Pole Position

electronic game

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Last updated

July 19, 2026

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The term "Pole Position" refers to the front position at the start of a car race, typically achieved by having the fastest qualifying time. In the context of electronic games, "Pole Position" is also the title of a groundbreaking arcade racing game released in 1982 by Namco. This single-player game featured Formula 1 cars, 8-bit color graphics, and simulated racing on the Fuji Speedway course, competing against computer-controlled cars. It was a significant hit in arcades and has since been ported to various home video game systems and mobile devices.12

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electronic vehicle game
Arcade games
Pole Position (1982), created by Namco Limited of Japan and released in the United States by Atari Inc., was the first racing game to become a hit in arcades. The single-player game featured Formula 1 racing cars, 8-bit colour graphics, the race course used at…
Read More
Pole Position (1982), created by Namco Limited of Japan and released in the United States by Atari Inc., was the first racing game to become a hit in arcades. The single-player game featured Formula 1 racing cars, 8-bit colour graphics, the race course used at…
Read More