Pole Position
Nail the qualifying lap, then go fight for pole.
Coming soon to UsuArcade
Votes to bring it to the arcade: 0
In the meantime, head into the arcade and play the cabinets that are already there
- Year
- 1982
- Manufacturer
- Namco
- Players
- 1 player
- Genres
- Racing, Vintage classics
- Decade
- '80s arcade games
For a lot of kids in the 80s, Pole Position was the first time they ever got behind a real steering wheel. Namco released it in 1982, and its behind-the-car view, with the road stretching out to the horizon, set the template for nearly every racing game that followed.
And that voice telling you to prepare to qualify? Anybody who hung around an arcade in 1983 can still hear it.
History
Namco built the game in Japan, and Atari brought it to the U.S., where it became one of the biggest hits of the year. The track was modeled on Fuji Speedway, complete with billboards lining the course.
Its success led to Pole Position II, with more tracks, plus versions for many of the home systems of the day.
How to play
First you run a qualifying lap against the clock. Your time decides your starting spot in the race, or whether you make the field at all. Then you race against other cars, trying to finish your laps before time runs out.
Steer with the wheel, hit the gas pedal and use the shifter to switch between low and high gear. Clip another car or slide into a billboard and you go up in a big fireball, so ease off in the tight turns.
Fun facts
- Atari handled distribution in the U.S.
- The track is based on Fuji Speedway in Japan.
- It only has two gears: low and high.
In the arcade
Pole Position is coming soon to UsuArcade. It's on our wishlist, and you can vote with I Want to Play It to bump it up the list. More votes means it hits the arcade floor sooner.
In the meantime, if you're craving speed, the arcade already has Out Run, with its Ferrari convertible and branching roads, Hang-On, on a full-throttle racing bike, and Namco's own Rally-X, where you weave through mazes dodging red cars.
FAQ
Can I play Pole Position on UsuArcade?
Not yet. It's on the wishlist, so vote with I Want to Play It, and meanwhile try Out Run or Hang-On in the arcade.
What year did Pole Position come out?
1982. Namco made it, and Atari distributed it in the U.S.
How many players is Pole Position?
It's a single-player game.
How do you play Pole Position?
Run a qualifying lap, then race other cars and try to finish before time runs out without crashing.
