''Stunt Cycle'' is an

arcade video game An arcade video game takes player input from its controls, processes it through electrical or computerized components, and displays output to an electronic monitor or similar display. Most arcade video games are coin-operated, housed in an arc ...

by Atari, Inc., originally released in 1976. In the style of the

Evel Knievel Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel (; October 17, 1938 – November 30, 2007) was an American stunt performer and entertainer. Over the course of his career, he attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps. Knievel was inducted into the Motor ...

craze of the mid-1970s, the game allows the player to perform simulated motorcycle jumping stunts. The arcade cabinet is modeled like a real motorcycle handlebar, and the player twists the right side for acceleration. The monitor is a 19-inch black and white

cathode-ray tube A cathode-ray tube (CRT) is a vacuum tube containing one or more electron guns, which emit electron beams that are manipulated to display images on a Phosphorescence, phosphorescent screen. The images may represent electrical waveforms (osci ...

with a black and white overlay. It accommodates 1 player or 2 players alternating.

Gameplay

The screen is divided into three horizontal platforms connected by tubes on the monitor overlay. The player can only accelerate and brake, with no steering. The motorcycle automatically drives across each platform in sequence: left to right, right to left, then left to right again. The bottom platform has a line of parked buses between two ramps, and the goal is to repeatedly jump the buses and land safely. Upon starting, the player must jump over 8 buses. If successful, another bus is added and at 23 buses, one additional credit is added. Otherwise, crashing thrice or jumping over 27 buses ends game. Accelerating too quickly results in a wheelie and, if speed is not decreased, flipping over backward and crashing. Speed carries over from one platform to the next. On the third platform, the cycle must reach the landing ramp to avoid a crash.

Home versions

Two

dedicated console A dedicated console is a video game console that is limited to one or more built-in video game or games, and is not equipped for additional games that are Digital distribution in video games, distributed via ROM cartridges, Compact disc, discs, d ...

versions were released by Atari in 1977. Atari's own branded ''Stunt Cycle'' version plays four games: a version of the original and three variants (''Motocross'', ''Enduro'', and ''DragRace'') based on the AY-3-8760 chip by

General Instrument General Instrument (GI) was an American electronics manufacturer based in Horsham, Pennsylvania, specializing in semiconductors and cable television equipment. They formed in New York City in 1923 as an electronics manufacturer. During the 1950s, ...

. Handlebar grips on the unit allow players to whip, wheelie, and jump up to 32 onscreen buses. The unit provides digital on-screen scoring and color graphics. The Sears Tele-Games version called ''Motocross Sports Center IV'' includes 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 A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as H ...

for the

Atari 2600 The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocesso ...

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 ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy TV series that was aired on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985. The show aired for 147 episodes spanning seven seasons. It was consistently among the top-rated television series ...

'' franchise instead. This game never progressed beyond the prototype stage and was not officially released. Bob Polaro independently released 50 copies of ''Stunt Cycle'' in 2003.

References

{{Dedicated consoles Arcade video games 1976 video games Atari arcade games Cancelled Atari 2600 games Discrete video arcade games Dedicated consoles Video games developed in the United States