Gaplus (Arcade)

Gaplus
Also known as: Galaga 3 Developer: Namco Publishers: Namco (JP), Bally Midway (US) Platform: Arcade (Namco Phozon) Released in JP: April 1984 Released in US: October 1984 Released in EU: 1984 This game has a hidden developer message. This game has hidden developer credits. This game has unused graphics. This game has debugging material. This game has regional differences. This game has revisional differences.

The sequel to Galaga, Gaplus is also known as Galaga 3 thanks to a licensed modification kit distributed by Namco because they thought a lack of name recognition, not the US video game crash of '83, was the reason it wasn't doing well in arcades.

Unused Graphic

Unused	Used

Within the font is this unused graphic for the Japanese version's blood-type high score header. The game uses the individual letters instead.

Copyright Message

After entering the service mode via dipswitch settings, hold Player 1 Start and Player 1 Fire and change the sound test to 19.

High-Score Codes

If you set a high score, you are prompted to enter a name, age, and blood type. There are two codes which can be entered here in the Japanese version only, and then only if the score is #1.

Secret Message

Name	Age	Blood
JNIWAR	28	OO

Makes a hidden message appear on-screen that will not disappear until the game is power-cycled.

You have beaten Gaplus. In commemoration, we send you this message. Send a letter to Kojima at Namco, and he'll give something to the first 10 respondents. Sorry, but turn off the power now.

(Translation: AWJ (MAMEWorld))

Extra Lives

Name	Age	Blood
JHIMYJ	00	OO

Starts each subsequent game with eight ships until the machine is turned off. It should be noted that the maximum amount of starting lives via dipswitch settings is 5.

Revisional Differences

Gaplus	Galaga 3

Gaplus didn't do as well as Namco had hoped financially. In an attempt to boost interest, Namco licensed out modification kits to change the game to Galaga 3 (an odd naming choice given that there was no "Galaga 2" at the time, and seems to suggest that Namco was trying to pass off Galaxian as Galaga's sequel despite the opposite actually being true).

The only thing this kit changes is the title screen, replacing the Gaplus logo with a shoddy Galaga 3 one.