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Super Bug (video game)

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Super Bug
Developer(s)Atari
Publisher(s)Kee Games[1]
Designer(s)Wendi Allen[2]
Platform(s)Arcade
Release
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player

Super Bug is an arcade video game developed, manufactured, and released by Atari, Inc. in 1977. The player steers a yellow Volkswagen Beetle (or "Bug") along a multi-directionally scrolling track, avoiding the boundaries and occasional obstacles. The game ends when fuel runs out. Super Bug is in black and white, and the colored car comes from a yellow overlay in the center of the monitor.

The 1978 Atari arcade game Fire Truck is based on Super Bug.[3] Both games were programmed by Wendi Allen (credited as Howard Delman).[2]

Development

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Originally titled City Driver, the video game Super Bug was the first to be designed and programmed by Wendi Allen. Allen stated in an interview that she had to learn a lot about the game development process during the nine months it took to create Super Bug.[3]

Joe Decuir of Atari was writing a version of the game for Atari 8-bit computers which was never completed.[4]

Reception

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In the United States, it was among the top 35 highest-grossing arcade games of 1977, according to RePlay.[5] It went on to become the fourth highest-grossing arcade game of 1978 according to Play Meter,[6] or the year's fifth highest according to RePlay.[7] It was later the 19th highest-grossing arcade video game of 1979, according to Play Meter.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Production Numbers" (PDF). Atari Games. August 31, 1999. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  3. ^ a b "DP Interviews Howard Delman". DigitPress.com. 2011.
  4. ^ Stilphen, Scott. "DP Interviews Joe Decuir". Digital Press.
  5. ^ "Profit Chart". RePlay. November 1977.
  6. ^ "The 'Winners' of '78: Top Arcade Games". Play Meter. 1978.
  7. ^ "Video Games". RePlay. November 1978.
  8. ^ "The Winners of '79". Play Meter. 1979.