Datsun 280 ZZZAP

Datsun 280 ZZZAP, also known as Midnight Racer or 280 ZZZAP, is a 1976 arcade racing video game released by Midway Manufacturing, designed by Jamie Fenton. Based on Nissan's Datsun 280Z, it is one of the earliest games with authorized branding.[3] An unbranded version was released as Midnight Racer,[3] originally in November 1976.[2] The branded version Datsun 280 ZZZAP was then released in Japan by Taito in February 1977, and then in North America by Midway in March.

Datsun 280 ZZZAP
In-game screenshot
Developer(s)Dave Nutting Associates
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Jamie Fenton[1]
Dave Nutting[1]
Platform(s)Arcade, Astrocade
ReleaseMidnight Racer
Datsun 280 ZZZAP
Genre(s)Racing[1]
Mode(s)Single-player
Arcade systemIntel 8080-based hardware

Gameplay

The title was named after the US advertising campaign for Nissan's Datsun 280Z. Players can drive up to 200 miles per hour (320 km/h) while navigating a tricky road course at night. Players must watch out for treacherous turns, nasty competitors, and the ever-present time limit.

Release

Midway demonstrated Midnight Racer at the AMOA show in November 1976. It drew comparisons to Night Driver, demonstrated at the same show by Atari, Inc. In turn, both games drew comparisons to an earlier German night driving video game (Nürburgring 1) demonstrated at the German IMA show in Spring 1976.[4] The branded version Datsun 280 ZZZAP was later released in Japan by Taito in February 1977, and then in North America by Midway in March.[2]

Reception

On the US Play Meter arcade chart, 280 ZZZAP was the year's ninth highest-grossing arcade game of 1977.[5] On the US RePlay arcade chart, it was the tenth highest-grossing arcade video game of 1977.[6] On Japan's Game Machine arcade chart, it was among the top 20 highest-grossing arcade video games of 1977.[7]

References
  1. Datsun 2800 ZZZAP at GameFAQs
  2. Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) [Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005)] (in Japanese). Japan: Amusement News Agency. pp. 41, 124. ISBN 978-4990251215.
  3. Bogost, Ian (2007). Persuasive Games: The Expressive Power of Videogames. MIT Press. p. 200. ISBN 9780262026147.
  4. "Sexton Star of MOA Seminar: Video". Play Meter. Vol. 2, no. 14. December 1976. pp. 20-26 (23-6).
  5. "Top Arcade Games". Play Meter. November 1977.
  6. "Profit Chart". RePlay. November 1977.
  7. "結果ベスト3" [Best 3 Results] (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 90. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 February 1978. pp. 2–3.
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