Starcade

Starcade (1982-1984)

EndedGame Show show

Starcade is a game show where contestants competed against one another by playing arcade video games. The series originally aired on WTBS from 1982–1983, followed by a run in syndication for the following season. The series was first hosted by Mark Richards. Geoff Edwards replaced Richards after the first 23 shows, and continued until the show's cancellation. Two players (or teams; age-regardless) competed.

Three rounds were played. Each round began with a video arcade-game related toss-up question. The player who buzzed in and answered correctly chose one of five free-standing arcade games in the studio and was given 40 seconds (later 60, then 50) to amass as high a score as possible. The opponent then played the same game, and whatever points the players earned were added to their overall scores. If a player's game ended before time ran out, the turn ended immediately and the player was credited with whatever points they had earned.

The second and third rounds were played identically, with 40 seconds (later 50) game playing time for the second round, and 30 seconds (later 40) for the third. Once a game was chosen for play in any round, it could not be chosen again. At the end of the second round (and third when the series began), the player in the lead played "Name the Game," attempting to identify four arcade games by screenshots. The player won a prize for correctly identifying at least three of the games. One of the five games was the "mystery game," which awarded a prize to the player who chose it in any of the three rounds. The player in the lead at the end of the third and final round won the game and a bonus prize, and moved on to the bonus round.

Network
ScheduleMonday to Friday (daily) (30 min)

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S01E263Moon Patrol 5Sep 15, 1984
S01E262Super AstrofighterSep 14, 1984
S01E261Joust 6Sep 13, 1984
S01E260Tron 6Sep 10, 1984
S01E259Angler DanglerSep 9, 1984
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did Starcade premiere?

Starcade premiered on December 27, 1982.

Who hosted Starcade?

Geoff Edwards hosted Starcade.

What was the format of Starcade?

Starcade was a game show that featured contestants competing against each other in arcade games.

How many contestants competed on each episode of Starcade?

Two contestants competed on each episode of Starcade.

How long was each episode of Starcade?

Each episode of Starcade was approximately 30 minutes long.

What was the grand prize on Starcade?

The grand prize on Starcade was a brand new arcade game machine.

What arcade game was featured in the pilot episode of Starcade?

Space Invaders was featured in the pilot episode of Starcade.

What was the most commonly featured game on Starcade?

Pac-Man was the most commonly featured game on Starcade.

How were the games presented on Starcade?

The games were presented in split-screen format, with the contestants' gameplay on top and a close-up shot of the arcade machine on the bottom.

Was Starcade a successful show?

Yes, Starcade was a successful show and was popular among arcade game enthusiasts.

Did Starcade have any celebrity guests?

Yes, Starcade had a handful of celebrity guests, including actors and musicians.

Was Starcade ever rebooted or revived in any form?

Yes, Starcade was briefly revived in 2017 as a web series on Twitch.

Who holds the rights to Starcade?

The rights to Starcade are currently held by JM Production Company.

What network was Starcade originally broadcast on?

Starcade was originally broadcast on TBS.

Did Starcade have any spin-offs or related shows?

No, Starcade did not have any spin-offs or related shows.

Cast

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Characters

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