Dig Dug: The History of an Arcade Classic

In the golden age of arcade games, few titles have stood the test of time as well as Dig Dug. Released by Namco in 1982, Dig Dug quickly became a beloved classic, known for its unique gameplay, colorful graphics, and cut characters. In the US, Dig Dug was distributed by Atari, and sold over 22,000 arcade units by the end of 1982.

I still remember seeing the side of the Dig Dug arcade cabinet in our small town’s only bar when we’d walk in (yes, kids went to bars in small towns in the 80’s…it was one of two restaurants in the town…and yes, they allowed smoking indoors…it’s all true).

Development and Release

Dig Dug was created by Namco, a Japanese company that already had a few games under its belt with hits like Pac-Man and Galaga (just tiny little games that a few people have heard of). Dig Dug was designed by Masahisa Ikegami and a team of developers who wanted to create a game that combined elements of action and strategy, but allowed for more freedom of movement than Pac-Man.

Ikegami loved the idea of the player being able to make their own maze instead of relying on a pre-defined maze. So he made the world openly explorable with the player about to move in any direction.

Ikegami also didn’t want to repeat Pac-Man by having the player escape from enemies. Instead, he wanted the player to be on the offensive, going after enemies and trying to rid the world, or rather his garden, of them. These factors helped set the game apart from Pac-Man and make the game a welcome addition alongside the classic Power Pellet eating semi-circle.

Unique Weaponry

One thing that immediately stands out about Dig Dug is the unique way you defeat enemies. Instead of creating a game where you could shoot rockets or lasers at enemies (something that had been done in many popular games up until that point *cough* Galaga *cough*), Ikegami drew on his own experience pumping up a bike tire and being cautious not to over-inflate it. That gave him the idea of creating an inflating weapon that would pop enemies.

This unique weapon would not only require the player to get close to enemies but it would also take some extra time to vanquish them, adding a level of complexity and difficulty to the game.

It would also create a great visual, watching enemies inflate like balloons before bursting on the screen.

Dig Dug Character Development

Players control a character named Taizo Hori (Dig Dug), who must dig tunnels underground to defeat monsters called Pookas and Fygars. Taizo’s appearance was inspired by the popular cartoon series, The Smurfs, which is why he is small and blue. Trying not to get sued for copyright infringement, the exterior art for the arcade units depicted Taizo as a more human-like and non-blue.

Having two types of enemies instead of one further differentiated Dig Dug from Pac-Man.

The Pookas were created as little reddish-orange characters who wore goggles. Pookas can navigate through the dirt that hasn’t been excavated yet and in doing so they only appear as just their goggles floating in the dirt. The name “Pooka” came from “Puka Puka” which is a Japanese onomatopoeia for inflating or pumping.

Fygars are green dragons that breath fire left and right. These dragons award more points if you attack them from the side rather than from above or below, since they are more dangerous horizontally. They can also navigate through unexcavated dirt, reverting to a set of angry eyes as they move. Because of their fire, Fygars are a bigger threat to the player.

Hardware

Namco utilized the existing Namco Galaga arcade system for the game. Utilizing existing arcade systems and hardware helped reduce costs for new games, and the Namco Galaga arcade board was also used on Galaga (of course), 1981’s Basconian and post-Dig Dug arcade game, Xevious.

Sound Design

The sound design of Dig Dug was also unique, in that the walking sound of the main character is a little melody instead of a stepping sound effect. It helped give the game a more cartoony and light feeling. This was something that sound designer Yuriko Keino added after executives at Namco had asked for some kind of sound to be played when the player walked. Unable to replicate the sound of walking, Keino instead created a melody that will get stuck in your head after only a short time playing the game.

Marketing

Namco and Atari went all out with advertising and merchandising of Dig Dug including a…very 1982 commercial.

Atari brought Dig Dug to the U.S., which was common at the time. Notice in the commercial that the closing says “Brought to you by the makers of…” and then they don’t list Pac-Man. That’s because Pac-Man was Namco’s and Atari never had the arcade rights to it.

A Global Hit

Dig Dug was an instant hit across the globe, selling $520,000,000¹ worth of arcade units globally in 1982 alone. As a result, an entire digging game genre followed the success of Dig Dug. These digging clones included Mr. Do!, Boulder Dash, and countless others.

The game’s popularity led to numerous home console and computer ports, including versions for the Atari 2600, Intellivision, and Commodore 64.

Differentiating Gameplay

The gameplay mechanics of Dig Dug set it apart from other arcade games of the time. Each level takes place on a single screen filled with dirt that Taizo must dig through to navigate. The player earns points by defeating enemies via pumping them up until they explode, or by dropping rocks on them. If a player manages to smash more than one enemy with a single falling rock, they will receive bonus points based on how many enemies are crushed by the rock. Vegetables also appear in the tunnels for short periods of time and can be collected for more points.

The gameplay is a mix of strategic digging and quick reflexes, requiring players to plan their moves carefully to capture all of the enemies and not let the last enemy, who will sometimes flee, get away.

The game technically has 256 levels, but it doesn’t have an official ending or credits sequence. Instead, after level 255, Taizo is spawned in the middle of the screen with a Pooka directly over the top of him, which kills him instantly.

Dig Dug’s Legacy

The character of Taizo Hori became a recognizable figure in the gaming world. He made appearances in various Namco titles, including Mr. Driller, where he is revealed to be the father of the protagonist. Dig Dug also inspired sequels and spin-offs, such as Dig Dug II, which introduced new gameplay mechanics and settings.

Dig Dug has maintained its popularity over the decades, with re-releases on modern platforms and inclusion in various Namco game collections. The game has been featured in compilations like Namco Museum and is available on digital platforms like Nintendo’s Virtual Console and the PlayStation Network.

The influence of Dig Dug can be seen in many modern games that incorporate digging or strategic elements. Games like Spelunky and SteamWorld Dig owe a debt to Dig Dug for pioneering gameplay mechanics that involve navigating and manipulating environments to defeat enemies and solve puzzles.