Arabian (video game)

Arabian
Arabian
	Japanese arcade flyer
Developer(s)	Sun Electronics
Publisher(s)	JP: Sun Electronics; NA: Atari, Inc.;
Platform(s)	Arcade, Famicom
Release	1983 (arcade); 1985 (Famicom)
Genre(s)	Platform
Mode(s)	1-2 players alternating

Arabian (アラビアン) is a 1983 arcade platform game developed and published by Sun Electronics in Japan, and Atari, Inc. in North America.

The Famicom version was developed and released by Sunsoft only in Japan as Super Arabian (スーパーアラビアン).

Gameplay

Arabian is a platform game where the player assumes the role of an adventurous Arabian prince whose goal is to rescue the princess from her palace. During his quest, the prince will sail seas, crawl through caves, and fly magic carpets.

Release

In magazine advertisements, Arabian was promoted by Eric Ginner, the world record holder for Millipede and Liberator at the time.^[1] Ginner later co-created the PlayStation game Gubble.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Arabian on their July 15, 1983 issue as being the fifth most-successful new table arcade unit of the month.^[2] In the United States, it had sold at least 1,950 arcade cabinets by July 1983.^[3]

Legacy

Super Arabian was re-released in a two-in-one Sony PlayStation game, Memorial Series Sunsoft Vol.1, which also included Ikki. Super Arabian is one of the video games was adapted by Manga titled Susume!! Seigaku Dennou Kenkyuubu (進め！！静学電脳研究部, Shiawase no katachi), published in the Gamest Comics collection from April 1999.

Tales of the Arabian Nights by Interceptor Software had many similarities to Arabian. It was published in 1984/5 for the Acorn Electron, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.

The game was re-released for the Nintendo Switch by Hamster Corporation as part of the Arcade Archives series in October 2020.^[4] The Famicom version of the game was also re-released as part the Sunsoft Collection 1 compilation cartridge for the Evercade in September 2023.

References

^ "Arabian". Pixelated Arcade.
^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型新製品 (New Videos-Table Type)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 216. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 July 1983. p. 37.
^ Fujihara, Mary (July 25, 1983). "Inter Office Memo: Coin-Op Product Sales" (PDF). Atari, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
^ Arcade Archives ARABIAN nintendo.com

External links

Memorial Series: SunSoft Vol. 1 webpage
Arabian at Arcade History
Arabian at the Killer List of Videogames
Tales of the Arabian Nights at SpectrumComputing.co.uk

[1] "Arabian". Pixelated Arcade.

[2] "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型新製品 (New Videos-Table Type)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 216. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 July 1983. p. 37.

[3] Fujihara, Mary (July 25, 1983). "Inter Office Memo: Coin-Op Product Sales" (PDF). Atari, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.

[4] Arcade Archives ARABIAN nintendo.com

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