1980s
Paperboy
1984 · Action · Arcade
Overview
Paperboy is a classic 1980s action game developed by John Salwitz et al. for Arcade.
Deep Dive
Paperboy is a classic 1980s action game developed by John Salwitz et al. for Arcade.
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.
