Original game developed by: Namco
CD-i port/conversion by: Philips ADS (Advanced Development & Support)
Published by: Namco
Distributed by: Philips Media
Original release: 1996
Genre: Compilation of classic arcade games
CD-i type: Compact Disc Interactive, base-case standard CD-i disc, no DVC required
Original price: 50 NLG
Catalogue: 8100329 (Europe)
Releases: Originally released in a standard jewelcase (only released in Europe (1 multilanguage version)
Language: English only, the boxart of the European version is multi-language. The game is english only.
Emulator: working in CD-i Emulator v0.53b4 and higher, no issues
Description from the developer:
Remember the good old days spending hours behind the arcade machine? These days are back. “Arcade Classics” has 3 all time classic games from the time that “Game play” was #1: Ms. Pac-Man, Galaxian and Galaga!
Game Facts:
Conversions of three Namco classics including Galaxian, Ms Pac-man and Galaga. NAMCO took special interest in this project even though they weren't directly involved with the development of the CD-i version, the quality of the Intellectual Property had to be maintained. This went as far as the packaging itself which is detailed in the below Suggestive Themes boxout. Philips ADS were given a Pac-man arcade board with the chipset for Ms Pac-man to wire up so they had everything to do a decent conversion. It wasn't a straight port however, the entire game was upgraded to a 256 colour palette and also extra levels were added courtesy of Johnny Wood and authorised by NAMCO.
The original artwork for the jewel case covers of Arcade Classics was far more raunchy and risque than NAMCO wished for it's highly protected Intellectual Properties. Produced by Johnny Wood who worked on the art for a host of other games including Pac-Panic and Atlantis - The Last Resort, his design for the Arcade Classics cover featured Ms Pac-man in leather boots holding a power pellet suggestively while the ghosts cower around the corners (Pictured to the left). NAMCO voiced concern over this inital cover which was immediately reissued in a family friendly version (Pictured to the right) stripping Ms Pac-man of the previous sexy imagery, wiping away the lipstick adding a pair of wellington boots and cute eyelashs with non-suggestive themes and NAMCO were happy!
The games converted by Philips ADS were always colourful even to the extent of showing some great character right until the ending credits. Here on display are the complete credits from Arcade Classics, some points of interest includes the Pac-Panic promotion which was awarded by the ICDIA in 1995 and also mention of N.I.R.D™ otherwise known as Non Intrusive Real-Time Debugger. Paul Clarke the developer of N.I.R.D™ had more than a little to do with the development of the engine used for Atlantis - The Last Resort and its precursor Ram Raid. Some early press release material attributed the Atlantis project to some powerful debugging software which we can only assume was in fact referring to N.I.R.D™.
Review
A flawless conversion of three arcade games by Namco, the CD-i conversion was done with care and in the case of Ms Pacman, Philips even added extra (new) mazes and upgraded the colour pallette. It plays just like the original.
From the Disc
Most CD-i Games have "Abstract", "Bibliographic" and "Copyright" details on the softwares disc itself, any interesting information in these files can be found below.
Abstract: Namco compilation, consisting of three games. Galaxian, Galaga and Ms Pacman.
Bibliographic: People involved in title.
Jonny Wood
Tom Drummond
Jason Watson
Chris Thorne
Dave McElhatten
Copyright: Copyright Philips Media Games, (c) 1996
