Components: Olympians, backgrounds, scores
Skills required / taught: Speed with controler, accuracy and timing
Object: Run faster, jump higher, throw farther than your opponent


About the Game
The arcade version was released in 1983 as an arcade game. The simple gameplay, based on quick, repeating, button presses set the basics for sequels and similar games in the genre for the next decades. The NES version was especially well-received, and sold well.


How it Works
In the original arcade game, the player uses two "run" buttons (or a trackball in some early units) and one "action" button to control an athlete competing in following six events:

* 100 Meter Dash
* Long jump
* Javelin throw
* 110 Meter Hurdles
* Hammer throw
* High jump

In each event, there is a qualifying time or level that the player must achieve to advance to the next event; failing to qualify (in one heat for running events or three tries in the other events) ends the game.


Thought Bubble
What games (outside of computer games) do you enjoy to play? What hobbies do you enjoy? Anything and everything could be an iPhone game. Controlling a remote control hellicopter, fishing, baking, sowing, painting, etc...

Track and Field used one button for each leg of the character. You could use the iPhone interface to be anything, a steering wheel, drawing in circles could make the prop spin on an airplane, etc...