Dragster
1980 · Racing · Atari 2600
Overview
Dragster (1980) is David Crane's drag-racing game, one of Activision's first releases, and the subject of one of gaming's best-known disputed world records.
Deep Dive
Two cars race a short strip against each other or the clock, and the lowest time wins. Players shift through up to four gears, and shifting during the countdown disqualifies them. Crane called it a homage to Kee Games' 1977 arcade game Drag Race, squeezed onto a four-way joystick and one button instead of a wheel, pedal and gear lever.
Developer Story
Crane designed and programmed it for Activision's first line-up. It sold over 500,000 copies, more than half of Activision's first-year revenue.
Did You Know?
- Todd Rogers's 1982 time of 5.51 seconds stood until 2018, when an analysis of the game's code showed 5.57 was the best possible; Twin Galaxies and Guinness removed his records.
- Video magazine called it the least of Activision's early releases and its controls clumsy.
Sources & further reading
- Dragster (video game) — Wikipedia
