game
icon
display
colour emulation good
palette 512
display type raster
orientation vertical
resolution 224x256
frequency 60.000000Hz
sound
sound emulation good
channels mono
controls
players 2
nplayers 2P alt
controls dial
buttons 1
coin slots 2
hardware
cpu Z80 @ 6MHz
cpu M68705 @ 3MHz
audio YM2149 @ 1.5MHz
data
version added .030
last change(s) .138u4 .105u4
roms
name size crc set flags sha1
a75-01-1.ic17  32768  5bcda3b0  arkanoid    52cadd38b5f8e8856f007a9c602d6b508f30be65 
a75-11.ic16  32768  eafd7191  arkanoid    d2f8843b716718b1de209e97a874e8ce600f3f87 
arkanoid.ic14  2048  515d77b6  arkanoid    a302937683d11f663abd56a2fd7c174374e4d7fb 
a75-03.ic64  32768  038b74ba  arkanoid    ac053cc4908b4075f918748b89570e07a0ba5116 
a75-04.ic63  32768  71fae199  arkanoid    5d253c46ccf4cd2976a5fb8b8713f0f345443d06 
a75-05.ic62  32768  c76374e2  arkanoid    7520dd48de20db60a2038f134dcaa454988e7874 
a75-07.ic24  512  0af8b289  arkanoid    6bc589e8a609b4cf450aebedc8ce02d5d45c970f 
a75-08.ic23  512  abb002fb  arkanoid    c14f56b8ef103600862e7930709d293b0aa97a73 
a75-09.ic22  512  a7c6c277  arkanoid    adaa003dcd981576ea1cc5f697d709b2d6b2ea29 
arkanoid1_68705p3.ic14  2048  1b68e2d8  arkanoid    f642a7cb624ee14fb0e410de5ae1fc799d2fa1c2 
arkanoid_mcu.ic14  2048  4e44b50a  arkanoid    c61e7d158dc8e2b003c8158053ec139b904599af 
arkanoid_68705p5.ic14  2048  0be83647  arkanoid    625fd1e6061123df612f115ef14a06cd6009f5d1 
additional information
info 0.34b8 [?]

0.30 [Brad Oliver]

Artwork available

WIP:
  • 0.138u4: Dr. Decapitator loaded (but don't yet use) the decapped MCU for Arkanoid (I think the supported MCUs are bootlegs...). Brian Troha added or corrected the PCB location for the genuine Arkanoid rom sets and documented the MCU Taito ID number.
  • 10th July 2010: Smitdogg - We're working on a "for sure" legit Taito Arkanoid MCU (for the ones we already have, it's hard to tell if they are all from bootlegs or not; bootleggers made their own MCUs for this game).
  • 25th June 2010: Guru - The 68705P3 ans 2x 68705P5 MCUs for Arkanoid have now been successfully processed (decap, de-protect & read).
  • 0.136u1: Corrado Tomaselli changed Arkanoid to use YM2149.
  • 0.136: David Haywood added clone Block (Game Corporation bootleg, set 3).
  • 0.135u4: Fabio Priuli fixed memory leak in debug mode in clone Block 2 (S.P.A. CO. bootleg).
  • 0.135u3: f205v and ANY added clone Arkanoid (bootleg on Block hardware, set 2). Changed description of clone 'Arkanoid (bootleg on Block hardware)' to 'Arkanoid (bootleg on Block hardware, set 1)'.
  • 0.135u1: Fabio Priuli added driver data struct to Arkanoid driver.
  • 16th November 2009: ANY dumped Arkanoid (bootleg on Block hardware, set 2).
  • 0.134u3: Andy Welburn and Stephane Humbert added clone Block 2 (S.P.A. CO. bootleg).
  • 4th October 2009: Smitdogg - Another cool dump from Andrew Welburn has been added (Block II), the emulation is preliminary at the moment but coming right along as you can see below. It's a bootleg of Arkanoid.
  • 0.133u1: Renamed (arknoidu) to (arkanoidu), (arknoiuo) to (arkanoiduo) and (arknoidj) to (arkanoidj).
  • 0.129u3: Fabio Priuli fixed paddle input for clones arkbloc2, arkgcbl and paddle2.
  • 0.128u7: Robiza added PAL to clone Arkanoid (bootleg on Block hardware).
  • 0.128u6: Robiza added correct proms to clone Arkanoid (bootleg on Block hardware).
  • 0.127u4: Dazzer added correct colour PROMS to clone Tournament Arkanoid (US) and fixed rom names.
  • 30th July 2008: Guru - Arkanoid chips arrived to be decapped, thanks to Dox.
  • 0.123u4: Corrado Tomaselli changed/verified clocks in Arkanoid.
  • 0.123u1: Stephane Humbert fixed some Arkanoid clones INPUT_PORTS definitions that were curiously using PORT_START_TAG("DSW") instead of PORT_MODIFY("DSW").
  • 0.122u6: Changed M68705 CPU2 clock speed to 3MHz.
  • 0.122u4: Bryan McPhail fixed MCU emulation (arkanoid061gre). Bit 7 is suspected to be MCU reset, the evidence for this is that the games tilt mode reset sequence shows the main CPU must be able to directly control the reset line of the MCU, else the game will crash leaving the tilt screen (as the MCU is now out of sync with main CPU which resets itself). This bit is the likely candidate as it is flipped early in bootup just prior to accessing the MCU for the first time.
  • 0.115: Aaron Giles updated 68705 clocks to take into account the internal divide by 4. Added constant so that it is clear why this is being done. Changed M68705 CPU4 clock speed to 750000 Hz.
  • 0.114u4: Tormod Tjaberg updated clocks in Arkanoid based on measurements from a real PCB.
  • 0.108u4: Stephane Humbert added clones Arkanoid (bootleg with MCU, harder), Arkanoid (Game Corporation bootleg, set 2) and Arkanoid (Tayto bootleg). Also added many more notes/info to the Arkanoid driver. Renamed (arkatayt) to (arktayt2).
  • 0.108u3: Renamed (arkbl2) to (arkmcubl), (arkbl3) to (arkgcbl), (arkbloc2) to (arkblock) and (arkblock) to (arkbloc2). Big update to the Arkanoid driver which improves emulation of some bootlegs [Steph]: Interverted 'arkblock' and 'arkbloc2' sets for better comparaison. Renamed sets. Changed some games descriptions. Removed flags from the following sets: arkbloc2, arkgcbl and paddle2.
  • 3rd September 2006: Mr. Do - Added instruction cards for Arkanoid.
  • 0.106u3: Fixed rom names in clone (Tayto bootleg, Japanese).
  • 0.105u4: Fixed rom names in Arkanoid.
  • 19th March 2006: f205v dumped Arkanoid (bootleg on Block hardware).
  • 0.104u4: Adam Bousley added save states to the Arkanoid driver.
  • 29th September 2005: f205v dumped Arkanoid (bootleg with MCU, harder). It's a bootleg of "Arkanoid (Japan)", with notice screen eliminated (it only shows a black screen with a red WAIT) and a fix (no dips selection) 1 ball x game and NO starting level selection.
  • 0.82u2: Curt Coder merged memory maps in the Arkanoid driver. Moved paddle2 trickery to machine/arkanoid.c.
  • 17th June 2003: Angelo Salese added preliminary MCU simulation to Paddle 2, but it still has some issues.
  • 0.69: Stephane Humbert added clone Arkanoid (US, older).
  • 15th July 2002: Stephane Humbert added another version of Arkanoid.
  • 7th July 2002: Smitdogg and Dave Widel fixed the sprite placement in Dig Dug and added a clone of Arkanoid.
  • 0.60: Added clones Arkanoid (Japan bootleg Set 3), Block (bootleg, Japan) and Paddle 2 (bootleg 1986).
  • 20th April 2001: Stefan Jokisch fixed a bug in the Arkanoid driver that caused instant deaths in the last level.
  • 0.37b5: Added clone Tournament Arkanoid (US).
  • 12th June 2000: Kieron Wilkinson added the Tournament Arkanoid romset to the Arkanoid driver.
  • 1st April 2000: Guru - Dumped Tournament Arkanoid (Taito 1987, Romstar License).
  • 0.36b4: Highwayman added clone Block (Game Corporation bootleg). Added TESTDRIVER Block (bootleg 1986, Japanese) and Block (Game Corporation bootleg 1986).
  • 0.35: Nicola Salmoria fixed later levels in Arkanoid (US). Added clones Arkanoid (Japan) and Arkanoid (Game Corporation bootleg). Fixed cpu2 rom ($0) length from 1920 to 2048.
  • 24th June 1999: Nicola added made-up 68705 roms to Arkanoid's US and Japan versions, which fixes the later levels.
  • 24th April 1999: Roberto Fresca added an Arkanoid version with round selector.
  • 0.35b6: Replaced M6805 CPU2 with M68705.
  • 0.34b8: Changed description from 'Arkanoid (Taito)' to 'Arkanoid (World)' and 'Arkanoid (Romstar)' to 'Arkanoid (USA). Added clones Arkanoid (Japanese bootleg Set 3) (Testdriver) and Block (bootleg, Japanese) (Testdriver).
  • 0.33b7: Removed Arkanoid (BETA bootleg) from MAME.
  • 0.31: Thierry Lescot added clones Arkanoid (BETA bootleg) and (Tayto bootleg). Aaron Giles added clone Arkanoid (Bootleg). Due to a missing image for the 68705 microcontroller, the BETA bootleg doesn't work. Due to features of the 68705 not emulated yet, the "arkbl2" bootleg set doesn't work. Since it doesn't have to emulate the 68705, the Tayto bootleg is faster than the other versions. Dual paddle in cocktail mode is not supported.
  • 0.30: Brad Oliver added Arkanoid (Taito 1986) and clone (U.S. Romstar). Not playable.
LEVELS: 33

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Romset: 170 kb / 12 files / 68.5 zip
history Arkanoid (c) 1986 Taito.


After a sudden alien assault, the Arkanoid spaceship has been destroyed and the only survivor, the small 'Vaus' space vessel, has been mysteriously trapped in another dimension by an unknown enemy. The player is charged with helping the 'Vaus' overcome the security systems, as well as the many enemies that guard them, before finally finding and destroying 'DOH', the alien responsible for the attack.


Arkanoid is an update of the early ball and paddle video games - and specifically of Atari's 1978 classic, "Super Breakout" - in which the player takes control of a paddle at the bottom of the screen and must use it to deflect a ball into rows of bricks at the top of the screen, thus destroying them and, eventually, clearing the screen to progress to the next level.


As well as impressive and colourful graphics, Arkanoid introduced a number of new elements to the classic bat 'n' ball gameplay. Certain bricks, when destroyed, would release a power-up - in the form of a falling capsule. the player had to catch the capsule to retrieve the power-up. Among the many enhancements the power-ups provided were an increased 'bat' size, multiple balls, 'sticky' ball (which would stick to the bat and could be released when the player chose) and even a laser, which allowed the player to shoot the bricks.


- TECHNICAL -


Prom Stickers : A75


Main CPU : Z80 (@ 6 Mhz), M68705 (@ 500 Khz)

Sound Chips : AY8910 (@ 1.5 Mhz)


Screen orientation : Vertical

Video resolution : 224 x 256 pixels

Screen refresh : 60.00 Hz

Palette colors : 512


Players : 2

Control : paddle

Buttons : 1


- TRIVIA -


Licensed to Romstar for US distribution (December 1986).


Arkanoid has remained a popular game and is commonly cloned by aspiring game developers in freeware and shareware titles. Many companies have also regularly cloned the game in arcades.


Arkanoid's popularity led to it being featured in "Rainbow Islands - The Story of Bubble Bobble 2", which has a whole level (4 stages in all) dedicated to the game, including DOH as the level boss.


Nick Mollison holds the official record for this game on extremely hard settings with 1,156,930 points on September 7, 2008.

Zack Hample holds the official record for this game on normal settings with 1,658,110 points on March 13, 2000.


Official releases :

Taito's Arkanoid

Taito's Tournament Arkanoid


Bootleg releases :

Tayto's Arkanoid

Game Corporation's Arkanoid


Hack releases :

Two-Bits Score's Arkanoid Plus

Game Corporation's Block

SPA Co.'s Block II

Paddle 2


- UPDATES -


Bootlegs version don't use the M68705 @ 500 Khz :-)


The Japanese version supports cocktail mode whereas the others don't.


- SCORING -


Points are scored for destroying bricks and killings aliens.


- TIPS AND TRICKS -


* Pill descriptions :

S - Slow : slows down the energy ball.

L - Laser : enables the vaus to fire laser beams.

C - Catch : catches the energy ball and shoots it when you want it.

B - Break : allow player to move to next playfield.

E - Expand : expands the vaus.

P - Player : gains an additional vaus.

D - Disrupt : splits the energy ball into three particles.


* The power pills are not quite random. There are essentially two types of games. One has lots of light blue multi-ball pills and the pink warp pills - this is a low scoring game. The high scoring game gives you more of the other pills.


* On each level, the ball will not speed up completely until it hits the back wall, so :

1) Try to remove bricks from the bottom up, or punch a hole through thicker areas of bricks rather than go straight through (e.g. take out the left side of level 2 rather than the single block at the right as you will catch far more pills).

2) If you have collected a lot of S pills and the ball has been in play for a bit of time, be prepared for a sudden speedup.


* Also, the D token speeds up the balls and is pretty useless on most levels (the one with the enclosed diamond is the only good example I can think of).


* As only one pill can fall at a time, multiple balls can reduce your potential score quite drastically. Every pill is worth 1000 points. For the first few levels, get every pill you can, but do not use the special powers. You will get a lot of extra ships and should get a gray P or two - thereby starting early with 6 or 7 ships.


* In the final level, where you face DOH himself, you should get 15 hits (1000 points per hit) on DOH/per man until you defeat DOH with the 16th hit on your last man to end the game.


- SERIES -
  1. Arkanoid (1986)
  2. Arkanoid - Revenge of DOH (1987)
  3. Arkanoid - DOH It Again (1997, Nintendo Super NES)
  4. Arkanoid Returns (1997)
  5. - STAFF -
    • Game designed by : Akira Fujita (AKR)
    • Programmed by : Yasumasa Sasabe (SSB)
    • Director of hardware & co-programmer : Toshiyuki Sanada (SND)
    • Assistant programmer : Toru T. (TOR)
    • Graphic designer : Onijust H. (ONJ)
    • Sound composer : Hisayoshi Ogura
    • Sound effects : Tadashi Kimijima
    • Pattern designer : Akira Iwai
    • - PORTS -
    • * Consoles :
    • Nintendo BS ("BS Arkanoid") [might be a prototype]
    • Nintendo Famicom (1986) : include its own controller in the package, a smaller version of the spinner used in the arcade version.
    • Nintendo Super Famicom (1997)
    • Nintendo DS (2007, "Arkanoid DS" included a paddle like GBA cartridge it will plug into DS Slot 2)
    • * Computers :
    • PC9801 (1986 - Taito)
    • PC [MS-DOS] (1986)
    • MSX (1986)
    • BBC B (1987, "Arkanoid" - Imagine)
    • Thomson TO7 (1987)
    • Tandy (1987)
    • Commodore C64 (1987)
    • Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1987)
    • Apple II (1987)
    • Atari 800 (1987)
    • Atari ST (1987)
    • Commodore Amiga (1987)
    • Amstrad CPC (1987)
    • Thomson M05
    • Thomson TO8
    • - SOURCES -
    • Game's rom.
    • Machine's picture.
    • Edit this entry at Arcade-History.com: http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=arkanoid&page=detail&id=106&o=2
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