Stunt Cycle proto vs. standalone console vs. arcade

[louisg]

I've been intrigued by this game for a while, and that Arcade USA episode on it rekindled my interest. I was wondering how close the 2600 proto comes to the gameplay and feel of the standalone console. Or, the arcade version for that matter. I don't have access to a Stunt Cycle console, and it's a bit hard to tell from watching videos. For example: The 2600 one feels a bit strange, with turning the paddle feeling more like shifting through several gears than directly controlling the accelerator (kind of like if 2600 Pole Position had more gears).

 

 

[ComputerSpaceFan]

LOL snap! I was just thinking the same thing!

 

So there was an old thread of someone making a closer to arcade version but the ROM was removed?

 

And they mentioned Nukey Shay did a hack called Fonz but that might not be the same type of game.

[iesposta]

I made a mock-up in "batari Basic".

 

Titlescreen:

 

brightens into:

showing the sprites:

 

Then the bike moves.

Button pops a wheelie.

 

Never turned into a game.

[BONEMAN]

I hate to change the subject but what's Arcade USA?

[louisg]

I hate to change the subject but what's Arcade USA?

 

It's this Willy dude!

 

Hmmm it sounds like if I want to experience Stunt Cycle, I better get a dedicated console

[Rob Mitchell]

I played the arcade version back in 1976 and the gameplay and physics were awesome .. I spent about $10 trying to master it.

 

When I got the home console at discount in 1979 ($20) , I was disappointed in the weird physics .. cycle hangs low, high, low for the first few busses. Later busses show more realistic jumps.

 

What surprises me is that the engineering is Atari but the stunt cycle chip is made by General Instruments in 1977. So the GI engineers saw the arcade game, talked to Atari and made the chip and sold Ataris game to them. They must have been working together. And the Sears version which has the pong games must have used a GI Pong chip to make the unit electrically compatible. The Atari version of SC has a volume (low / high) switch instead of the PONG / SC switch. Also has a plastic insert in the side where the Sears Pong controllers plug in.

 

Inside the Atari is the same circuit board which has connections to add the four Pong controller ports ... my plan is to install a port there to allow the Atari SC to function as a throttle controller for both the Atari 2600 proto and the Vectrex version of SC which is due to be released soon. Also I plan to use it as a throttle controller for my arcade Asteroids Cocktail which has the Lunar Lander arcade ROM built in. That will allow for analog thrust instead of digital button thrust!

 

In Radio Electronics magazine, January 1979, theres an article about building the SC with input from the GI engineers. All parts including the circuit and the AY-3-8760 SC chip were available for purchase for $61.75 from an outfit in Mesa, AZ which sadly does not exist anymore. Of course the spring loaded pot was not available then. I imagine that by Jan 1979, GI was unloading these chips ..

 

I havent looked at the 2600 proto of SC in years .. I would love to see / play the arcade version again!!

Edited July 28, 2018 by Rob Mitchell

[+DZ-Jay]

Here's a version someone made for the Intellivision. I never had the opportunity to play it on the arcade, so I do not know how close it is; but it was interesting and playable.

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/246366-entry-2015-stunt-cycle/

[knievel1]

The ROM on this for 2600 sucks -- would it be that hard to replicate the old arcade/home version?

It was pretty fun for what it was.