Remembering "Starcade"

While I am on the subject of TV Game Shows (yesterday I was talking about Deal or No Deal's strip week); Does anyone remember a Game Show called Starcade???

It was billed as "TV First Video Arcade Game Show." It ran from 1982-1984. The time was short but still remembered by the loyal fans of the show. Anyone regardless of age could try out to be a contestant on the show. The show was taped at CBS affilate KPIX-TV in San Francisco. TBS distributed the show, but was seen in broadcast syndcation.

The object of the game is to score as many points on the arcade games up for play within a given time limit (50 Seconds in the first two rounds and 40 Seconds in the third and final round). Their are 5 games on the show to choose from (unless its special show highlighting one game such as popular Lazer Games like Cliff Hanger or Dragon's Lair which were cutting edge at the time). The game can also end before time runs out should the contestant blow all the games lifes (Q-Bert's Pyramid Fall was the sound effect if that happened). Once a game is played it can't be played again (again unless that is the only game played on the show). Contestants are paired up based on how well they play the given games and then compete on a given program. Their were cheating and they were taken care off. Enough Said.

Before the contestants got to play one of the five games during the front game; a toss up question is asked. All the questions on Starcade are about Arcade Games and are a 50/50 guess. The one who rings in and gets the question correct is able to pick one of the five games and is first to play. If they miss, their opponent gets to pick. Both contestants took turns playing the chosen game. One of the games on the program would be deemed a "Mystery Game" and if a contest picked it during the front game they would win a prize.

After round 2 the contest with the most points in the two games played so far plays "Name The Game." Four games are show to the contestant and is given a 50/50 guess. A prize is won if they get all four right or three out of four.

After three rounds of play the contestant who scored the most points in all three games combined in the front game is the winner and moves on to the Bonus Round to play for the day's Grand Prize which was most of the time was for their own Arcade Game.

Starcade End Game

The producers take a survey of about 20 people regarding the adverage score played on the arcade games within 30 seconds. This will determine the target score in which the winning contest much achieve in the remaining games unplayed in the show. If the contestants can score the target score or better in 30 seconds or less they will take home the grand prize.

Well JM Producations (the producers of Starcade) a few years back started an offical webstite regarding their most popular show. Yesterday, they have put up a episode of a Starcade program. It will be up for a few more days. After you see the program you can take a poll and you go into a drawing for a DVD featuring 5 shows of the Classic Game Show.

Click here to visit JM Productions and their is direct link to Starcade in the front page. It will Bite You Big Time

Want to contact me via E-Mail??? donmccullen@prodigy.net