Paperboy
1984 · Action · Arcade
Overview
Paperboy (1984) is Atari's bicycle delivery game: steer with real handlebars, throw papers to subscribers and dodge the hazards of a hostile suburb.
Deep Dive
Paperboy rides a bike down a diagonal suburban street, throwing newspapers into subscribers' mailboxes while dodging cars, dogs, break-dancers and lawnmowers. Missed deliveries cost subscribers, while non-subscribers' houses are fair game for broken windows. Each day ends with a bonus obstacle course. The cabinet's handlebar controller made it one of the most physical arcade games of its era, designed by John Salwitz, Dave Ralston and colleagues at Atari Games.
Developer Story
Paperboy was designed by John Salwitz, Dave Ralston, Wilfredo Aguilar, and Carl Bedard at Atari Games in 1984. Players rode a bicycle delivering newspapers to subscribers while avoiding hazards and vandalising non-subscribers' property. The handlebar controller was a genuine innovation — a physical bicycle handlebar that players steered and pedalled. The game's suburban American setting and dark humour (the non-subscriber deaths were comedic) made it memorable.
Did You Know?
- Paperboy featured a genuine bicycle handlebar as its controller — one of the most elaborate physical controllers in arcade history.
- Non-subscriber houses could be attacked and vandalised — windows broken, flowerpots smashed — without penalty.
- Subscribers who missed their paper cancelled their subscription, reducing the points available in future runs.
- The training course at the end of each route was an obstacle course that offered bonus points and was often more enjoyable than the main delivery.
Sources & further reading
- Paperboy (video game) — Wikipedia
