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{{Header Nav|game=Datsun 280 Zzzap|num=2|onepage=1}}
{{Header Bar|game=Midnite Racer}}
{{Infobox
{{Game
|title=Datsun 280 Zzzap
|completion=2
|image=Datsun 280 Zzzap flyer.jpg
|image=Midnite Racer flyer.jpg
|title=Midnite Racer
|developer=[[Midway Games]]
|developer=[[Midway Games]]
|publisher=[[Midway Games]]
|publisher=[[Midway Games]]
|released={{rd|1976}}
|year=1976
|genre=First-person {{c|racing}}
|systems=[[Arcade]], [[Bally Astrocade]]
|systems=[[Arcade]], [[Bally Astrocade]]
|genre=[[Racing]]
|players=1
|players=1
|modes=[[Single player]]
|modes=[[Single player]]
}}
}}
{{marquee|Datsun 280 Zzzap marquee.jpg}}


{{marquee|Datsun 280 Zzzap marquee.jpg}}
'''Midnite Racer''' (later changed to '''Datsun 280 Zzzap''', which [[MAME]] refers to it as; also displayed simply as '''280 Zzzap''') is a first-person [[racing]] [[arcade]] game that was released by [[Midway Games]] in [[1976]]. It utilizes an Intel 8080 microprocessor (running at 1.9968 MHz) and was later ported to the [[Bally Astrocade]] in [[1977]]. This game's name was changed from "Midnite Racer" because Midway came up with the idea of a marketing promotion in which the winner of each category would receive a [[wp:Datsun 280Z|Datsun 280Z]] as a prize; realizing that their then-new racing game, which they had originally earned the right to create from [[Digital Games Inc.]], would be a perfect tie-in, it was rechristened "Datsun 280 Zzzap".
'''Datsun 280 Zzzap''', originally known as '''Midnite Racer''', is a first-person {{c|racing}} arcade game that was released by [[Midway Games]] in [[1976]]; it utilizes an Intel 8080 microprocessor (running at 1.9968 MHz) and was later ported to the [[Bally Astrocade]] in [[1977]]. The player must use a steering wheel to take up control of a (virtual) car, with a pedal to make it accelerate and a gear shifter to switch between "low" and "high" gears - and the sides of the road are represented with white posts (similar to [[Atari]]'s [[Night Driver]], which was released earlier in 1976). Warnings relating to upcoming curves can appear at the top of the screen, telling you about the maximum safe speed to take them at, while the bottom of the screen displays your car's speedometer (maximum speed of 200 mph), the game timer (once it runs out, the game will be over), your current score (you'll receive .01 point for every metre travelled) and information such as "SHIFT TO HIGH FOR MAX SCORE!"; if you crash, the text "POW!" or "WAM!" will appear on the screen, as the timer stops and your speed resets to 0 mph, then disappear again. The text "CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE SET A NEW RECORD!" appears for the "high score".


The reason why this game's name was changed from "Midnite Racer", is because: Midway came up with the idea of a marketing promotion in which the winner of each category would receive a [[wp:Datsun 280Z|Datsun 280Z]] as a prize; realizing that their then-new racing game which they had originally earned the right from [[Digital Games Inc.]] to create, would be a perfect tie-in, it was rechristened "Datsun 280 Zzzap".
The player must use a steering wheel to take up control of a (virtual) car, with a pedal to make it accelerate and a gear shifter to switch between "low" and "high" gears - and the sides of the road are represented with white posts (similar to [[Atari]]'s [[Night Driver]], which was released earlier in [[1976]]). Warnings relating to upcoming curves can appear at the top of the screen, telling you about the maximum safe speed to take them at, while the bottom of the screen displays your car's speedometer (maximum speed of 200 mph), the game timer (once it runs out, the game will be over), your current score (you'll receive .01 point for every metre travelled) and information such as "SHIFT TO HIGH FOR MAX SCORE!"; if you crash, the text "POW!" or "WAM!" will appear on the screen, as the timer stops and your speed resets to 0 mph, then disappear again. The text "CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE SET A NEW RECORD!" appears for the "high score".


<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Datsun 280 Zzzap gameplay.png|Screenshot of the game.
File:Datsun 280 Zzzap gameplay.png|Screenshot of the game.
File:Datsun 280 Zzzap cabinet.jpg|Upright arcade cabinet.
File:Datsun 280 Zzzap cabinet.jpg|Upright arcade cabinet.
File:Midnite Racer flyer.jpg|The "Midnite Racer" flyer.
File:Datsun 280 Zzzap flyer.jpg|Datsun 280 Zzzap flyer.
</gallery>
</gallery>


[[Category:Midway Games]]
[[Category:Midway Games]]
[[Category:Arcade]]
[[Category:Arcade]]
[[Category:Bally Astrocade]]
[[Category:Racing]]
[[Category:Racing]]
[[Category:Single player]]
[[Category:Single player]]
[[Category:Bally Astrocade]]
[[Category:MAME]]
[[Category:MAME]]

Latest revision as of 19:07, 11 February 2022

Box artwork for Midnite Racer.
Box artwork for Midnite Racer.
Midnite Racer
Developer(s)Midway Games
Publisher(s)Midway Games
Year released1976
System(s)Arcade, Bally Astrocade
Genre(s)Racing
Players1
ModesSingle player
LinksMidnite Racer ChannelSearchSearch
Midnite Racer marquee

Midnite Racer (later changed to Datsun 280 Zzzap, which MAME refers to it as; also displayed simply as 280 Zzzap) is a first-person racing arcade game that was released by Midway Games in 1976. It utilizes an Intel 8080 microprocessor (running at 1.9968 MHz) and was later ported to the Bally Astrocade in 1977. This game's name was changed from "Midnite Racer" because Midway came up with the idea of a marketing promotion in which the winner of each category would receive a Datsun 280Z as a prize; realizing that their then-new racing game, which they had originally earned the right to create from Digital Games Inc., would be a perfect tie-in, it was rechristened "Datsun 280 Zzzap".

The player must use a steering wheel to take up control of a (virtual) car, with a pedal to make it accelerate and a gear shifter to switch between "low" and "high" gears - and the sides of the road are represented with white posts (similar to Atari's Night Driver, which was released earlier in 1976). Warnings relating to upcoming curves can appear at the top of the screen, telling you about the maximum safe speed to take them at, while the bottom of the screen displays your car's speedometer (maximum speed of 200 mph), the game timer (once it runs out, the game will be over), your current score (you'll receive .01 point for every metre travelled) and information such as "SHIFT TO HIGH FOR MAX SCORE!"; if you crash, the text "POW!" or "WAM!" will appear on the screen, as the timer stops and your speed resets to 0 mph, then disappear again. The text "CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE SET A NEW RECORD!" appears for the "high score".