19 Facts About Hang-On

Hang-On is an arcade racing game released by Sega in 1985 and later ported to the Master System.

Yu Suzuki began development of Hang-On after deciding to design a motorcycle racing game as a way to use a torsion bar in an arcade game.

Hang-On was very popular at launch and sold well for Sega, becoming the highest-grossing arcade video game of 1985 in the United States and then the highest-grossing arcade game of 1986 in both Japan and the United States.

Hang-On has been recognized as a well-remembered and influential arcade game.

Hang-On was the second game to be developed by Yu Suzuki, the first being 1984's Champion Boxing.

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Development of Hang-On began with a project brought to him by a colleague who asked him to implement a torsion bar into an arcade game design—although the bar proved too difficult to implement in the final game design and springs were used instead.

Hang-On had a desire to make his game better than Pole Position, a Namco game which had beaten out Sega's Turbo in popularity.

Hang-On is considered well-regarded for its music, which was composed by Hiroshi Kawaguchi.

Hang-On came to Suzuki's attention after Suzuki heard he played in a band.

Hang-On has said this was because he did not own a sequencer, and that this method was faster for him.

Previously, Sega Enterprises USA had focused on selling refurbished arcade cabinets, and before the release of Hang-On, Petit was concerned that his division would be shut down due to competition when he was summoned to Japan to meet with Sega president Hayao Nakayama in 1985.

Hang-On went on to become the highest-grossing arcade video game of 1985 in the United States, and then the highest-grossing arcade game of 1986 in both Japan and the United States.

Hang-On's called it the most realistic arcade game to be released, citing the need to tilt the bike and the placement of the throttle and brake controls being where they are on a real motorcycle.

Hang-On's said it "combines the superb graphics of a Pole Position style race with the physical act of riding a bike".

An SG-1000 exclusive sequel, Hang-On II, was released in 1985, though it was essentially a port of the original game modified to work within the limitations of the console hardware.

Hang-On itself was ported to the Master System as the system's pack-in game along with Astro Warrior or Safari Hunt depending on the package purchased.

Hang-On started the trend of "taikan" motion simulator games in arcades during the mid-to-late 1980s, with "taikan" meaning "body sensation" in Japanese.

Sega of America's Tom Petit credited Hang-On with helping the North American arcade market recover during the late 1980s with its "high level simulation" technology.

Hang-On said "there had been games with short tunes and beeps, but I think Hang On was the first game to have a solid composition with a bass and drums".