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S.T.U.N. Runner (Spread Tunnel Underground Network Runner)[4] is 3D racing/shooter game released in arcades by Atari Games in 1989. The player pilots a futuristic vehicle which can exceed 900 mph, through various tunnels and courses with changing environments, hazards and enemies. S.T.U.N. Runner uses polygonal graphics for the vehicles and track, and is based on an evolution of Atari's Hard Drivin' hardware. The custom cabinet was designed to resemble the craft that the player pilots in-game.
| S.T.U.N. Runner | |
|---|---|
 Arcade flyer | |
| Developer(s) | Atari Games (arcade) The Kremlin (ports) Atari Corporation (Lynx) |
| Publisher(s) | Arcade Lynx Atari Corporation |
| Designer(s) | Ed Rotberg |
| Programmer(s) | Andrew J. Burgess |
| Artist(s) | Sam Comstock Will Noble Kris Moser |
| Composer(s) | Don Diekneite Brad Fuller |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Lynx, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Racing, vehicular combat |
| Arcade system | Atari Hard Drivin' |
The arcade game was released in Europe by Jaleco,[2] and in Japan by Namco and Sega.[3] Home ports were released for the Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum. An Atari Lynx version was published by Atari Corporation in 1991.
Gameplay
edit
The final goal is to reach the "Ultimate Challenge", an endless race filled with surprises, where the player must simply get as far as possible in the allotted time. Markers on the Ultimate Challenge course show the names of the five players who have traveled the farthest, who are tracked independently of the game's traditional high score table.
Twin triggers fire laser cannons mounted atop the craft, and the Start buttons double as the triggers for the Shockwave "smart bomb" weapon.
Development
editThe game initially began as a remake of Atari's Tunnel Hunt.[5][failed verification]
The Lynx version was programmed by D. Scott Williamson, an employee of Atari who went on to form the development group Solid Software.[6]
Reception
editCommodore User reviewed the arcade game, giving it a 90% rating.[2]
Legacy
editS.T.U.N. Runner is included in Midway Arcade Treasures 3 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. It was also released for Microsoft Windows as part of Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition in 2006.
References
edit- ^ "STUN Runner (Registration Number PA0000496308)". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Arcades: STUN Runner (Jaleco)". Commodore User. No. 75 (December 1989). United Kingdom: EMAP. 26 November 1989. pp. 124–5.
- ^ a b c d "S.T.U.N. RUNNER". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ Dencker, Andrea, ed. (1989). S.T.U.N. Runner Operator's Manual (PDF). Milpitas, CA: Atari Games. p. 1.
- ^ "Never Before Seen Atari Stuff at California Extreme (from Scott Evans)". rec.games.video.arcade.collecting.narkive.com. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
- ^ "some pretty awesome graphics for the Lynx!". AtariAge Forums. 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
- Game info, Midway Arcade Treasures 3
- Manual, Midway Arcade Treasures 3
External links
edit- S.T.U.N. Runner at the Killer List of Videogames
- S.T.U.N. Runner at the Arcade History database
- S.T.U.N. Runner at MobyGames