is a Japanese

arcade game An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily games of skill and include arcade v ...

that was released by

Namco was a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company, headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo. It held several international branches, including Namco America in Santa Clara, California, Namco Europe in London, Na ...

in 1979. It is the sequel to '' Gee Bee'', which was released in the previous year.

Gameplay

The maximum number of players is two, and the two players have to alternate. The control is a rotary analog stick. The main object of the game is to move two paddles that ricochet a ball which flies around and needs to hit the colored bricks above it. When the bricks are cleared out of the side sections, it will turn that same side's pop-bumper into 100 points instead of 10. It is a bonus multiplier to get the ball to light up the word "NAMCO".

Reception and legacy

''Bomb Bee'' was not a success when it was released. According to Matt Barton, the author of the book ''Vintage Games 2.0'', the game did not sell well and likely sold the same amount of machines as ''Gee Bee'', a game that didn't meet sales expectations either. The success of Namco's later release ''

Galaxian is a 1979 fixed shooter arcade video game developed and published by Namco. The player assumes control of the Galaxip starfighter in its mission to protect Earth from waves of aliens. Gameplay involves destroying each formation of aliens, who ...

'', a revolutionary shooting game, is believed to have contributed to its failure. When ''Galaxian'' proved successful, Namco offered to bundle ''Bomb Bee'' machines with ''Galaxian'' to arcade owners in order to clear inventory. Retrospectively in 1998, Earl Green of ''

AllGame RhythmOne , previously known as Blinkx, and also known as RhythmOne Group, is an American digital advertising technology company that owns and operates the web properties AllMusic, AllMovie, and SideReel. Blinkx was founded in 2004, went publ ...

'' said that outside a few minor differences, ''Bomb Bee'' was largely the same as its predecessor. However, he noted that the game's usage of a full-color display, and being among the earliest creations by

Toru Iwatani is a Japanese video game designer who spent much of his career working for Namco. He is best known as the creator of the arcade game '' Pac-Man'' (1980). Early life Iwatani was born in the Meguro ward of Tokyo, Japan on January 25, 1955. While ...

, made the game of historical value. In his blog ''Before Mario'', Erik Voskuel says that ''Bomb Bee'' marks the first collaboration between Namco and

Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles. Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...

, two developers that would work together on many more titles, making it a historically-significant game. Voskuel also says that ''Bomb Bee'' is notable for being the first appearance of a third-party title on a Nintendo console, and being among Iwatani's earliest creations before ''

Pac-Man originally called ''Puck Man'' in Japan, is a 1980 maze action video game developed and released by Namco for arcades. In North America, the game was released by Midway Manufacturing as part of its licensing agreement with Namco America. Th ...

''.

Notes

References

External links

*{{KLOV game, id=7179, name=Bomb Bee 1979 video games Arcade video games Arcade-only video games Breakout clones Namco arcade games Pinball video games Video games developed in Japan