieving second position: 2,000
Achieving third position: 1,000
Achieving fourth position: 500
Completing all four laps: 200 Points for every second remaining on the clock.

CONTRIBUTE
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