Beer Run
Name: Beer Run
Programmer(s): Mark Turmell
Publisher: Sirius
Year: 1982
Description: Beer run is a platform game in the vain of Apple Panic and Donkey Kong. You play a "drunk" who needs to run down to the local store and pick up another Six Pack of Olympic beer. The main character in the game swaggers as if drunk from side to side and up and down. During the game there are various "buzz killers" who try to stop you and knock you back down a level or two. At various times in the game an elevator will show up and if you catch it escort you up a few levels of the Sirius Building. You must also pick up change along the way so that you'll have enough money for the beer once you get there.
Beer Run, released by Sirius Software in 1981, was a unique action platformer for the Apple II computer. Players controlled Yukon Pete, a thirsty patron trying to collect Artesian beer cans while avoiding obstacles across the outside of a multi-story brewery building.
The game featured side-scrolling action across multiple floors connected by elevators. Players had to carefully time their jumps between platforms while collecting beer cans and avoiding aggressive Bouncers, flying Guzzlers, and dangerous birds. Making contact with any enemy would cost Pete one of his three lives.
The building consisted of several stories, with the difficulty increasing as players progressed upward. Special bonus cans appeared randomly, offering extra points when collected. Players could use elevators to move between floors, but timing was crucial as elevators moved continuously up and down the building's exterior.
What made Beer Run stand out was its smooth animation and precise controls for the era. The game utilized the Apple II's high-resolution graphics mode to create detailed character sprites and building architecture. The sound effects, while simple, added personality to the gameplay with distinct noises for jumping, collecting cans, and losing lives.
The scoring system rewarded both speed and thoroughness. Players earned points for each can collected, with bonus points awarded for completing floors quickly. A high score table tracked the top performers, adding replay value for competitive players.
Beer Run received positive reviews in computer gaming magazines of the time, with praise for its unique concept and solid controls. The game demonstrated how creative developers could push the Apple II's capabilities to create engaging arcade-style experiences.
While its premise might seem unusual today, Beer Run represented a time when computer game developers were experimenting with original concepts rather than following established formulas. The game remains a notable example of early platform gaming design and the creative spirit of early 1980s computer game development.