Sad reports to be reported on the site this year. The Golden Age of the classic arcade games ‘ director of selling passed away on May 14, 2024 at the age of 94. He lived out his early years in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Jarocki’s effect on the market should not be underestimated. He was the ruler of the Chinese license, bringing many East Asian activities to American plaza gamers all over the place. Pac-Man, Rally X, and Space Invaders to name a few, and of course he oversaw the most popular square activity ever to be released in the US, Ms. Pac-Man.
After being interviewed in September 1979, he revealed what he had to suggest following the purchase of the Space Invaders license from Taito:
We’ve distributed several tons, well beyond 20, 000 of the systems. It’s been famous for 19 months, and it looks like its going to continue that means for another 10 times.
Naturally, Space Invaders was a great success for Midway, competing against other American companies in an effort to obtain exclusive distribution rights for that business. Space Invaders was going to be the hottest electrical activity ever released to the gold market at the time, according to producers.
The match is very strong at retaining energy. Many games are played on a per-play basis, but with Space Invaders, the player just keeps playing as long as the invaders do n’t wipe him out. As the game progresses, it seems to be gaining person elegance. It’s spectacular. People have gotten into it, truly criticizing it, and they continue to play it. It seems like a player worship has grown out of this game. Its incredible. There is no region in the United States that is barren from Space Invaders. You can visit Turtle Bayou, Texas, and there are Space Invaders there.
Within 12 months of its launch in November 1978, over 60, 000 units were sold across the USA at a price tag of$ 1, 700 apiece. A great success for Midway, with several locations reporting that the system paid for itself in a fortnight. Distributors had to wait five days to receive an order for the game even after 16 weeks of Space Invaders creation. It is reported that 370, 000 Space Invaders units have been sold worldwide.
It was a much better account for the British discharge of Pac-Man. Some 96, 000 models were manufactured and sold by Midway. But it was n’t just machine sales that brought income to the Chicago based manufacturer. This was stated in an article published by the New York Times on February 16, 1982:
” Committee- Man is a pretty creature with sweet features”, Jarocki said. ” I do n’t think the novelty is going to wear off”. In the past eight times, 30 organizations have signed sublicensing agreements with Midway for Pac- Man items ranging from compliment accounts and wrapping paper to bumperstickers, watches, watches and glasses. In contrast, three fresh Pac- Man house games are making their debut this spring, including one from Coleco Industries, a Hartford- based producer of video games and above ground swimming pools. Next year, Pac- Guy arcade game revenue totalled about$ 200 million.
Ironically, Pac- Man practically did n’t arise for Midway at all. Jarocki had just returned from a trip to Japan, where he was somewhat taken aback by Namco’s newest Puck-Man activity.
I was actually excited. It was a welcome change from the conventional firing, fight, and place activities. Additionally, it was completely understandable and simple to use.
Jarocki urged Bally leader Robert Mullane to purchase the rights to Puck-Man and make it in the United States. ” He turned it down, plain and simple”.
However, death was to move in. Mullane was overruled by Midway’s governing council, and a deal was struck with Namco to make the business a total success.
However, Jacrocki made the decision to transfer Ms Pac-Man as a complete standalone game rather than the add-on kit it was originally suggested to be from GCC, in perhaps his most daring business decision a few years later. It became the most popular classic arcade game of its period with a quick hit.
Steve Golson, a representative for General Computer Corporation, spoke to us on the radio about how Ms. Pac-Man came about and how they handled Midway. You can talk to that interesting meeting here.
Apologies to Stanley Jarocki’s community. He was a gentleman who had a strong interest for the business and created a number of excellent classic arcade games that were a big hit in the USA.
Stanley W Jarocki: 13 July, 1929 – 14 May, 2024.
See you next day.
Tony
