11 replies to this topic

[Mister VCS]

How many tracks had the original Pole Positon arcade machine? I rember back in
1991 when I played the original arcade machine at the last time i could choose between 4 tracks,
but my PC-version (Microsoft Return of the
Arcade) only has one (due to the 2600 version). Are there different arcade-originals?

[NE146]

Yes. The original Pole Position had one track. Pole Position II had a selection of 4 tracks you could choose, Fuji, Test, Suzuka, and Seaside.

[Tempest]

No, I'm almost sure the original Pole Position had 4 tracks as well.

[Jeffy Arensmeyer]

Sorry Charlie.

One Track

ò¿ó

[Tempest]

quote

Quote

Pole Position is limited in depth, featuring just one track. However, its replay value is not lacking.

quote:

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Other console editions feature multiple tracks, possibly following the example set by the release of Pole Position II in 1983.

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This is probably where I got confused. For instance, I know the Atari 400/800 and 5200 versions have four tracks (I even know of a 5200 prototype where the tracks have different names).

[ 02-20-2002: Message edited by: Tempest ]

[Mister VCS]

quote:

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Originally posted by Tempest:
No, I'm almost sure the original Pole Position had 4 tracks as well.

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I am sure too that the Pole Positon machine I played in 1991 had four tracks!
It was not the Pole Position II coin-up! Maybe there are different versions of PP.
I guess the namco-original had one track, and the Atari-version had four.

[moycon]

I dunno. I don't recall ever seeing Pole Position in the arcades ever having more than 1 track. Here are several links to Pole Position information all with one thing in common....

Pole Position: 1 track called Fuji Speedway.
Pole Position 2: 4 Tracks

Maybe you played the game PP2 in a PP cabinet???

Pole Position Info

More Pole Position Info (Lots)

One More

[NE146]

Yeah that wasn't uncommon to play Pole Position 2 in a Pole Position cabinet since it was just an quick EPROM swap to convert from one to the other. As a matter of fact I don't think I've ever seen a "pole position II" cabinet myself!

[StanJr]

Did both Pole Position and Pole Position II say "Prepare to Qualify" before the qualifying lap???

[liquid_sky]

yup.. i always thought that was the coolest shit ever, needless to say i was pissed off when my 7800 cart never talked to me

[liveinabin]

I just remember it having a really neat steering wheel. Great game, and yeah- the 'prepare to qualify' speech still takes me back, even on MAME.

[Cassidy Nolen]

Pole 1 had one track, Fugi. Pole 2 has the same track and three others. They all say Prepare to Qualify, and have identical sounds/cars, etc.

There were dedicated Pole 2's, and the side art is people laughing in race gear. Strange. I have three Pole 1's in my garage right now. Anybody interested in one?

Cassidy