Starcade
Encyclopedia
Starcade was a game show
where contestants competed against one another by playing arcade video games. The series originally aired on WTBS from 1982–1983, followed by a run in syndication for the following season.
The series was originally hosted first by Mark Richards
, who was replaced after the first 23 WTBS shows in favor of Geoff Edwards
for the rest of the run.
to air on WTBS and later syndication by Turner Program Services
(TPS). Starcade was the first to be a video arcade
game show
, and set the blueprint for similar game shows like Video Power
, Nick Arcade, and Arena
. The show was used to showcase brand new arcade games.
Shortly after the series' cancellation, a second JM-produced video arcade game show, The Video Game
, was aired for a brief period from 1984 to 1985.
Starcade aired in repeats on the G4
network from its inception in 2002 to 2004, shortly before its merger with Tech TV.
Each round began with a video arcade-game related toss-up question. The player who buzzed in and answered correctly got first choice of five free-standing arcade games in the studio. After choosing, the player had 40 seconds (later 60, then 50) to amass as high a score as they could. After that contestant was done, the other contestant got to play the game that their opponent picked. Whatever points they earned were added to their overall score. If a player ended up with a "game over" during gameplay, the player's turn would end immediately, and the score obtained during play would be the player's score for that round.
The second and third rounds were played identically, with 40 seconds (later 50) game playing time for the second round, and 30 seconds (later 40) for the third. At the end of the second round (and third when the series began), the player in the lead played "Name The Game", where they could win a prize by correctly identifying four video arcade games by screenshots. Prizes were awarded if the player could correctly identify three or four games.
One of the five games was the "mystery game". If the player chose it during the front game, they would receive a prize.
The player in the lead at the end of the third and final round won the game and a bonus prize, and moved on to the bonus round.
If successful, the player won the grand prize, which consisted of either their own arcade game, a home entertainment robot, a jukebox, or even a vacation (in certain "invitational" episodes).
for Starcade was hosted by Mike Eruzione (famous for scoring the game-winning goal for the 1980
U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team vs. Russia
) and featured an almost entirely different format. There were three rows of eight players (24 in total) and their own separate arcade game systems. All three rows featured a different video game; in this case, the first one featured eight Defender systems, the second one featured eight Centipede
systems, and the third one featured eight Pac-Man
systems. Each player had 30 seconds to accumulate a relatively high total. Whoever had the highest out of all eight on their team was selected to play against the two other highest-scoring players on an arcade game (Berzerk
in this case) for the grand prize – their very own arcade game (Asteroids Deluxe, in this case) and an Apple II
Home Computer System.
The overall winner would then play a brand-new arcade game against a celebrity "just for fun". The winner, David Dyche, played the then-new game Donkey Kong
against Larry Wilcox
, best known to viewers as police officer Jon Baker on the NBC
crime-drama CHiPs
.
The original pilot was conceived to sell to NBC
, who passed. Three more pilots were shot, featuring a retooled format (more similar to the series as aired) and host Alex Trebek
(who was suggested by NBC). The pilot was picked up by Ted Turner in 1982, and the show began its life on WTBS in December with Mark Richards as host.
Richards, however, appeared to be uncomfortable on-camera; more importantly to Turner, Richards did not appear to be interested in video games. Richards was replaced by veteran game-show host Geoff Edwards on the 24th WTBS episode. Edwards did not play video games either, however became a fan upon receiving the job.
The show's original theme was an eight-bit melody similar to those heard in various arcade games of the time. Halfway through Richards' run, the theme was changed to one composed by "Mindseed" (Ed and Joanne Anderson), who were also employed by Data East
at the time.
Occasionally, special episodes where produced such as team episodes, and others in which only one game was played repeatedly through the entire episode. Games that were featured in an episode of their own were Cliff Hanger, Dragon's Lair
, and the 1983 Star Wars game.
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
where contestants competed against one another by playing arcade video games. The series originally aired on WTBS from 1982–1983, followed by a run in syndication for the following season.
The series was originally hosted first by Mark Richards
Mark Richards
Mark Richards may refer to:*Mark Richards , Australian surfing champion*Mark Richards , US congressman from Vermont*Mark Richards , former English cricketer...
, who was replaced after the first 23 WTBS shows in favor of Geoff Edwards
Geoff Edwards
Geoffrey Bruce Owen "Geoff" Edwards is an American television actor, game show host and radio personality. Over the past decade and a half, he has been a writer and broadcaster on travel. He was born in Westfield, New Jersey....
for the rest of the run.
Broadcast history
Starcade was produced by JM Production Company for Ted TurnerTed Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
to air on WTBS and later syndication by Turner Program Services
Turner Program Services
Turner Program Services was the former syndication arm of Turner Broadcasting. It served the same purpose as Turner Entertainment's distribution unit, with the exception that TPS was more involved in distributing television series rather than films....
(TPS). Starcade was the first to be a video arcade
Video arcade
An amusement arcade or video arcade is a venue where people play arcade games such as video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, merchandisers , or coin-operated billiards or air hockey tables...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, and set the blueprint for similar game shows like Video Power
Video Power
Video Power is an American television series that aired in two different formats from 1990-1992 in syndication. Both formats revolved around video games, and actor Stivi Paskoski presided over both series playing video game master Johnny Arcade.Allen J...
, Nick Arcade, and Arena
Arena (G4 TV series)
Arena was a G4 TV show which aired from 2002 to 2004. It is devoted entirely to teams competing against one another via multiplayer video games....
. The show was used to showcase brand new arcade games.
Shortly after the series' cancellation, a second JM-produced video arcade game show, The Video Game
The Video Game (game show)
The Video Game is a syndicated game show that ran from September 1984 to September 1985. It was created by JM Productions, and debuted shortly after the cancellation of their earlier game show Starcade. The Video Game was taped at Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park...
, was aired for a brief period from 1984 to 1985.
Starcade aired in repeats on the G4
G4 (TV channel)
G4, also known as G4 TV, is an American cable- and satellite-television channel originally geared primarily toward young adult viewers, originally based on the world of video games...
network from its inception in 2002 to 2004, shortly before its merger with Tech TV.
Format
Two players (or teams; age-regardless) competed. Three rounds were played.Each round began with a video arcade-game related toss-up question. The player who buzzed in and answered correctly got first choice of five free-standing arcade games in the studio. After choosing, the player had 40 seconds (later 60, then 50) to amass as high a score as they could. After that contestant was done, the other contestant got to play the game that their opponent picked. Whatever points they earned were added to their overall score. If a player ended up with a "game over" during gameplay, the player's turn would end immediately, and the score obtained during play would be the player's score for that round.
The second and third rounds were played identically, with 40 seconds (later 50) game playing time for the second round, and 30 seconds (later 40) for the third. At the end of the second round (and third when the series began), the player in the lead played "Name The Game", where they could win a prize by correctly identifying four video arcade games by screenshots. Prizes were awarded if the player could correctly identify three or four games.
One of the five games was the "mystery game". If the player chose it during the front game, they would receive a prize.
The player in the lead at the end of the third and final round won the game and a bonus prize, and moved on to the bonus round.
Bonus Round
The winning player faced one final challenge: beat an average score of 20 other players at the game they had chosen to play. The player would then have 30 seconds to do so, and could only pick from the two remaining games that were not played in the front game.If successful, the player won the grand prize, which consisted of either their own arcade game, a home entertainment robot, a jukebox, or even a vacation (in certain "invitational" episodes).
Production
The original pilotTelevision pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for Starcade was hosted by Mike Eruzione (famous for scoring the game-winning goal for the 1980
Ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics was held at the Olympic Arena and the Olympic Fieldhouse in Lake Placid, New York. Twelve teams competed in the tournament, which was held from February 12 to February 24...
U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team vs. Russia
Miracle on Ice
The "Miracle on Ice" is the name in American popular culture for a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, on Friday, February 22...
) and featured an almost entirely different format. There were three rows of eight players (24 in total) and their own separate arcade game systems. All three rows featured a different video game; in this case, the first one featured eight Defender systems, the second one featured eight Centipede
Centipede (video game)
Centipede is a vertically-oriented shoot 'em up arcade game produced by Atari, Inc. in 1980. The game was designed by Ed Logg along with Dona Bailey, one of the few female game programmers in the industry at this time. It was also the first arcade coin-operated game to have a significant female...
systems, and the third one featured eight Pac-Man
Pac-Man
is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway, first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games,...
systems. Each player had 30 seconds to accumulate a relatively high total. Whoever had the highest out of all eight on their team was selected to play against the two other highest-scoring players on an arcade game (Berzerk
Berzerk
Berzerk is a multi-directional shooter video arcade game, released in 1980 by Stern Electronics of Chicago.-Gameplay:The player controls a green stick-figure, representing a "humanoid." Using a joystick , the player navigates a simple maze filled with many robots, who fire lasers back at the...
in this case) for the grand prize – their very own arcade game (Asteroids Deluxe, in this case) and an Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
Home Computer System.
The overall winner would then play a brand-new arcade game against a celebrity "just for fun". The winner, David Dyche, played the then-new game Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong (video game)
is an arcade game released by Nintendo in 1981. It is an early example of the platform game genre, as the gameplay focuses on maneuvering the main character across a series of platforms while dodging and jumping over obstacles. In the game, Jumpman must rescue a damsel in distress, Lady, from a...
against Larry Wilcox
Larry Wilcox
Larry Wilcox is an American actor, best known for his role as Officer Jonathan "Jon" Baker in CHiPs, an American television series.-Military service:...
, best known to viewers as police officer Jon Baker on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
crime-drama CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
.
The original pilot was conceived to sell to NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, who passed. Three more pilots were shot, featuring a retooled format (more similar to the series as aired) and host Alex Trebek
Alex Trebek
George Alexander "Alex" Trebek is a Canadian American game show host who has been the host of the game show Jeopardy! since 1984, and prior to that, he hosted game shows such as Pitfall and High Rollers. He has appeared in numerous television series, usually as himself...
(who was suggested by NBC). The pilot was picked up by Ted Turner in 1982, and the show began its life on WTBS in December with Mark Richards as host.
Richards, however, appeared to be uncomfortable on-camera; more importantly to Turner, Richards did not appear to be interested in video games. Richards was replaced by veteran game-show host Geoff Edwards on the 24th WTBS episode. Edwards did not play video games either, however became a fan upon receiving the job.
The show's original theme was an eight-bit melody similar to those heard in various arcade games of the time. Halfway through Richards' run, the theme was changed to one composed by "Mindseed" (Ed and Joanne Anderson), who were also employed by Data East
Data East
also abbreviated as DECO, was a Japanese video game developer and publisher. The company was in operation from 1976 to 2003, when it declared bankruptcy...
at the time.
Occasionally, special episodes where produced such as team episodes, and others in which only one game was played repeatedly through the entire episode. Games that were featured in an episode of their own were Cliff Hanger, Dragon's Lair
Dragon's Lair
Dragon's Lair is a laserdisc video game published by Cinematronics in 1983. It featured animation created by ex-Disney animator Don Bluth....
, and the 1983 Star Wars game.
Episode status
All episodes except episode #35 are known to exist, according to the official website.See also
- Bad Influence!
- GamePro TVGamePro TVGamePro TV was a syndicated weekly video game television show that ran from 1990 through 1991. The show was a low-budget partner to GamePro magazine.-First-run syndication version:...
- GamesMasterGamesMasterGamesMaster was a British television show, screened on Channel 4 from 1992 to 1998, and was the first ever UK television show dedicated to computer and video games.-Origins:...
- Video PowerVideo PowerVideo Power is an American television series that aired in two different formats from 1990-1992 in syndication. Both formats revolved around video games, and actor Stivi Paskoski presided over both series playing video game master Johnny Arcade.Allen J...
- Nick Arcade