I will provide a list of the most interesting hidden messages found in arcade games. A lot of these messages are easter eggs that programmers wanted to sneak into the game. They are odd secrets that help in showing credit to the company or people that made the arcade games.
Check out digitpress.com for detailed information on more video game easter eggs.
Namco Arcade Game Hidden Messages
Namco arcade games have had similar hidden messages in most of their classic arcade games. Let’s take a look at a few, because most are the same message just in a different game.
Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man Hidden Message Easter Egg
Triggering the hidden message is the same for both Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man.
Put the game into test mode. Next, hold down the two START buttons, while toggling the test switch on and off. Once you see a grid appear on screen then alternate the test switch faster. While doing this push UP four times, then LEFT four times, then RIGHT four times, and finally DOWN four times.
After putting in this secret sequence of buttons the message “MADE BY NAMCO” will appear. It is made from power pill sprites that were used in the game.
We can see this same message in more Namco arcade games.
Galaga Hidden Message Easter Egg
Put the game in test mode.
Hold the FIRE button.
While still holding FIRE, move the joystick RIGHT five times, LEFT six times, RIGHT three times, and LEFT seven times.
If done correctly, “(C) 1981 NAMCO LTD.” will show up.
Almost the exact same message appears in Dig Dug and Rally X. Each game has its own secret sequence of buttons to press in order for this easter egg to appear.
Dig Dug Hidden Message Easter Egg
Again, put Dig Dug the arcade game in test mode.
Hold down the player 1 FIRE button.
While still holding FIRE, move the joystick UP six times, RIGHT three times, DOWN four times, and LEFT eight times.
If done correctly, “(C) 1981 NAMCO LTD.” will show up. This message is written with lots of the number “8”s.
Rally X Hidden Message Easter Egg
In test mode, hold down the smoke button and move the joystick UP two times, DOWN seven times, RIGHT once, and LEFT six times.
“(C) NAMCO LTD. 1980” will appear on screen.
Xevious Hidden Message Easter Egg
Right when your ship appears, move as far right as you can go. While you are to the right side of the screen start bombing constantly. Bomb like this until there are attacking rings close to you. Shoot the rings. After this the message “Original program by EVEZOO” will show up at the bottom of the screen. The Namco logo will also appear next to it.
This message is a shoutout from the game’s designer and programmer, Masanobu Endo. His alias on various forums was Evezoo End.
Namco Classics V1 arcade cabinet has a collection of Namco games which includes Xevious. If you do the same secret from the original in this game a different hidden message easter egg will appear. The message is “This game is dedicated to the original XEVIOUS staff.”
Deluxe Space Invaders Hidden Message Easter Egg
In attract mode, you will need to hit all three of these buttons at the same time; RIGHT, FIRE, 2P.
Right after, push these three buttons; LEFT, FIRE, 1P. Wait a couple seconds and the message “TAITO CORP” will show up at the top part of the screen.
This trick can only be done in the deluxe version of the game. The original Space Invaders does not have this easter egg.
Big Event Golf Hidden Message Easter Egg
There are rocks scattered throughout the courses that have names such as “SASAEI”, “NENKO”, and “OFHARA”.
It is not known for sure what these names mean but it is thought to be names of programmers who made the game.
The text on the rocks can be hard to read from far away so you will need to hit the golf ball close to the rocks to make out what they say.
Gauntlet Hidden Initials
On the title screen of Gauntlet, you can see the initials “AM” hidden below “Gauntlet” on the left side of the screen towards the bottom.
“AM” stands for Alan Murphy, who was the graphic designer on the game. It’s a neat way to give himself credit for the art of this classic arcade game.
A.P.B. (All Points Bulletin) Secret Initials
Alan Murphy put his initials on another arcade game he did the art for. This was on the arcade game, A.P.B.
You can find Murphy’s initials on some art within the arcade game. In this picture there is an “AM” inside the mouth of this criminal.
Another criminal has “AJM” on his hat.
The steam locomotive in the game has “MURPHY” written on the side of it.
Race Drivin’ Secret Easter Egg
To see this easter egg turn around and drive the wrong direction from right when you begin playing. The road will split and you should take the path on the right. There will be a barn on your left. Drive slowly towards the barn. When you are close enough a door will appear and it should have the number “33” in yellow.
I can’t seem to find what the “33” is in reference to. Maybe a racecar driver’s number? It is just interesting how hidden this vague message is.
A number of arcade games have secret screens that give credit to the people that made them.
Wacko Arcade Game Hidden Message
While on the title screen, hold down the 1P and 2P buttons until a new screen appears. This hidden screen is the credits of the design team for Wacko.
Domino Man
Domino Man has you hit the same buttons as Wacko on the title screen to reveal its secret credits screen showing the names of those who made the game.
Stargate Hidden Screen Easter Egg
Stargate has a complex combination of buttons that you’ll need to press just right to get to the secret screen that credits the programmers.
Hit these buttons all at the same time: DOWN, REVERSE, 1P START, THRUST.
Right after, hit this combo of buttons: REVERSE, 2P START, FIRE.
Finally press these: DOWN, 1P START, THRUST, FIRE.
You will have to do each combo of buttons quickly. If done correctly, the programmers credit screen will appear.
Batman the Arcade Game High Score Credits
The top two scores on the high score screen of Batman the arcade game is for characters Batman and The Joker. The rest of the spots below them are initials of the programming team that worked on the game.
TRON and Missile Command High Score Credits
Both the classic arcade games, Tron and Missile Command, have a not so hidden shout-out on the high score table on startup.
These high scores are the initials of members of the programming teams that made each arcade game.
JP stands for John Pasierb, an engineer for TRON.
BA stands for Bill Adams, a programmer on TRON.
DFT stands for David Theurer, a programmer on Missile Command.