Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991.) The explosive sequel that flipped the script and made the bad guy from the first movie the hero?
T2 had industry-defining CGI effects that arguably still hold up fairly well today. Coupled with amazing practical effects and miniatures, it proves yet again that a creative mix of computer effects and practical delivers results and should always be the way to go. The series may have lost its way in recent years by being overly lore-heavy and complicated; however, the first two films remain a shining example of action sci-fi at its best.
The Arcade from T2.
Now to the reason we’re all (hopefully) here. The film features a short, but fairly significant scene set in an arcade.
It goes like this…
The scene opens with John Connor (Edward Furlong) playing a Missile Command (Atari 1980) arcade machine. He loses, getting the “THE END” screen.
Next, he plays the After Burner sit-down unit. His rat-like friend tells him a cop (really T-1000, Robert Patrick) is looking for him. John ducks out of the arcade through the back exit passing Space Invaders (Taito 1979) pursued by the T-1000.
Here’s a list of all the arcade machine games I was able to identify that appear in the scene. (close to order of appearance.)
Missile Command (1980) Atari
Aliens (1990) Konami (1990)
Rampage (1986) Bally Midway
Hit the Ice (1990) Taito, Williams, Midway
After Burner (stand-up cabinet) Sega AM2
High-Impact Football (1990) Midway
Arch Rivals (1989) Midway
Narc (1988) Williams Electronics
Pac Land (1984) Namco
After Burner (Sit Down) (1987) Sega AM2
Trog (1990) Midway (NA)/Williams Electronics (EU)
Power Drive (1987) Bally Midway
Harley Davidson Pinball Machine (1991) Midway (Bally)
Smash TV (1990) Williams
Space Invaders (1978) Taito
Most of the games are Bally/Midway titles with the most notable exceptions being Sega’s After Burner and Missile Command. These two machines in particular are actually mentioned by name in the film’s screenplay.
The script also says John is going for a high score, but when he gets a game over, a quick glimpse at the score reveals he only got 400, hardly a high score. In short, John sucks at Missile Command.
The mall’s interior location was the Santa Monica Place Mall, with the exterior being filmed at Northridge Fashion Center. In 2008 Santa Monica Place was refurbished, transforming into an open-air mall, opening in 2010. This of course significantly changed how the mall looked back when Terminator 2 was being filmed back in the 90s.
According to “The Ultimate T2 DVD Supplement” extras on the 2nd disc of the 2001 “Ultimate” DVD release of the film. The arcade was once a Chinese restaurant that had closed down and production was able to take over.
During the DVD commentary actor Edward Furlong comments on playing the arcade games between takes. There are also several behind-the-scenes videos that show the crew playing the games.
The machines are talking to me…
As previously mentioned the arcade machines are mostly Bally/Midway and Williams branded machines from the mid to late 80s with a few, new titles from the 1990s. Some of the games seem to have a thematic connection to the film’s larger plot, for instance, the game Missile Command ends with a large explosive game over screen, not too dissimilar to Sarah Connors’s recurring nightmare of the world ending in a large explosion.
A Harley Davidson pinball machine is just barely visible at certain points during the arcade scenes. The Terminator (Schwarzenegger) drives a 1991 Harley Davidson Fatboy. At various points of the film notably the aqueduct chase sequence. I believe the pinball machine was an intentional reference and foreshadowing for those scenes.
Another less likely tie could be a reference to some of Cameron’s earlier work as a director on the music video for Martini Ranch’s “REACH”. The music video features bikers and motorbikes.
After Burner seems like it might have more thematic relevance seeing as it is so prominently shown. It’s also mentioned by name in the screenplay. However, unlike Missile Command the significance is less obvious. The game requires quick reflexes and could be a hint of John’s future role as a capable leader/fighter? In a similar way that John uses an Atari Portfolio to hack a bank ATM earlier in the film to show his ingenuity with electronics and hacking. Other machines seem to be Easter eggs or references to other films.
The Aliens Arcade (1990, Konami) is seen in the background. Aliens (1986) was also directed by James Cameron. So was no doubt added as a little Easter egg. Aliens Arcade (1990) was a kit/conversion for other Konami games such as Track and Field and Super Contra.
The arcade game Smash TV might be a reference to The Running Man (1987.) The game was inspired by the film, so it would come full circle, being in the background of another Arnie movie.
In the game players compete in a wacky, ultra-violent game show to win money and prizes, and eventually freedom. (not too dissimilar to the Running Man game show.) It had gameplay similar to Robotron 2084. The arcade machine features unique twin joy sticks that allow for simultaneous moving and shooting in different directions.
This is even more of a stretch – Rampage (1986) could possibly be referencing the film King Kong Lives (1986) which also starred Linda Hamilton. Both the film and game feature a large gorilla/big monkey character, but why not just have Donkey Kong (1981) at that point?
Space Invaders, the space theme is fairly broad so it could be a reference to any number of space sci-fi films that any of the cast and crew might have previously worked on. I couldn’t help but think it held some sort of significance, seeing as it’s the last machine we see before John exits. It’s also (as far as I can tell), to be the only machine from the late 70s.
Cameron did make a sci-fi short Xenogenesis (1978) the same year Space Invaders made its debut in America. However, it couldn’t have been an inspiration for the short as the game came out in late ’78. Its inclusion in T2 is perhaps a little nod to that both his short and Space Invaders came out in the late 70s. Unlikely, but a nice thought.
VS. Rocky III Arcade.
Going back to Games on Films # 1 (read it again, then share it with a friend) and Rocky III. Compare and contrast how arcades are depicted.
Rocky III depicts an arcade from the early 80s as stated in Games on Film #1 it shows the seedier/darker side of early arcade culture. T2 on the other hand showcases a mall arcade from the early 90s, with an overall brighter atmosphere.
One important detail to note is that the arcade in Rocky III; Sassony Arcade was an actual operational business, whereas the T2 Arcade wasn’t an actual arcade and was made for the film’s production.
There is a world of differences both in appearance and its clientele. For one, the Sassony Arcade from Rocky III is set at night with mostly adults or young adults. The lights are low and the machines are crowded together. The whole thing has more of an edge to it only made seedier by the presence of a drunken Paulie.
In T2 most of the arcade goers are kids with some in their early teens such as John Conner himself. This time the arcade is in an upscale mall, with a cleaner and slicker environment. Obviously, places like Sassony and dedicated arcades still existed at this point, but the arcades represented in T2 perhaps show a shift in who video games were marketed to at the time. Less of the original bar crowd from the origins of arcades and more to the chocolate milk-drinking youth.
I get the impression that the Rocky III Sassony Arcade appears more or less as it did, with the only real addition being the “ROCKY” pinball machine, camera sound and lighting. Whereas a T2 arcade seems like it was a more controlled environment. This could also speak to a difference in production, not only budgetary but artistically such as with the cinematography (not to say one method is better than another.) Although it would have been interesting to see how each scene would play out if locations were swapped. I think part of what makes the T2 work is that there’s a juxtaposition of an element of danger and agency from the familiar and supposedly safe space like a mall. Where as previously mentioned the Sassony Arcade environment has a completely different tone to it even though fundamentally it is the same kind of place ( a video arcade)
T2 stands as a prime example of a “Game on Film” it makes its presence known but isn’t the basis for the film.
How will it match up to other examples of arcades in film? Well, that will have to wait for another time.
Thanks for reading this edition of Games on Film.
(Youtube) TNT Amusements Inc. #1124 #1473
( Youtube) Tampa Jay “Where TERMINATOR 2 Was Made”
forums.arcade-museum.com/threads/konami-aliens—were-they-all-conversion-kits
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY. ULTIMATE (DVD) (2001)
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY.
Production companies Carolco Pictures, Pacific Western Productions, Lightstorm Entertainment, Le Studio Canal+
Distributed by Tri-Star Pictures
Rocky III.
Production companies United Artists, Chartoff-Winkler Productions Distributed by MGM/UA Entertainment Co.