Space Panic arcade game, first platform game

Space Panic, the first platform game, 1980

Space Panic - Launching Platform


Universal 1980

Building a Genre

Arcade video game Space Panic, by Universal

Climbing to new heights: Space Panic

Tokyo-based arcade video game producer Universal Co, Ltd. gives birth to one of the most venerable categories in gaming history with Space Panic, the first platform game, released in NA by Universal U.S.A. of Santa Clara, CA in 1980. Platform games generally deal with the player climbing ladders and running across platform levels, avoiding bad guys and other life-ending objects. In Space Panic, the enemies are little evil space-apples intent on taking a bite out of the hero’s backside. Luckily, the protagonist is armed with a shovel that seems to be able to dig through solid brick, allowing him to trap the aliens in holes that can then be filled in, dispatching them. He must, however, keep an eye on the oxygen level, which will asphyxiate him if it runs out.

Even with the player under constant duress from all the aliens, after game testing and digging through the data, Universal USA finds that distributors, arcade operators and even gamers are finding that Space Panic is too easy. The gamemaker listens to the complaints and adjusts gameplay accordingly, and further extensive game testing at locations in 1981 finds that the amount of quarters shovelled into the platform game has doubled.

Mr. Do!, arcade video game by Universal

A disturbing realization of the main character of Mr. Do!, Universal 1983 ad

Arcade game Do! Run Run

Universal outdoes their Mr. Do! ad creepiness for Do! Run Run in 1984

The game fabricates a framework for Brøderbund’s 1983 computer game Apple Panic, and paves the way for hundreds of other platform titles, including powerhouse arcade game Donkey Kong by Nintendo, as well as about a million console games. Being a 2nd tier arcade game, Space Panic is naturally pursued for addition to Coleco’s large stable of arcade adaptations for its ColecoVision home console, resulting in a very faithful translation to the system. Universal themselves are prolific game producers until disbanding in 1985, and probably their biggest games involve the Mr. Do franchise, starting in 1982 with the original Mr. Do!. Stretching across four games, with Mr. Do’s Castle (Asian title: Mr. Do Vs. the Unicorns), Mr. Do’s Wild Ride and Do! Run Run, the series improves considerably on the pioneering Space Panic, and is generally considered to contain some of the most diabolical gameplay ever constructed.  logo_stop

Click to play Space Panic knock-off Apple Panic, from Brøderbund. Move your character with I, J, K, and M. Dig holes (while moving) with A, fill holes with S

Display booth for video game company Universal at AMOA show, demonstrating arcade video game Mr. Do!'s Castle

The display booth for game company Universal at 1984 AMOA show, featuring Mr. Do!”s Castle ready for playing


Sources (Click to view)



“’Space Panic’ Modified.” Cash Box, 14 Mar. 1981, p. 41. Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cashbox42unse_41/page/n65. …Universal USA reports that the company has modified its current “Space Panic” video game, in accordance with customer recommendations.
Electronic Games, “The Video and Computer Games Scale the Heights!”, pg. 49 – 50, Jan. 1983
WallyWonka. “ColecoVision 3D Box Pack.” EmuMovies. N.p., 13 Aug. 2016. Web. 24 Aug. 2020. Image of Space Panic box for the Colecovision>
MLSchleps. “Colecovision 2D Box Art Pack (MLSchleps) 1.0.0.” EmuMovies. N.p., 11 Apr. 2020. Web. 24 Aug. 2020. Image of Space Panic game box for the Colecovision, CBS variation 1983
Edgemundo. “Commodore VIC-20 3D Boxes Pack (422).” EmuMovies. N.p., 10 Feb. 2020. Web. 24 Aug. 2020. Image of Apple Panic game box for the VIC-20
Image of the box art from Apple Panic from Gamespot, “Apple Panic” – www.gamespot.com/apple-panic/
WallyWonka. “Atari 2600 3D Boxes Pack.” EmuMovies. N.p., 26 Nov. 2019. Web. 19 Aug. 2020. Image of game box for Mr. Do’s Castle on the Atari 2600
Harris, Steve. “First Impressions of a Singular Event.” Comp. Jason Scott. Video Games Feb. 1984: 36-40. Internet Archive. 31 May 2013. Web. 7 Jan. 2022. Image of 1983 AMOA booth for Universal

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