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Tapper (video game)

From Alfawiki
Tapper
Company typeVideo game
IndustryVideo games
Founded1984
FounderMarvin Glass and Associates
Headquarters
United States
ProductsArcade video game
ParentBally Midway

Tapper, also recognized as Root Beer Tapper, is an arcade video game created by Marvin Glass and Associates and launched in 1984 by Bally Midway.[1] The gameplay casts the player as a bartender who must serve eager customers before they lose patience,[2] while gathering empty mugs and tips. In Japan, the game was distributed by Sega during the same year.

Initially backed by Anheuser-Busch, the arcade edition incorporated a Budweiser motif.[3] Designed with bars in mind, the cabinets included brass rail footrests and holders for drinks. The earliest versions utilized authentic Budweiser beer tap handles as control devices, which were later swapped for more compact plastic replicas branded with the Budweiser logo.[4] To address concerns about alcohol advertising to minors, the rebranded Root Beer Tapper arcade version was released in 1984.

Gameplay

Players operate a four-direction joystick alongside a tap handle. The display features four separate bars, each with a keg positioned at one end and a door at the opposite side. Patrons enter through these doors and proceed toward the kegs, demanding service. The player assumes the role of a bartender who pours beverages and slides them along the bar for customers to catch. Moving the joystick vertically instantly moves the bartender between adjacent kegs on different bars, with screen wraparound enabled; horizontal movement navigates him along the bar length. Engaging the tap handle causes the bartender to fill a mug at the keg; releasing it propels the mug down the bar.

When customers catch a filled mug, they retreat toward the doors and vanish upon reaching them. If they fail to catch it, they pause to drink before advancing again while sliding an empty mug back toward the keg. Occasionally, patrons leave tips on the bar that can be collected for extra points. Acquiring a tip triggers female dancers who momentarily distract some customers, halting their advance; however, distracted patrons are unable to catch drinks.

A life is lost under these conditions:

  • An empty mug slides off the keg end and shatters.
  • A full mug reaches the door end uncaught and breaks.
  • A customer reaches the keg end, seizes the bartender, and drags him out through the door.

Clearing all customers from every bar completes a level. Upon completion, the bartender humorously interacts with an empty mug. As players progress, customer frequency increases, their speed quickens, and they are pushed back shorter distances when served. The maximum number of customers per bar rises to four.

The game includes four themed stages featuring unique patron types:

  1. Western saloon populated by cowboys (2 screens)
  2. Sports bar filled with athletes (3 screens)
  3. Punk rock venue hosting punks (4 screens)
  4. Outer-space bar attended by aliens (4 screens)

Following each stage, a bonus round presents six cans arranged on the bar; five are shaken and shuffled by a masked individual. Selecting the single unshaken can rewards bonus points; choosing any other results in the bartender being sprayed in the face.

After completing all stages, gameplay restarts with increased difficulty.

Music

Rick Hicaro of Marvin Glass & Associates composed the music and sound effects for the arcade edition of Tapper. Utilizing a Synclavier II synthesizer paired with custom software developed by Richard Ditton, he connected directly to the arcade system to produce authentic audio. The soundtrack features traditional tunes such as "Oh! Susanna" by Stephen Foster, "Buffalo Gals", the Budweiser jingle, and "Galop Infernal" by Jacques Offenbach, with Hicaro responsible for the remaining compositions.

Ports

Tapper was adapted for numerous platforms including the Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, Atari 5200, Atari 2600, BBC Micro, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, MSX, ZX Spectrum, IBM PC, and Amstrad CPC. Home versions predominantly displayed the Mountain Dew branding, whereas the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC editions featured the Pepsi logo but retained the original bartender character instead of the soda jerk from Root Beer Tapper. The ColecoVision adaptation was released in 1984. The Root Beer Tapper variant is included in the Midway Legacy Edition Arcade1Up arcade cabinet. Additionally, a Commodore Amiga version became available in 2023.

Reception

In March 1984, Game Machine ranked Tapper as the leading table arcade game in Japan, sharing the top spot with 10-Yard Fight and Vs. Tennis. The Commodore 64 port received acclaim from Compute!'s Gazette, which described it as "one of the most addictive games we've seen lately," praising its captivating gameplay, visuals, and difficulty. It was lauded as "a very well-designed strategy game" and was highly rated for its entertainment value. Sinclair User honored it with a SU Classic award.

Legacy

The visual design bears a strong resemblance to that of Domino Man and its successor, Timber, with Timber’s protagonist being a reimagined version of the character from Tapper. The artwork drew inspiration from Mike Ferris, an artist who served as a mentor to Scott Morrison.

Re-releases

The Root Beer Tapper edition has been included in various compilation releases such as the Nintendo 64 installment of Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits, Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Midway Collection 2 on PlayStation, and Midway Arcade Treasures available on PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and Microsoft Windows. It also featured in Midway Arcade Origins for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A mobile adaptation named Tapper World Tour was launched in 2011.

Clones

In 1984, Novasoft introduced a clone called Brew Master for the TRS-80 Color Computer. Variants inspired by Tapper have appeared as minigames, including the "Milk Bar" in Barnyard (2006) and a similar iteration on the virtual pet platform Neopets during the "Altador Cup". The game also served as inspiration for "Nuka Tapper," a themed minigame within Fallout 76.

In popular culture

Tapper makes appearances in Disney’s movies Wreck-It Ralph (2012) and its follow-up, Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018), with Maurice LaMarche providing the voice for the bartender character. These film adaptations blend elements from both the Budweiser and root beer versions of the game.

Top Scores

On June 5, 2005, Gregory Erway established the tournament world record by achieving a score of 3,162,125. Since February 16, 2019, William Rosa has maintained the marathon world record with an impressive total of 14,826,200 points.

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CB
  2. ↑ CLASSIC GAMES REVISITED - Tapper (Atari 2600) review at Univision Template:Fix/category[dead link]
  3. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ↑ Rick Hicaro, former Marvin Glass & Associates employee; music composer/sound developer for Tapper
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