Racing / Racing - Cars · 1988

Out Run

Published by SEGA · Developed by Probe

atarimania.com — atari-st-games-out-run-21671

Information

Genre: Racing - Cars
Language: Machine Language
Controls: Joystick, Mouse
Players: 1, Demo
Resolution: Low
Programmer(s): Morrison, Ian
Graphic Artist(s): McMillan, Stuart, Grier, Alan, Tomkins, Alan
Game design: Sega
Musician(s): Brooke, Jason C.
Sound FX: [unknown]
Year: 1988
Publisher: SEGA
Distributor: Mindscape
Developer: Probe
Licensed from: SEGA
Country: USA
Software: English
Box/Instructions: English
License: Commercial
ST Type: ST, STe, TT, 0.5MB
Number of Disks: 1, Single Sided

Votes / Statistics

Rating: 5.5/10 · Votes: 51 · Downloads: 1,391 · Hits: 16,304

Screenshots (6)

Cover Art (2)

Ads (2)

Out Run / Space Harrier / Alien Syndrome · 1988

Article (1)

News

Tips (3)

Trivia (7)

Awards:

Golden Joystick Awards: Game of the year 1988
Golden Joystick Awards: Arcade style game of the year 1988

Origins

Based on Sega 1986 coin-op.

Version differences

European and USA versions of Out Run has some small differences like the title screen, extra music track, a different demo mode and a few extra graphics here and there.
European version on the left and US version on the right.

The first and highest selling 16-bit game version

Atari ST version of Out Run was the first ever 16-bit home computer game to reach UK's TOP-10 charts of best selling games at position 6. It was also the highest selling version of the game in mid May, leaving behind not only Out Run, but also every other game for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 or Amiga.

In the same issue Amiga was the only machine to feature TOP-5 list instead of TOP-10 that the other platforms enjoyed. C+VG wrote that at the time Commodore 64 marketshare was also fastly dropping below 20% of total game sales first time in its history.

Source: Computer + Video Games issue July 1988

Charts

Top UK ST charts position: 1 (8/1988, 9/1988), 3 (4/1991 budget)
Months on charts: 11 between 8/1988 - 4/1991

Sales

Out Run ST version had sold over 25000 copies by mid 1988
Source: Crash issue August 1988

Releases

The Atari ST version was released first on the 16 bit market in Europe. Published later for other 16 bit systems.
Source: Research of over 16700 software reviews from UK computer magazines between 1985 and 1996.

Book / Magazine Reviews (4)

ST Action · July, 1988 · Rating: 84 %

ST / Amiga Format · July, 1988 · Rating: 71%

Trioposti · 2, 1988 · Rating: Preview

ST Format · April, 1991 · Rating: 38%