Stunt Cycle

Stunt Cycle
Developer(s)	Atari, Inc.
Platform(s)	Arcade
Release	North America 1976 (1976)
Genre(s)	Simulation

Stunt Cycle is a 1 player (or 2 players alternating) arcade game by Atari Inc., originally released in 1976. 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. The right side handle grip is twisted for acceleration. 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. Accelerating too quickly will result in a wheelie, eventual backwards flip over and crash. Jumps have to be landed on the landing ramp, or else the player will crash.

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 plays four games: A version of the original Stunt Cycle as well as three Stunt Cycle variants (Motocross, Enduro, and DragRace) based on the AY-3-8760 chip by General Instrument. Handlebar grips on the unit allow players to whip, wheelie, and jump up to thirty-two onscreen buses. The unit provides digital on-screen scoring and color graphics.
  • The Sears Tele-Games version called Motocross Sports Center IV 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).
• In 1980, Atari programmer Bob Polaro began to develop a Stunt Cycle port for the Atari 2600 using full color graphics. By the time it was completed, Atari had decided to turn it into a television tie-in game for the Dukes of Hazzard franchise instead. This game never progressed beyond the prototype stage and was not officially released, however Bob Polaro independently released 50 copies of Stunt Cycle at the 2003 PhillyClassic show.