The history of the innovative isometric best-selling arcade game Please visit my Patreon at / pdbowl
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@chrisnizer18854 жыл бұрын
I remember how absolutely blown away we were seeing Zaxxon for the first time. It had everything: full color, great sound effects, kick-ass flight stick controller, awesome 3-D graphics. Definitely one of the all-time greatest classic arcade games ever made. Thanks for the video my friend, good stuff!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the nice words, everything you describe is exactly how I felt when I saw It for the first time. Everything about the game is a classic..
@uncaringbear3 жыл бұрын
I'm very impressed that you included the TRS-80 Color Computer version of Zaxxon. The CoCo was a highly underrated computer for its time but it had some real gems, and Zaxxon was one of them. A lot of people consider that version of Zaxxon to be the best version of that era. Loved the video!
@ravenblade4037 Жыл бұрын
My brother worked at Toys r Us in 1983 and we somehow acquired Colecovision and Zaxxon was my second favourite after Time Pilot! This video makes me realize how fortunate we were and I can remember my dad's Trs-80 and my first Commodore 64 and Gorf, Man those were the days!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries Жыл бұрын
Yes they were, I had a Texas instruments in between my Vic 20 and Commodore 64 and don't even recall how or why I got it. We had a few games for but not a whole lot
@dtsdigitalden50234 жыл бұрын
This game blew my mind when I was a schoolkid, and I never managed to play it well. :)
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I was okay at it, definitely not great
@SonnyGTA4 жыл бұрын
DT's Digital Den I was such crap at .it!!!! Congo Bongo as well.
@QS-si3cq4 жыл бұрын
Same
@fododude4 жыл бұрын
I could have left an identical comment. I put a lot of time into conquering this dazzling game but I was inept.
@leemullen4334 жыл бұрын
Lol same. I pumped so much money into it and just stunk at it. I was OBSESSED with it, though.
@bucksky6194 жыл бұрын
The Colecovision version is my childhood! The only version I've ever known or will ever need. I was so happy when I discovered it on my Legends Flashback console!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Mine as well, I loved it on the Colecovision as a kid
@livefootagetube5 ай бұрын
I was looking online I didn't see it labeled as a game on the back of the box?
@SuburbanFox4 жыл бұрын
Turns out even in the 1980s, they advertised games by showing fancy cut scenes and not the game itself. ;)
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
LOL, how things never change
@willierants58804 жыл бұрын
Even more so.
@alanbiernacki28174 жыл бұрын
wait till you read about box artists for atari 2600
@kummakummakummakummakummac86064 жыл бұрын
@@alanbiernacki2817 - So pictures were so cool. You would imagine in your mind how the game would be. Then you would play it. I remember the dragons on the box compared to the dragons in the game. Lol.
@volvlov7594 жыл бұрын
I loved the isometric view in Zaxxon. It was pretty difficult though.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I agree
@fatbatman72914 жыл бұрын
Definitely one of my favourite Arcade game of all time, thanks for the great review Mr. PatmanQC I really enjoyed this one.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video
@SeaJay_Oceans2 жыл бұрын
He's being a bit too harsh on the games - considering the ancient chips and tiny RAM they had to work with... TSR-80 version ? Wow! I am shocked their is not ZX-81 black and white version! But Zaxxon becomes a 'benchmark' demonstrating the limitations in the various platforms: scrolling, memory buffering, colors, sound, speed - Zaxxon ports show the strengths and weaknesses of every platform.
@fatbatman72912 жыл бұрын
@@SeaJay_Oceans so what? he does great reviews and he speaks with his own mind, not using fake script like AVGN does recently
@SeaJay_Oceans2 жыл бұрын
@@fatbatman7291 Some of us remember the very first game we Wrote - not much by today's standards, of course, but to sqeeze games into what's left of RAM, 64K mind you, not 64 Gigabytes, well - it was wonderful to get Anything working at all in those little 8 bit machines ! :-) Amazingly - people now have built Raspberry Pi internet interfaces to allow their old 8-bit Atari 800 / XL / 130 XE, and Commodore 64s, and even Sinclair ZX 81s to (slowly) browse the internet in text format today. :-)
@fatbatman72912 жыл бұрын
@@SeaJay_Oceans dude you cant compare an arcade machine with the first computers we've ever got, arcades were superior those days, you are talking about ports? try out Zaxxon on the Sega1000 and you will see that game is trash compared to the arcade version and of course there were limitations but when it comes to comparing writing a game for a pc or a console back then and say hes being "too harsh" then.. youre out of your mind.
@Sinn01004 жыл бұрын
At one point in time Zaxxon was my all time favorite arcade game. I was mesmerized by the isometric viewpoint and transitions from space to base. Of course that all ended the day Space Harrier and Afterburner dropped at my local arcade...they made Zaxxon look pedestrian at best. Sega will always be my absolute favorite arcade innovators. Sega did so much for us as a company that they will always have a special place in my heart.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I agree 100%. I would say they were my favorite arcade manufacturer. The number of arcade classics they released staggering
@DavidKimFX4 жыл бұрын
4:59 YES! You included the awesome 3D computer animated commercial!!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thanks, I think people like to feel nostalgic seeing these old commercials
@PtolemyJones Жыл бұрын
I really enjoyed Xazzon. The use of the shadow to help you understand how high above the surface you were. I also enjoyed Tempest, which also had a 3d feel to it.
@spineknife23864 жыл бұрын
I had to have been 5-6 when i 1st played this on the old 2600 and i was so proud of myself when i figured out how the height mechanic worked. Zaxxon was on heavy rotation at my house along with cosmic arc and track and field. Your videos bring up so many long forgotten memories. Thanks for making these things.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing your story. All three of those games are Atari 2600 classics. Thanks for the nice words
@daneast4 жыл бұрын
I always appreciated the way this game looked, and I wanted to be able to play it well and enjoy it, but I just totally sucked at it. It was frustrating and I felt like if I closed my eyes and hoped for the best I'd end up better off. I guess others caught onto the perspective and had a feel for where the ship was in 3D space, but not me.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I never had a problem with the perspective but a lot of people did so don't feel bad
@marcosreyna29982 жыл бұрын
The reason we sucked at games so much back in the day at the arcade is because we had to pay to play. You couldn’t just practice! Lol
@jasonblalock44294 жыл бұрын
5:11 Oh man, that is some amazing vintage CGI. No wonder the commercial cost so much, that was genuinely state-of-the-art in '82.
@g00glian04 жыл бұрын
Great video that brings back great memories. My stomach and ribs are killing me from throwing up because of a stomach flu, and I laughed about ten times from your commentary, which made killer pain shoot through my rib cage. Thanks!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
LOL,Sorry about that but I'm glad I was able to bring you some relief :-) thanks for the nice words
@AsmodeusMictian Жыл бұрын
You know, I'd totally forgotten that I had the Zaxxon board game as a kid. Memory unlocked ^__^ Thanks for the awesome video!
@tartgreenapple4 жыл бұрын
Super hard game, i could never wrap my brain around the perspective.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
It does take a little while to get used to it
@KayoMichiels4 жыл бұрын
Well... it's a matter of perspective.. but you'll get the hang of it.
@Fastbikkel4 жыл бұрын
I get what you mean for sure.
@JeeGee1144 жыл бұрын
I was a one dimensional guy then and now.
@SonnyGTA4 жыл бұрын
OH GREAT!!!!! I just found your channel!!!! NOW I’ll have to watch ALL your videos! Looks like I’ll be calling out from work today! Thanks a LOT!!! 🤣🤣🤣
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
LOL, glad you enjoy my content so much that you could miss work :-)
@popbumper4 жыл бұрын
Outstanding overall picture of zaxxon throughout its many iterations. Thank you for that. The title did mislead me though and I'm happy for it. I actually thought I was going to see the history of the creation of the game zaxxon for the arcade version. There's a little bit of informative detail in there but this is no story about the programmers and they're laboring to create the game. It is though a very thorough and enjoyable walk through all of those consoles. I was s kid through the whole era and it brought back a lot of memories of garbage games in the home. Lol. Nothing ever beats the original arcade. Thank you for this video.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I had a lot more technical information on the creation of the game from the programmers themselves but I try to find the perfect balance when it comes to these videos. Some people say I don't give enough information and other say I give too much and they are bored. I'm glad you ended up enjoying the video though
@thirdstar92554 жыл бұрын
PatmanQC, I'm a new subscriber and I LOVE your work. Thank you for these! I am so happy that you were able to overcome so much and reconnect with your passions. We've all been through a lot, and I just wanted to say you are admired and very much appreciated. I can't wait to watch more of your videos. Excellent job on Zaxxon. I remember seeing that commercial, and it seemed so out of this world... when I finally came across a new machine in an arcade, it was intimidating, SO FUTURISTIC, LOUD and beautiful, it was overwhelming to my 9 year old senses... I begged mom for a quarter, which lasted 15 seconds. LOL! I was hooked tho- to this day, Zaxxon will always be one of my favorite games. I even have such memories of 2-hour delays because of snow, and playing the Atari 2600 version with a few friends, waiting for the bus to come, it still snowing outside. We were so lucky to have our childhoods in the 70s-80s, and now have that chance to look back on this magic!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much, I appreciate the nice words. Thanks for watching my intro video, a lot of people don't so I really do appreciate it. Glad you are enjoying my content. That's the way it was back in the day, arcade games that only last a few minutes and that was back to begging your parents for more quarters :-) Thanks for sharing your story, I always love reading about the memories of growing up. Cheers
@ThomasGrillo4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing this historical account of Zaxxon. I was lucky enough to play this, back in 84, at a local bowling alley. :)
@Larry4 жыл бұрын
I did read that the 32X release was never originally meant to be a Zaxxon game, Sega just slapped the name on it for brand recognition. (I think it was just called "motherbase" in Japan) But it feels more like a knock off of Viewpoint on the Neo Geo, than a sequel.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I didn't know that little bit of nugget otherwise I would've included it. Thanks Larry
@desertpunk75883 жыл бұрын
Hello, You!
@FallicIdol3 жыл бұрын
That’s sega
@luisreyes19632 жыл бұрын
Great game from SEGA, but...HELLO, YOU! 😁
@pferreira19832 жыл бұрын
It doesn't look too far off Zaxxon.
@OriginalGrasshopper4 жыл бұрын
One of my all-time faves! I loved the ColecoVision version.
@rogerwhite50614 жыл бұрын
Wow ! I remember playing this at the arcade , it took a few quarters to get sed to flying around in this game as it was challenging . Thanks for putting the original TV commercial into the video . The commercials graphics were way better than any video game was at the time but got kids to really want to play it in arcades . Thanks for posting this !
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Absolutely, thank you for watching
@piratestation694 жыл бұрын
The apple II version was not bad... It was one of the very few games that used the mockingboard. Zaxxon II for the apple was just unplayable unless you had a faster processor. 1 mhz did not cut it.
@nickmalcom63604 жыл бұрын
I'd like to see footage of that port with mockingboard sound.
@typodermic4 жыл бұрын
Having a TRS-80 CoCo as a kid meant generally inferior games but I remember we had the best Zaxxon.
@scottm49694 жыл бұрын
Raymond Larabie it did. Played it on TRS 80 at school and it was pretty darn good.
@kummakummakummakummakummac86064 жыл бұрын
I remember just being so excited that you could play a arcade game at home.
@temmy93 жыл бұрын
Best donkey Kong too
@bruth61382 жыл бұрын
Just found your channel. These are well done. Such nostalgia thinking of my childhood. So much excitement back then.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries2 жыл бұрын
Glad you like them! Thanks a lot
@piperar20144 жыл бұрын
ColecoVision user reporting. In addition to Zaxxon, there was a good Donkey King port, Ladybug, and Mousetrap. I never had Donkey Kong Jr but it looked amazing.
@piperar20144 жыл бұрын
It seemed like CV was far ahead of everything else at the time. It should have held up against NES even.
@todd7416ify4 жыл бұрын
You can tell that "Raid Over Moscow" was greatly inspired by this game.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Absolutely
@MadsterVАй бұрын
how did I never make this obvious connection? I played Raid Over Moscow SO MUCH. I loved the grounded setting and the changing gameplay but the Zaxxon-like stage was obviously the best
@lobitome4 жыл бұрын
I've been waiting for this one! It was sometimes (most of the time) a hard one to get through the levels, but I still hold it as a top 5-10 all time. When I built my home arcade system, it was one that that I knew I needed to have on there.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Hopefully you enjoyed it. It's one of my all-time favorite arcade games as well
@onimangakat4 жыл бұрын
I MUST comment on this... I owned a 32X and Zaxxon Motherbase 2000. The jumping mechanic is actually REALLY cool. Any enemy unit with a red blinking light on top can be jumped on, and you take over the enemy unit. You then control that enemy unit and gain its mobility, and use whatever attack it has. If you stay on it long enough, you can keep its weapon even after jumping off. Also, there are allied ships that look like bugs, and you can mount and control them freely as well. This game was such a bizarre hidden gem in the 32X library, and I am so sad that it hasn't become more widely known. It definitely deserves a life beyond that doomed console add-on!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
That sounds really cool actually. When I get more time I will have to go back and spend more time with the 32X version. Thanks for the info
@LisaMontgomery794 жыл бұрын
Great job on the compilation. Brings back so many great memories.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thanks, please subscribe if you haven't already
@LisaMontgomery794 жыл бұрын
@@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries Yes, already a subscriber. 👍
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
@@LisaMontgomery79 Great, welcome aboard
@CornetTheory4 жыл бұрын
your diagram for isometric and axonometric projections are from "THE THAMES & HUDSON MANUAL OF RENDERING WITH PEN & INK"
@joustingdude4 жыл бұрын
When I was in the Air Force in the early 80's we had a Zaxxon arcade game in the Alert Facility. I can't even *begin* to estimate how many quarters I dropped into that machine. But I mastered that game after some time... It got to the point where we would all compete for a perfect score :-) Still, to this day, one of my favorite video games,
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Very cool, thanks for sharing
@BuckRogers20004 жыл бұрын
Thanks for an awesome stroll down memory lane - well done!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed my video. Please subscribe if you haven't already
@josephcorica68964 жыл бұрын
I only ever knew of Zaxxon Motherbase 2000. Such a good game, I watched this video to see if it got a shoutout. Glad to see it did! It bears mentioning that the function of the Jump button was because your tiny fighter can commandeer most enemy ships, provided you land on their control console. This gave you access to that ships abilities and HP, as your fighter itself still died in 1 hit. The big bug-looking ship in this video is the ship you start in, but there are numerous bug-looking allies to choose from throughout the game. AI controls them while they assist you for a pre-scripted amount of time, during which you can commandeer them if you prefer. The boss fights and music for this game made it one of my 32x favorites!!!
@Risperdali4 жыл бұрын
This is one I sucked at. I played the arcade and other versions, and I could never get the hang of flying at the correct altitude
@QunMang4 жыл бұрын
The key was to fire your weapon- if the shots passed through the forcefield or over the obstacle, you were at the correct height.
@thefuzzman4 жыл бұрын
@@QunMang that's how I played it 👍
@legionarybooks134 жыл бұрын
I think everyone sucked at this game. I did okay on the Coleco version, only because you could turn down the difficulty setting. Playing in the arcade, I was lucky to get past the first wall! :-p
@jwprimetime97954 жыл бұрын
Marshall W I remember seeing this on one episode of Starcade. Made me feel good to see everyone sucked as much as I did!
@sergemunier96274 жыл бұрын
I played a lot to that game, in the early 80's, on an apple II, version you forgot in your video. In my remembers, the version looked close to the trs 80 color.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I don't know what happened, I had the Apple II version all set to be included. It must have slipped through the cracks, sorry about that
@OpusPuffin4 жыл бұрын
I also has the Apple II version and thought it was very close to the arcade version. I wish he had been able to cover it. Patman, Great job on the video despite not have the Apple II version.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
@@OpusPuffin Thanks, I don't know what happened :-(
@OpusPuffin4 жыл бұрын
kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nrODi86AurCldYU.html is a link to the apple ii version. It looks good.
@ArcadeDude444 жыл бұрын
I recall waiting in line at the Electronic Corrall back in 1982 (Lakewood, CA) to play this awesome arcade game! Now, I am very happy to have it in my personal collection: currently, both the CV and Adam sg versions, as well as the arcade!:)
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
That's awesome, I would love to own an original cabinet
@TrialzGTAS4 жыл бұрын
Thankful for the YT algorithm on presenting you. You have nice narration and entertaining visuals. *Subbed*
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I'm very thankful for their algorithm too :-) Thanks for the nice words, glad you enjoy my content. Thanks for subscribing hope you enjoy the rest of my videos
@MoteofLobross4 жыл бұрын
I remember Zaxxon 3D being amazing when I was a kid
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
The Sega Master system version?
@kyleolson89774 жыл бұрын
Zaxxon's 3D perspective was always tough to control, as are nearly any game using this Isometric 3D view. I suspect you could get really good with some practice. But dang, this was a beautiful game at the time, and really stood out from the crowd. It felt like a legitmate 3D play experience, actual movement in 3 dimensions. I actually think arcade game makers of the time failed to use this design as they could have. While there were some (Atari was really big on this with Marble Madness, 720, and even some of Temple of Doom), there were not a selection of clone shooters. For example, designers could have taken away the up and down and moved to just a left right and maybe forward and back like a traditional shooter, and had a game which primarily took place in the 2D plane but with some 3D elements with weapons or jumping. This would have removed some of the control issues with Zaxxon and created a unique experience. This would have been well within the tech of the time. Or something like the Desert Strike games with more freeform movement. And I guess Sega never felt like doing a sequel during the arcade years, which would have been great with the mid 1980's arcade tech. Anyway, here's to Zaxxon, a big step forward.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Personally I think it was this unique perspective that is what kept the game fresh in the public mind for the last 35 years
@kyleolson89774 жыл бұрын
@@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries Oh, there's no doubt, I'm just surprised more arcade games of the time didn't try to copy this formula for shooters, given how much the early arcade games built upon each other.
@alerey43634 жыл бұрын
@@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries dont forget QBert, I read that the creator of that game watched in panic as the first people were dying over and over; then he returned to the bar one week later and the machine was full with coins, great game that needs a little of practice with the perspective view
@DrScientistSounds4 жыл бұрын
Hey Patman, greetings from BC, Canada. Just wanted to thank you very much for your awesome videos, I grew up with these games like you and I love 'em. Much appreciated!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Hello there, thanks for the kind words. All the videos I do are games that are near and dear to my heart. Glad you are enjoying my content :-)
@itsmezed4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video, I loved playing Zaxxon as a kid!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching glad you enjoyed it
@Froggievilleus4 жыл бұрын
Bless the Trash 80. That was the PC we had in the early 80s. Good times.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I used to love going to RadioShack to play around on them
@Antyvas4 жыл бұрын
@@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries Never went to RS back then, but our local Murphy's had an Atari 2600 set up in the middle of the store (I guess in an Electronics department, don't really remember) for customers to try out, as well as a number of arcade-style video games by the exit.
@Antyvas4 жыл бұрын
@Brad Viviviyal Still have our Ataris, 2600 and 1200xl. Didn't get any more consoles until I picked up my dear original Playstation.
@zaxxon44 жыл бұрын
You missed the MS-DOS version. Care to guess how much I loved that version?
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I had every intention of including the DOS version and the Apple II version for whatever reason it slipped through the cracks. Sorry about that
@skuzzbunny4 жыл бұрын
I remember DOS playing pretty good, if not having much color or great graphics.....??)
@SonnyGTA4 жыл бұрын
The ADAM!!!!!! I remember seeing that in Kay Bee. $600! My dad worked in computers and said, we can’t get a computer yet....do you know how fast computers are developing? This will be out of date in no time. I swear, next time we were at the mall it was $300! Then it was gone. More updated computers came within the year. He NAILED it! 😀
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
KB, that brings back memories :-) I think I saw the Adam for the first time at Toys "R" Us. I never had one but I had a friend who did.
@kummakummakummakummakummac86064 жыл бұрын
We couldn't even ask for a computer so you were lucky. And Kay Bee brings back so many memories. Man how so many things have changed.
@TeenstarletsInfo20154 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this list of horror versions of the original game. I can't believe a company like Atari published THAT Zaxxon version. What a nightmare.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
LOL, there been some really bad arcade conversions to the point where I might do a top 10 list showing just how bad
@michaelking33274 жыл бұрын
would love to see "the history of gyruss"
@beedwarf3 жыл бұрын
The controller to this arcade game is the prototype to the modern Playstation thumb controller.
@Slormer4 жыл бұрын
"No way, I'm the king of ZAXXON!" -Randy Taylor, Home Improvement 1992
@beedwarf3 жыл бұрын
Was that quote from the television show really a reference to the arcade game?
@Slormer3 жыл бұрын
@@beedwarf Yes! Season 1 Episode 13: "Up Your Alley". They're at the arcade at a bowling alley. The whole episode sort of revolves around a bully and the Zaxxon machine.
@circuitsandcigars12784 жыл бұрын
Nice video. I just started learning Python using Code the Classics Vol 1 and am coding a basic version of Zaxxon in space. Last program I wrote was on my Commodore 64 I bought in 1983 so it's been a learning experience
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
That's awesome, I would love to see it. Thanks
@spike8002 Жыл бұрын
Great review! I was lucky enough to play this in an arcade when it was released…I built a 60-1 a few years back and would say only thing missing is the flight stick. I was blessed that my parents bought my brother and I a Coleco Vision for Christmas one year. The games that CV offered was next level and the closest to Arcade at the time.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing. Yes, I was mesmerized by the ability to play pretty darn good version of donkey Kong at home and to make it a pack in title for the Coleco vision was the icing on the cake. I got it for Christmas one year as well and played the heck out of donkey Kong all Christmas day
@residentelect4 жыл бұрын
Excellent choice and perfectly executed, Patman! And to be honest, I'm that desperate to escape all the bloody media and internet hysteria regards HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Sparkle's "Megxit", if you posted a video about the history of Leisure Genius's "Micro Scabble" (1985's premiere Scrabble videogame) I'd happily watch it!!! Thank you for fifteen minutes of freedom, bud! I knight thee Sir Patman of KZfaq! P.S. If Micro Scrabble ever ends up as a future episode, please ensure not to mention my name 🤣👍
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
LOL, thanks to the nice words. I'll see what I can do about Scrabble ;-)
@residentelect4 жыл бұрын
@Brad Viviviyal By my calculations I'm only going to be an EU Citizen for another hour and eight minutes! Brexit starts at midnight! "God Save the Queen" etc etc... Upon further reflection, I completely understand how you feel regards the Kartrashians.... They make my skin crawl, and genuinely believe they are solely responsible for the mutilation of a generation of girls who have been brainwashed into thinking that their buttocks need to be the size of a small car in order to appear desirable. I *don't* like big butts and I cannot lie...
@GreenGestalt4 жыл бұрын
Played the sh-t out of the 2600 version till I got to where the scenery moved too fast. Good game despite limitations.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I headed for my Atari 2600 as well
@one4allall4one914 жыл бұрын
Excellent piece. I still have the zaxxon cartridge I played on the colecovision. Totally revolutionary for the times.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you, I headed for ColecoVision growing up as well and I loved it
@entertainingCed Жыл бұрын
played this every chance i got. even as newer games came out, i always enjoyed this one. great video. I didn't realize there were that many conversions. as bad as some of them were, maybe it's a good thing i didn't know. keep up the great work!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries Жыл бұрын
Thanks a lot!
@ggonzale694 жыл бұрын
How come we never asked: "Why are there so many cinderblock walls in outer space?"
@MrBottlecapBill4 жыл бұрын
They're heavy nickel blocks mined from.....errr asteroids. That's it. Just being stored until they can melt them down and make starships out of them. :D
@homefront31624 жыл бұрын
HOW DARE YOU
@SonnyGTA4 жыл бұрын
Homefront HAHAHAH. You come to us young ones for HOPE!!!!! I should be in school!!
@sedimaster4 жыл бұрын
Anyone notice the constant e on screen?
@frozenpumpkin90834 жыл бұрын
Just discovered your channel. Fun videos and a great look back at arcade games! Thanks!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for the nice words, glad you enjoy my content
@8_Bit4 жыл бұрын
Nice work on this documentary! The ColecoVision hardware is incapable of true smooth scrolling (though it can fake it only if the playfield is really simple) so that's why they couldn't "fix this one thing".
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the technical info, and thanks for the nice words
@Ensign_Cthulhu4 жыл бұрын
What? No mention of "Raid over Moscow" for the C64? That drew so heavily from this game it wasn't funny.
@mysterycrumble4 жыл бұрын
getting out off that hanger was a royal pita
@Fastbikkel4 жыл бұрын
@@mysterycrumble I never made it out, honestly. At the time i was starting to think it was a bug.
@jumbo4billion4 жыл бұрын
That was a weird game. After the Zaxxon part there was a Tron like bit and the last level was bazooka-ing the domes off St Basil's cathedral.
@mysterycrumble4 жыл бұрын
@@jumbo4billion it was class i loved it
@Ensign_Cthulhu4 жыл бұрын
@@jumbo4billion My recollection was of having to bazooka St Basil's in order to play the Tron phase, but it certainly made for a broad variety of gameplay. And you had to do the Zaxxon bit for four separate launch sites.
@TheJosep704 жыл бұрын
I love how we were obsessed with its graphics as if it was Crysis...
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Back in the day that's what drew us in
@troykelso4 жыл бұрын
Someday we'll be laughing about how at one time we thought the graphics in Crysis were good.
@MyChannel-vm6dw4 жыл бұрын
I just found this Channel and went through a couple of your videos. Super high-quality keep up the great work hope you can do Moon Patrol, Tempest, Burger Time, some of the lesser-known cabinets such as Atari space War
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much, please subscribe if you haven't already. I already did burger time so check it out :-)
@billvetter53284 жыл бұрын
In 1983, I was in high school, and our cafeteria had this video game. I ran to lunch every day (quarters in hand) to play through my entire lunch period...
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
A high school with arcade games in its? I went to the wrong school.
@Cookie-Dough-Dynamo4 жыл бұрын
3:44 An "ALTI-meter"? I think you're putting too much em-PHA-sis on the wrong sy-LLA-ble.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I guess If my pronunciation of words is the only thing you can criticize about my videos Then I must be doing a pretty good job
@theflyingninja14 жыл бұрын
Why waste your time commenting on crap like that? Relax.
@TheGravygun Жыл бұрын
I was 13 years old in 1980, and you had to be there to really experience the golden era of arcade games. All my allowance and all my friends allowance went into those games. We loved it.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries Жыл бұрын
Yes, there is nothing quite like it. Walking into an arcade and seeing five Pac-Man machines lined up along with three or four donkey Kong machines and they were usually all full
@gentlegiant65854 жыл бұрын
Back in high school (1983-1985) my best friend used to have this on his Atari personal computer. It was hooked up to his 13 inch color t.v. and was loaded by cassette tape on a Craig tape recorder which took forever to load. He later got a Comador Vic 20, which was pretty cool at the time too.BTW, I have been a gamer since the bery beginning back in the 70's with the Magnavox Odyssey. Also, I had Popeye and Donkey Kong on my Colecovision with an Atari extension unit 🕹😊. Good times 🇺🇸🕹🏖🌊🏄♂️🎧😁!
@AlexCBrandon4 жыл бұрын
This video is awesome. Played this as a kid. Nice deep dive on Zaxxon.
@pheugo36644 жыл бұрын
Great review of a classic 80s game. I remember buying this on the Coleco Vision with my accumulated birthday money. Unfortunately I clocked it the first day I got it but I still loved playing it afterwards anyway.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you, it's a really good conversion for the Coleco
@rockyroad904 жыл бұрын
Very good presentation! Really enjoyable. Thanks.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you, glad you enjoyed my video
@Arcade-Projects4 жыл бұрын
Awesome review! This game was a must on the C64. Played soooo many times
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you, I played the heck out of it on the Commodore as well :-)
@Abonanno246014 жыл бұрын
100% subscribed. I'm going to be up till midnight now. Thanks. Awesome....
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
LOL, sorry about that but glad you enjoy my content:-)
@nightmare03314 жыл бұрын
I have a Zaxxon arcade machine that I picked up a couple of years ago for my collection. I personally like it, but oddly enough in the arcade community, there is apparently a huge divide...people either love it or hate it. Anywhoo...cool video. Thanks for sharing. :)
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
In my opinion it's a thing of beauty I don't know how people could hated
@themole98984 жыл бұрын
Where has this channel been all my life? SUBBED!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
LOL, welcome aboard. Glad you enjoyed my content
@KittenRaptor4 жыл бұрын
For the six people who didnt know, here's a computer funfact: The Colecovision, SG-1000 and MSX all had the same basic architecture inside (the MSX standard), so were theoretically compatible machines. The Spectrum used the same Z80 CPU, as did the TRS-80. The Tandy Colour Computer and Coleco Adam both used a Z80A. The Spectrum CPU ran at twice the speed of the other three, and the Intellivision was actually 16bit! Just shows how programmer skill and other factors often contribute more to the final product than raw power.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the technical info
@drewwyatt12744 жыл бұрын
I remember having this as a board game. It did actually work quite well.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I had Pac-Man and donkey Kong boardgames but that was it
@yuppiehi17 күн бұрын
Zaxxon has to be my all-time favorite arcade game. So much so that I bought the motherboard and soundboard so that I could build my own stand-up system. Currently looking for other parts and a wood craftsman capable of building the enclosure.
@WebbTech14 жыл бұрын
I was around during the hay-day of this game...and in my opinion the Commodore 64 version, for at home version..either disk or cartridge was the best...(btw, never heard of the Colecovision "Adam" system...wow!) We're talking 1985-1986..and as a kid I would play this in the local arcades. Was never really good at this game, but still...reminded today how innovative it was for it's time. "Super Zaxxon" was indeed "super" for the graphics, etc. although a bit too fast.. Thanks for the video/nostalgia!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
The super version was absolutely that, but it was way too fast. Nice graphics though
@mikec2ify4 жыл бұрын
In 1982 Zaxxon was my favorite game. Once I spent over four hours or so on a single quarter at Victory Foods grocery store and turned it over. I was 14.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
That's awesome, and that was back at the time were arcade games were everywhere
@mikec2ify4 жыл бұрын
Thank you and thanks for the excellent video.
@bigneutron774 жыл бұрын
Had the mini arcades one of this game, played it non stop as a kid.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
I never had it as a kid but I have since Played it and it's pretty good
@bigneutron774 жыл бұрын
PatmanQC - History of arcade game documentaries definitely
@refinedsugar4 ай бұрын
I played this on C-64 ... didn't even know it was in arcades first until now! Cool!
@TheBoomerPlace4 жыл бұрын
Oh my. Used to get stoned and play this with my friend on his Commodore 64. Loved it.
@BrianHoff04 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the memories. This was basically the only game where I was good. It was in a popular pool hall. I was 16, and I could make a game last forever. I basically stunk at everything else (even pool).
@SpeedStar764 жыл бұрын
Hi this is excellent 👍 all your content is superb and needs dvd release! Thank you for this, I miss the arcades so much ☹️
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Glad you like them! Thank you very much
@xPLAYnOfficial4 жыл бұрын
I love this game so much. I play this all the time on my DIY arcade cabinet! Excellent video!
@mrkengage4 жыл бұрын
Your video game mini-documentaries are fantastic as always! Keep up the great work, Pat!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much, glad you enjoy my work
@PAULLONDEN Жыл бұрын
ZaXXon on the ColecoVision was sensational. Even though in retrospect the playability was not that good, which didn't matter , having almost the arcade version in the home was all that mattered. Well done presentation . How you managed to get all the versions is great.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries Жыл бұрын
Yes, it was really good
@Hologhoul Жыл бұрын
It was such a buzz when home conversions started appearing, it seemed such an outlandish, spectacular game. I would never have guessed where its name came from, this is cool stuff! As for that advertisement, it's strange how they used so little game footage given how, even back then, the game footage was so impressive.
@jingo5004 жыл бұрын
There was also a version made for the BBC Micro, but its name was Fortress, took about 10 minutes to load, from tape, and about 15 seconds of play time before I died, and had to start from the beginning. Ahh, the (very short) memories!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Since it was just a clone that's why I did not include it
@jingo5004 жыл бұрын
@@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries I never knew what Zaxxon was, but I knew Fortress. Mine was a copied tape. perhaps a copy tape game piracy idea? Early Commodore64
@deegeeooh3 жыл бұрын
You have fantastic content and a great sense of humour, too :) I have the original arcade flyers of several top hit you reviewed.. The double paged Zaxxon and the triple folded A4 full colour Tron come to mind as they stick out! It saddens me that all that beautiful paperwork is a thing of the past.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the nice words. It's amazing that every arcade game had some sort of paper flyer for it. Thankfully most of these have been preserved. I love looking at those old flyers
@roning3r34 жыл бұрын
I had it for the Tandy color computer in the 80s It was a fun game as I remember it. I never played the arcade version.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
It was definitely a classic
@mystymysty36674 жыл бұрын
As a kid we played the Coleco port a lot! It has that cool Tron 80s futuristic look
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
So did I, it was really well done
@JamesAlexanderJack4 жыл бұрын
Great retrospective! I never realized that there were two versions of Zaxxon for MSX. The one I used to play is not the one you have in your video but is rather identical in every way to the Coleco Adam version.
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much, I wasn't aware of two different versions either until I did my research for the video
@EugenioAngueira4 жыл бұрын
Excellent video! I always found this game to be quite tough!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you, it is a bit on the difficult side especially with the different heights .
@raygxr85824 жыл бұрын
This starts off as a lecture-esque tour through the game’s history.... and then we get to 6:58 I could stop laughing! Then the game starts evolving, naturally getting better. Then we get to 10:00! Again, could not stop laughing!!! Looking back when I was a kid, 6:58 & 10:00 was the latest technology! That was the time when we would be mesmerized by punching in some numbers on a calculator, flipping it upside down to reveal the word “hello” HaHaa! Awesome video!
@Hologhoul4 жыл бұрын
Brilliant video, really interesting as well as being amusing! Your voice and accent adds something to it, look forward to seeing more of your game histories having found this one. Zaxxon amazed and fascinated me, I wasn't very good at it but I loved the whole idea and visual concept. It was massively exciting when home version started appearing. Good memories!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you kindly! Glad you enjoyed the video. The arcade game was phenomenal at the time and still holds up today
@Hologhoul4 жыл бұрын
Welcome! And I agree, it really stands up even now. I'll be watching the Tempest one later. :-)
@BlackArroToons3 жыл бұрын
The perspective made this a very challenging game. Many times, errors occurred due to misjudging the location of the object collided with. Lots of practice on the Coleco version.
@NehpetsNosliw4 жыл бұрын
I only played this game on Commador64, and I really enjoyed it. I didn't know they made a version in the Sega collections for the PlayStation or Xbox!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Absolutely, it's a fun game to play
@jwprimetime97954 жыл бұрын
Ooh man so glad I found your channel! Dragons lair/cobra command or Paperboy! Would love to know more about those!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you, I already covered paperboy check out my video list
@jwprimetime97954 жыл бұрын
PatmanQC - History of arcade game documentaries holy shit for some reason it was only showing you had made 15 videos. Now I see! My god I can’t wait fuck dive into these! I’ve bought 4 arcade 1ups so far. Feeling so nostalgic for the old days man!
@angusmullins5114 жыл бұрын
A very interesting and thorough history of different game company versions of Zaxxon. It was a cool game I was automatically drawn to as an 80’s kid in the arcade. I’m glad I never played any home console versions of the game. Blips and blobs indeed!
@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries4 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much, some of the home conversions were okay but most not so much :-)