Today’s Games on Film are…
Games: Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Stargate
Developer: (PM) Namco, (DK) Nintendo, (SG) Vid Kidz
Publisher: (PM) Namco/Midway, (DK) Nintendo (SG) Williams Electronics
System: Arcade
ReleaseDates: (PM) 1980, (DK) 1981, (SG) 1981
Miami Vice: Brothers Keeper Part 2 (1984)
Miami Vice, the show that was described as “MTV cops”. Starring Don Johnson as James “Sonny” Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, as two undercover cops, cracking cases and taking out bad guys in Miami. All set to a blaring 80s soundtrack that would make any classic rock DJ blush.
Created by Anthony Yerkovich. It began in 1984 and ended in 1990. This means it’s a gold mine for ’80s references, which of course includes video games. We didn’t have to wait long; it only took til part 2 of the pilot to get some Games on Film.
The Scene…
Tubbs is going to meet someone he thinks is an informant, but is actually trying to assassinate him. On his way to his rendezvous, he passes by several storefronts. A Pac-Man arcade machine, along with some other machines, can be seen briefly in one of the stores as he passes.
Lucky for Tubbs, Crockett arrives just in time and saves him from his would-be assassin.
Hello darkness, my old friend
The Pac-Man machine is clearly visible, but it’s quite difficult to see the other arcade games. They are not on screen for very long, and the interior is so dimly lit it’s hard to see anything, but thanks to modern image enhancements, we can get a better look.
Brightening up the image reveals four more machines, though I was only able to identify two more of them. In order from the Pac-Man machine, it goes.
PAC MAN. 1980, Namco
???? 197?/198?
Donkey Kong. 1981,Nintendo
???? 197?/198?
Stargate. 1981, Vid Kidz
The scene is just too dark to gain enough information, for instance, what looks like what could be a title of the machine next to Stargate could also be lights reflecting off the marquee or something covering it. They’re most likely of the same vintage; I’d wager unidentified machines being no later than 1979 and most likely from 80 or 81. At least for now, these two machines will have to remain unidentified. (Stay tuned for updates)
Just like in Murphy’s Law (see GOF#9), what might seem like an arcade is actually a laundromat. Just like being able to identify the arcade machines, it’s hard to tell just by watching, but upon pausing and reviewing the footage, you can see the stacked washers and dryers in the background.
Streets of Miami
Miami Vice featured many real-world locations during its run,This scene was filmed on location at Collins Ave, STE 6, Miami Beach, USA. As is expected with real-world locations used in film and TV, it has changed quite a lot in the intervening years. (As one would expect/hope) The storefronts Tubbs walks past now seem to be one store, some kind of tourist trap, overpriced store, well, that’s the impression I get from the less-than-stellar reviews online.
Do the current owners know that their store once held video game greatness, or that Miami Vice was once filmed outside? Probably not, but now at least you know about it. (If you’re in the area, why not pay them a visit and let them know?)
This short sequence has a number of extras in it; no one is actually playing any of the games, but given that this is a real place, there is a very good chance that some of the people in the scene are not actors, but regular citizens, given that some seem to be looking directly towards the camera. (No doubt allowed to remain as long as they didn’t mess up any takes. Something to tell the grand kids about at least.)
There isn’t anything too special or exciting about this appearance; the games are barely visible, they don’t figure into the larger narrative, but still, it offers a snapshot of part of the arcade scene of America in the early to mid-80s.
Thanks to the following resources that helped when researching this blog.
miamiviceonline.com
miamivicelocations.org
Google Maps
Miami Vice: Michael Mann Productions & Universal Television