Coin-ops with No Patience?

[Ascending Wordsmith]

Ever play a coin op and just let your character stand around onscreen for a few moments? Then before you know it, the computer gets fed up and kills you off using any means neccessary?

I played Rush N'Attack on MAME one day and decided to grab a drink. I left the hero (commando) standing ontop of a tress, not pausing the game because I assumed it was a safe spot. After all, it is the first level. Upon returning, I caught the last moments of the hero as he was jumped by three Russians that all carried rocket launchers. On that particular stage, there are supposed to be NO rocket lauchers; not for the hero and not for the enemy.

Are coin-ops rigged to kill off the player if the action slows to a stop?


This was where the computer decided to take me out!

[Aswald]

Often, yes. After a time Defender had the Baiters, Joust had the Pterydactyls, Captain America and the Avengers would drop grenades on you...

[Tempest]

However some games would reward you. I know Gauntlet would unlock all the doors on a level and then turn all the walls into exits after awhile. Of course this had nothing ot do with kindness, it was because you could possibly get trapped in certain levels.

I know Sonic the Hedgehog on the Genesis will actually end the game if you don't move for a bit. Eventually Sonic will grow board and say "I'm Outta Here!" and run off the screen thus ending the game. I believe the Addams Family on the SNES had a feature where if you left it PAUSED for more than five minutes it would reset. Now THAT ticked me off!

Tempest