Paperboy

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Master System
  • Game Gear

Paperboy title.png

Paperboy SMS Title.png

Paperboy GG Title.png

Paperboy
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Game Gear
Tengen
Sega Master System
U.S. Gold (EU)
Sega Master System
Sega (US)
Developer:
Distributor:
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Game Gear
Domark (EU)
Licensor:
Sega Master System
Tengen
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Game Gear
Sega Master System
Atari Games
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Developer(s) of original games: Atari Games
Genre: Action[1][2][3]

















Number of players:
Sega Mega Drive
1-2
Sega Master System
Sega Game Gear
1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,800 (7,004)6,800e[4] T-48043
Sega Mega Drive
US
$54.9554.95[5] 301029-0150
Sega Mega Drive
EU
301029-0170
Sega Mega Drive
PT
MDJ-301029-0170
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£34.9934.99[8][9] 301029-0170
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
KR
GM4053JT
Sega Master System
US
5121
Sega Master System
EU
25008-50
Sega Master System
PT
MSJ25008
Sega Master System
UK
£29.9929.99[10][11] 25008-50
Sega Master System
AU
25008-50
Sega Master System
BR
Sega Game Gear
US
301029-0161
Sega Game Gear
EU
T-48028-50
Sega Game Gear
UK
£27.9927.99[14][15] T-48028-50
Non-Sega versions

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

Paperboy MD, Street.png

Paperboy MD, Training Course.png

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 Left and Right. The bike continuously moves down the street and cannot backtrack, but it can speed up and slow down with Up and Down respectively. Papers are thrown with 1 or 2 in the Master System and Game Gear versions and A, B, or C 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

Paperboy MD, Refill.png
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
Paperboy MD EU Manual.pdf
[17]


Magazine articles

Main article: Paperboy/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Paperboy/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
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]
Sega Mega Drive
65
Based on
28 reviews

Paperboy

Mega Drive, JP
Paperboy MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Paperboy MD JP CartTop.jpg
Paperboy MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Paperboy MD JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
Paperboy MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Paperboy MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, US (cardboard)
Paperboy MD US cb back.jpgNospine.pngPaperboy MD US cb front.jpg
Cover
Paperboy MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, US (cardboard; alt)
Paperboy MD US cb alt back.jpgNospine.pngPaperboy MD US cb alt front.jpg
Cover
Paperboy MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU (Colour manual)
Paperboy MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Paperboy MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Paperboy MD EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU (Black & white manual)
Paperboy MD EU ALT BoxCover.jpg
Cover
Paperboy MD EU ALT Cart.jpg
Cart
Paperboy MD EU ALT Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, PT
Paperboy MD PT cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, KR
Paperboy MD KR Box.jpg
Cover

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
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]
Sega Master System
80
Based on
23 reviews

Paperboy

Master System, US
Paperboy SMS US Box.jpg
Cover
Paperboy SMS US Cart.jpg
Cart
Paperboy sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
Paperboy SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Paperboy SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Paperboy SMS EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, PT
Paperboy SMS PT cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, AU
Paperboy SMS AU Box.jpg
Cover
Paperboy SMS AU cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU (Hotline sticker)
Paperboy SMS AU hotline cover.jpg
Cover
Paperboy SMS AU cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR (cardboard)
Paperboy SMS BR Box Cardboard Back.jpgNospine.pngPaperboy SMS BR Box Cardboard.jpg
Cover
Paperboy SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Paperboy SMS BR Manual Cardboard.pdf
Manual
Master System, BR
Paperboy SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Paperboy SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Paperboy SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
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]
Sega Game Gear
65
Based on
14 reviews

Paperboy

Game Gear, US
Paperboy GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngPaperboy GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Paperboy GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Paperboy GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
Paperboy GG EU Box Back.jpgPaperboy GG EU BoxSpine.jpgPaperboy GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Paperboy GG EU cart.jpg
Cart
Paperboy GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Paperboy/Technical information.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
  2. File:Paperboy MD KR Box.jpg
  3. File:Paperboy GG EU Box Back.jpg
  4. Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1992" (JP; 1992-06-08), page 20
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 GamePro, "March 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 48
  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
  8. Mean Machines, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-27), page 102
  9. 9.0 9.1 Sega Power, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-02), page 36
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Raze, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-11-29), page 47
  11. Mean Machines, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-xx), page 56
  12. Supergame, "Agosto 1991" (BR; 1991-08-xx), page 26
  13. GamePro, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 90
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-09-28), page 6
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Game Zone, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-19), page 65
  16. Sega Pro, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 9
  17. File:Paperboy MD EU Manual.pdf, page 13
  18. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 230
  19. Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1992" (JP; 1992-06-08), page 34
  20. Consoles +, "Mars 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 68
  21. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 132
  22. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 152
  23. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 77
  24. Famitsu, "1992-07-03" (JP; 1992-06-19), page 40
  25. Hippon Super, "July 1992" (JP; 1992-06-04), page 38
  26. Hobby Consolas, "Julio 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 54
  27. Joypad, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-04-1x), page 88
  28. Joystick, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 138
  29. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 93
  30. Mega Force, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-05-05), page 68
  31. Mega Play, "June 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 65
  32. MegaTech, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-20), page 26
  33. Mean Machines, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-27), page 100
  34. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
  35. Player One, "Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-06-10), page 60
  36. Play Time, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-03), page 91
  37. Sega Pro, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-16), page 48
  38. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
  39. Sega Force, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-16), page 54
  40. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
  41. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 57
  42. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 133
  43. Video Games, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-29), page 50
  44. Aktueller Software Markt, "November 1990" (DE; 1990-10-26), page 133
  45. Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)
  46. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume III" (UK; 1990-08-xx), page 28
  47. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 103
  48. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 59
  49. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 143
  50. Computer & Video Games, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-15), page 41
  51. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 148
  52. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
  53. Games-X, "Sneak Preview March 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 17
  54. Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1991" (ES; 1991-xx-xx), page 82
  55. Joystick, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 113
  56. Micromanía (segunda época), "Septiembre 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 27
  57. Mean Machines, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-xx), page 54
  58. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 135
  59. Player One, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 33
  60. Power Play, "2/91" (DE; 1991-01-18), page 158
  61. Sega Power, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 30
  62. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 58
  63. Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 20
  64. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 71
  65. Zero, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 87
  66. Computer & Video Games, "November 1992 (Go! Issue 13)" (UK; 1992-10-15), page 22
  67. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 168
  68. Game Zone, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-19), page 64
  69. Joypad, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-10-xx), page 146
  70. Joystick, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 157
  71. Mega Byte, "February 6, 1993" (UK; 1993-02-06), page 1
  72. Mega Force, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 73
  73. Player One, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-11-10), page 130
  74. Play Time, "12/92" (DE; 1992-11-04), page 84
  75. Sega Pro, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-16), page 42
  76. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 74
  77. Sega Force, "1/93" (SE; 1993-01-14), page 21
  78. Sega Force, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-13), page 74
  79. Video Games, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-28), page 127


Paperboy

Paperboy title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Promotional material | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1991-10-28



Paperboy MD, Refill.png
Paperboy games for Sega systems
Sega Master System
Paperboy (1990) | Paperboy 2 (unreleased)
Sega Game Gear
Paperboy (1992) | Paperboy 2 (1993)
Sega Mega Drive
Paperboy (1992) | Paperboy 2 (1993)