Escape from Death Row

Escape from Death Row

Game Information Platforms: Arcade Players: 1 First appearance: "New Kid on the Block"

Escape from Death Row is a video arcade game. Laura Powers played the game at the Kwik-E-Mart while Bart watched and gave advice.

Description

In the game, the player's character is a prisoner escaping from Death Row. The player must maneuver the prisoner past club- and gun-wielding guards before facing a conservative judge who appears to be a "boss" villain. The player has the options of pleading insanity and showing remorse to escape from the judge. If these don't work, the Change of Venue button can be used as a last resort. The results of using the Change of Venue button, however, are totally unpredictable. The outcome of a change of venue depends on which state the player ends up in, and the destination state is completely random.

History

Laura played the game while Bart watched. Laura successfully got past several guards before facing the conservative judge. Bart told Laura to plead insanity and she did so, but it didn't work. Bart then told Laura to press the Change of Venue button. Laura did, but unfortunately her prisoner character ended up in Texas, where he was strapped into an electric chair. The executioner threw the switch and electrocuted Laura's character. After the prisoner was dead, the executioner celebrated by firing two pistols into the air several times while music played. The celebration and music continued as the "GAME OVER" graphic appeared on the screen, and Laura said she would have made it if she had hit the Remorse button one more time.

Behind the Laughter

• The music playing while the executioner celebrates is "The Yellow Rose of Texas", a traditional Texas folk song.
• The prisoner being executed in Texas is a reference to the stereotype of Texas being more liable to use capital punishment.

Appearances

• Episode – "New Kid on the Block"
• Episode – "The PTA Disbands"
• Book – The Bart Book (mentioned)