VIDEO: Pole Position commericial, circa the '80s
When kids nowadays roll their eyes when hearing about how tough we had it when WE were kids, they frequently think we might be exaggerating, especially when we talk about video games. Pong was inconceivably archaic, but the games that showed up in the next few years from the once-dominant Atari seemed like an incredible leap forward in terms of graphics and playability, games like Pole Position in particular. Full color, simulated 3-D renderings, authentic race car sounds - it had it all and was controlled with an 8-direction stick and one red button.
Those were the days. Well, thanks to YouTube, we can relive the excitement this video game instilled in gamers by viewing Atari's television campaign for Pole Position. Clearly aimed at the whole family, we see how easy it was for an everyday couple and their kids to experience the thrill of real formula racing at the flip of a switch. It was like being lifted by the hand of God and dumped from your boring Rabbit into a fleet of Formula cars. Don't worry about the helmets, kids. They won't help when you fly off course and explode on impact with that Pole Position billboard. But fear not, there's always a reset button somewhere. Click through to relive your glory days.
[Source: Atari via YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
johdaxx 7:47PM (4/12/2007)
Excellent! What great old footage of Laguna Seca, and 80s-riffic rockin soundtrack. :)
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bmw122487 7:47PM (4/12/2007)
And to think i was taken back the other day when i noticed how poor the graphics were on my old Need for speed hot pursuit game the other day.
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TeamTutorials 8:03AM (4/13/2007)
Thats retro.
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Big jim 8:53PM (4/12/2007)
that was entertaing
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Talis 11:34PM (4/12/2007)
I remember that game! I still play it on my old Atari sometimes... just can't beat the classics.
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Talis 11:34PM (4/12/2007)
I just realized how old I am...
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Luciano 8:16AM (4/13/2007)
Incredible how much technology changed! Great video!
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visit me guys..thanks
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Richard 9:29AM (4/13/2007)
Loved it...
"It'll leave skid marks on your soul."
Can't get away with that now days which is sad...
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Johnny 4:48PM (4/13/2007)
I miss that game, which makes me feel old because I had it.
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Brad 6:45PM (4/13/2007)
I've put many a quarter in the Pole Position game in my younger years. I thought it was so cool.
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ZoomZoomin' 2:55AM (4/14/2007)
haha...my friends and I were just looking at this again a couple of weeks ago. It really is an awesome commercial and I wish ads were still made like this.
"Heeeeeyyy, you look like a real jerk!"
"He stops exciting things from happening!"
"Oh no you ain't, you're gonna play Pole Position!"
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Poe 9:01AM (4/14/2007)
Wow... that really takes me back! I had a VW Rabbit - and an Atari! (although not the swanky 5200 they showed at the end). LOL!!! I had the original VCS/2600 and then moved up to a 400 computer. Spent a LOT of time playing Pole Position! Man... I'm OLD.
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ZoomZoomin' 4:24PM (4/15/2007)
Atari 400 representing...with tape drive attachment. Hell yeah.
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CR 9:00PM (4/15/2007)
I am 24 and this was the first racing game I ever played. It was great.
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CR 9:01PM (4/15/2007)
Talis your blog is wack. Calling people eurotrash is just like using th "n" word. It is not a good thing. I live in Oakland county and I am in Detroit 5 days a week and I love american cars but I would be the first to admit there is a problem with american built Fords and any GM built on the same platform for more than a decade. The Zeta platform will usher in a General Motors renaissance unless they, the shareholder mess up a good thing. The reason why people in other countries don't like american cars is that a Aveo costs over 17,000 dollars in europe. Americans recieve the lowest cost of automobiles in first world nations and that is great for the manufactures. I hope Americans will put quality over profits, the people on wall street don't care about Detroit so defact don't care about america so why are the auto companies trying to apease them, they drive german cars...and I would too if I lived in germany but I don't and I love my country. Think globally and buy local...most of all good american cars...they exist.
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