Paperboy

n/a

Mega Drive
Master System
Game Gear

Paperboy

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear

Publisher:

Tengen

U.S. Gold (EU)

Sega (US)

Developer:

Motivetime

Tiertex

Distributor:

Domark (EU)

Ecofilmes (PT)

Tec Toy (BR)

Samsung (KR)

Licensor:

Tengen

Atari Games

Original system(s): Arcade boards

Developer(s) of original games: Atari Games

Genre: Action^[1]^[2]^[3]

Number of players:

1-2

1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1992-06-26^[1]	¥6,800 (7,004)6,800e^[4]	T-48043
US	1992-02^[5]	$54.9554.95^[5]	301029-0150
EU	1992-04^[6]		301029-0170
BX	199x
PT	1992		MDJ-301029-0170
UK	1992-04^[6]^[7]	£34.9934.99^[8]^[9]	301029-0170
AU	199x
KR	199x		GM4053JT
US	1990		5121
EU	1990-12^[10]		25008-50
PT	1991		MSJ25008
UK	1990-12^[10]	£29.9929.99^[10]^[11]	25008-50
AU	1990		25008-50
BR	1991-08^[12]
US	1992-07^[13]		301029-0161
EU	1992-09-24^[14]^[15]		T-48028-50
PT	199x
UK	1992-09-24^[14]^[15]^[16]	£27.9927.99^[14]^[15]	T-48028-50

Non-Sega versions
Acorn Electron Amiga Amstrad CPC Apple II Apple IIGS Arcade Atari ST BBC Micro Commodore 16 Commodore 64 Commodore Plus/4 Game Boy Game Boy Color IBM PC Lynx Nintendo Entertainment System ZX Spectrum

Paperboy (ペーパーボーイ) is an arcade game developed by Atari Games which was ported to variety of systems since its initial release in 1984, including the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, and the Sega Game Gear. The Mega Drive and Game Gear ports were published by Tengen, while the Master System version was handled by U.S. Gold.

The Master System version of Paperboy was the first game for the console to be developed in the United Kingdom.

Gameplay

In Paperboy, players control a paperboy riding a bicycle while delivering papers on suburban streets (presented with an oblique projection). The object of the game is to deliver papers for an entire week by throwing papers horizontally to the left side of the street, attempting to land them on the doorstops (or letterboxes) of subscribers. Subscribers live in brightly colored houses, while non-subscribers live in dark houses. If the player misses a house or breaks a window by mistake, that house is lost as a subscriber. If there are no subscribers left, the game ends. To gain subscribers, the opposite must be done: papers have to be thrown at the windows of non-subscribers.

The bicycle is steered with and . The bike continuously moves down the street and cannot backtrack, but it can speed up and slow down with and respectively. Papers are thrown with or in the Master System and Game Gear versions and , , or in the Mega Drive version.

The game begins with a choice of difficulty levels: Easy Street, Middle Road, and Hard Way. The more difficult routes offer more points for their successful completion, but they are filled with more obstacles, which include fences, storm drains, pedestrians, animals, construction workers, lawnmowers, motor vehicles, rolling tires, and the Grim Reaper. Each route lasts for seven days, with the street for each day containing 20 houses. Neighborhoods become more dangerous as the player progresses from Monday to Sunday. The player loses a life for hitting an obstacle, and the game ends if the player runs out of lives or subscribers. Papers can be thrown at enemies to stun them.

The paperboy starts with 10 papers (with refills being placed around the level). Bonus points are awarded for hitting special targets on the street, such as bushes, tombstones, or burglars attempting to get into a house. The player also receives more points for delivering the paper into a mailbox rather than onto a porch. A perfect delivery (all subscribers get their papers, and none of their houses are damaged) results in all the points being worth double for that day, and an extra subscriber is added.

At the end of a street, the player rides through a short obstacle course with targets to hit (with papers) and jump over for extra points. Crashing on the course ends the round, but does not cost the player a life.

The Mega Drive version has a two-player mode where two people can take turns playing (with either one or two control pads).

Items

	Paper Bundle
	Restocks the player's papers to 10, which is also the maximum number that can be held at a time.

History

Legacy

Paperboy was followed by Paperboy 2.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Game Concept, Design and Graphics: Mark Stephen Pierce
Software Design and Programming: David S. Akers
Music and Sound Effects: Brad Fuller
Audio Driver: Lisa Ching
Special Thanks to: Bob Flanagan
Art and Graphic Design: Domark Software Ltd.

Source:

EU manual^[17]

Magazine articles

Main article: Paperboy/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Paperboy/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

40

^[18]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

68

^[19]

Consoles + (FR)

62

^[20]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

80

^[21]

Cool Gamer (RU)

50

^[22]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

63

^[23]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

58

^[24]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

80

^[5]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

60

^[25]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

76

^[26]

Joypad (FR)

NTSC-U

60

^[27]

Joystick (FR)

NTSC-U

59

^[28]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

52

^[29]

Mega Force (FR)

65

^[30]

Mega Play (US)

NTSC-U

48

^[31]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

70

^[32]

Mean Machines (UK)

72

^[33]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

72

^[34]

Player One (FR)

55

^[35]

Play Time (DE)

49

^[36]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

58

^[9]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

80

^[37]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

80

^[38]

Sega Force (UK)

79

^[39]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

69

^[40]

Top Secret (PL)

100

^[41]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

60

^[42]

Video Games (DE)

46

^[43]

	65
Based on 28 reviews

Paperboy

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, US (cardboard)
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, US (cardboard; alt)
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, EU (Colour manual)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU (Black & white manual)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, PT
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, BX^†
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, KR
Cover

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

68

^[44]

Buzz! Computers (UK)

87

^[45]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

94

^[46]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

88

^[47]

The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)

PAL

89

^[48]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

81

^[49]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

88

^[50]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

81

^[51]

Game Mania (UK)

89

^[52]

Games-X (UK)

60

^[53]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

87

^[54]

Joystick (FR)

PAL

75

^[55]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

70

^[56]

Mean Machines (UK)

85

^[57]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

89

^[58]

Player One (FR)

86

^[59]

Power Play (DE)

52

^[60]

Raze (UK)

PAL

76

^[10]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

84

^[61]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

75

^[62]

Sega Pro (UK)

83

^[63]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

81

^[64]

Zero (UK)

PAL

83

^[65]

	80
Based on 23 reviews

Paperboy

Master System, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, PT
Cover

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (Hotline sticker)
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR (cardboard)
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Computer & Video Games (UK)

83

^[66]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

79

^[67]

Game Zone (UK)

PAL

68

^[68]

Joypad (FR)

80

^[69]

Joystick (FR)

PAL

58

^[70]

Mega Byte (UK)

PAL

35

^[71]

Mega Force (FR)

55

^[72]

Player One (FR)

45

^[73]

Play Time (DE)

69

^[74]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

79

^[75]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

79

^[76]

Sega Force (SE)

68

^[77]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

76

^[78]

Video Games (DE)

41

^[79]

	65
Based on 14 reviews

Paperboy

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, PT

Cart Manual

Technical information

Main article: Paperboy/Technical information.

References

Paperboy
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Magazine articles \| Video coverage \| Reception \| Promotional material \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs Prototypes: 1991-10-28

Paperboy games for Sega systems
	Paperboy (1990) \| Paperboy 2 (unreleased)
	Paperboy (1992) \| Paperboy 2 (1993)
	Paperboy (1992) \| Paperboy 2 (1993)

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200702232146.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware_l.html-1] 1.0 ^1.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)

[:File:Paperboy_MD_KR_Box.jpg_p-2] File:Paperboy MD KR Box.jpg

[:File:Paperboy_GG_EU_Box_Back.jpg_p-3] File:Paperboy GG EU Box Back.jpg

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-07.pdf_p20-4] Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1992" (JP; 1992-06-08), page 20

[:File:GamePro_US_032.pdf_p48-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 GamePro, "March 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 48

[:File:SegaPower_UK_28.pdf_p10-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Sega Power, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-06), page 10

[7] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-04-20), page 19

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_17.pdf_p102-8] Mean Machines, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-27), page 102

[:File:SegaPower_UK_30.pdf_p36-9] 9.0 ^9.1 Sega Power, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-02), page 36

[:File:Raze_UK_03.pdf_p47-10] 10.0 ^10.1 ^10.2 ^10.3 Raze, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-11-29), page 47

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_01.pdf_p56-11] Mean Machines, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-xx), page 56

[:File:Supergame_BR_02.pdf_p26-12] Supergame, "Agosto 1991" (BR; 1991-08-xx), page 26

[:File:GamePro_US_036.pdf_p90-13] GamePro, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 90

[:File:CTW_UK_406.pdf_p6-14] 14.0 ^14.1 ^14.2 Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-09-28), page 6

[:File:GameZone_UK_11.pdf_p65-15] 15.0 ^15.1 ^15.2 Game Zone, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-19), page 65

[:File:SegaPro_UK_12.pdf_p9-16] Sega Pro, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 9

[:File:Paperboy_MD_EU_Manual.pdf_p13-17] File:Paperboy MD EU Manual.pdf, page 13

[18] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 230

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-07.pdf_p34-19] Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1992" (JP; 1992-06-08), page 34

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_007.pdf_p68-20] Consoles +, "Mars 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 68

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p132-21] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 132

[22] Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 152

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p77-23] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 77

[:File:Famitsu_JP_0185.pdf_p40-24] Famitsu, "1992-07-03" (JP; 1992-06-19), page 40

[25] Hippon Super, "July 1992" (JP; 1992-06-04), page 38

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_010.pdf_p54-26] Hobby Consolas, "Julio 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 54

[:File:Joypad_FR_008.pdf_p88-27] Joypad, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-04-1x), page 88

[:File:Joystick_FR_027.pdf_p138-28] Joystick, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 138

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p93-29] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 93

[:File:MegaForce_FR_06.pdf_p68-30] Mega Force, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-05-05), page 68

[:File:MegaPlay_US_0303.pdf_p65-31] Mega Play, "June 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 65

[:File:MegaTech_UK_02.pdf_p26-32] MegaTech, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-20), page 26

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_17.pdf_p100-33] Mean Machines, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-27), page 100

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p140-34] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_021.pdf_p60-35] Player One, "Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-06-10), page 60

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1992-07.pdf_p91-36] Play Time, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-03), page 91

[:File:SegaPro_UK_04.pdf_p48-37] Sega Pro, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-16), page 48

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p66-38] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66

[:File:SegaForce_UK_05.pdf_p54-39] Sega Force, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-16), page 54

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p86-40] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86

[41] Top Secret, "Luty 1995" (PL; 1995-xx-xx), page 57

[42] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 133

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-06.pdf_p50-43] Video Games, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-29), page 50

[:File:ASM_DE_1990-11.pdf_p133-44] Aktueller Software Markt, "November 1990" (DE; 1990-10-26), page 133

[buzz1991-04-26-45] Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)

[:File:CGtC_UK_03.pdf_p28-46] Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume III" (UK; 1990-08-xx), page 28

[:File:CGtC_UK_04.pdf_p103-47] Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 103

[:File:TheCompleteGuideToSega_UK.pdf_p59-48] The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 59

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p143-49] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 143

[:File:CVG_UK_110.pdf_p41-50] Computer & Video Games, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-15), page 41

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p148-51] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 148

[:File:GameMania_UK_05.pdf_p81-52] Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81

[:File:GamesX_UK_00.pdf_p17-53] Games-X, "Sneak Preview March 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 17

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_001.pdf_p82-54] Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1991" (ES; 1991-xx-xx), page 82

[:File:Joystick_FR_015.pdf_p113-55] Joystick, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 113

[:File:Micromania2_ES_040.pdf_p27-56] Micromanía (segunda época), "Septiembre 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 27

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_01.pdf_p54-57] Mean Machines, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-xx), page 54

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p135-58] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 135

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_008.pdf_p33-59] Player One, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 33

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1991-02.pdf_p158-60] Power Play, "2/91" (DE; 1991-01-18), page 158

[:File:SegaPower_UK_14.pdf_p30-61] Sega Power, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 30

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p58-62] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 58

[:File:SegaPro_UK_05.pdf_p20-63] Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 20

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p71-64] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 71

[:File:Zero_UK_16.pdf_p87-65] Zero, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 87

[:File:Go_UK_13.pdf_p22-66] Computer & Video Games, "November 1992 (Go! Issue 13)" (UK; 1992-10-15), page 22

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p168-67] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 168

[:File:GameZone_UK_11.pdf_p64-68] Game Zone, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-19), page 64

[:File:Joypad_FR_013.pdf_p146-69] Joypad, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-10-xx), page 146

[:File:Joystick_FR_031.pdf_p157-70] Joystick, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 157

[71] Mega Byte, "February 6, 1993" (UK; 1993-02-06), page 1

[:File:MegaForce_FR_10.pdf_p73-72] Mega Force, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 73

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_025.pdf_p130-73] Player One, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-11-10), page 130

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1992-12.pdf_p84-74] Play Time, "12/92" (DE; 1992-11-04), page 84

[:File:SegaPro_UK_10.pdf_p42-75] Sega Pro, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-16), page 42

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p74-76] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 74

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1993_01.pdf_p21-77] Sega Force, "1/93" (SE; 1993-01-14), page 21

[:File:SegaForce_UK_09.pdf_p74-78] Sega Force, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-13), page 74

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-11.pdf_p127-79] Video Games, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-28), page 127

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Paperboy games for Sega systems
	Paperboy (1990) \| Paperboy 2 (unreleased)
	Paperboy (1992) \| Paperboy 2 (1993)
	Paperboy (1992) \| Paperboy 2 (1993)

Paperboy

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Items

History

Legacy

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Master System version

Game Gear version

Technical information

References