Dig Dug

{{Infobox video game

| title = Dig Dug

| image = Dig Dug Flyer.png

| caption = Arcade flyer

| developer = Namco

| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP/EU|Namco|NA|Atari, Inc.{{cite web |title=Video Game Flyers: Dig Dug, Namco (Germany) |url=https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=6208 |website=The Arcade Flyer Archive |access-date=18 April 2021}}}}

| designer = Masahisa Ikegami
Shigeru Yokoyama

| programmer = Shouichi Fukatani
Toshio Sakai

| composer = Yuriko Keino

| artist = Hiroshi Ono{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/former-namco-pixel-artist-hiroshi-mr-dotman-ono-has-died/|title=Former Namco Pixel Artist Hiroshi 'Mr. Dotman' Ono Has Died|website=Siliconera|date=October 17, 2021|access-date=October 17, 2021|last=Kiya|first=Andrew}}

| release = {{vgrelease|JP|February 20, 1982|NA|April 1982|EU|April 19, 1982}}

| genre = Maze

| series = Dig Dug

| modes = 1-2 players alternating turns

| platforms = {{collapsible list|title=Arcade|Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Commodore 64, VIC-20, Apple II, IBM PC, TI-99/4A, PV-1000, PC-6000, PC-88, X1, MZ-1500, FM-7, Sord M5, Gakken Table Top, MSX, Family Computer, Famicom Disk System, Atari 7800, Atari 8-bit, X68000, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, mobile phones}}

}}

{{nihongo foot|Dig Dug|ディグダグ|Digu Dagu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a maze arcade video game released by Namco in 1982. It was distributed in North America by Atari, Inc. The player digs underground tunnels to attack enemies in each level, by either inflating them to bursting or crushing them underneath rocks.

Dig Dug was planned and designed by Masahisa Ikegami, with help from Galaga creator Shigeru Yokoyama. It was programmed for the Namco Galaga arcade board by Shouichi Fukatani, who worked on many of Namco's earlier arcade games, along with Toshio Sakai. Music was composed by Yuriko Keino, including the character movement jingle at executives' request, as her first Namco game. Namco heavily marketed it as a "strategic digging game".

Upon release, Dig Dug was well received by critics for its addictive gameplay, cute characters, and strategy. During the golden age of arcade video games, it was globally successful, including as the second highest-grossing arcade game of 1982 in Japan. It prompted a long series of sequels and spin-offs, including the Mr. Driller series, for several platforms. It is in many Namco video game compilations for many systems.

Gameplay

File:Digdug.png

Dig Dug is a maze video game where the player controls protagonist Dig Dug (Taizo Hori) to eliminate each screen's enemies: Pookas, red creatures with comically large goggles; and Fygars, fire-breathing green dragons. Dig Dug can use an air pump to inflate them to bursting or crush them under large falling rocks. When the air pump is activated, Dig Dug will stop moving and throw the end of the air pump forwards, where it may catch onto an enemy. If an enemy is hit, they are frozen in place, and the player can repeatedly press the air pump's button to inflate them. If no action is taken for a while or the player moves, the air pump disconnects and the action is cancelled, but the enemy will begin to deflate and will be stunned until fully deflated. Rocks are unable to be dug through but will fall after a short period of time after the tile directly beneath them is removed by Dig Dug and he moves from the position, though he can still be crushed. Falling rocks are destroyed once they land on a tile. Bonus points are awarded for squashing multiple enemies with a single rock, and dropping any two rocks in a stage yields a bonus item, which can be eaten for points. Once all the enemies have been defeated, Dig Dug progresses to the next stage.{{cite book |url=http://www.videogameden.com/fc/extra/dig.pdf |title=Dig Dug instruction manual (FC) |date=1985 |publisher=Namco |pages=9}}

Enemies can move through tiles, where they are represented in the form of ghostly eyes, and are invulnerable, slowed, and unable to attack, and will then return to being solid once in an empty space, whether that space is their destination or is along the way. The enemies can either do this to reach Dig Dug when they would otherwise be unable to or to escape from the stage as the last enemy. As enemies are defeated, the enemies eventually become faster and more aggressive, until the last one then attempts to escape on either side of the screen at the top of the stage. To escape, enemies will move straight up through any tiles before walking towards the nearest screen edge on the surface.

The game has 256 stages. Later stages vary in dirt color, while increasing the number and speed of enemies. Lives are lost upon touching a foe, Fygar's fire or getting squished by a falling rock. Players are given extra lives during the game, but at 900K points they must endure a "survival of the fittest" mode to the last Dig Dug, which ends the game.

Development

In 1981, Dig Dug was planned and designed by Masahisa Ikegami,{{cite book |last1=Szczepaniak |first1=John |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers |date=November 2015 |publisher=S.M.G Szczepaniak |isbn=978-1518818745 |volume=2 |edition=First |page=201}} with help from Shigeru Yokoyama, the creator of Galaga.{{cite web |author=Namco Bandai Games |title=Galaga - 30th Anniversary Developer Interview |url=http://shmuplations.com/galaga/ |website=Galaga WEB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606111333/http://shmuplations.com/galaga/ |archive-date=6 June 2019 |date=2011 |access-date=13 July 2019|author-link=Namco Bandai Games}} The game was programmed for the Namco Galaga arcade system board by Shigeichi Ishimura, a Namco hardware engineer, and the late Shouichi Fukatani,{{cite book |last1=Szczepaniak |first1=John |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers |date=11 August 2014 |isbn=978-0992926007 |pages=363 |publisher=SMG Szczepaniak |edition=First |url=https://archive.org/details/TheUntoldHistoryOfJapaneseGameDevelopersVol.2JohnSzczepaniak/page/n361?q=cutie+q |access-date=12 August 2019}} along with Toshio Sakai. Other staff members were primarily colleagues of Shigeru Yokoyama. Yuriko Keino composed the soundtrack, as her first video game project. Tasked with making Dig Dug{{'}}s movement sound, she could not make a realistic stepping sound, so she instead made a short melody.{{cite news |title=『ディグダグ』の音楽はBGMでなく歩行音。慶野由利子さんが語る80年代ナムコのゲームサウンド（動画あり）- ライブドアニュース |url=http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/5808176/ |access-date=11 May 2019 |work=Livedoor News |date=24 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222103427/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/5808176/ |archive-date=22 December 2015 |language=ja}} Hiroshi "Mr. Dotman" Ono, a Namco graphic artist, designed the sprites.

The team hoped to allow player-designed mazes which could prompt unique gameplay mechanics, contrasting with the pre-set maze exploration in Pac-Man (1980). Namco's marketing materials heavily call it a "strategic digging game".{{cite news |title=OLD ゲーム - ディグダグ |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamest004198611/page/n58?q=%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%82%B0%E3%83%80%E3%82%B0 |access-date=19 August 2019 |agency=Gamest |date=November 1986 |page=58}}

Release

Dig Dug was released in 1982, in Japan on February 20,{{cite web |title=Dig Dug (Registration Number PA0000133618) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=United States Copyright Office |access-date=5 May 2021}} in North America in April by Atari (as part of the licensing deal with Namco),{{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=111 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n112}}{{cite magazine |title=Manufacturers Equipment |magazine=Cash Box |date=5 February 1983 |page=35 |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox44unse_33/page/n34 |location=United States}} and in Europe on April 19 by Namco.{{cite magazine|title=Retrodiary: 1 April – 28 April |magazine=Retro Gamer |location=Bournemouth, England |issue=88 |date=April 2011 |page=17 |issn=1742-3155 |oclc=489477015 |url=https://archive.org/details/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_088/page/16/mode/2up}}

The first home conversion of Dig Dug was released for the Atari 2600 in 1983, developed and published by Atari, which was followed by versions for the Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, and Apple II. In Japan, it was ported to the Casio PV-1000 in 1983, the MSX in 1984, and the Famicom in 1985. Gakken produced a handheld LCD tabletop game in 1983, which replaced Dig Dug's air pump with a flamethrower to accommodate hardware limitations. Namco released a Game Boy conversion in North America only in 1992, with an all-new game called "New Dig Dug" where the player must collect keys to open an exit door; this version was later included in the 1996 Japan-only compilation Namco Gallery Vol. 2, which also includes Galaxian, The Tower of Druaga, and Famista 4. A Japanese X68000 version was developed by Dempa and released in 1995, bundled with Dig Dug II.{{cite web |last1=Masuda |first1=Atsushi |title=『ディグダグ』パソコン版とアーケード版の"差"に増田少年愕然！ |url=https://akiba-pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/column/masudaretro/1032200.html |website=AKIBA PC-Watch |access-date=19 November 2016}} The Famicom version was re-released in Japan for the Game Boy Advance in 2004 as part of the Famicom Mini series.

Dig Dug is a mainstay in Namco video game compilations, including Namco Museum Vol. 3 (1996), Namco History Vol. 3 (1998), Namco Museum 64 (1999),{{cite web |last1=Fielder |first1=Joe |title=Namco Museum 64 Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/namco-museum-64-review/1900-2544859/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512172203/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/namco-museum-64-review/1900-2544859/ |archive-date=12 May 2019 |date=28 April 2000}} Namco Museum 50th Anniversary (2005),{{cite web |last1=Aaron |first1=Sean |title=Namco Museum: 50th Anniversary Review (GCN) |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/09/namco_museum_50th_anniversary_retro |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926100735/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/09/namco_museum_50th_anniversary_retro |archive-date=26 September 2017 |date=3 September 2009}} Namco Museum Remix (2007),{{cite web |last1=Aaron |first1=Sean |title=Namco Museum Remix Review (Wii) |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/07/namco_museum_remix_wii |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429204017/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/07/namco_museum_remix_wii |archive-date=29 April 2019 |date=12 July 2009}} Namco Museum Essentials (2009),{{cite web |last1=Roper |first1=Chris |title=Namco Museum Essentials Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/21/namco-museum-essentials-review |publisher=IGN |access-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429211839/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/21/namco-museum-essentials-review |archive-date=29 April 2019 |date=21 July 2009}} and Namco Museum Switch (2017).{{cite web |last1=Whitehead |first1=Thomas |title=Bandai Namco Confirms July Release for Namco Museum on Nintendo Switch |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/06/bandai_namco_confirms_july_release_for_namco_museum_on_nintendo_switch |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228055847/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/06/bandai_namco_confirms_july_release_for_namco_museum_on_nintendo_switch |archive-date=28 December 2018 |date=29 June 2017}} The game was released online on Xbox Live Arcade in 2006, supporting online leaderboards and achievements.{{cite web |last1=Brudvig |first1=Erik |title=Dig Dug Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/10/11/dig-dug-review-2 |website=IGN |date=October 11, 2006 |access-date=11 October 2006}} It is part of Namco Museum Virtual Arcade, and was added to the Xbox One's backward compatibility lineup in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/05/05/another-five-games-bring-weekly-xbox-one-backward-compatibility-total-to-ten.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507182827/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/05/05/another-five-games-bring-weekly-xbox-one-backward-compatibility-total-to-ten.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=May 7, 2016|title=Another Five Games Bring Weekly Xbox One Backward Compatibility Total To Ten|website=Game Informer|access-date=2016-05-07}} A version for the Japanese Wii Virtual Console was released in 2009.{{cite book |title=Side-BN issue 53 |date=5 November 2009 |publisher=Namco Bandai Games, Inc. |page=21 |url=https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/cs/side_876/backnumber/pdf53/Side-BN12-21.pdf}} Dig Dug is a bonus game in Pac-Man Party, alongside the arcade versions of Pac-Man and Galaga.{{cite web |last1=Hernandez |first1=Pedro |title=Pac-Man Party Review |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/24505/pac-man-party-wii |website=Nintendo World Report |access-date=3 December 2010}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| Allgame = {{rating|5|5}} (Arcade){{cite web |last1=Weiss |first1=Brett Alan |title=Dig Dug - Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=408&tab=review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114160652/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=408&tab=review |website=AllGame |archive-date=2014-11-14 |access-date=22 April 2021}}
{{rating|4|5}} (NES){{cite web |last1=Baize |first1=Anthony |title=Dig Dug - Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9416&tab=review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115110228/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9416&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 November 2014 |website=AllGame |access-date=15 November 2014}}

| EuroG = 8/10 (Arcade){{cite web |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=Dig Dug |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/dig-dug-review |website=Eurogamer |date=October 25, 2007 |access-date=25 October 2007}}
6/10 (XBLA){{cite web |last1=Reed |first1=Kristan |title=Dig Dug |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_digdug_x360 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=19 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819002432/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_digdug_x360 |archive-date=19 August 2019 |date=16 October 2006}}

| GSpot = 6/10 (XBLA){{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Ryan |title=Dig Dug Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dig-dug-review/1900-6159707/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=25 June 2007}}

| IGN = 7/10 (XBLA)

| rev1 = Computer Games

| rev1Score = A (Atari 5200){{cite magazine |last1=Dimetrosky |first1=Ray |title=Reviews: Video Game Buyer's Guide |magazine=Computer Games |date=April 1984 |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=60–2 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Games_Vol_3_No_1_1984-04_Carnegie_Publications_US/page/n59/mode/2up}}

| rev2 = Electronic Fun

| rev2Score = {{rating|3.5|5}} (Atari 8-bit)

}}

Dig Dug was a critical and commercial success upon release, and was praised for its gameplay and layered strategy. In Japan, it was the second-highest-grossing arcade game of 1982, just below Namco's Pole Position.{{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}} In North America, Atari sold 22,228 Dig Dug arcade cabinets by the end of 1982, earning {{US$|46300000|long=no|1982|round=-6}} in cabinet sales.{{cite web|title=Atari Production Numbers Memo |url=http://www.atarigames.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47:atari-production-numbers-memo&catid=5:atari-inter-office-memos&Itemid=5 |publisher=Atari Games |access-date=18 March 2012 |date=4 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120084806/http://www.atarigames.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47%3Aatari-production-numbers-memo&catid=5%3Aatari-inter-office-memos&Itemid=5 |archive-date=20 January 2013}} Around July 1983, it was one of the six top-grossing games.{{cite news |last1=Fujihara |first1=Mary |title=Inter Office Memo: Coin-Op Product Sales |url=http://www.atarigames.com/pdffiles/salesestimates1.pdf |publisher=Atari, Inc. |date=July 25, 1983 |access-date=14 October 2021 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020200920/http://www.atarigames.com/pdffiles/salesestimates1.pdf |url-status=dead}} It was popular during the golden age of arcade video games. The 2004 Famicom Mini release had 58,572 copies sold,{{cite web |title=Game Search (based on Famitsu data) |url=https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/game-search |website=Game Data Library |access-date=16 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424035430/https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/game-search |archive-date=24 April 2019 |date=1 March 2020}} and the Xbox Live Arcade version had 222,240 copies by 2011.{{cite news |last1=Langley |first1=Ryan |title=Xbox Live Arcade by the numbers - the 2011 year in review |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/39713/Xbox_Live_Arcde_by_the_numbers__the_2011_year_in_review.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124020803/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/39713/Xbox_Live_Arcde_by_the_numbers__the_2011_year_in_review.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 24, 2012 |access-date=29 April 2020 |work=Gamasutra |publisher=UBM Technology Group |date=January 20, 2012}}

American publication Blip Magazine favorably compared it to games such as Pac-Man for its simple controls and fun gameplay.{{cite news |title=Dig Dug |url=https://archive.org/details/blip-magazine-01/page/n19?q=Dig+Dug |access-date=18 August 2019 |agency=Blip Magazine |issue=1 |date=February 1983 |pages=18–19}} AllGame called it "an arcade and NES classic", praising its characters, gameplay, and unique premise, and for its easy home platform conversion. In 1998, Japanese magazine Gamest called it one of the greatest arcade games of all time for its addictiveness and for breaking the traditional "dot-eater" gameplay used in games such as Pac-Man and Rally-X.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/vol.-112-2#page/n90/mode/1up |title=GAMEST MOOK Vol.112 ザ・ベストゲーム2 アーケードビデオゲーム26年の歴史 |date=17 January 1998 |publisher=Gamest |isbn=9784881994290 |page=89 |edition=Vol. 5, Issue 4 |chapter=「ザ・ベストゲーム」}} In a 2007 retrospective, Eurogamer praised its "perfect" gameplay and strategy, saying it is one of "the most memorable and legendary videogame releases of the past 30 years". The Killer List of Videogames rated it the sixth-most-popular coin-op game of all time.{{cite web|url=http://www.klov.com/TOP100.html |title=The Top Coin-Operated Videogames of All Time |author=McLemore, Greg |publisher=Killer List of Videogames |access-date=2007-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070804010546/http://www.klov.com/TOP100.html |archive-date=August 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}}

Electronic Fun with Computers & Games praised the Atari 8-bit version for retaining the arcade's entertaining gameplay and for its simple controls.{{cite news |last1=Ardai |first1=Charles |title=Dig Dug |url=https://archive.org/stream/Electronic_Fun_with_Computer_Games_Vol_02_No_05_1984-03_Fun_Games_Publishing_US/Electronic_Fun_with_Computer__Games_Vol_02_No_05_1984-03_Fun__Games_Publishing_US#page/n55/mode/2up |access-date=18 August 2019 |agency=Electronic Fun with Computers & Games |issue=5 |publisher=Fun & Games Publishing |date=March 1984 |page=54}}

Some home versions were criticized for quality and lack of exclusive content. Readers of Softline magazine ranked Dig Dug the tenth-worst Apple II and fourth-worst Atari 8-bit video game of 1983 for its subpar quality and failure of consumer expectations.{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/softline_3.4.pdf | title=The Best and the Rest | work=St.Game | date=Mar–Apr 1984 | access-date=28 July 2014 | page=49}}

Reviewing the Xbox Live Arcade digital re-release, IGN liked its presentation, leaderboards, and addictive gameplay, recommending it for old and new fans alike. A similar response was echoed by GameSpot for its colorful artwork and faithful arcade gameplay, and by Eurogamer for addictiveness and longevity. Eurogamer, IGN, and GameSpot all criticized its lack of online multiplayer and for achievements being too easy to unlock, with Eurogamer in particular criticizing the game's controls for sometimes being unresponsive.

Legacy

Dig Dug prompted a fad of "digging games".{{cite book |last1=Hawken |first1=Kieren |title=The A-Z of Arcade Games: Volume 1 |date=3 December 2019 |publisher=Andrews UK Limited |isbn=978-1-78982-193-2 |page=63 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-lzBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT63}} Clones include the arcade game Zig Zag (1982),{{cite web |last1=Kalata |first1=Kurt |title=Hardcore Gaming 101: Dig Dug |url=http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/digdug/digdug.htm |website=GameSpy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207055637/http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/digdug/digdug.htm |archive-date=2008-12-07 |access-date=26 April 2021}} the Atari 8-bit computer game Anteater (1982) by Romox, Merlin's Pixie Pete, Victory's Cave Kooks (1983) for the Commodore 64, and Saguaro's Pumpman (1984) for the TRS-80 Color Computer.{{cite web |last1=Hague |first1=James |title=The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers |url=https://dadgum.com/giantlist/ |website=Dadgum |date=April 13, 2021 |access-date=20 April 2021}} The most successful is Universal Entertainment's arcade game Mr. Do! (1982), released about six months later and surpassing clone status. Sega's Borderline (1981), when it was ported to the Atari 2600 as Thunderground in 1983,{{cite magazine|last=Marley|first=Scott |date=December 2016 |title=SG-1000 |magazine=Retro Gamer |issue=163|page=58}} was mistaken as a "semi-clone" of Dig Dug and Mr. Do!{{cite magazine |last1=Meade |first1=E.C. |last2=Clark |first2=Jim |title=Thunderground (Sega for the 2600) |magazine=Videogaming Illustrated |date=December 1983 |page=14 |url=https://archive.org/details/Videogaming_and_Computer_Gaming_Illustrated_1983-12_Ion_International_US/page/n13/mode/1up}} Boulder Dash (1984) also drew comparisons to Dig Dug.{{cite magazine |title=1985 Software Buyer's Guide |magazine=Computer Games |date=February 1985 |volume=3 |issue=5 |publisher=Carnegie Publications |location=United States |page=11 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Games_Vol_3_No_5_1985-02_Carnegie_Publications_US/page/n13/mode/2up}}{{cite book |last1=Fox |first1=Matt |title=The Video Games Guide: 1,000+ Arcade, Console and Computer Games, 1962-2012, 2d ed. |date=3 January 2013 |publisher=McFarland & Company |isbn=978-0-7864-7257-4 |page=81 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xzMYYrsDaAEC&pg=PA81}} Numerous mobile games are clones or variations of Dig Dug, such as Diggerman, Dig Deep, Digby Forever, Dig Out, Puzzle to the Center of Earth, Mine Blitz, I Dig It, Doug Dug, Minesweeper, Dig a Way, and Dig Dog.{{cite web |last1=Sheridan |first1=Trevor |title=Can You Dig It In These Arcade Digging Games? |url=https://appadvice.com/game/collection/can-you-dig-it |website=NowGaming |access-date=26 April 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522020230/http://appadvice.com/game/collection/can-you-dig-it |archive-date=2018-05-22}}

=Sequels=

Dig Dug prompted a long series of sequels for several platforms. The first of these, Dig Dug II, was released in Japan in 1985 to less success,{{cite book |title=All About Namco |date=1985 |publisher=Radio News Company |page=81}} opting for an overhead perspective; instead of digging through earth, Dig Dug drills along fault lines to sink pieces of an island into the ocean.{{cite web |title=Dig Dug II - Videogame by Namco |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7582 |website=Killer List of Video Games |access-date=28 April 2019}} A second sequel, Dig Dug Arrangement, was released for arcades in 1996 as part of the Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2 arcade collection,{{cite web |title=Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2 |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8825 |website=Killer List of Video Games |access-date=28 April 2019}} with new enemies, music, power-ups, boss fights, and two-player co-operative play.

A 3D remake of the original, Dig Dug Deeper, was published by Infogrames in 2001 for Windows.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/15/dig-dug-deeper|title=Dig Dug Deeper|author=|date=14 December 2001|access-date=3 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404073940/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/15/dig-dug-deeper|archive-date=4 April 2018}} A Nintendo DS sequel, Dig Dug: Digging Strike, was released in 2005, combining elements from the first two games and adding a narrative link to the Mr. Driller series.{{cite book |title=Nours Vol. 50 |date=10 September 2005 |publisher=Namco |page=20 |url=https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/corporate/bnours/nours/vol50/pdf/50_12_20.pdf |access-date=28 April 2019}} A massively-multiplayer online game, Dig Dug Island, was released in 2008, and was an online version of Dig Dug II;{{cite web |title=「ディグダグアイランド」，クオカードやホランが当たるキャンペーン |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/044/G004447/20080630030/ |website=4Gamer |access-date=30 June 2008}} servers lasted for less than a year, discontinued on April 21, 2009.{{cite web |title=ベルクス，「ディグダグアイランド」と「タンくる」のサービス終了を決定 |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/044/G004447/20090122033/ |website=4Gamer |access-date=22 January 2009}}

=Related media=

Two Dig Dug-themed slot machines were produced by Japanese company Oizumi in 2003, both with small LCD monitors for animated characters.{{cite web |title=ディグダグZ |url=http://www.p-world.co.jp/machine/database/2509 |website=P-World |access-date=28 April 2019}}{{cite web |title=ディグダグ |url=http://www.p-world.co.jp/machine/database/2350 |website=P-World |access-date=28 April 2019}} A webcomic adaptation was produced in 2012 by ShiftyLook, a subsidiary of Bandai Namco focused on reviving older Namco franchises, with nearly 200 issues by several different artists, concluding in 2014 following the closure of ShiftyLook. Dig Dug is a main character in the ShiftyLook webseries Mappy: The Beat. A remix of the Dig Dug soundtrack appears in the PlayStation 2 game Technic Beat.

The character Dig Dug was renamed to Taizo Hori, a play on the Japanese phrase "horitai zo", meaning "I want to dig". He became a prominent character in Namco's own Mr. Driller series, where he is revealed to be the father of Susumu Hori and being married to Baraduke protagonist Masuyo Tobi, who would divorce for unknown reasons. Taizo appears as a playable character in Namco Super Wars for the WonderSwan Color and Namco × Capcom for the PlayStation 2, only in Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.bn-ent.net/cs/list/namco_x_capcom/character/|script-title=ja:ナムコクロスカプコン - キャラクター|language=ja|publisher=Namco × Capcom Website|access-date=13 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012205347/http://www.bn-ent.net/cs/list/namco_x_capcom/character/|archive-date=12 October 2018|url-status=live}} Taizo appears in the now-defunct web browser game Namco High as the principal of the high school, simply known as "President Dig Dug". Pookas appear in several Namco games, including Sky Kid (1985), R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998), Pac-Man World (1999), Pro Baseball: Famista DS 2011 (2011), and in Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (2014). Dig Dug characters briefly appear in the film Wreck-It Ralph (2012).{{cite web |last1=Kalata |first1=Kurt |title=Dig Dug |url=https://hg101.kontek.net/digdug/digdug.htm |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321235126/https://hg101.kontek.net/digdug/digdug2.htm |archive-date=21 March 2019 |date=3 December 2008}}