last updated May 23, 2009 11:34 PM

What can I tell you about Centipede that you don't already know?  I fell in love with this game early after its arrival in the arcade.   I thought it was a little different than other shoot 'em ups.  For one thing, the screen was full of things to shoot at!  There wasn't anything invinsible.  I liked getting a new man every 12,000 points, and especially the sound it made.  The action was so frantic, and I would be so caught up in the 'battle', that it would seem like that sound was going off every few seconds. 

Centipede took my attention away from Battlezone, and that was no easy task!  I used to always try to avoid clearing enough mushrooms to let the fleas come down, until I saw a guy playing who was blowing my scores away.   He would purposely clear away the lower shrooms so that the fleas would come in droves!  The upper part of the screen would FILL with mushrooms and the centipedes would charge to the bottom so fast!  The games pace was totally awesome and the action was absolute mayhem!   I never played conservatively again!  This is the only way to play Centipede, as far as I'm concerned!

Centipede would get my heart pumping and my nerves on edge within SECONDS of dropping in my quarter!  There was no other game like that!  Especially not Battlezone, my other favourite at the time.   There's been a lot said about how this game was the first designed by a woman.   Well, it sure is interesting to know that now, but then, I didn't have a clue that that was the case.  I just loved the game!

   I've got a marquee from ebay*

I've also got a flyer    

               here are the ROMs ²

switch settings

PCB pinouts and Centipede to Millipede conversion info

Acquired: September 1998

This is almost exactly my machine. Note the 13" monitor! Mine actually has the control panel overlays, although they are slightly worn. As I have now recently received my Millipede board, I can't wait to make my adapter so I can play either game on this little baby. Yep, this one's definitely my pride and joy! Even my wife likes it now! Woo hoo!

Still needed for this machine: