Circus (video game)
| Industry | Video game development and publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Arcade video games, including Circus, Death Race |
Circus is a block-breaking arcade video game launched by Exidy in 1977 and distributed in Japan by Taito. It represents a reimagined version of Atari's Breakout, where players manipulate a seesaw to propel a clown aiming to burst balloons. The title inspired numerous imitations and was released under various names across the United States and Japan.
Gameplay
At the top of the screen, three rows of triangular balloons—colored blue, green, and yellow—move horizontally. The player operates a springboard positioned at the bottom, which bounces a clown from one side of the screen toward the balloons. Certain sections restrict the clown’s movement, but four additional side springboards help minimize these no-contact zones.
When the clown lands on the seesaw, it launches another clown towards the balloons. The clowns rebound off balloons, walls, and downward-moving springboards; if traveling fast enough, they can pass through balloons without bouncing. Popping balloons yields points: 20 for yellow, 50 for green, and 100 for blue. Clearing an entire row awards a bonus equal to ten times the balloon’s point value and immediately replenishes that row.
Eliminating all blue balloons activates a "BONUS PLAY," granting an extra clown after depleting available lives. This bonus cannot be earned twice consecutively and may vary depending on the level. Missing the clown causes loss of a life, accompanied by Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 2 funeral march sound effect. The game continues if lives remain or a bonus play is active; otherwise, it switches to demo mode with balloon counts mirroring the previous session. Players reaching certain score milestones might receive an additional play bonus, subject to specific conditions outlined after credit insertion.
Development
Howell Ivy created the game while at Ramtek Corporation, drawing inspiration from his initial project, Clean Sweep, which involved similar object-elimination gameplay. Seeking innovation, he introduced a teeter-totter mechanic that led to balloon bursting, forming the foundation of Circus.
Produced by Exidy—a company established in 1973 known for early Pong adaptations and the hit Death Race (1976)—Circus was Exidy’s second title to fully integrate a Microprocessor, transitioning away from purely hardware-driven designs. This advancement allowed greater adaptability; Ivy noted it enabled implementing more complex behaviors and adjusting difficulty based on player performance.
Ivy developed Circus on a 6502 processor utilizing a teletype terminal. To introduce color to balloons, he employed cellophane overlays on the display. Reflecting on development, Ivy remembered working late on July 4, 1977, prioritizing timely delivery despite holiday distractions—highlighting the entrepreneurial dedication required to operate a company.
Release and reception
Debuting in arcades in 1977, Circus featured a non-violent, charming design aimed at attracting female players—a demographic Exidy targeted to broaden its market reach. The game’s friendly visuals and sound effects enhanced this appeal.
Financially, Circus became Exidy’s most lucrative release and played a critical role in advancing the company’s growth. Its popularity prompted Exidy to produce and supply printed circuit boards to several firms: Sega marketed it as Seesaw Jump, Midway issued it as Clowns, incorporating sounds like "Oof" and "Pow", while Taito released it under the name Acrobat.
In Japan, Taito’s adaptation enjoyed significant commercial success, ranking among the top ten highest-grossing arcade games of 1977 and securing fourth place overall that year—behind Taito's own Speed Race DX, Atari's Breakout (distributed by Namco), and Universal's Scratch.
The Atari VCS port received favorable critiques; in 1989, Computer and Video Games magazine awarded it an 82% rating.
Reviews
Arcade adaptations
- Clowns, an officially licensed version by Midway
- Acrobat, licensed through Taito, ranked as the seventh top-grossing arcade title in Japan during 1978
- Circus Circus, produced by Universal
- Seesaw Jump, developed by Sega
- Devil Circus, released by Hoei
- Pierrot, created by Uko
- Piccolo, from IPM
- Fūsen-wari game ("Balloon popping game") by Data East
- Bonpa, published by Nihon Bussan
- Balloon Circus from Data East, featuring a vertical display; also available as the upright cabinet titled Mini Balloon
- Nyankoro by IPM, substituting balloons with kittens and incorporating a mother cat that restricts player advancement
Home console versions
- Atari introduced Circus Atari for the Atari VCS on January 10, 1980
- In 1982, Datasoft released Clowns and Balloons for Atari 8-bit systems and the TRS-80 Color Computer, replacing the seesaw with a trampoline mechanic
- Sega launched Seesaw Jump 2005 on the i-mode mobile network
- Circus Linux, an open-source recreation developed by New Breed Software, accessible on multiple platforms
Related titles
- Trapeze by Exidy, where players swing to gather stars; also distributed by Taito under the name Trampoline
- Gypsy Juggler from Meadows Games, inspired by a traditional otedama theme; also reissued by Taito
- Rip Cord (Exidy), centered on sky diving with notable sound design; released in Japan as Nice On through Data East
- Field Goal by Taito, an American football-themed game sharing objectives with Circus, substituting the seesaw for a paddle
- Plump Pop, a 1987 Taito remake of Circus, later ported to PlayStation 2, featuring trampolines, new characters, items, stages, and bosses