Jack the Giantkiller

“Jack the Giantkiller” is a classic arcade game developed and released by Cinematronics in 1982. It is a platformer game where players control the titular character, Jack, as he navigates through levels filled with various obstacles and enemies, including giants. The gameplay involves jumping and using a sword to defeat enemies while collecting treasures and rescuing princesses.

The game was developed by Tim Skelly, who was known for his work on several other arcade classics. “Jack the Giantkiller” was inspired by the English fairy tale of the same name, where a young boy named Jack battles giants to save a kingdom. Cinematronics aimed to capitalize on the popularity of platformer games during the early 1980s arcade boom.

“Jack the Giantkiller” received positive reviews upon its release, praised for its challenging gameplay and colorful graphics. Players enjoyed the combination of platforming and action elements, as well as the whimsical fairy tale theme. The game’s difficulty level, while challenging, was seen as fair and engaging.

“Jack the Giantkiller” was released as an arcade cabinet and later ported to various home computer systems of the time, such as the Atari 8-bit and Commodore 64. While there were no direct sequels, the game’s concept and style influenced other platformer games of the era, contributing to the evolution of the genre.

Due to its age and relative rarity, original “Jack the Giantkiller” arcade cabinets are sought after by collectors. It’s estimated that only a limited number of cabinets were produced, adding to their value among arcade enthusiasts. Depending on condition and other factors, a working cabinet can fetch a significant price on the collector’s market.

The hardware of “Jack the Giantkiller” arcade cabinets typically includes:

Monitor: CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor
Processor: Zilog Z80 CPU
Sound: Custom sound hardware
Controls: Joystick and buttons
For repairs, enthusiasts may need to source replacement parts such as:

CRT monitor: Compatible replacement tubes or refurbished monitors
Z80 CPU: Replacement chips or compatible alternatives
Sound hardware: Replacement components or compatible sound boards
Controls: Replacement joysticks, buttons, and wiring harnesses