Dragster (video game)

Dragster
Developer(s)	Activision
Publisher(s)	Activision
Designer(s)	David Crane
Platform(s)	Atari 2600
Release	1980
Genre(s)	Drag racing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Dragster, released in 1980 for the Atari Video Computer System, is one of the first video games developed by Activision.

The objective of the game is to either beat the player's opponent across the screen or to race against the clock for best time, depending on the settings used. Dragster is an unauthorized adaptation of the 1977 Kee Games coin-op Drag Race.^{[1][unreliable source?]}

The game can be played single or with two players. The goal is to reach the finish line in the shortest time possible. A countdown of few seconds introduces a round, during which the player may not shift gears or get disqualified for the round. At start, the player needs to accelerate and shift up to four gears.^[2]

Dragster was developed by David Crane. Crane developed a new way to display score for the Atari 2600 which is normally set to the left and right of the screen, which Crane described as "very blocky".^[3] Activision developed a new way to display the score high-resolution six-digit score display that converted it into graphics that could slide across the screen. Crane stated he designed the game that would hold interest for hours despite the fact that each game would be about six seconds long.^[3]

Dragster was Activision's first title for the Atari 2600.^[3]

Dragster was released in 1980.^[4] The game sold over 500,000 copies and accounted for over half of Activision's first-year revenue.^[3][5]

Dragster was reviewed by Video magazine in its "Arcade Alley" column where it was described as having "an interesting premise" and as being "undeniably clever and, with a lot of patience, ... probably fun" but the reviewers also called it the "least" of Activision's early Atari 2600 releases. Specific criticism was given to the "clumsy" and "annoying" gameplay mechanics, and the game design was characterized as "ill-suited to the Atari control system".^[6]: 105

In 1982, Todd Rogers claimed the world record with a time of 5.51 seconds. Until January 2018, this was accepted by Twin Galaxies^[7] and Guinness World Records, which later recognized it as the longest-standing video game record. Rogers said he achieved his time by shifting into second gear as the countdown timer reached zero.^[8] Eric "Omnigamer" Koziel, a speedrunner and creator of tool-assisted speedruns, analyzed the source code of the game, and it was discovered that 5.51 seconds was impossible. He did not find it possible to shift during the countdown and determined the best possible time to be 5.57.

On January 29, 2018, Twin Galaxies removed Todd Rogers' records and banned him from participating in their competitive leaderboards.^[9][10] Guinness World Records also removed him from its database.^[11][12]

The world record stands at 5.57 seconds, which has been achieved by multiple players.^[13]

• List of Atari 2600 games
• List of Activision games: 1980–1999

• Dragster at Atari Mania
• Dragster Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine at Atari Age
• Dragster manual