Centipede
センチピード
Description
The player controls a gun that can only move in the bottom fifth of the screen. The object is to shoot a centipede that works its way down to the player area through a field of mushrooms. Other attacking enemies are fleas, spiders, and scorpions.
Centipede was produced by Atari in 1980.
Atari released 139 machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1972. Atari was based in United States.
Other machines made by Atari during the time period Centipede was produced include: Atari Soccer, Hercules, Superman, Atari Baseball, Asteroids, Monte Carlo, Missile Command, Red Baron, Asteroids Deluxe, and Battlezone
Specs
| Name | Centipede |
|---|---|
| Developer | Atari (United States) |
| Year | 1980 |
| Type | Videogame |
| KLOV/MOG # | 7299 |
| Class | Wide Release |
| Genre | Shooter |
| Development Team |
|
| Monitor |
|
| Conversion Class | unique |
| Game Specific | Centipede Pinout |
| # Simultaneous Players | 1 |
| # Maximum Players | 2 |
| Game Play | Alternating |
| Control Panel Layout | Single Player |
| Controls |
|
| Sound | Unamplified Mono (requires one-channel amp) |
| Cabinet Styles |
|
| Dipswitch Settings | |
| MAME Tech Data |
Centipede (Japan, revision 3) (dipswitch) Centipede (revision 1) (dipswitch) Centipede (revision 2) (dipswitch) |
Video Clips
Additional videos available on YouTube only:
See recent video links added to other records.
Game Play
The object of the game is to destroy as many enemies as possible. During every level, you must destroy all the segments of a centipede. Once the centipede enters the bottom area of the screen where the gun moves, the player is in danger of colliding with the centipede. The centipede will break into pieces as its segments are shot. Once it makes it to the bottom of the screen, it heads back up until it reaches the top of the player zone. It then repeats the process. Once the centipede has hit the bottom of the screen, new segments are created that move within the player zone. When a centipede segment hits a mushroom or another segment, it reverses direction.
Every level, the centipede configuration is different. On the first level, all segments are attached. On the next level, one segment is independent. On the next, two are independent, and so on until all segments are independent.
The spider is another enemy that threatens the player. It bounces around within the player zone, but when it hits a mushroom, the mushroom disappears.
The flea will drop from the top of the screen and fall all of the way to the bottom when there are less than a certain number of mushrooms in the player zone. It leaves mushrooms behind.
The scorpion streaks across the screen periodically, changing any mushrooms it hits into poisonous mushrooms. When a centipede segment hits one of these, the centipede plummets to the bottom of the screen and then heads back up.
Extra lives are awarded every 12000 points by default.
Centipede KLOV/IAM 5 Point User Score: 4.09 (40 votes)
Fun Factor: 4.05
Overall Like |
4.28 |
|---|---|
| Fun (Social) | 3.82 |
| Fun (Solo) | 4.18 |
| Collector Desire | 3.92 |
Technical Rating: 4.13
| Gameplay | 4.40 |
|---|---|
| Graphics | 4.00 |
| Originality | 4.35 |
| Sound/Music | 3.79 |
Personal Impressions and Technical Impressions each account for half of the total score.
Within the Personal Impressions category, Like
carries a little more weight than the other factors.
Log in to rate this game!
Cheats, Tricks, Bugs, and Easter Eggs
On levels that have complete Centipedes, fleas will never appear.PTo trap the centipede, allow the centipede to come near the bottom of the screen. When it is close to the left or right side, shoot the centipede once, causing a mushroom to appear and the centipede to come back under and near the mushroom. Now, shoot and make another mushroom. Repeat this process until you have a row of mushrooms almost vertically lined up near the bottom of the screen. Then, by either dying or just allowing the centipede to work his way back up, the centipede will be trapped between the edge of the screen and the mushrooms allowing you to shoot everything else.
Hacks
Galipede Uses Centipede graphics in a Galaga game.
Pacipede Changes the graphics to make them look more like those from PacMan.
Images
Trivia
This was the first arcade game to be designed by a woman Dona Bailey.PThe side artwork features a grasshopper, while it is not present during gameplay, it can be seen in test mode.
Cabinet Information
The cabinet has detailed, colorful graphics of a large, vicious centipede. The artwork covers the entirety of both sides of the game. Cabaret mini cabinets released with 19 inch monitors. Cocktail cabinets had 13 inch monitors. A very limited number of cocktail games used 19 inch monitors in a Tempest style cocktail cabinet. A minor note is the color of the outline around the side art design which can be in yellow, purple or blue.
Conversion
It is possible, with some light work, to convert this to IMillipedeI.
Problems/Repairs
There were two different versions of side art made for this game, one with a yellow glow around the centipede and one with a pink glow. Compare the cabinet image with the side art image to see the difference.
Miscellaneous
Arcade Map - Play This Game
Our members have reported that Centipede is playable at 21 locations:
| Name | Location | State | Country | Details | Check-ins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 Branson | 4240 Gretna Road, Suite 4240, Branson | Missouri | United States | Arcade | 0 |
| Arcade Monsters - San Diego | 704 J St., San Diego | California | United States | Arcade | 2 |
| Arkadeklubben | Herstedvang 7A, Kld, Albertslund | Denmark | Arcade | 0 | |
| Bartari | 101 Adams Ave, Scranton | Pennsylvania | United States | Bar | 0 |
| Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company | 10382 Willard Way, Fairfax | Virginia | United States | Restaurant | 0 |
| DinoCade | 800 NE Big Bend Trail, Suite B, Glen Rose | Texas | United States | Arcade | 0 |
| Emporium (Fulton Market) | 839 W Fulton Market, Chicago | Illinois | United States | Arcade | 0 |
| HI-SCORE | Anna-Zammert-Str. 28, Hannover | Germany | Museum - Arcade/Game/Coin-Op | 0 | |
| Level One Bar + Arcade | 130 Hutchinson Ave, Columbus | Ohio | United States | Unknown | 1 |
| Pinball Alley | 14511 115 AVE NW, edmonton | AB | Canada | Arcade | 1 |
| Quarter Bandits Arcade | 4910 Main St., Suite 118, Spring Hill | Tennessee | United States | Arcade | 2 |
| Replay Museum | 119 Tarpon Ave, Tarpon Springs | Florida | United States | Arcade | 3 |
| Retro Nerds e.V. | Bahnhofstraße 10, Ahaus | NRW | Germany | Museum - Arcade/Game/Coin-Op | 1 |
| Rocket Fizz | 1441 Pearl St, Boulder | Colorado | United States | Shop/Store | 2 |
| Soonercade | 3247 W Main St., Norman | Oklahoma | United States | Arcade | 2 |
| TAG's Maniac's Mansion | 710 8th St, Wichita Falls | Texas | United States | Arcade | 0 |
| The Pinball Capital | 3200 W Le Moyne St, Stone Park | Illinois | United States | Arcade | 1 |
| The Very Best Arcade (The Very Best Weiner Shop) | 252 E High St, Pottstown | Pennsylvania | United States | Arcade | 1 |
| Upstate Pinball & Arcade Museum | 109A West Trade St, Simpsonville | South Carolina | United States | Arcade | 2 |
| Willie's Wondercade | 75 Mary Street, St Peters | NSW | Australia | Bar + Arcade | 1 |
| Wondercade Cincy | 3143 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati | Ohio | United States | Unknown | 1 |
VAPS Arcade/Coin-Op Centipede Census
There are 16,875 members of the Video Arcade Preservation Society / Vintage Arcade Preservation Society, 10,171 whom participate in our arcade census project of games owned, wanted, or for sale. Census data currently includes 173,414 machines (7,279 unique titles).
There are 262 known instances of this machine owned by Centipede collectors who are active members. Of these, 261 of them are original dedicated machines. 1 of them are conversions in which game circuit boards (and possibly cabinet graphics) have been placed in (and on) another game cabinet. Active members hold 35 circuit boards which a collector could put into a generic case if desired. Additionally, former members held 1,244 original machines, 16 conversions, and 99 game boards.
For Sale - There are 7 active VAPS members with a Centipede machines for sale. There are 4 active VAPS members with a Centipede circuit boards for sale. Former members previously had 50 machines and 8 boards for sale.
Wanted - There are 10 active VAPS members currently looking for Centipede. Former members previously were looking for 26 games.
This game ranks a 100 on a scale out of 100 (100 = most often seen, 1=least common) in popularity based on census ownership records.
This game ranks a 62 on a scale out of 100 (100 = most often seen, 1=least common) in popularity based on census want list records.
Rarity and Popularity independently are not necessarily indications of value. [More Information]
Flyers
1981
/ 2 Pages
1981
/ 2 Pages
Technical
The game uses a 6502 microprocessor and one Atari Pokey sound chip.
Fixes
The rollers and bearings in the track ball wear out and after a while the movement of the guncannon becomes difficult. Replacement parts for trackballs are available from a number of parts retailers.
Legacy or Series
- Centipede
- Millipede
Manuals
Foto-Finder® (Books)
- Arcade Treasures Kurtz (ISBN 088740619X) Page: 109; Color photo
- The Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games Kurtz (ISBN 0764319256) Page: 105; Color photo Price guide: No
- Arcade Fever Sellers (ISBN 0762409371) Page: 64; Color photo
- Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games Kurtz (ISBN 0764319256) Page: 105; Color photo
- Encyclopedia of Arcade Video Games Kurtz (ISBN 0764319256) Page: 135; Color photo
Additional References (logged in members often see more)
eBay Listings
Click to search eBay for Centipede Videogame machines and related items.
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TOP WATCHED LISTINGS FOR: Centipede
Atari Centipede Arcade Classics Ultra Series Arcade Machine, 40 Games
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Auction Results
Logged in members can see all related auctions.
Auctions Recap
| Year | Count | Median $ | Average $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 9 | 460.00 | 531.67 |
| 2016 | 7 | 345.00 | 353.21 |
| 2017 | 11 | 632.50 | 679.55 |
| 2018 | 12 | 590.00 | 766.42 |
| All Years | 39 | 575.00 | 613.58 |
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MLA Citation Style
"Centipede - Videogame by Atari." Museum of the Game, www.arcade-museum.com/Videogame/centipede. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.
Chicago Bibliographic
International Arcade Museum. "Centipede - Videogame by Atari." Accessed September 11, 2026. https://www.arcade-museum.com/Videogame/centipede.
Chicago Footnote/Endnote
1. "Centipede - Videogame by Atari," International Arcade Museum, accessed September 11, 2026, https://www.arcade-museum.com/Videogame/centipede.
APA Bibliographic
International Arcade Museum. (n.d.). Centipede - videogame by Atari. Retrieved September 11, 2026 from https://www.arcade-museum.com/Videogame/centipede
