Originally developed by Konami of Japan, Sega/Gremlin released Frogger in the U.S. in 1981. The game differed from the space shooting and maze chase games popular at the time. The objective of Frogger is to transport frogs across a traffic-filled highway and then a turtle and gator-infested river. When players return all their frogs back to their lily pads at the top of the screen, they continue on to the next level. The cars become faster and the enemies more plentiful as the game progresses. Players earn bonus points by accompanying female frogs home and catching flies.
Frogger's unique theme and addicting gameplay made it an arcade favorite. It was ported to almost every home system of the day: Atari VCS, Atari 5200, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, and Intellivision. Later it was ported to SuperNES, Genesis, Game Boy, and the Mac and PC as well. Hasbro has created updated versions for Nintendo 64, Sony PlayStation, and Sega Dreamcast.
Frogger's popularity extended beyond the arcades; it became a part of popular culture. In 1998, a Frogger-themed episode of the hit television show Seinfeld proved that Frogger was still a game beloved by the masses. Unlike the ill-fated frogs of the game, Frogger is destined to have a long life as an arcade classic.