005 (pronounced "double-o five") is a 1981 arcade video game by Sega. They advertised it as the first of their RasterScan Convert-a-Game series, designed so that it could be changed into another game in minutes "at a substantial savings".[4]

005
Developer(s)Sega R&D Japan[3]
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Arcade
Release
Genre(s)Stealth, maze
Mode(s)Up to 2 players
Arcade systemG80

It is one of the first examples of a stealth game, and the first to use a "vision cone" mechanic, which allows players to see the precise field of view of their enemies.[5][6][7][8] 005 is also credited for being the first game to introduce the concept of a "hub world" in games.[9]

Gameplay screenshot

Gameplay edit

Largely inspired by James Bond,[10] (the title itself is a tribute or parody to the secret agent's codename 007[11]), the player's mission is to take a briefcase of secret documents to a waiting helicopter. The player controls a spy who must avoid the enemies as he makes his way through buildings and warehouses, where he will have to dodge the enemies' flashlights and use boxes as hiding spots.[12][8]

Reception edit

Upon release, 005 received a positive review from Cash Box magazine. They called it an "exciting new multi-scene computer video spy chase game" with challenging gameplay requiring skill and praised the game's multiple alternate escape routes with challenging obstacles such as enemy patrols and slippery ice. They said it "combines the challenge and thrills of four games in one" along with appealing cartoon-style graphics as well as suspenseful music and sound.[3]

High score edit

Dwayne Richard holds the Guinness World Records high score for this game with a maximum possible 1,500,000 points. The record was set in May 2002.[13]

References edit

  1. ^ "005 (Registration Number PA0000172677)". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  2. ^ Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office: Trademarks. Volume 1023, Issue 1. U.S. Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office. 1982. p. 1.
  3. ^ a b "New Equipment: Secret Agent". Cash Box. Cash Box Pub. Co. 16 January 1982. p. 36.
  4. ^ Kurtz, Bill (2004). The Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games. Schiffer Publishing. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-7643-1925-9. 005 was advertised as the first of Sega's Convert-A-Game series. This 1981 video game was designed so that it could be easily changed into another game in minutes. [Ad copy:] And 005 is a RasterScan Convert-a-Game, which can later be converted to a brand new top earning game at a substantial savings.
  5. ^ "005 from Sega". Popularplay. Archived from the original on 14 July 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  6. ^ 005 at Arcade History Archived 10 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Guinness World Records: First console game to use stealth". Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  8. ^ a b McKeand, Kirk (2022). The History of the Stealth Game. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: White Owl. p. 16. ISBN 9781399096911.
  9. ^ Everman, Tess. "How Hub Worlds Shape Video Game Design". Wired. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  10. ^ Retro Gamer #118
  11. ^ Plasket, Michael. "005 - Arcade (1981)". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  12. ^ "005". AllGame. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Highest score on 005 (SEGA, 1981)". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.