Stunt Cycle

Stunt Cycle is a 1 player (or 2 players alternating) arcade game by Atari Inc., originally released in 1976.^[1] It attempted to cash in on the Evel Knievel craze of the mid 1970s by allowing the player to perform their own simulated jumping stunts.

Technology

The game is housed in a custom cabinet that includes a simulated motorcycle steering column mounted on the control panel. One handle provides acceleration, and the steering column can be pulled back to produce "wheelies". The monitor is a 19-inch black and white CRT monitor with a black and white overlay that adds giant tubes to the play field used to traverse from one split level to another. Sounds include a motorcycle roar, crash sounds, and crowd cheers.

Gameplay

The player attempts to gather enough speed to jump an increasing number of buses with his motorcycle.

Legacy

The Atari console version of Stunt Cycle

• Two dedicated console versions were released by Atari in 1977. Atari's own branded Stunt Cycle version that played several Stunt Cycle variants (based on the AY-3-8760 chip by General Instrument), and the Sears Tele-Games version called Motocross that included the same Stunt Cycle variants and 16 Pong games played with detachable Pong controllers (based on Atari C010765 chip for the pong games and the GI chip AY-3-8760) .^[2]
• A port for the Atari 2600 was in the works in 1980 by Atari programmer Bob Polaro. Using full color graphics, it was decided upon completion to turn it into a Dukes of Hazzard game instead. Dukes of Hazzard was not released and only exists in prototype form. Bob Polaro released 50 copies of Stunt Cycle at the 2003 PhillyClassic show.^[3]

References

1. ↑ "Stunt Cycle Killer List of Video Games Entry". Retrieved 2007-07-14. 
2. ↑ Stulir, Mike. "Atari Stunt Cycle". Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-07-14. 
3. ↑ Reichert, Matt. "Stunt Cycle AtariProtos.Com entry". Retrieved 2007-07-14.