BurgerTime

{{Infobox video game

| title = BurgerTime

| image = BurgerTime arcadeflyer.png

| caption = Arcade flyer

| developer = Data East{{efn|According to a former Data East programmer, the game was designed in-house but development of its arcade version was outsourced to an external software company from Akihabara.{{cite tweet|user=reddrag64988892|number=1637341730352791552|title=アーケード版ハンバーガーは実はデータイースト内製ではなく、外注でした。今でも秋葉原に存在する、とあるソフトハウスによるもので、そのメンバーの一人は私の専門学校時の同級生です。企画はデータイースト社員の権藤裕二さん。権藤さんの代表作は、他にラッパッパやzaviga/b-wings、魔境戦士等。|language=ja|url=https://twitter.com/reddrag64988892/status/1637341730352791552|date=March 19, 2023|accessdate=December 5, 2023}}}}

| publisher = {{vgrelease|WW|Data East{{cite web |title=Video Game Flyers: BurgerTime, Data East (EU) |url=https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=162 |website=The Arcade Flyer Archive |access-date=23 April 2021}}|NA|Bally Midway}}

| designer =

| release = {{vgrelease|JP|August 25, 1982{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=13 October 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |page=47 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n48}}{{cite web |title=BurgerTime (Registration Number PA0000148985) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov/ |website=United States Copyright Office |access-date=6 May 2021}}|NA|November 1982{{cite magazine |title=Manufacturers Equipment |magazine=Cash Box |date=5 February 1983 |page=35 |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox44unse_33/page/n34 |publisher=Cash Box Pub. Co.}}|EU|December 1982}}

| genre = Platform

| modes = 1-2 players alternating turns

| arcade system =

| platforms = Arcade, Apple II, Aquarius, Atari 2600, BBC Micro, Coleco Adam, ColecoVision, IBM PC, Intellivision, MSX, NES, TI-99/4A

}}

{{nihongo foot|BurgerTime,|バーガータイム|Bāgātaimu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} originally released as {{nihongo foot|Hamburger|ハンバーガー|Hanbāgā|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} in Japan, is an arcade video game from Data East. It was published in 1982 for the DECO Cassette System. The player controls chef Peter Pepper who walks across oversized ingredients in a maze of platforms and ladders, causing them to fall and stack on buns below, eventually creating complete burgers. The chef is pursued by anthropomorphic hot dogs, fried eggs, and pickles. A limited supply of pepper can be thrown at aggressors immediately in front of Peter, briefly stunning them.

The game's original title of Hamburger was changed to BurgerTime outside of Japan, which was also used for all ports and subsequent games in the series worldwide. In the United States, Data East USA licensed BurgerTime for distribution by Bally Midway as a standard dedicated arcade game.{{cite magazine|title=Overseas Readers Column: Deco "Burger Time" License - Midway For Coin-Op, Mattel For Home Video|magazine=Game Machine|issue=199|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 November 1982|page=34|lang=ja}} Data East also released BurgerTime in the United States through its DECO Cassette System. The Data East and Midway versions are distinguished by the manufacturer's name on the title screen and by the marquee and cabinet artwork; the game itself is identical.

The first home port of BurgerTime was released for the Intellivision console in 1983, followed by versions for other systems. There have been multiple sequels for both the arcade and home.

When Data East went bankrupt in 2003, G-Mode bought most of Data East's intellectual properties, including BurgerTime, BurgerTime Deluxe, Super BurgerTime, and Peter Pepper's Ice Cream Factory.{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_zd1up/is_200402/ai_ziff118189 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501054244/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_zd1up/is_200402/ai_ziff118189 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-01 |title=G-Mode Buys Up Data East Catalog (Archived) |date=2007-08-28 |access-date=2012-11-16}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_bt/|title=VC バーガータイム|website=www.nintendo.co.jp}}

Gameplay

File:BurgertimeInPlay.png

The object of the game is to build a number of hamburgers while avoiding enemy foods. The player controls the protagonist, chef Peter Pepper, with a four-position joystick and a "pepper" button.

Each level is a maze of platforms and ladders in which giant burger ingredients (bun, meat patty, tomato, lettuce and cheese) are arranged. When Peter walks the full length of an ingredient, it falls to the level below, knocking down any ingredient that happens to be there. A burger is completed when all of its vertically aligned ingredients have been dropped out of the maze and onto a waiting plate. The player must complete all burgers to finish the board.

Three types of enemy food items wander the maze: Mr. Hot Dog, Mr. Pickle (who doesn't appear until level 3), and Mr. Egg. The player can score extra points by either crushing them under a falling ingredient or dropping an ingredient while they are on it. In the latter case, the ingredient falls two extra levels for every enemy caught on it. Crushed or dropped enemies return to the maze after a short time, with crushed enemies appearing on the edges and dropped enemies respawning where they stopped falling. (If a dropped enemy falls to the bottom of a burger, it will climb back up to the nearest platform.) Dropping enemies is much riskier, but it also awards more points and allows the levels to be finished faster.

At the start of the game, the player is given five pepper shots to use against enemies. Pressing the button causes Peter to shake a cloud of pepper in the direction he is facing; any enemy touching the cloud is briefly stunned, and Peter can safely move through them. Ice cream (levels 1 and 4), coffee (2 and 5), and French fries (3 and 6) appear when a certain number of ingredients are dropped, awarding bonus points (500 for ice cream, 1,000 for coffee, and 1,500 for French fries) and one extra pepper shot when collected.

There are six boards of increasing difficulty, with more burgers/ingredients, more enemies, and/or layouts that make it easier for Peter to become cornered. After the player completes the sixth board, the cycle repeats. One life is lost whenever Peter touches a non-stunned enemy, and the game ends once all lives are lost. The number of points required to gain extra lives varies between ports.

Ports

Mattel Electronics obtained the rights to BurgerTime from Data East and released the Intellivision version in 1983. That year, they also released versions for the Atari 2600, Apple II, Aquarius, and, as a self-booting disk, the IBM PC.{{cite web |title=M Network Titles for Computers |url=http://www.intellivisionlives.com/bluesky/games/credits/computers.shtml |website=Intellivision Lives |publisher=Intellivision Productions |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110083256/http://www.intellivisionlives.com/bluesky/games/credits/computers.shtml |archive-date=10 January 2007 |url-status=usurped}} A version from Data East for the TI-99/4A was published in 1984.{{cite web |title=Burgertime |url=http://www.pixelatedarcade.com/games/burgertime |website=Pixelatedarcade |access-date=30 July 2018}}{{cite web |title=Burgertime |url=https://4apedia.com/index.php?title=BurgerTime |website=TI-99/4A-Pedia |access-date=6 June 2020}} A ColecoVision port was published by Coleco in May 1984.{{r|holyoak19840530}}{{cite magazine |title=Year-End Index |magazine=Computer Entertainer |date=January 1985 |volume=3 |issue=10 |page=156 |url=http://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/newsletters/video_game_update/computer_entertainer_jan85.pdf#page=12}} Ports were released for the Famicom in 1985,{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/4436/|title=バーガータイム (FC)の関連情報 | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com}} MSX in 1986,{{cite web |title=Burger Time |url=http://www.generation-msx.nl/software/data-east/burger-time/822/ |website=Generation-MSX |access-date=30 July 2018}} Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987{{cite news |title=Availability Update |work=Computer Entertainer |date=February 1987 |page=14 |url=http://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/newsletters/video_game_update/computer_entertainer_feb87.pdf#page=14}} and Famicom Disk System in 1988.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_bt/vc_bt_01.html|title=VC バーガータイム|website=www.nintendo.co.jp}}

Reception

File:BurgerTime Arcade Video Game.jpg pub]]

In Japan, Game Machine listed Hamburger as the 11th highest-grossing arcade video game of 1982.{{cite magazine|title="Pole Position" No. 1 Video Game: Game Machine{{'}}s "The Year's Best Three AM Machines" Survey Results|magazine=Game Machine|issue=207|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 March 1983|page=30|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19830301p.pdf#page=16}} Game Machine later listed Hamburger on their June 15, 1983 issue as being the twenty-third most-successful table arcade unit of the month.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=214|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=15 June 1983|page=27|lang=ja}}

Following its North American debut at the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) show in November 1982, it was reviewed by Video Games magazine, which listed it as the show's fourth best game, while saying it was the "stupidest, silliest game ever, and that's why you couldn't get people off the Burger Time games with a crowbar!" The review praised the "music, challenging mazes, and comical" characters.{{cite magazine | magazine = Video Games | volume = 1 | publisher = Pumpkin Press | issue = 7 | page = 66 | title = Top Ten Hits | date=March 1983 | url=https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_Volume_1_Number_06_1983-03_Pumpkin_Press_US#page/n65/mode/2up}}

Computer and Video Games gave it a positive review, comparing the level structure to Donkey Kong (1981), stating that BurgerTime has "a charm all its own" and praising the controls.{{cite magazine |title=Burgers Have You in a Pickle: Burger Time |magazine=Computer and Video Games |date=16 December 1982 |issue=15 (January 1983) |page=30 |url=https://www.solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/172/476}} The Deseret News called BurgerTime "one of the real surprises of 1983 for the Intellivision" and gave the ColecoVision version three-and-a-half stars out of four.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PqZNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7081%2C6575510 | title=Here are ColecoVision's jewels | work=Deseret News | date=1984-05-30 | access-date=10 January 2015 | author=Holyoak, Craig | pages=4 WV}} Computer Games magazine gave the ColecoVision and Coleco Adam versions a positive review, stating that "the terrific flavor" of the arcade game remains but "the playfield has been greatly reduced".{{cite magazine |title=Conversion Capsules: Hit Games in New Formats |magazine=Computer Games |date=December 1984 |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=62–3 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Games_Vol_3_No_4_1984-12_Carnegie_Publications_US/page/n61/mode/2up}}

BurgerTime received a Certificate of Merit in the category of "1984 Videogame of the Year (Less than 16K ROM)" at the 5th annual Arkie Awards.{{cite journal |last1= Kunkel |first1= Bill |author-link1= Bill Kunkel (journalist)|last2= Katz |first2= Arnie |author-link2= Arnie Katz|date= January 1984 |title= Arcade Alley: The Arcade Awards, Part 1 |journal= Video|publisher= Reese Communications|volume= 7|issue= 10|pages= 40–42|issn= 0147-8907}}{{rp|40}}

Legacy

=Sequels=

{{Video game timeline

| 1982 = BurgerTime

| 1984 = Peter Pepper's Ice Cream Factory

| 1987 = Diner

| 1990 = Super BurgerTime

| 1991 = BurgerTime Deluxe

| 2000 = The Flintstones: BurgerTime in Bedrock

| 2007 = BurgerTime Delight

| 2009 = BurgerTime Deluxe (iOS)

| 2011 = BurgerTime World Tour

| 2019 = BurgerTime Party!

| 2024 = Chili’s Big Smasher BurgerTime

}}

File:Super BurgerTime.jpg

An arcade spin-off, Peter Pepper's Ice Cream Factory (1984), and an arcade sequel, {{nihongo|Super BurgerTime|スーパーバーガータイム}} (1990), were not widely released. Super BurgerTime stars Peter Pepper Jr. and allows two players to play at once. It is fairly true to the original, but with many added features and a different style of graphics.

A console-only sequel, Diner, was created after the 1984 purchase of Intellivision from Mattel by INTV Corp. It was programmed by Ray Kaestner, the programmer of the Intellivision version of BurgerTime. In Diner, Peter Pepper must kick balls of food so that they roll off platforms and down ramps to land on a large plate at the bottom of the screen, while avoiding or crushing enemy food items that are trying to stop him.

BurgerTime Deluxe was released for the Game Boy in 1991 featuring similar gameplay to the original arcade game.{{cite web|title=Gameboy Burgetimer Deluxe 1991|url=http://churchofburgertime.com/history/btgameboy.html|website=Church of BurgerTime}} BurgerTime Deluxe was re-released for the Nintendo Switch through the Nintendo Classics service.{{Cite web |title=New update adds Game Boy™, Super NES™, and NES™ classics to the Nintendo Switch Online games list |url=https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/new-nintendo-switch-online-classic-game-library-additions/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=www.nintendo.com |language=en-us}}

A crossover with The Flintstones titled The Flintstones: BurgerTime in Bedrock was released on Game Boy Color in 2000.{{Cite web|url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/gbc/579040-the-flintstones-burgertime-in-bedrock/data|title = The Flintstones: BurgerTime in Bedrock Release Information for Game Boy Color - GameFAQs}}

Namco released BurgerTime Delight for mobile devices in 2007. It includes "new graphics, characters and power-ups".{{cite web|url=https://www.namcogames.com/mobile/burgertime-delight_5.html|title=BurgerTime Delight |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106110839/http://www.namcogames.com/mobile/burgertime-delight_5.html |archive-date=2009-01-06 |work=Namco}} There are six "arcade levels" and eight enhanced mode levels with perils of falling ice and rising fire from the grill. Besides the pepper of the classic game, there is now a salt shaker, that when collected stuns all enemies on the screen.

A 3D update, BurgerTime World Tour, was released in 2011 for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, and in 2012 for WiiWare.{{cite web |url=http://www.burgertimeworldtour.com |title=Burger Time World Tour |publisher=Burger Time World Tour |access-date=2012-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107053004/http://www.burgertimeworldtour.com/ |archive-date=2012-11-07 |url-status=dead}} It was delisted from Xbox Live Arcade in April 2014.{{cite web |last=Cowan |first=Danny |date=April 15, 2014 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2014-04-15-burgertime-world-tour-discounted-ahead-of-delisting-on-april-30.html |title=BurgerTime World Tour discounted ahead of delisting on April 30 |website=Engadget (Joystiq) |publisher=Yahoo |access-date=November 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424072618/http://m.joystiq.com/2014/04/15/burgertime-world-tour-discounted-ahead-of-delisting-on-april-30 |archive-date=April 24, 2014 |url-status=live}} G-Mode and XSEED Games released a re-imagining of the game on October 8, 2019, titled BurgerTime Party!, for the Nintendo Switch, with new modes and redesigns.

In 2024, the Chili's restaurant chain obtained the license for BurgerTime to create a browser-based game called Chili’s Big Smasher BurgerTime. In this version of the game, players control the franchise mascot Joe ChiliHead in a quest to create Big Smasher Burgers across six levels of gameplay. Players who participated also had the chance to win prizes such as free burgers for life.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chilis-big-smasher-burgertime-video-game-levels-up-fast-food-face-off-with-the-chance-to-win-free-burgers-for-life-302181674.html|title=Chili's® Big Smasher BurgerTime Video Game Levels Up Fast-Food Face-Off with the Chance to Win Free Burgers for Life*|website=www.prnewswire.com |access-date=2025-03-05}}

=Re-releases=

The arcade version of BurgerTime has been included in various collections, including Arcade's Greatest Hits: Midway Collection 2 for the PlayStation and Data East Arcade Classics for the Wii. In late 2019/early 2020, it was released with fellow Data East titles Karate Champ, Caveman Ninja and Bad Dudes in an arcade cabinet for home use by manufacturer Arcade1Up.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/08/30/king-of-fighters-burger-time-cabinets-appear-on-japanese-arcade1up-website|title=King of Fighters, Burger Time Cabinets Appear on Japanese Arcade1up Website - IGN|date=November 2021|via=www.ign.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arcade1ups-burgertime-cabinet-pays-worthy-tribute-/1100-6473205/|title=Arcade1Up's BurgerTime Cabinet Pays Worthy Tribute To An All-Time Classic}} Although the cabinet comes with four games in one, its artwork features only the graphics of Burgertime.

The NES and FDS versions were available on the Wii Virtual Console.{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/B3GMnX68E89SNn_H104EQMSDoHGcwRfe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118081525/https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/B3GMnX68E89SNn_H104EQMSDoHGcwRfe|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-11-18|title=BurgerTime|website=www.nintendo.com}} Its Game Boy counterpart BurgerTime Deluxe was released for the 3DS Virtual Console in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/JBywzYrgZK8ppe3jIFF6lf8ZfHq6yqp6|title=Burger Time Deluxe|website=www.nintendo.com|access-date=2018-11-17|archive-date=2019-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213152106/https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/JBywzYrgZK8ppe3jIFF6lf8ZfHq6yqp6|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Virtual-Console-Nintendo-3DS-/Burger-Time-DELUXE-275517.html|title=Burger Time DELUXE|website=Nintendo of Europe GmbH}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/50010000007194|title=バーガータイムデラックス - ニンテンドー3DS - 任天堂|website=任天堂ホームページ}} The NES version is also included in the 2017 compilation Data East All-Star Collection for the Nintendo Entertainment System.{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/10/retro-bit_lifts_the_lid_on_its_multi-cart_collections_for_the_nes_and_snes|title=Retro-Bit Lifts The Lid On Its Multi-Cart Collections For The NES And SNES|date=27 October 2017|website=Nintendo Life}}

The 1982 arcade version was released through the Arcade Archives series for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch on July 30, 2020.

=Clones=

Clones for home systems include: Mr. Wimpy, Bear Bovver, Burger Chase, BurgerSpace, Chip Factory, Burger Boy!,{{cite web|title=Burger Boy!|url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-burger-boy_19075.html|website=Atari Mania}} Basic Burger,{{cite web|title=Basic Burger|url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-basic-burger_519.html|website=Atari Mania}} Barmy Burgers,Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/UOrtZJ1VNbw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160311011541/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOrtZJ1VNbw Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|title=Barmy Burgers ZX Spectrum|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOrtZJ1VNbw|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} Burger Builder,{{cite web | title=Burger Builder - TI-99/4A Home Computer | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BZdLdqtc58 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310090601/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BZdLdqtc58 | archive-date=2016-03-10 | url-status=dead | website=YouTube}} and Lunchtime.{{cite web|last1=Boyle|first1=Curtis L.|title=Tandy (TRS-80) Color Computer Games - Arcade Clones Index|url=http://www.lcurtisboyle.com/nitros9/clones.html}} BurgerSpace is a 2007 open source clone.{{cite web|url=https://debaday.debian.net/2007/08/29/burgerspace-a-free-clone-of-the-classic-arcade-game-burgertime/index.html|title=burgerspace: a free clone of the classic arcade game Burgertime |website=Debian Package of the Day|date=2007-08-29|access-date=2023-02-23}}

=In popular culture=

Elements of BurgerTime were incorporated into the episode "Gameboy" of the DIC Entertainment animated series Captain N: The Game Master. Peter Pepper appears in the movies Wreck-It Ralph and Pixels. A BurgerTime parody called "Burgerboss" appears in an episode of Bob's Burgers with the same name.

Scores

On September 5, 2005, Bryan L. Wagner of Turbotville, Pennsylvania achieved a record score of 8,601,300 and improved to exactly 9,000,000 on June 2, 2006.{{cite web|url=http://spyhunter007.com/bryan_wagner_burgertime_world_record.htm|title=bryan wagner burgertime world record|publisher=spyhunter007.com|access-date=2011-03-19}} According to Twin Galaxies, he improved it further to 11,512,500 points on September 19, 2008, at the Challenge Arcade in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.{{cite web|url=http://www.twingalaxies.com/scores.php?scores=677&ref=fbshare|title=Twin Galaxies - Arcade BurgerTime World Records |access-date=2016-09-08}} The MAME world record was verified by Twin Galaxies on December 2, 2016, as 7,837,750 by Roger Edwin Blair III of Mountain City, Tennessee.{{cite web|url=http://www.twingalaxies.com/scores.php?scores=5157&ref=fbshare |title=Twin Galaxies - MAME BurgerTime World Records |access-date=2016-12-02}}