Mr. Driller (US, DRI3/VER.A2)

Arcade Video game published 25 years ago:

Mr. Driller (c) 1999 Namco, Limited.

A highly addictive puzzle game in which the player must drill down through an endless onslaught of blocks, attempting to get blocks of the same colour to touch and subsequently make them disappear. 'Undergrounder' bonuses can be picked up for bonus points and air capsules must be collected to restore the player's ever-diminishing air supply.

- TECHNICAL -

Namco System 12 hardware
Game ID: DRI

Main CPU: PSX (@ 16.9344 Mhz), H8/3002 (@ 14.7456 Mhz)
Sound Chips: C352 (@ 14.7456 Mhz)

Players: 1
Control: 4-way joystick
Buttons: 1

- TRIVIA -

Released internationally in October 1999.

This game was originally going to be titled as 'Dig Dug III'. The main character, Susumu Hori, is the son of Taizo Hori (better known as 'Dig Dug'). Dig Dug III was initially developed unofficially by a few Namco staff, and work on the game was suspended while Ridge Racer Type 4 was being completed. However, Namco executives were impressed with the game and decided to support it as an official project.

The Mr. Driller series officially takes place in the year(s) 20XX.

- UPDATES -

Software version : DRI1/VER.A2 (Japan)
* Build date : 14:11:20, OCT 22 1999

Software version : DRI3/VER.A2 (USA)
* Build date : 14:11:20, OCT 22 1999

- SCORING -

As you collect air capsules, each one is worth 100 more points than the one before it. Upon completion of the 500 and 1000 boards, You can earn a time bonus, a perfect life bonus and a perfect air bonus.

- SERIES -

1. Mr. Driller (1999, Arcade)
2. Mr. Driller 2 (2000, Arcade)
3. Mr. Driller G (2001, Arcade)
4. Mr. Driller A - Fushigi na Pacteria [Model AGB-AD5J-JPN] (2002, GBA)
5. Mr. Driller - Drill Land (2002, GameCube)
6. Mr. Driller - Drill Spirits (2005, DS)

- STAFF -

Programming : Tomohiro Kaneko, Mazmoto Dai, Murakami Ayako
Graphics : Shinozaki Kaori, Hasegawa Taroo, Kusakabe Yasuko
Sound : Shina Masaru
Voice : Tatsuta Tomoko
Title logo & Package designer : Tamiya Kiyotaka
Product promotion : Cosyowaki Hiroshi
Production assistants : Nakabayashi Yasuki, Arai Takashi, Kuroda Masanao, Kondou Takiharu
Program support : Kyota Tanaka, Funatsu Tetsuya, Hijiya Tosiharu
Product manager : Hajime Nakatani, Oishi Masuya
Producer : Yoshizawa Hideo
Executive producer : Masaya Nakamura
Director : Nagaoka Yasuhito

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
Nintendo Game Boy Color (2000)
Sega Dreamcast (2000)
Sony PlayStation (2000)
Bandai WonderSwan (2001)
Sony PlayStation 2 (2005, "NamCollection") : Japan release only.

* COMPUTERS:
PC [MS Windows] (1999)

* OTHERS: