View source for Software:F-1 (arcade game)

{{Short description|1976 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = F-1
| image = F-1 arcade game flyer.png
| caption = Japanese promotional sales flyer
| developer = [[Company:Namco|Nakamura Manufacturing Company]] (Namco)
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Nakamura Manufacturing Company|NA|[[Company:Atari, Inc.|Atari, Inc.]]}}
| platforms = [[Software:Arcade game|Arcade]]
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|October 1976|NA|November 1976}}
| genre = [[Software:Racing game|Racing]]
| modes = Single-player
| designer = Sho Osugi
}}
'''''F-1''''' is a 1976 electro-mechanical arcade [[Software:Racing game|racing game]] developed and published by [[Company:Namco|Nakamura Manufacturing Company]] (Namco), and distributed in North America by [[Company:Atari, Inc.|Atari, Inc.]] The player uses a steering wheel to control a Formula One racer, which must avoid collision with other vehicles. The game uses a miniature diorama with small, plastic cars to represent the player's car and opponents on a physical, rotating track, while also featuring a projector system and lighting tricks to create the illusion of racing.

The game was designed by company engineer Sho Osugi, who worked on many of the company's earlier driving-themed electro-mechanical games, and was made to be a smaller version of his earlier game ''Formula-X'' that could easily be placed into smaller stores and entertainment centers. The 1968 electro-mechanical driving game ''Indy 500'' by Kansai Seiki Seisakusho (Kasco) is also believed to be a source of inspiration for the game, likely due to Namco's strong business relationship with Kansai prior to development.

''F-1'' was widely successful upon release, being praised for its sense of thrill, responsive controls and attractive cabinet design. It is cited as the first game based on Formula One racing and one of Namco's first major arcade hits. It was the highest-grossing arcade game in Japan for two years in a row, in 1976 and 1977, and the highest-grossing electro-mechanical arcade game of 1977 in the United States. It was followed by a sequel, '''''F-1 Mach''''' (1977). A cabinet appears in the film ''Dawn of the Dead'' (1978). ''F-1'' later provided the basis for Namco's hit [[Software:Racing video game|racing video game]] ''[[Software:Pole Position|Pole Position]]'' (1982), which was co-designed by Sho Osugi.

==Gameplay==
''F-1'' is an electro-mechanical arcade driving game, but resembles an arcade driving video game.<ref name="PM1976">{{cite magazine |title=Sexton Star of MOA Seminar: Video |magazine=Play Meter |date=December 1976 |volume=2 |issue=14 |pages=20-26 (23-6) |url=https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-2-number-14-december-1976-600DPI/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%202%2C%20Number%2014%20-%20December%201976/page/n20}}</ref><ref name="PM79"/> The player steers a car around a race track, trying to avoid all cars.<ref name="KLOV">{{cite web |title=F-1 - Arcade by Atari/Namco |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7743 |website=[[Software:Killer List of Videogames|Killer List of Videogames]] |access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref> The gameplay is viewed from the perspective of the driver's viewpoint, which is displayed on the screen using a projector system.<ref name="Interview">{{cite web |title=バンダイナムコ知新「第2回 カーレースゲームの変遷 前編」大杉章氏、岡本進一郎氏、岡本達郎氏インタビュー |url=https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/asobimotto/page/carracinggames1.html |website=[[Company:Bandai Namco Entertainment|Bandai Namco Entertainment]] |access-date=13 October 2019 |date=25 April 2019 |language=ja}}</ref>

The player sits in a cockpit-like [[Software:Arcade cabinet|arcade cabinet]], in front of a large projection screen. It projects realistic color visuals, including the front of the player's car, a roughly circular track, and two competing racing cars, and generates sound effects. When the player collides with another car, the game triggers a crash sequence, where an array of fire and smoke burst onto the screen.<ref name="PM1976"/>

==Development and release==
''F-1'' was designed by engineer Sho Osugi of the [[Company:Namco|Nakamura Manufacturing Company]], who worked on many of the company's earlier driving-themed electro-mechanical arcade games.<ref name="Siliconera"/> The game is based on Osugi's previous racing games ''Racer'' (1973) and ''Formula-X'' (1975), the latter of which was only found in areas such as bowling alleys due to its massive cabinet size — this led to him producing a smaller version that could be fitted more easily into smaller stores and other entertainment centers.<ref name="Siliconera">{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Alistar |title=Chasing Down Memories Of Making Arcade Racers With Namco Veteran Sho Osugi |url=https://www.siliconera.com/2019/03/11/chasing-down-memories-of-making-arcade-racers-with-namco-veteran-sho-osugi/ |website=Siliconera |access-date=13 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827174922/https://www.siliconera.com/2019/03/11/chasing-down-memories-of-making-arcade-racers-with-namco-veteran-sho-osugi/ |archive-date=27 August 2019 |date=11 March 2019}}</ref> This smaller version was also made to be a drastic improvement over the original, featuring more realistic lighting effects and a more effective projector system.<ref name="Siliconera"/> The 1968 driving game ''Indy 500'' by Kansai Seiki Seisakusho (Kasco) is also believed to have been a possible source of inspiration for the game, due to Nakamura Manufacturing's strong business relationship with them.<ref name="Iwatani">{{cite book|last=Iwatani |first=Toru |title=Introduction to Pac-Man's Game Science |publisher=Enterbrain |date=September 2005 |page=33}}</ref> ''F-1'' was released by Nakamura Manufacturing in October 1976 in Japan under the Namco branding. A month later in November it was licensed to [[Company:Atari, Inc.|Atari, Inc.]] for release in the United States, although Nakamura was credited on promotional material and the cabinet itself.

==Reception==
''F-1'' was widely successful upon release,<ref name="Vintage Games">{{cite book |last1=Barton |first1=Matt |title=Vintage Games 2.0: An Insider Look at the Most Influential Games of All Time |date=2017 |page=73 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=9781000000924 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fU-fDwAAQBAJ&q=namco+f-1+1976&pg=PA73 |access-date=13 October 2019 |archive-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fU-fDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA73&lpg=PA73&dq=namco+f-1+1976&source=bl&ots=Wobdn3cnok&sig=ACfU3U3WVBGWJnQro3-6pZg8bQpv4aTwsg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwifmJylg5jlAhXWGDQIHQKXBPM4ChDoATAEegQICRAB%23v=onepage&q=namco%20f-1%201976&f=false |archive-date=13 October 2019}}</ref> becoming one of Namco's first major arcade hits.<ref>{{cite web |last1=L. Craddock |first1=David |title=Arcade Perfect: How Pac-Man Was Ported To Consoles |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/arcade-perfect-how-pac-man-was-ported-to-consoles/ |website=Video Games Chronicle |access-date=13 October 2019 |date=16 September 2019}}</ref> In Japan, ''F-1'' was highest-grossing arcade game for two years in a row according to the annual ''Game Machine'' charts, in 1976<ref name="GM65">{{cite magazine|title=本紙アンケー 〜 ト調査の結果|trans-title=Paper Questionnaire: Results of the Survey |magazine=Game Machine|issue=65|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 February 1977|pages=2–3|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19770201p.pdf#page=2}}</ref> and 1977,<ref name="GM90">{{cite magazine|title=結果ベスト3|trans-title=Best 3 Results |magazine=Game Machine|issue=90|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=15 February 1978|pages=2–3|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19780215p.pdf#page=2}}</ref> until it was eventually dethroned by [[Company:Taito|Taito]]'s [[Software:Shoot 'em up|shoot 'em up]] video game ''[[Software:Space Invaders|Space Invaders]]'' in 1978.<ref name="GM159">{{cite magazine|title=調査対象5年間のベスト1|trans-title=Best 1 of the 5 Years Surveyed|magazine=Game Machine|issue=159|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=15 February 1981|page=1|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19810215p.pdf}}</ref> ''F-1'' was the seventh highest-earning arcade game of 1978, and the highest-earning electro-mechanical game that year.<ref name="GM113">{{cite magazine|title=人気マシン・ベスト3|trans-title=Popular Machines: Best 3 |magazine=Game Machine|issue=113|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=February 1979|pages=2–3|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19790201p.pdf#page=2}}</ref>

In the United States, it was one of the top two most talked about arcade games at the AMOA 1976 show, and the most talked about driving game at the show (where Atari also demonstrated the driving video games ''[[Software:Sprint 2|Sprint 2]]'' and ''[[Software:Night Driver (video game)|Night Driver]]'').<ref name="PM1976"/> Atari national sales manager Frank Ballouz found the game to be the "hottest" arcade game of the year, reacting to its positive response at the AMOA and IAAP tradeshows.<ref name="Cashbox Review"/> ''F-1'' went on to become the 12th highest-grossing arcade game of 1977 according to ''Play Meter'', and the year's highest electro-mechanical game on the list (the top ten were video games).<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Arcade Games |journal=Play Meter |date=November 1977}}</ref> It was later the 16th highest-grossing arcade "video" game of 1979, according to ''Play Meter''.<ref name="PM79">{{cite magazine |title=The Winners of '79: Top Videos |magazine=Play Meter |year=1979}}</ref>

The December 1976 issue of ''Play Meter'' magazine gave ''F-1'' a positive review following its AMOA 1976 demonstration, praising the gameplay, visuals, sound, cabinet, and "frightening" crash sequence.<ref name="PM1976"/> The December 25, 1976 issue of ''Cash Box'' magazine praised the game's responsive controls and impressive visual effects, alongside its attractive cabinet design.<ref name="Cashbox Review">{{cite book |title=Response Positive For Atari 'F-1' |date=25 December 1976 |publisher=Cashbox |page=170 |url=https://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-12-04.pdf |access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref>

==Legacy==
''F-1'' has been cited as the first Formula One arcade game.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barker |first1=Phil |last2=Partridge |first2=John |title=See the evolution of F1 in video games |url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/evolution-of-f1-games-before-f1-2017 |website=Red Bull |access-date=13 October 2019 |date=23 August 2017}}</ref> A sequel, ''F-1 Mach'', was released in 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/corporate/bnours/nours/vol27/pdf/27_10-11.pdf|access-date=21 April 2023|website=bandainamcoent.co.jp
|title=Nours volume 27|language=ja}}</ref> It was among Japan's top five highest-earning electro-mechanical arcade games of 1977.<ref name="GM90"/>

In the 1978 film ''Dawn of the Dead'', one of the characters is playing this game at the mall.<ref name="Vintage Games"/>

The hit [[Software:Racing video game|racing video game]] ''[[Software:Pole Position|Pole Position]]'' (1982) was later developed by Namco and designed by Sho Osugi based on their experience with producing electro-mechanical driving games in the 1970s, particularly ''F-1''.<ref name="Interview"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Namco electro mechanical games}}
{{Formula One games}}
{{1970s Atari arcade games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:F1}}

[[Category:Arcade games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]

{{Sourceattribution|F-1 (arcade game)}}