MAMEWorld Forums - EmuChat - Re: Bazooka game?

> > >> So, who made this game 1st? Was PSE Taito's distributor for Cross Fire in the
> USA?
> > Or
> > >> is Taito's Cross Fire a Japan distribution of PSE's Bazooka?
> >
> > > This reminds me of that old question: Which one came first, the egg or the
> chicken?
> > Both
> > > were released in 1977 and I really would like to know the answer to this question
> > too.
> > > But until now I couldn't find anything about the release date of these two games.
> I
> > > guess that one company stole the idea and game concepts from the other and both
> > > versions ended up being released one right after the another. Even the mounted
> > bazooka
> > > shape is quite similar!!
> >
> > Keith Smith is most likely the best reliable source of knowing the answers for
> > Bazooka such as did Taito create the game first and PSE licensed from Taito. Or was
> > it other way around of which Taito licensed Bazooka from PSE and marketed the game
> as
> > Crossfire. And then where does Taito Brazil fall in with this game.
>
> I came across this thread again.
>
> According to the Japanese book "Arcade TV Game List Kokunai - Kaigai Hen (1971 -
> 2005)" (Masumi Akagi, 2006) (ISBN: 4-9902512-1-0) (Google it):
> > Bazooka (Project Support Engineering) - released 1976/11.
> > Cross Fire (Taito) - released 1977/08.
>
> Furthermore I asked Keith privately and he said:
> > Bazooka (aka Crossfire?) (Project Support Engineering)
> > - listed Arcade-History as 1977
> > - listed TAFA as 1977
> > - listed Wiretap Bronze Age List(s) as 1976 and 5/77
> > - appeared in RePlay 10/76
> > - appeared in Play Meter 1/77
> > - appeared in Vending Times 5/77
>
> > Cross Fire (Taito)
> > - listed in Arcade-History as 1977
> > - listed in KLOV as 1977
> > - listed in TAFA as 1977
> > - listed in Wiretap Bronze Age List(s) as 1977"
>
> This is how Keith gets his accurate dates, he checks *all* the sources (especially
> print sources) because the websites that offer game lists often do not provide
> *their* sources and citations. However, he has not used the Japanese book all that
> often so far, since he doesn't speak or read Japanese. He'd probably appreciate it
> (as would others) if people translated the whole book to English. Of course the book
> might not list its sources either... (Keith is also looking to expand his collection
> of DRA Price Guides if someone can help out there, he has the few online ones and is
> looking for 1970's and 1980's issues...)
>
> So it's looking pretty definite that PSE created the game Bazooka, Taito either
> licensed or bootlegged it and called it Cross Fire. I don't think there's any
> question what Taito do Brasil did
>
> - Stiletto

Great info Stiletto!! Despite the fact that they are almost identical games with similar gameplay, they have different sprites. The CrossFire graphics are better than those found in Bazooka. So, it makes sense according to the release dates you mentioned.

This info should be submitted to KLOV or to another reliable arcade-related website for preservation purposes, since it's rare information about an even more rare game.