BurgerTime
Arcade game where chef Peter Pepper builds burgers while avoiding food enemies.
BurgerTime (released as Hamburger in Japan) is an arcade video game by Data East, first released in 1982. The game was designed in-house but its development was outsourced to another company. It is notable for its innovative gameplay in which the player, as chef Peter Pepper, walks across oversized burger ingredients to drop them onto buns, while avoiding anthropomorphic enemy foods.
- Developer
- Data East (design in-house, development outsourced)
- Original Release
- 1982
- Original Title (Japan)
- Hamburger
- International Title
- BurgerTime
- Genre
- Arcade maze/platform game
- Protagonist
- Chef Peter Pepper
- Enemies
- Mr. Hot Dog, Mr. Pickle, Mr. Egg
Quick Facts
- Title
- BurgerTime
- Publisher
- WW · Data East · NA · Bally Midway
- Platforms
- title=Arcade · Intellivision, Atari 2600, TI-99/4A, Apple II, Aquarius, IBM PC, ColecoVision, Coleco Adam, Famicom/NES, MSX, Famicom Disk System
- Genre
- Platform
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Arcade System
- DECO Cassette System
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
BurgerTime was originally released domestically in Japan for the DECO Cassette System as Hamburger, but the title was changed to BurgerTime outside Japan. In the United States, Data East USA licensed the game for distribution by Bally Midway in North America, while Data East also released it in the U.S. through the DECO Cassette System. The first home port was for the Intellivision console in 1983, followed by versions for the Atari 2600, Apple II, Aquarius, IBM PC, TI-99/4A, ColecoVision, Famicom, MSX, Nintendo Entertainment System, and Famicom Disk System.
Reader's Guide
BurgerTime is significant as a classic arcade title that introduced a unique food-stacking mechanic and memorable enemy characters. Its gameplay—building hamburgers by dropping ingredients while avoiding Mr. Hot Dog, Mr. Pickle, and Mr. Egg—influenced later maze and platform games. The game received positive reception, including a Certificate of Merit at the 5th annual Arkie Awards. Its legacy includes multiple sequels (Super BurgerTime, BurgerTime Deluxe, Diner), re-releases on modern platforms (Arcade Archives, Nintendo Switch Online), and appearances in popular culture such as the films Wreck-It Ralph and Pixels. After Data East's bankruptcy in 2003, G-Mode acquired the intellectual property, and the franchise continues with new titles like BurgerTime Party! (2019) and a promotional browser game for Chili's restaurant chain in 2024.
Did You Know?
- The game was designed in-house by Data East but development was outsourced to another company.
- In Japan, Game Machine listed Hamburger as the 11th highest-grossing arcade video game of 1982.
- The first home port was for the Intellivision console in 1983.
- After Data East went bankrupt in 2003, G-Mode bought the intellectual property including BurgerTime.
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