Quest for the Space Knife (Stranger Things 2 - Ep. 5-Dig Dug)

[FireHawk]

The new season of the Netflix series Stranger Things was released this weekend. Titled: Stranger Things 2.

 

In Episode 5, titled Dig Dug, about half-way through, there is an Arcade and 2 of the characters - Max and Lucas go into the back room. There is an arcade cabinet with black-light looking artwork on the side.

It is titled "Quest for the Space Knife".

I don't see any kind of company logo on the artwork or cabinet.

 

I grew up in the late 70's and early 80's.

I don't remember this arcade game AT ALL.

 

I'm thinking this is bogus.

However, everything else in the background of the arcade and back room is legitimate.

So why make this up ?

 

I did a Google Search and a Google Image Search for "Quest for the Space Knife", but didn't find anything.

I also looked at the Stranger Things 2 - Complete Easter Egg and Reference Guide on Den of Geek.

I also searched for it on the Arcade Flyers website.

 

I'm not finding anything.

 

Does anyone know if this existed, even as a prototype - or have any further information on this ?

 

Thank you.

[FireHawk]

Here is the artwork...

 

 

 

[zoggynog]

Just finished and jumped to the internet for answers myself. Signed up here to respond. Thanks for posting the side art. As far as I can tell, it's a prop piece made for the series. Would be slick if someone could get a hold of the graphic. Maybe for a MAME cab or something.

 

In the commentary they said they built the arcade set in an old laundry mat and most the games were playable. Wonder where the set was built/filmed?

[mazzy]

A crew member has a band called Space Knife, I think he probably designed the prop. It's shot in Atlanta.

 

http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/07/stranger_things_alabamas_conne.html

[RJ]

(*post deleted*)

Edited October 31, 2017 by RJ

[FireHawk]

Thank you zoggynog and mazzy for the replies !

I really appreciate it !

 

You were both correct. This was a prop piece. This was never an actual arcade game from the 70's / 80's.

 

And it has a connection to a crew member's band Space Knife.

 

The article lead me to a YouTube video of a song video, by the band Space Knife, used in episode 2.

 

On Nov. 2nd, the Space Knife YouTube channel uploaded an animation video for the "Quest for the Space Knife" game:

 

Quote:

"This is an animation I did for Stranger Things Season 2. We were going to try to have someone playing the game in the background but there wasn't time to get the arcade cabinet ready. The "Out of Order" cabinet can be seen in Episode 5."

 

Here is the link to the video on YouTube, with the animation of what the game was going to look like:

 

 

 

Thank you again for helping clear up this mystery for me !

[IMBerzerk]

Anyone try to reach out to the original artwork designer Charlie DeButy? Might be worth a shot to see if he would be interested in having it reproduced so we can use it.

 

It's a really cool retro design. Rather than "pirate" the design from a video screen shot, I'd just assume ask him for a picture.

[Master Phruby]

One thing that bothered me is the MadMax initials on Dig Dug. Dig Dug only allows for three characters not six.