Why two different versions of _Pengo_?

[Matt J. McCullar]

I first saw _Pengo_ in an arcade in the early '80s and loved the music. I'd
move that little penguin around as long as I could, doing nothing except
keeping the enemy busy, just so I could enjoy the soundtrack. I actually
went so far as to take a portable cassette recorder to the arcade so I could
record the music. I've still got this tape! :)

But it was only in the past year or so that I discovered that there seem to
be two different versions of _Pengo_. The version I remembered had an
apparent custom soundtrack, but the other version I've only recently seen
has a totally different soundtrack: a rough version of the 1970's
synthesizer one-hit wonder called "Popcorn" by Hot Butter.

Can anyone shed some light on why this is?

Matt J. McCullar

[Brien King]

There are two major versions of Pengo (4 versions in total), the first is
with the Popcorn music, the second with a different tune (not sure of the
name off the top of my head). They removed the Popcorn version due to licensing
issues if I remember correctly.

I did a remake/moderization of the game called FrostByte Freddie. You can
find it here:

http://www.arcaderestoration.com/index.asp?OPT=10&DATA=11&CBT=20

Jrok has a kit that allows you to switch between the two different versions.
I have it in one of my Pengos and it's a great kit.

The kit is here:
http://www.jrok.com/hardware/pengo_epack/pengo_epack.html

Brien King
spamm...@arcaderestoration.com
http://www.arcaderestoration.com

MM> I first saw _Pengo_ in an arcade in the early '80s and loved the
MM> music. I'd move that little penguin around as long as I could,
MM> doing nothing except keeping the enemy busy, just so I could enjoy
MM> the soundtrack. I actually went so far as to take a portable
MM> cassette recorder to the arcade so I could record the music. I've
MM> still got this tape! :)
MM>
MM> But it was only in the past year or so that I discovered that there
MM> seem to be two different versions of _Pengo_. The version I
MM> remembered had an apparent custom soundtrack, but the other version
MM> I've only recently seen has a totally different soundtrack: a rough
MM> version of the 1970's synthesizer one-hit wonder called "Popcorn" by
MM> Hot Butter.
MM>
MM> Can anyone shed some light on why this is?
MM>
MM> Matt J. McCullar
MM>