Speed Buggy
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Publisher : Elite Systems
Platform : Atari ST, Amiga Format : 90 mm Floppy Disk Language : 68000 Assembler Resolution : 320 x 200 Year : 1988 |
Speed Buggy
Speed Buggy is a licensed home computer version of the hit arcade game from Taito / Tatsumi. It is a 3D-perspective first person novelty driving simulation, featuring 5 obstacle-filled tracks for the player to navigate in a suped-up dune buggy. Speed Buggy (aka Buggy Boy) was Martin's first game for the Atari ST.
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Choose one of five courses to compete in a driving experience you'll never forget. Conquer the course by running into flags to gain points while avoiding such obstacles as fallen trees, boulders, and lamp posts. Develop real time racing skills by jumping your buggy over obstacles, and driving on two wheels, to gain time and bonus points.
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The 5 tracks consist of: OFFROAD - 5 laps of a practice course, and 4 full-length race tracks: NORTH, EAST, WEST and SOUTH - each consisting of 5 legs.
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The exquisitely-detailed race courses reproduce all of the features of the arcade original. The tracks are lined with trees and lamp posts, and are packed with tunnels, embankments and walls. Rivers are also present, which can be traversed by single- or double-span bridges. All scenery is rendered with true 3D perspective.
The player must complete each of the 5 legs of a race track within the time allowed, whilst navigating hazards such as road blocks, oil drums, walls and boulders. Bonus points are accumulated by picking up coloured flags, and by passing through bonus gates of various skill levels.
The player must complete each of the 5 legs of a race track within the time allowed, whilst navigating hazards such as road blocks, oil drums, walls and boulders. Bonus points are accumulated by picking up coloured flags, and by passing through bonus gates of various skill levels.
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Additionally, the time limit is extended every time the player passes through a bonus TIME gate. Many of the best bonuses are strategically placed just out of reach, behind road blocks or boulders, but a skilful player is able to reach them by launching their buggy into the air, and over the obstacles, by bouncing off a log, or by driving up an embankment and around the obstacles. The buggy can also be made to do wheelies by turning sharply while driving over a small rock, enabling the buggy to weave through a narrow gap.
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There are also several footballs scattered around the courses. Great fun can be had by driving at these, and watching them launch into the air and disappear into the distance.
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Caution is needed when crossing rivers. Often the player will clip one of the oil drums at the edge of a bridge, and end up doing a flip and splashing into the water.
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At the end of the game, bonus points are totted up and, if the player's score is high enough, it is entered into the high score table.
Development
Martin was solely responsible for all of the game's program code, course data and in-game graphics, with the exception of the loading screen. The music and sound effects were supplied via Elite by Jas C. Brooke.
For the Atari ST and Amiga versions of Speed Buggy, Martin made accurate maps of all the original arcade game tracks. This was done by using a camcorder to record extensive game play of each of the arcade game's tracks. Painstakingly stepping through the video frames, Martin was then able to log all the features, obstacles, scenery, and road colours. The inclusion of authentic course maps in the Atari ST version of Speed Buggy was a major factor in the game's ability to reproduce the original arcade experience.
For the Atari ST and Amiga versions of Speed Buggy, Martin made accurate maps of all the original arcade game tracks. This was done by using a camcorder to record extensive game play of each of the arcade game's tracks. Painstakingly stepping through the video frames, Martin was then able to log all the features, obstacles, scenery, and road colours. The inclusion of authentic course maps in the Atari ST version of Speed Buggy was a major factor in the game's ability to reproduce the original arcade experience.
Speed Buggy coin-op - USA poster 1986
Background
Speed Buggy is the name that Buggy Boy was marketed as in the US / NTSC market. The Taito coin-op arcade game was called Speed Buggy in America, so it made sense for the Atari ST game to be localised to match. Speed Buggy for the Atari ST is essentially the same as Buggy Boy, but with minor graphic changes.
Speed Buggy - Amiga
Amiga conversion
The Amiga version of Speed Buggy was produced in house at Elite using Martin's Atari ST game code, graphics, and course data. Apart from a new loading screen, Speed Buggy Amiga is visually identical to the ST version of the game. It runs at a slightly slower frame update rate, but benefits from improved sound effects, owing to the Amiga's superior sound system.
Speed Buggy - USA advert 1988
Release
The Atari ST version of Speed Buggy was released in 1988, and distributed exclusively in the USA by Data East, using packaging branded with Data East's logo. Speed Buggy Amiga was released later, in 1989, and was distributed exclusively by Keypunch Software using packaging with Elite's own logo.