I recently picked up an old arcade book (Arcade Fever by John Sellers – more on that later) and it had a page dedicated to one of my favorite video game memories, the Starcade TV series.
This was the first TV game show where contestants actually played video arcade games, with the team scoring the highest winning various prizes that included actual arcade games.
The series, by JM Productions, aired on WTBS in from 1982 to 1984 (the pilot was filmed in 1981) and was periodically re-aired on G4 from 2002 to 2004.
The contestants were various ages and competed either individually or in teams. My favorite episode featured a brother and sister team where, when the host asked who was going to play a certain arcade game, the brother answered quite boldly, “I am,” with so much emphasis on the “I” that my younger sister and I could not stop laughing. It became an in-joke between us that we still share, even 20+ years later.
The real reason to watch the show, of course, were to see the latest arcade games so you could decide whether or not it was worth heading to the arcade to plunk in more quarters. (Ah, the days when stuff only cost a quarter… *sigh*).
Starcade has a bit of a fan following and even the contestants have kept in contact with the show’s creators, which you can read about on the Starcade web site.
Of course for the hard core fans, the site’s store also offers a DVD ($12.95) with five episodes featuring more popular games (Pac-Man), T-shirts ($14.95 and available in era-appropriate red or yellow).
The site also offers a few full episodes, though you’ll have to watch a 30 second preview clip and ABC video ad to get to it. The show’s creators, Jim and Mavis Caruso, have written a brief history of the show, which can be found at Retro Blast!
Love your Starcade article. Watched the show as a kid. As well as really, had a crush on Geoff Edwards, the host! Great article! Happy New year!