280 ZZZAP

Last updated
280 ZZZAP
Datsun280zzzapvideogame.png
In-game screenshot
Developer Dave Nutting Associates
Publishers
Designers Jamie Fenton
Dave Nutting
Platforms Arcade, Astrocade
Release
  • NA: February 1977
Genre Racing [2]
Mode Single-player
Arcade system Intel 8080-based hardware

280 ZZZAP is a racing arcade video game designed by Jamie Fenton for Dave Nutting Associates. Based on Nissan's Datsun 280Z, it is one of the earliest games with authorized branding. [3]

Contents

Gameplay

Players can drive up to 200 miles per hour (320 km/h) while navigating a tricky road course at night. Players must watch out for treacherous turns, nasty competitors, and the ever-present time limit.

Release

Midway demonstrated the game under the name Midnight Racer at the AMOA show in November 1976. It drew comparisons to Night Driver , demonstrated at the same show by Atari, Inc. Both games are derived from the earlier German night driving video game Nürburgring 1 demonstrated at the German IMA show in Spring 1976. [4] Before release in February 1977, the game was re-branded 280 ZZZAP after the US advertising campaign for Nissan's Datsun 280Z.

Reception

On the US Play Meter arcade chart, 280 ZZZAP was the year's ninth highest-grossing arcade game of 1977. [5] On the US RePlay arcade chart, it was the tenth highest-grossing arcade video game of 1977. [6] On Japan's Game Machine arcade chart, it was among the top 20 highest-grossing arcade video games of 1977. [7]

References

  1. ↑ Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) [Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005)] (in Japanese). Japan: Amusement News Agency. pp. 41, 124. ISBN   978-4990251215.
  2. ↑ "280 Zzzap/Dodgem". All Game Guide . Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  3. ↑ Bogost, Ian (2007). Persuasive Games: The Expressive Power of Videogames . MIT Press. p.  200. ISBN   9780262026147.
  4. ↑ "Sexton Star of MOA Seminar: Video". Play Meter . Vol. 2, no. 14. December 1976. pp. 20-26 (23-6).
  5. ↑ "Top Arcade Games". Play Meter . November 1977.
  6. ↑ "Profit Chart". RePlay. November 1977.
  7. ↑ "結果ベスト3" [Best 3 Results](PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 90. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 February 1978. pp. 2–3.
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