Thief is a 1981 arcade video game which is extremely similar to Pac-Man. Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Thief_(arcade_game). ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates computer or video games. ... Video game publishers are companies that publish video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1981 (MCMLXXXI)is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search This is a listing of computer and video games genres with brief descriptions and examples from each genre. ... Jump to: navigation, search This is a listing of computer and video games genres with brief descriptions and examples from each genre. ... Jump to: navigation, search This is a listing of computer and video games genres with brief descriptions and examples from each genre. ... For other uses, see Joystick (disambiguation). ... Suppose the smiley face in the top left corner is an RGB bitmap image. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1981 (MCMLXXXI)is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Centipede by Atari is a typical example of a 1980s era arcade game. ... Pac-Man is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution by Midway Games in 1979. ...

The player operates a car being pursued by several blue police cars. The screen is littered with dollar bills which the player collects by running over them. There are also several (usually four, but sometimes five) golden dollar signs placed throughout the mazes (the equivalent of Pac-Man's energizers); hitting one of these causes the police cars to temporarily turn red. While the police cars are red the player can crash into them and score extra points (100 for the first, 500 for the second, 1000 for the third, and 2000 for the fourth); if contact with the police cars occurs at any other time the player loses a life. When all the dollar bills on one screen have been collected, the player advances to the next level. There are several different board layouts, and the golden dollar signs are in different places on each stage. A dollar bill can be of various kinds of currency: Federal Reserve dollar bill (modern U.S. currency) United States note (historic U.S. currency) Silver certificate (historic U.S. currency) Gold certificate (historic U.S. currency) Canada dollar (Canadian currency) Australian dollar (Australian currency) New Zealand dollar (New Zealand... Evolution of the modern dollar sign. ...

Thief was notable for using tape-recorded sounds (on an actual tape player in the machine) masquarading as police radio communications as part of its sound effects (in addition to game-generated sound effects), which ran in a continuous loop while the game was played. Contrary to rumor, this is not actual police chatter, and this becomes more and more apparent as the chatter goes on, as the voices ham it up more and more, as well as directly taunt the player.

Similar tape loops were used in some of Pacific Novelty's other games: NATO Defense and Shark Attack.

Game Transcript

Dispatcher (in an official-sounding monotone): Any units in the vicinity of Hollywood and Vine, 504 in progress. Car 13, see the man at Dohimi and Sunset. Use caution. Pursuit of robbery suspect in progress. Suspect proceeding on Sunset. Chase in progress. All units, use caution. Officer in trouble, man down, Code 3. Car 2 and 6, join the pursuit. Suspect may be armed and dangerous. Disabled vehicle on Fountain, need officer assistance to handle traffic. 504 in progress. All units proceed to Elm and Main. Code 3.

Car 2: Dispatch, this is Car 2 in hot pursuit of sedan. Request assistance.

Dispatcher: What is your location, Car 2?

Car 2: Now proceeding south on Castle at Spring.

Dispatcher: All units in the vicinity of Castle and Spring, be on the lookout for pursuit. Robbery in progress at Lincoln Savings on Wilkshire. Code 3. Car 5 and Car 9 assist in chase. (suddenly cheerful, breaking character) Pretty good playing! (back to monotone)

Car 2 (excited): This is Car 2! The Thief has doubled back and he's coming at us!

Dispatcher: Car 6, look out! Officer in trouble at Castle and Panway! All units assist! (normal monotone) Calling all cars, calling all cars, jewel robbery in progress at Dohimi and Braxton. The Thief has struck again. 504 in progress, use caution.

Car 8: Dispatch, this is Car 8. I've spotted the Thief headed north on Washington. I'm in pursuit.

Dispatcher: Be careful, Car 8. The Thief is extremely dangerous. All units in vicinity of Washington and Lincoln, be on the lookout for the Thief.

Car 1: Dispatch, this is Car 1. I see the suspect turning into Delavan Drive. Request backup. (his voice breaks on the word "backup")

Dispatcher: 10-4, Car 1. All cars, assist Car 1. Code 3.

Car 1: Dispatch, dispatch! I can't believe it! The Thief has turned around and he's trying to run us off the road! He's coming at you, Car 8!

Dispatcher: We have a multiple car accident on Delavan. Officer down. Code 3. You must stop the Thief!

Car 1: We've lost him!

Dispatcher: All cars be on the lookout for the Thief driving a late-model sedan. The Thief is an experienced driver, so be alert out there! (mockingly, breaking character) Can you play any better than that? (back to monotone) Robbery in progress. It's the coin shop on Peco. The Thief is at it again. This time he must be stopped! All units in Peco vicinity be on the lookout for the Thief. He's extremely dangerous so wait for backup. Has anyone made contact?

Car 1: Car 1, negative.

Car 4: Car 4, negative.

Car 7: Dispatch, dispatch, this is Car 7. I've got 'im! He's heading east on Olympic! He must be doing over 90!

Dispatcher: Car 7, Car 7, wait for backup. Keep your distance. We can't risk losing anyone else. Any units near Olympic and Fairfax please check in.

Car 22: Car 22, roger.

Car 51: Car 51, roger.

Car 69 (extremely fey voice): Car 69, roger!

Dispatcher: Car 22, 51, and 69, assist Car 7. Use extreme caution. The Thief is a slippery sucker.

Car 22: Car 22, I see 'im.

Car 51 (hesitantly): Car 51, I... got 'im, too.

Car 69 (still extremely fey): Roger, sixty-ni-en!

Dispatcher: Okay, try to close him off the side streets. It's too risky for pedestrians.

Car 69 (excitedly): Roger. Dispatch! Dispatch! The Thief has jackknifed on Olympic, and now he's coming at us!

Dispatcher (exasperated): Get out of the way! (sarcastic, breaking character) Oh, nice playing, Dog Drool.

Car 69: There's no place to go!

Dispatcher: Look out, 69! Look out! All units, he's done it to us again. Cars 69 and 51 are down. Officers need assistance. Crowd and traffic control needed on Olympic accident site. Car 2, proceed to that location.

Car 2: 10-4, dispatch.

Dispatcher: Okay, men, he's still out there. Let's be on the lookout. We can't let him out of the city. Car 6, there's a disturbance at 521 Olive. See the man.

Car 6: Roger, dispatch.

Dispatcher: Pedestrian vehicle accident at Sunset and Wilcox. Any unit in the vicinity please advise.

Car 10 (lazy southern accent): Dispatch, this is Car 10, we're on our way.

Dispatcher: Calling all cars, calling all cars. I think we've got him now. The Thief has just stolen the safe from the police station. We'll surround. All units back to base.

Car 6 (?): Roger, dispatch.

Dispatcher: All units, Thief is only two blocks from station. Close in. Everyone stay in tight. Don't let the Thief get around you.

Car 11 (obvious Cary Grant imitation): Dispatch, this is Car 11. The Thief is making a break down Adams. Somebody close him off. Jump to: navigation, search Cary Grant Cary Grant (January 18, 1904 - November 29, 1986), was an English-American motion picture actor. ...

Dispatcher: Car 21 has him blocked. The Thief has now turned up Grey. Somebody head him off! (mockingly, breaking character) Why don't you try marbles?

Car 40 (arrogantly): Car 40, we got 'im, and we're goin' in!

Dispatcher (urgently): Car 40, wait for backup!

Car 40 (arrogantly): Dispatch, we don't copy!

Dispatcher: Car 40! Car 40! Come in! The Thief has turned around! All units, look out. He's driving against traffic. Look out, Car 40! Look out! The Thief has sideswiped Car 40. All units converge on the scene. We've got to regroup. Men, this is a serious problem. One Thief is eluding the entire force! We must stop this Thief!

The Thief: Why not take up a collection and send him to Cleveland?

Dispatcher: Who said that who said that? Oh, no! He's done it again! Calling all cars, calling all cars. The Thief has just knocked over the bank on 42nd Avenue. All units proceed to the scene. Be careful.

Car 5: Dispatch, this is Car 5. I'm in contact with the Thief. He's heading west on Franklin.

Dispatcher: Good work, 5. All units in the vicinity, pick up the pursuit. He won't get away this time.

Car 10: Car 10 to dispatch, the Thief has just turned up LaBrea.

Dispatcher: Roger 10. Attention all units, proceed to LaBrea area. Use extreme caution. We'll try to corner the Thief. Everyone break off and cover the side streets. <mockingly, breaking character> El.... Stinko!

Car 10: A-roger, dispatch.

Car 26 (obvious Jimmy Durante impression): Dispatch, this is Car 26. The Thief has made a u-turn. Now he's coming at us! We need back-up! James Francis Jimmy Durante (February 10, 1893 - January 29, 1980) was an American entertainer, one of the most popular and recognized personalities of the 1920s-1960s. ...

Dispatcher: Look out, 26, he's going to hit you broadside! All units, the Thief has escaped again. Calling all cars, robbery in progress on bank at Elm and Main. Code 3.

External links

• Thief entry on the Killer List of Videogames