What it takes to be a champion | Konami’s Track & Field Arcade

[@mattffolliott-powell5105]

Is everything ok? It’s been 3 months and no new video - has RMC taken over the arcade element? 😊

[@lowmoon9025]

Hope everything is okay dude.

[@FrazerSmithsChannel]

I'm convinced Neil sleeps in that sports jacket.

[@rasberrycast]

For me the sound of these games will always be for me the sound of the arcade. I was drawn to the voice syth and that high pitch shreek.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

proud to this day that i had all the hi scores in the weymouth arcades. helped being a classically trained pianist, i could do really fast trills on the buttons :)

[@tonerotonero1375]

French viewer here. In France, in the bars at that time , the players ' trick was to hold a lighter flat against the button panel and wipe rapidly from one button to the other. This was destroying the buttons but apparently it was an efficient trick.

[@ovalteen4404]

The fun of throwing the hammer >100m but having it credited as 00m13 or so

[@semi422000]

My method in the local arcade was to use one half of a plastic kinder egg shell put two fingers in it and swipe it rapidly left and right over the button

[@TheArcadeArchive]

What a kinder surprise, never heard of that one 😂

[@lukeridley6214]

people would use the side of a Bic disposable lighter to rub side to side over buttons

[@delsarcade]

Another theory I've heard: Those button shrouds were put there to prevent cheating. Kids would use a pencil across the buttons to double your speed. Those shrouds prevented the pencil from laying flat.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

That makes sense, the lengths that kids went too bitd. Hope you’re not using that method Del ? 😉

[@JayPase]

@@TheArcadeArchive I broke a 30cm ruler in half and used that back in the day. I never thought I was harming the cabinet in any way & nobody every told me not to use it or accused me of cheating = I guess I was just an ignorant kid during the halcyon days of the Arcade 🧒👾

[@eightbitwhit]

Totally sound theory, as those button guards came out in a wave and it had to be done to at least partially-curtail game length and to turn the game over faster.

[@chrislaustin]

Yeah, here in the states, the pencil/pen technique was the dominant one, as I would see the quick multiple finger from time to time, but nowhere near as often as the pencil one. And the shrouds for sure were a way of stopping that, as it greatly improved what could be done without it. One person could actually man the two buttons, while a 2nd could be the action button, which also made for much better scores, as each person only needed to focus on his/her specific task.

[@delsarcade]

@@eightbitwhit I once saw those button guards on a Defender control panel. They made it look/feel more futuristic.

[@stephenwhite506]

Would be interesting to see a disassembly of the input code. I wonder how often it reads the buttons, maybe faster than 16ms.

[@TheRetroGodfather.]

Those speech samples are so nostalgic for me, always reminds me of an arcade i used to visit back in the day, I was never any good at the game though 😥 lol. Good stuff Alex and good to see you 👍

[@arcadesunday4592]

What a great game. Here in South Africa, we certainly did not get the official Centuri / Konami cabinet. We had the Hyper Olympics game, inside a generic cabinet. Most had 3 buttons, 2 lower down and one above... we used a crushed coke can as a "side to side" swipe. Some good scores were posted... in my own Arcade, I wired up left and right on the joystick for speed. Very effective.

[@craiggilchrist4223]

We used to use a comb or put a sock on your hand to slide over the buttons.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Love all these different methods, did you take your soak off at the arcade 😂

[@rosstee]

Neil’s technique certainly looks like a winner 🤭

[@TheArcadeArchive]

😂

[@EricPetersen2922]

We used to use combs and other things to increase the speed a bit. Was a fun game for those with “fast fingers”. Good times! Great video

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Who carry’s combs these days, so retro 😂

[@virgochild]

@@TheArcadeArchive It was a small version of the Fonzy Comb, I would use. Fit perfectly in the back of my 501 Blues!

[@Synthematix]

Used to play this at the dog track in cobridge, stoke on Trent in the mid 80s, an icon of a game.

[@DiegoSanchez-pl9eh]

This video is like a masterclass on how to play Track and Field! Loved it!

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@jeremyc7786]

We used to use 2 fingers in a film canister and wiggle it side-to-side. Was really effective but I think our run buttons were closer together.

[@Iamacardinalfan]

Loved the video. I used to work at a Ice Cream shop/arcade for 3 years. We had this wonderful machine. Hitting the buttons after you go in the air for both the Long Jump and the Javelin does make a difference. Also, on the Javelin, if you want to save your hands after the first throw if you pass the minimum setting. Get up to speed and put it to the highest height you can go. It will go above the screen and hit a light, come sown and award you bonus points. The Hammer throw, there was a trick to it. I can't quite remember when you hit the button. But you only pay attention to the yellow line increasing. I believe it was as soon as it hits the last bar, you let it go and you'd do well. I may be off a bit. One more way of playing the game. You get a pencil, put it between your fingers with your middle finger is set where the middle button is at, then just put pressure repeatedly on one side to get your speed up. That worked best for me. I am a bit sad watching this, as I have nerve damage on my left hand, and couldn't play this game now if I wanted to. Thanks for showing me fond memories of my teen years.

[@Rob.Coleman]

I like this video format: a bit of history, a bit of trivia, and lots of gameplay tips. Great stuff 👍👍👍.

[@JenniferinIllinois]

I remember basically having a hole in the palm of my hand from playing Track and Field on my C64 using an original Atari joystick. I was so happy when I finally got an Epyx joystick because of the rounded ball top (even though I'm left handed so ergonomically it was a disaster for me - hehehe).

[@RetroJack]

In New Zealand, a lot of the arcade machines from that era had flatter buttons than shown here and the tactic was to rapidly swipe the bottom of a Bic lighter across the button.

[@curtis3948]

I can't believe you didn't offer the pencil/plastic comb trick. Place it over both run buttons and use your pointing finger as a see saw with others resting on top of the pencil/comb. Now use the other hand to hit the one side and it auto pivots to the other side hitting the buttons alternatively really fast.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

I’ll give it a try 🤣

[@cameralabs]

Great video Alex, thanks! I made the mistake of accepting a Track and Field challenge by Neil when I visited and he broke out some bizarre finger tap technique I'd never seen before. In fact I've always wondered what's the maintenance like on these machines that get so much hammering? Do the buttons wear out or break sooner? I also loved the home adaptations, particularly Summer and Winter games. PS - nice HDR presentation too, what did you film and edit on? Was it an iPhone? It looks really good, but what software did you edit on?

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Hi Gordon Still filming on my iPhone 13 Pro which can be difficult to capture the crts sometimes so I slow the fps down to 25. Still editing on Imovie on my phone too, crazy right 🤣

[@eightbitwhit]

Great video Alex - thoroughly enjoyed this one! When I was playing this back in the 80’s with my brother and after what had to be months of serious gameplay (and really sore hands) at our local grocery store, we eventually figured out that we could use our period-correct Velcro and plastic wallets and throttle it back/forth over the run buttons to get crazy good speeds. That all ended once the shoulder guard buttons came out, though. I’ve not played the game with the trackball controller, nor did I see it offered that way BITD, and I never knew about the mole. I love everything about this game, so thanks for giving it the spotlight it deserves!

[@spongeknock7387]

Does anybody remember a UK TV show in the mid 80’s, possibly on BBC2, where they had this game as a challenge?

[@user-ns6ig9bq6i]

It was called first class.

[@spongeknock7387]

@@user-ns6ig9bq6i thanks bro I’ve been wondering about this for 30 odd years, not knowing if i just dreamt it up, no kidding😂 cheers i will look for some videos on KZbin for a nostalgia blast 👍

[@paulkent6846]

Great video. I’ve just picked up the arcade archives Nintendo Switch version to rekindle my youth. I had Daley Thompson on the C64 and loved it, back in the day.

[@BIGgamez78]

Hector Fly is the king of this game. I watch his Track N Field videos all the time. He has amazing speed when it comes to the button taps.

[@jonkratzer9086]

This is my favorite game from that era. I played so much of this game as a child.

[@ewstargamer]

I remember when I came down to the arcade you,your lad and matt absolutely wiped the floor with me at this but that didn't put me off the game it's such a great game especially when playing with friends Great video alex

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thanks Alex, I’ll teach you next time you come down. 👍

[@GrandpaWood_UK]

Loved Track and Field as a kid - although I'm sure the version we had at our local youth club had the buttons a lot closer together and you had to use both "run" buttons to move. I used to spend hours on that game often having to loose my life so the club could lock up :)

[@electricadventures]

This game was huge at the local arcade, and only a couple of months after it appeared the first MSX machines with copies of Hyper Olympics I & II (Sony MSX release). I couldn't believe you could play such a cool arcade game on a home computer. I was always quite bad at the game though, but still have a good time giving it a go. Got a Hyper Sports controller for the MSX fairly recently and that has helped (a little ;)).

[@davidscott6847]

my brother and I had Daly thompson Decathalon on C64 . .we found that during the field events .. if 1 person wiggled the joystick and the other pressed the button to throw - jump etc .. then world records were to be had lol .. i remeber throwing the javalin over 130 m :P

[@chrisclarke7274]

Late 80's early 90's I was a graduate student at Birmingham Poly, and spent way too much of my break time in the Student Union's bar playing this. My technique was to do form my fingers and thumb into a point on both hands and then alternate the button press using muscle twitches of my forearms, quite effective as I was the champion for the year. I then progressed to the Addams Family pinball machine which to this day is my favourite arcade game of all time. They finally removed it because they never made any money on it I would clock so many free games on it, they swapped it for a different pinball machine, which I think was the Terminator 2 pinball machine.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

It’s fascinating hearing everyone’s technic and memories of the game, thanks for sharing.

[@BURRITO44]

Awesome video

[@insertmanycoins1752]

Have always loved the Centuri version of the cab definitely one on my grail list

[@neilloughran4437]

Awesome video again Alex! I have lovely memories playing this game at lunch time in the pub across from the shipyard gates... pie and a pint and a bit of Track and Field was the thing to do in 1985/86... I did see a version of Track and Field in Blackpool around that time that used a left-right joystick instead of the two buttons for running (which is the opposite to the one you showed here)... it did not allow you to progress after Stage 1 probably because of the DIP switch settings... For some reason I remember seeing really low times on the 100m and now I know why having seen the technique! Brilliant!

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thanks Neil Tbh I was rubbish at this game until it came to the museum and now I absolutely love it, it’s a really good fun party game

[@Hellwyck]

I remember one of those, too.

[@davidjames5043]

My favourite arcade game of all time

[@magicknight8412]

I first saw someone doing that crazy finger thing with Track and Field a few years ago, looked amazing with the speed they could get to and I could never manage to do it.Talking of WHSmiths in Kingston (which I loved for the computers and games in there!) back in the day, did you visit the computer game shop across and up the road from there?

[@sergeleon1163]

Great stuff, I played the C64 version back in the day

[@Splitscreen83]

Absolutely incredible game. The 6 finger technique actually evolved from alternating 2 fingers, then 4 fingers and eventually 6. Of course, there's plenty of practice needed, but sub 9 second runs are easily possible. My fastest 100m is 7.54sec. Just 3 hundredths off Hector's WR.

[@misterjib]

enjoyed playing this again when i can to cave a couple weeks ago. when i was a youth we had a cab with a weird configuration in bar of the family business. not sure which company built it but the jump button was replaced by joy stick, the run buttons were used for jump. got a few high scores when i visited but no where near the scores i used to get back in the day. need to come back and get some practice on the classic configuration you got there

[@RetroRicc]

I had a marathon 3 hour game on this once at Butlins Minehead. It had a loose joystick with no ball top. I would wiggle the joystick between 2 fingers so fast I broke all the records on it. The only reason my game ended was because my fingers bled!! I can’t play it with buttons at all, nor can I do the hammer throw so now my game lasts about 2 minutes!!!

[@pnvgordinho]

I played that arcade and the buttons were lower than that arcade you have. I wasnt very good at it until I saw that grown ups would use a coin and go side to side very quickly.

[@simonperry8569]

I found that leaf switch buttons are essential if you’re playing this or Hyper Sports on a MAME cab. Otherwise you can’t get enough speed to complete events like the weightlifting.

[@gorgar6657]

ruined many a joystick on C64 decathlon eventually found Atari 2600 sticks held up the best for waggling...great vid as always.

[@crunchyfrog555]

A friend of mine thought about making an electromagnet arrangement for a laugh back in the day but I quickly realised you could get the same effect by simply doing the strumming motion on the buttons. I played synths so I guess it was a natural assumption for me. I loved it and could sail through instantly with this technique - until I reached the hammer, which took a bit of getting used to, but once that was conquered it was plain sailing. It left more time to find the hidden creatures in each level. Think the first I found was the bird on the javelin level. Then the mole by accident on the first sprint level. And no, you don't need to do anything with the buttons once you've achieved your angle on the long jump.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

That’s good to know as I’ve always thought pressing the buttons after you’ve thrown would give it more momentum.

[@crunchyfrog555]

@@TheArcadeArchive I used to think the same butback in the day we had chance to try it out on a friend's machine. It doesn't work on ANY level to my knowledge.

[@DavidDatura]

It’s amusing that the sprite guy seems to sport a popular for the 70s and early 80s mustache! 😆

[@malmes999]

classic thanks for sharing!! have it on my home made arcade play it a lot still.

[@iRDaBrit]

I had Daley's version on my C64. My local arcade in Poole had the arcade version but with the non-guard button version.

[@L0wcash]

Best game ever! Alex, if you look really close at the video you've inserted, you can see that he isn't alternating between the fingers of the left and right hand; he uses three fingers from the left hand and then three from his right. Also in your video i can see that at least two of the run-buttons need tightening up! This may also affect your performance.. Good luck beating your Retro Collective Colleagues!

[@TheArcadeArchive]

You saying the buttons are to high on this cab ? If so I never thought of that

[@L0wcash]

@@TheArcadeArchive No, it's not the height... It's just that i can see the whole button moving about in the hole in the panel around 11:30 in the video.. There's another run-button i saw moving in another shot.. So the nuts around the buttons need tightening.. You don't want the buttons moving around when your're aiming for high scores!

[@casualcomputing]

I am getting RSI of just watching that stuff.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

😂

[@wilfansell5564]

Remember playing this in an arcade in Barry Island back in the 80's it must have been on the easy settings, Cant remember how long it lasted but was in the arcade for ages and all i spent was 10p on one game :)

[@DavidWhitley]

great video, lots of fun

[@_NeXus6_]

A great video, fond memories of Daley Thompson decathlon on the rubber keyboard speccy where it was a blast, hyper sports created some hard fought medals ❤ I also have to say the shop in the cave was my favourite part, like you the feeling of nostalgia and knowing exactly how those shops felt, such a good job done by Neil 👍🏻 and the cave elves

[@GDLarcade]

Almost every Track & Field I ever saw back in the day was set to only let you go through the events once no matter what. That cut down on people playing for long periods of time. The only one I ever saw set to "marathon" settings was at the student union at college. I did see one around 1986-87 with the trak ball controls. The game had been out long enough by then it was just a way to get a bit more money out of the machine without having the buttons being smashed to death. Jon soundly crushed me and my 4 finger "scratchy" method at Funspot one year. I once saw a dude using the "back" side of his hands, opposite of the palm, hitting the button with each of his fingers just below the knuckle in succession. It looked weird but was pretty fast. It looks like your machine doesn't save the high score permanently either like mine. I never bothered to find out if it was a battery pack or an NVRAM chip or what. Thanks for the video. Awesome game!

[@TheArcadeArchive]

You’ve met Jon that’s cool, such lovely bloke and not bad at Pac-Man either.

[@nemysisretrogaming3771]

Me and friend were talking about this game a couple of days ago. He used to tape some coins to a plastic ruler and I used a Bic lighter. 5.96 seconds for a 100m sprint. High jump was my favorite and back in the day 2.49m was the record in our home town.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

2.49 wow 🤩 that’s amazing

[@retroimportgamer513]

That was a cracking video Alex, used to love Decathlon on the Speccy back in the day, great game, never tried the Famicom version but looks good, used to love the PS1 version too👍

[@Retro_B8]

Yes mate, so glad you made this video about track & field one of my faves and one we played together in the arcade! I loved the C64 version and it did destroy a number of joysticks haha, good to see you playing the games though mate, top stuff!

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thanks Paul I enjoyed making this one. Look forward to your return my good friend.

[@Retro_B8]

@@TheArcadeArchive I can tell mate, look forward to more videos on games you love from the arcade!

[@buddyweiz]

I had a friend that used the joystick upside down, moving the body instead of the stick. So you don't need to move your wrist that much this way, hence better times.

[@ovalteen4404]

I didn't find the run button to be of any use on the high jump. I set all my records without it. Also, one tip for using both run buttons: They are both interpreted as the same button during a run, so pressing one before releasing the other did not result in a new "tap" for speed purposes. You had to fully release one button before pressing the other to get credit.

[@Shaunyboi73]

The Easter egg on long jump is 3 jumps same distance the you get the 1000 points bonus little man runs from right to left

[@billiondollarman3847]

During school lunch breaks we used to play this. I used my secret weapon...a mini suction dart....it hit a turkey in the javelin🕹🏊🏋🎯😬

[@wolfbeast80]

A very competitive game indeed, this would certainly get the finger muscles going, Track and Field is definitely one to play alongside your friends. Neil has put quite some hours in to get at that speed especially on a NES controller 😅

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Hasn’t he just 😂

[@wolfbeast80]

@@TheArcadeArchive 😂

[@darrenwilson99]

Probably my favourite arcade game of all time. The PS1 version is also great.

[@johnnyutah892]

The Atari CX40 was the only joystick that we had that could safely handle Decathalon without the handle coming off in your hand. Many a Cheetah 125+ and other cheaper joysticks, found their death on this game.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

I used to golf ball over the two rubber buttons on the 48k and it worked until the ball went flying off the table 😂

[@GoodwinsPlace]

Never knew that technique on the hammer, I always went on the red flashing of it. Are the two run buttons connected to the same point on the PCB? Or are they two separate inputs? I can never do High Jump, didn't know the run button still interacted with the position in the air. Every day is a school day, great video.

[@DrRackpull]

I hear arcade 1up are releasing this soon

[@CameronMcCasland]

Im hunting another one of these. Glad to hear mention of the track ball version. Agreed its not as good.

[@donmorton7282]

I remember when folks would use a popsicle stick or a spoon or pen to get maximum speed lol.

[@mehere3013]

the original one had a trackball if I remember right, or was that hypersports

[@Paul_Henshall]

Loved track & field,

[@GuybrushThreepwood_TSoMI]

Really was one of the greatest arcade games ever made. Crying shame to see arcades these days get rid of all the classics and replace them with pointless throwing / basket ball garbage games. Or at least that is my experience in the arcades I grew up in. This and Daytona are the first games I look for in any arcade lol

[@heartsmindsmedia]

Big fan of this game. Great video alexis

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thank you 😎👍

[@rebuh1968]

A pen, or pencil between your fingers like a seesaw is what i used.

[@Kinsey6661]

Track and field is a great game. I got a tip that I was shown and used in the arcade Hammer throw 1. Put 1 hand over the guy throwing the hammer 2. Push the throw button when the bar reaches 1/2 into the last square not sure on angle I wanna say 45ish it does work

[@symonenry7442]

Im struggling with the Javelin throw, on arcade. I can easily qualify on the first round, but getting anything over 85m is very hit and miss. It's not just a matter of speed, I'm sure there must be a tactic I'm not aware of. For instance, jumping early for the hurdles so that you just clear them is far faster. You only have time for a few steps between each hurdle before jumping again. I'm sure there must be a tactic similar to this for the Javelin that I'm yet to discover.

[@-Astro--]

I wonder how and was it (Craig's) is as close to this?

[@Pitbull0669]

I LOVE IT MATE!!

[@Bulla666]

Good wrist action on that Speccy joystick ;-) Those big sausage fingers are no good for the Stoodley technique !

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Hahaha 🤣

[@NorthWay_no]

I thought 45 degrees was the perfect angle in the game? The C= 64 had an official version you know (and a few other systems I bet).

[@TheArcadeArchive]

I believe it’s 42 for long jump 43 for javelin and 45 for hammer but I could be wrong

[@kilfoofan]

Burned a hole in the middle of my middle finger's fingernail playing Track and Field in Barcelona by sliding it over the NES controller buttons. Same techique work also on Gold Medal Challenge 92, for me a better game with 18 events.

[@TheAutisticArcader]

Cool

[@xliquidflames]

It is the Wii Sports of the 80s.

[@Thomaslubbock]

Jon's method was the way I always played it in the arcade in the 80s. We were fortunate and had a Centuri one in the local arcade. It was often down to the the actual buttons fitted as to how well you could do. I didn't;t quite get near Jon's times but was under 8 secs on the 100m. The continual pressing after you've Long jumped, Javelin thrown doesn't;t make a difference. Rest!

[@neilloughran4437]

Oohh.. just seen that cheat on 110m hurdles where you play as 2 player and have the 2nd player finish after 1 minute has passed and you basically can get a 0.x time.... no wonder I saw such weird times back in the day...

[@michaelcooper4986]

Just before lockdown I bought a knock-off Nintendo and this was 1 of the games on it my daughter and I had hours of fun playing this game

[@azaz...]

love it

[@Thomaslubbock]

oh and I don't think tapping the buttons in between 'jumping' on the high jumps makes any difference either

[@L0wcash]

It really does make a BIG difference! You get a lot more height!

[@VEGANVANIA]

And let me ask you: how little progress was made in between this and the DS/3DS version... where it's impossible to button bash because the system's buttons are so bad!?!?!

[@properjob2311]

broke so many joysticks playing decathlon on the c64

[@luckylukev]

Right hand = R , left hand = L, index = 1, middle = 2, ring = 3. Strategy: R1 R2 R3 L1 L2 L3. Triplets Takata-takata... Guitarist method

[@atomnetton]

Ah yes, Destroyer Of Joysticks. we used to have a real competition going on this at work, we'd all pretend we weren't bothered but when it came to it nobody wanted the lowest score and the rivalry carried on for ages.

[@robertmoss556]

It may say it on wikipedia but I cannot accept DTC was licensed

[@robertmoss556]

DTD

[@Hellwyck]

@@robertmoss556 BLT?

[@willd6215]

Don't think he was interlacing his fingers but swapping between each hand

[@totalgeezerok]

Many a game purchased due to box art :)

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Me too and it didn’t matter if the game was rubbish 😂

[@totalgeezerok]

@@TheArcadeArchive used to buy pc big boxed games in Norwich game store like this back in 90s. Great channel mate, really appreciate your videos.

[@bobbus_74]

I love this game but I've never been any good at it. Also, Neil's technique is pure filth.

[@ArcadeAzrall]

I'm still rubbish at this, even with Alex's training and skills. I just prefer to watch him smash my high scores

[@georgef551]

Continuing the thrash buttons after long jump, or javelin: Does nothing. PS: I think they intentionally overexaggerate the distance fouls on the hammer throw go.

[@1969longshanks]

Kingston Surrey

[@TheArcadeArchive]

That’s it 👍