Green & Black's Founder On His Prop Cycle Love
Browsing recent feedback on GameSetWatch often uncovers some gems - such as a new comment from Craig Sams on a January 2007 GSW post about Namco arcade machine obscurities.
Sams specifically posted about Prop Cycle (aka PropCycle), Namco's 1995 dedicated arcade machine which had the player pedaling a bicycle to collect balloons in a vibrant fantasy world in which you must "...Master the Art of Flying and become the Savior of Solitar." No, really. He noted:
"Propcycle is an example of a brilliant concept that failed in the execution. It cost too much for a person to learn how to fly, navigate, remember the routes and the balloon locations, so most people who tried it quickly ran out of money and looked elsewhere for a game with a gentler learning curve.
Once you got good at it (as I did) then you could play a 4-level game with 3 free replays if you hit a certain target score. So the arcade operators saw the triallists disappearing and experts like me sitting there playing for 40 minutes for £1 ($2). So the machines went out.
I bought 2 - one sits in my exercise studio next to my Pilates Reformer and one's in storage if I even need a new motherboard or spare parts. My top scores are in the 19125 to 19750 range, probably the highest in the world. It's the best exercise as every second is worth 50 points, so you pedal like fury to get all the balloons in the minimum time.
I think I could fly a plane in World War 1 now, I've gotten very adept at realistic flying at lowish speeds."
But what's particularly interesting is Mr. Sams' homepage, which reveals of the businessman: "In partnership with my wife Josephine Fairley I founded Green & Black's Organic Chocolate in 1991, an award-winning organic and fair trade confectionery brand whose Maya Gold chocolate was the first product to carry the Fairtrade Mark."
So there you go - successful gourmet chocolate eco-entrepreneurs swear by awesome old Namco cycling-based arcade machines as exercise fodder. Maybe it's time for Namco to do a Wii conversion of this, complete with exercise bike add-on? That would be completely, epochally awesome.
Comments
Heh, I remember there being a Prop Cycle machine at the local movie theater growing up. Only tried it out a couple times ($1 was a fortune for a 6 year old), but I remember it being pretty fun, albeit challenging. Hell, it may still even be there now; definitely checking when I go back home in a few weeks.
Posted by: Kynes | July 23, 2008 10:24 PM
operators mannual for this machine is at http://www.crazykong.com/manuals/PropCycle.man.pdf
Loved this game and the music too.
Posted by: Njon | July 30, 2008 8:51 AM
Propcycle was brilliant, probably the most fun I've ever had in an arcade. I was excited when Pilot Wings came out on the N64 because it looked very similar. The gyrocopter actually felt very similar, but not quite as good. I've had a quick nostalgic search for Propcycle, and there's very little information about it on the net.
One thing though: 2005? It was at least 10 years ago when I last played it...
Posted by: Rachael | September 16, 2008 11:27 AM
Rachael, you're right, this should be 1995 - no idea how that happened, I've edited the article.
Posted by: simonc | September 16, 2008 2:59 PM
I own a full size Propcycle game. It sits in all its glory in the garage. As fun to play everytime as when I first played in Japan in 1997. I agree, the Wii Flying Bicycle should come out soon! What a fun way to get fit. Much better than a regular exercise bike.
Posted by: Mitch | November 17, 2008 12:51 AM
I'm trying to locate a PropCycle to purchase. A very tough quest. Anyone know a good course of action?
Posted by: Ted | November 17, 2008 4:26 PM
Definitely one of the best arcade games ever. FYI: I just saw one for sale at http://www.coinopexpress.com/products/machines/dedicated_machines/Prop_Cycle_(DX)_662.html for $2,600.
Maybe it's still for sale if you're interested.
There's a fellow on youtube that has managed to make his exercise bicycle link up with google earth and Sunspot by Sun Microsystems. Here's the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3QK1eu3q3E
I'm hoping that soon the technology curve will provide an inexpensive excercise bike like prop cycle or that of the fellow on youtube.
Posted by: Iver Scott | November 21, 2008 7:21 PM
I have a big screen Prop Cycle for sale in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Posted by: Luis | September 17, 2009 9:08 PM
This is or was by far one of the best video games. Good workout, and I was able to complete the entire game in a few hours. It was challenging and I wish I had one at home.
Posted by: Glen | November 21, 2009 5:08 PM
This is or was by far one of the best video games. Good workout, and I was able to complete the entire game in a few hours. It was challenging and I wish I had one at home.
Posted by: Glen | November 21, 2009 5:12 PM