Welcome to the '80s Arcade Trivia Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. There was a game released in 1981 that was unusual in that it did not include shooting or killing as the object of the game, the object was to just cross a road and avoid being run over or eaten. What was the name of this game?

Answer: Frogger

"Frogger" was released in 1981 by Konami and its object was to get a frog across a busy street without getting run over, then cross a river without getting eaten by an alligator, snake or otter. Once you get five frogs safely home you progress to the next level. You could also catch bugs or escort a lady frog across the screen for bonus points.

A "Frogger" cartoon played on Saturday mornings for one season.

2. Which game featured an orange character hopping on a pyramid of cubes?

Answer: Q*Bert

"Q*Bert" designed by Gottlieb and released in 1982 features an orange armless character that hops on a pyramid of cubes. The object is to change the color of the cubes by landing on them. Once they have all been changed, you progress to the next level. As you progress, enemies are introduced that will chase you down and kill you or even change color of the cubes.

3. If I am using a rollerball as a controller to try to fight off insects, which game am I playing?

Answer: Centipede

"Centipede" was released in 1981 by Atari. In it you use a rollerball to move and shoot at a centipede making its way through a field of mushrooms. As the centipede makes its way from the top of the screen the object is to shoot it with a laser. If you shoot it in the middle, it splits into two centipedes and they both continue down.

The object is to shoot it in the head before it gets to the bottom of the screen.

4. What arcade game has you building hamburgers while being chased by a hotdog, a pickle and an egg?

Answer: Burger Time

"Burger Time" was released by Bally Midway in 1982. You play as Chef Peter Pepper and the object is to walk over ingredients, dropping them to a lower level until a burger is made. You loose a life if you are caught by the hot dog, pickle or egg. Once the burgers are complete you level up. There are a total of six levels, then they repeat.

5. Which game featured a knight riding a flying ostrich and allowed cooperative play with another person?

Answer: Joust

"Joust" was released in 1982 by Williams Electronics. The gameplay involves a knight riding on the back of a flying ostrich that is trying to knock out the enemy that is riding a buzzard. A second player can join and either work with player one in defeating the enemy knights or can try to eliminate player one while also battling the enemy knights.

6. Which arcade game allowed you to get on a motorcycle and use it as the controller?

Answer: Hang On

"Hang On" was released by Sega in 1985 and was one of the first to introduce motion control. The game cabinet had a mock motorcycle that the player used to control the action. The player controlled the turns in the game by leaning the motorcycle much like one would control a real motorcycle. It helped lead the way to the motion control games of today.

7. Which game has you controlling a spacecraft down a three dimensional tube destroying your enemies?

Answer: Tempest

"Tempest" was released in 1981 by Atari and was one of the first games that used a color display. Gameplay consists of piloting a spacecraft down a tunnel battling eight different types of enemies. It was also one of the first games that varied the levels as the player progresses rather than having the same layout.

There are 16 different levels that appear randomly as you progress rather than in a strict order.

8. Which arcade game first introduced the character that would eventually become known as Mario in its sequels?

Answer: Donkey Kong

"Donkey Kong" was released by Nintendo in 1981 and featured a character that was initially named Mr Video then was changed to Jumpman and eventually was changed to Mario with the release of "Donkey Kong Jr". Mario's quest is to rescue Pauline from the giant ape named Donkey Kong.

This is an early example is a "platform game" in which a character climbs and jumps hazards to reach the goal.

9. Which of the following was one of the first "run and gun shooter" games?

Answer: Front Line

"Front Line" was a 1982 release by Taito and was one of the first combat games in which you played as a person rather than a vehicle. Play featured a lone soldier using a pistol and grenades to battle through infantry and tanks to reach the enemy compound. Once you meet the tanks, you can hijack a tank of your own. If you take the compound and make the enemy surrender you advance to the next level which consists of the same background with more talented enemies.

10. And now for the grandaddy of them all "Pac Man". It was developed by Namco in Japan but which company was the United States distributor of the game?

Answer: Midway

The game was released in Japan as "Puck Man" but the name was changed to "Pac Man" for its October 1980 U.S. release. The name was changed due to the likelihood of graffiti altering the name. The game was initially aimed at the female audience since it had no violence. Up until its release most games would be considered "space shooters", but "Pac Man" created its own genre and it and its derivatives are still going strong nearly forty years later.

Source: Author Ctvega

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The 1980s was considered the "golden age of arcade games". How well do you know some of the games?

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