Paperboy
The FAQ
For the Nintendo Entertainment System
Written by Ian Rogers
[email protected]
Drop me a line if you have a question, comment, or just want to say hi.
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Version 1.2
11/6/00
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Revision History
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Version 1.2
11/6/00
In this version I've made a few small sentence and grammatical changes (so
small that you won't even notice them) and made a few formatting changes. I
also added a theory about a lawn ornament that comes to life, and a solution
to that mysterious newspaper headline.
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Version 1.1
2/14/00
Dang, I didn't think that I'd be updating this FAQ again! But, I am. Anyway,
I added a few more Frequently Asked Questions, and fixed a little mistake in
the Training Course Section.
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Version 1.0
12/28/99
Initial release of this FAQ.
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I think that the original Paperboy is a classic game. No questions asked.
And it's also the only game in it's class. There was a poorly made NES sequel
(Ugh, I shudder at the thought) and of course the N64 version, which actually
didn't fare too well.
But anyway, they never could succeed in making a game quite like Paperboy.
You know what I mean? No, of course you don't. Let's just get on the FAQ!
Table Of Contents
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1. Storyline
2. Controls
3. The Absolute Basics
4. Types of Houses
5. Points and Scoring
6. The Enemies
7. The Obstacles
8. Fun on the Training Course!
9. Scoring & Survival Tips
10. A Little Bit on Two Player Mode
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Game Genie Codes
13. Acknowledgments
14. Copyright Info
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And with that in mind, let us begin.
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1. Storyline
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In Paperboy, you're a kid who wants to earn some money delivering papers for
the Daily Sun. But the only paperboy route open is down the roughest,
toughest, most dangerous street in town.
But of course, you signed on anyway.
If you can successfully deliver papers without getting too battered (or losing
all your customers) for one week, you'll have enough money to last you a long
time.
Any questions?
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2. Controls
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Okay, so you've never played Paperboy before. That's understandable, I'm sure
that a lot of people haven't. So, I guess you'll want to know the Controls:
D Pad Up: Speeds up
D Pad Left/Right: Turns
D Pad Down: Brakes
A/B: Throws Paper
Start: Pauses the game
Select: Selects the Number of Players at the menu screen
The Select button serves no other function used during the game.
I hope you have these down, because they couldn't be any easier to understand!
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3. The Absolute Basics
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Okay, we've started the game and are prepared to deliver some papers. Now
what?
Well, first of all, at the beginning a picture of the street will appear, and
it will show red and blue houses. The Blue houses are the ones that you
deliver papers to, and the Red ones you can leave well enough alone.
The houses are their respectable red and blue colors both on the map, and
during the game.
NOTE: White, blue, and yellow houses are all subscribers. In other words, all
of the non-red houses are subscribers!
Now you have to deliver papers to all of the blue houses. That means getting
a paper in the mailbox or on the doorstep of each house. Note that getting a
paper in the mailbox will earn you more points.
Oh yeah, and if you miss a house, or break one of their windows, they'll
cancel their subscription!
If you should make a perfect delivery, that is, get a paper to every
subscribing house, someone will resubscribe and you'll have another customer.
But, as you might have expected, the street is full of enemies and obstacles
that are determined to make sure that this doesn't happen! Your other job is
to avoid all of these hazards, making sure that you don't get a broken back by
crashing your bike into something.
You can also have a little fun, too. There are lots of windows to break,
garbage cans to knock over, and little trees to damage, which will earn you a
lot of points! Just simply throw a paper, and if your aim is good, you'll get
some points.
Just make sure you only break the windows on the red houses, not the blue!
If you make it to the end of the street, you get to run through the Training
Course!
And then, it's on to the next day.
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4. Types of Houses
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Of course, not all of the houses on the street are the same. But there are
only 6 basic types of houses, three that start out red, and three that start
out blue, so I've listed some notes about them here.
Blue Houses
-----------------
#1. The Small House
Description: A small house with attached garage. The doorstep is located in
the center, but the mailbox is on the other side of a window, located closer
to the garage.
Notes: With this house, I usually aim for the doorstep. Whenever you go for
the mailbox, there is a large chance that you might break that annoying
window, making you lose that house.
#2. The House of Windows
Description: A larger house, shaped like an L. There are lots of windows on
every side. The mailbox is right next to the doorstep, which is located at
the corner of the L.
Notes: On this house, just aim for the doorstep, as there is a good chance
that you might make it in the mailbox. If this house unsubscribes (turns red)
then start madly throwing papers, because it's easy to break lots of windows
on this house!
#3. The Square House
Description: The house itself isn't really square, it just seems that way.
There are lots of windows on the back of the house, and the mailbox and
doorstep are located on the front side, right next to each other. There is a
large driveway, so you can ride your bike up close to the house and deliver
your paper.
Notes: This is the easiest house to hit the mailbox! Just ride right up
close, and throw right when you get to the mailbox. It couldn't be any
simpler!
The Red Houses
------------------
#1. The Slanty Z House
Description: This house is laid out in the shape of a Z, only slanted a
little. There are a few windows scattered around, and two tombstones in
front. The doorstep is large and very easy to hit with a paper.
Notes: This is the best red house to get for a resubscriber, as the doorstep
is easier to hit than the other houses. There are only a few scattered
windows, so breaking them will take careful aim.
#2. The Hidden Doorway House
Description: This house is laid out in the shape of a slanted I. The doorway
is tilted to one side, so it is impossible to see the doorstep. The house
itself is very small, and has a large driveway, ideal for riding through.
Notes: This is the worst house to get for a resubscriber. As I said before,
the doorway is tilted so it is hard to see exactly where to throw the paper.
Try to get up close for a better shot, if the situation calls for it.
#3. The Mansion
Description: A larger house, it is built in the shape of a square, with
sloping roofs and twin towers next to the front door. An easy to hit line of
windows is located to the right of the doorway.
Notes: This is a great house to break windows on! The line of the three
windows to the right of the doorway is perfect for breaking, and there are a
few other easy ones scattered around as well.
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5. Points and Scoring
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Here are the point values for various objects throughout the game. The point
values stay the same in every level.
Street
================================
Bundle of Papers: 50 Points
Successful Delivery to the Doorstep: 300 Points
Successful Delivery to the Mailbox: 700 Points
Broken Window: 300 Points
Trash Cans: 300 Points
Small Palm Trees: 300 Points
Stone Posts: 300 Points
Tombstones: 300 Points
Training Course
================================
Circular Targets: 200 Points
Square Targets: 100 Points
Time Bonus: 100 Points for every second remaining.
If I've missed anything, email me about it.
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6. The Enemies
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Throughout the game, many people and things are always trying to gang up on
you to force you to crash, and then quit your job. I classify an enemy as
"Anything that moves, but does not necessarily have a mind of it's own."
Some of these enemies will not appear on Monday, and will instead be found
starting on Tuesday, and will continue to show up through Sunday. This is
noted where applicable.
Bicycle Tire
These things roll around in a predictable square pattern. Watch the pattern,
so that you won't be caught by surprise. You could also hit it with a paper
to stop it rolling. Don't you wish a real tire could roll forever without
falling down?
Remote Controlled Car
Like the Tire, the remote controlled car drives around in a square pattern.
You can also hit this one with a paper to stop it.
Skateboarder
Remember back in the 80s, when skateboarding was considered cool by all? The
skateboarder in the game, however, pops out of nowhere coming down the
sidewalk at you at high speeds. If you see him, drive on to the lawn of a
nearby house to get out of his way.
Grandma
Why would an old lady be so mad at the local paperboy? As you speed by a
house, she'll pop out and start running after you with a rolling pin. Just
ride away quickly to get away from her.
Kicking Man
The standing joke over at my house is that this guy is trying to put his pants
on while lying down in the middle of the sidewalk. I usually just ride around
him. If you hit this nut with a paper, he'll stop kicking, but he'll still be
in your way. I've also heard that this guy is just break dancing.
Construction Worker
He just stands there, jackhamering away, not making any holes of any kind,
just jackhammering away. He's also blocking your way! Most people just ride
around him, like with the kicking man.
Go Kart
Some little kid has come out here to play with his go kart. He just pedals
out of the driveway and stops. Sometimes he blocks your way, sometimes not.
If he does, just ride around him.
Dog
This annoying mutt can be found alongside most doghouses. If you ride by,
he'll start to chase you. When he does, throw a paper at him to make him
stop! If you don't, he'll keep following you, and will manage to attack you
if you make any left turns.
Motorcycle Dudes
At the two intersections, you can always find these guys driving along. Brake
if you see them coming in front of you, and speed up if they're coming right
at you.
Man in Sewer
Some nut job is hiding out in the sewer, poking his head up in random
locations. He's usually not much of a problem, as all of the sewers are on
the street, but he can catch you by surprise if he pops up right in front of
you.
Running Kid
As you ride by, kids will run across the sidewalk right in front of you.
They'll keep running until they go off screen. If you see one coming, hit the
brakes! Some also say that this mysterious figure is a lawn ornament that has
come to life, but no one really knows for sure...
Cars
All of the moving cars on the street are red, and they're headed in your
direction! They are very hard to get around if you're in the street, which is
why I like to stay on the sidewalk.
Dust Devil
This little cyclone (tornado) will come up behind you and get in the way.
Pedal at full speed to avoid crashing into it! The cyclone does not appear on
Monday.
Death
The Grim Reaper, much like the kid on the go kart, will walk into the middle
of the sidewalk, sometimes blocking your path, and sometimes not. He does not
appear on Monday.
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7. The Obstacles
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I classify an obstacle by anything that does not move, but can kill you.
Houses are not counted as obstacles.
Parked Car
These green antiques are always parked right up next to the curb, so it's easy
to crash into them! Be especially wary if you are riding in the street!
Miniature Fences
Is there a gardener in the house? These little fences do nothing but take up
space in the front yards of houses, making them easy to crash into if you're
cutting across lawns.
Drainage Grates
Who crashes their bike when they hit one of these on the street? Not me! Oh
well, these must be special. They appear right next to the paths between the
street and the sidewalk, so watch out for them!
Trash Cans
These always appear two at a time. While you can crash into them, you can
also get 300 Points for hitting them with a newspaper!
Miniature Palm Trees
Like the trash cans, you can pick up 300 points for hitting these with a
paper, and they also come two at a time.
Stone Posts
They're small, they appear on the corners of yards, and they make a funny
sound if you hit them with a paper. As a bonus, you'll also get 300 points.
Tombstones
Who would bury a person in their front yard? Don't you need a special permit
for that? Anyway, tombstones are found in front of most of the red houses.
You can pick up 300 points for knocking them over with a paper.
Large Trees
The larger, real trees can be found usually on the far left of the screen,
where no one ever goes. With that in mind, we can safely say that they're
easy to avoid. Of course, some also appear in the front of red houses, as an
alternative to tombstones.
For Sale Signs
Is every house on this street for sale? Probably not, the game just needed
another obstacle! These signs tend to get in the way, so watch out for them!
Lawnmowers
Remember those hand powered lawnmowers that they always had to use on TV in
the 80s? Well, they're in this game! When the lawnmowers appear, they're
always on the far left of the screen, and are easy to avoid.
Doghouses
Half the time, it's the dogs that are the danger, not the doghouses! But, the
doghouses are still an obstacle blocking the lawn. Be careful.
Bushes
The small lines of bushes appear on lawns. Drive around them the same way you
did with the Miniature Fences.
Fire Hydrants
The little fire hydrants are always right next to the curb. They're usually
easy to avoid.
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8. Fun on the Training Course!
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At the end of a hard days work, every Paperboy likes to have some fun and fine
tune his skills on the training course. It's also a great place to earn
points!
In order to get to the end (and get the final time bonus, no doubt!) you'll
have to pass by some tricky little obstacles. Here's a list of them:
Walls
Walls are everywhere! Watch out that you don't crash into them!
Normal Ramp
This is easy. It's just a ramp! You can use it to get some air, or you could
ride around it! Just don't crash into the side of it.
Cones
There are a lot of these, and they get in the way! Ride around those annoying
little things.
Jump the Pool of Water
Basically, there's a little ramp next to a little pool of water. If you can
successfully ride up the ramp at high speed, you'll jump over the pool of
water. If you don't, you can either ride around the pool or crash into it.
Moving Walls
Every once and a while there will be a break in the wall. Sometimes, there is
a little piece of that wall that magically moves back and forth. You have to
ride around it.
Moving Ramps
These are a little trickier, but can be mastered with practice. There will be
a wall, and a ramp that moves from side to side. You have to ride up the ramp
to make it over the wall. Make sure that you're riding in the angle of the
ramp, or you'll crash for sure!
Jump the Wall
This is exactly the same as above, only it's easier because the ramp doesn't
move.
Targets
You can crash into these things too. They're not in your direct way very
often, so they're pretty easy to avoid.
Point Values for Targets:
Square Targets: 100 Points
Round Targets: 200 Points
Time Bonus
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At the end of the Training Course (if you can even make it that far) you get a
time bonus. That bonus is 100 Points for every second that you have remaining
on the clock. You start off with 45 seconds.
My best time for completing the Training Course is 19 Seconds.
Tips
-Don't worry, because if you crash on the Training Course, you won't lose a
life.
-Every time you go over a ramp, your supply of papers will fill up. So, go
over as many ramps as you can! Thanks to
[email protected] for pointing this
out!
-You have an almost infinite amount of papers, so don't afraid to a let a few
random ones fly at a faraway target!
-Aim for the big round targets; they're worth more points!
-Take the left path for a quicker route, and a lot of targets to hit!
-You can still hit targets while you're in the air. Keep this in mind when
going over some of the ramps.
-On the final stretch, there are a lot of square targets that are easy to hit.
They are located in the middle row.
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9. Scoring & Survival Tips
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-If you see a skateboarder coming, ride on to a nearby lawn, fast!
-When you see a group of three windows in a row, throw a few papers. You have
an excellent chance of hitting at least one of them.
-When crossing the street, keep an eye out for bikers.
-On Monday, try to conserve your papers. To me, it seems like they give you
less extra papers that day. Plus, you have a lot of houses to hit.
-Don't be afraid to cut across lawns to get out of the way of an enemy.
-If the dog starts to chase you, quickly throw a paper at it to get it out of
your hair.
-When you see an extra bundle of papers, start throwing wildly before you pick
it up. You might just score a few extra points. Only do this if you are by a
red house so that you won't lose any subscribers.
-Do the same thing with the last house on the road, if it's red. Your supply
of papers always fills back up when you get to the Training Course, so try to
score some last minute points!
-Try not to go into the streets. Cars are always coming, and it's hard to get
away from them.
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10. A Little Bit on Two Player Mode
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When I say "A Little Bit," I mean a little bit! Actually, there's not much to
tell.
Basically, you and a friend each take a controller, and take turns delivering.
When one player crashes, it's the next persons turn. Each player keeps their
own individual score.
If you want to make things a competition, you could say that the person with
the highest score wins.
There, all finished. Told you there wasn't much!
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11. Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: Why does the newspaper at the beginning say "Hero Paperboy Stops Thief?" I
don't remember doing that!
A: In one of the earlier versions of Paperboy there was a gas station that you
could ride past. On one of the days during the week, a robber would run
outside with a bag of money, and you could score a lot of points by hitting
him with a paper. Unfortunately, this cool feature was not included in the NES
version. Thanks a lot to the person who first told me this, but I lost his
email, so proper credit can not be given.
Q: Is it possible to hit a Motorcycle Guy with a paper?
A: I don't think so.
Q: Is there a way to earn extra lives?
A: No, not that I know of
Q: Can you completely stop the bike?
A: No, you can't. That would just make the game dumb anyway.
Q: When does the game end?
A: It ends after you beat Sunday. That's seven levels, just so everyone
knows.
Q: Why do Death and the Dust Devil not appear on Monday?
A: The Dust Devil is a harder obstacle to avoid, so they put it in later
levels. Death isn't that hard, but I guess they just needed another enemy for
the later levels.
Q: What is the kicking man doing?
A: I think that the creators of the game intended to him to simply be kicking,
but he kind of looks like he's trying to put on his pants. I heard someone
say that he was break dancing.
Q: What does Grandma have against paperboys?
A: I don't know.
Q: Did Paperboy take their level title screen from The Shining?
A: I don't think so, but they both look pretty much the same.
Q: Is it possible to get a "Perfect Game" by delivering every paper to every
house, getting a resubscriber every day, and finishing the game with a total
of seventeen customers?
A: I believe that it is possible, but I've never done it. Email me if you
have.
Q: Have you beaten Paperboy?
A: Yes.
Q: Without Game Genie Codes?
A: Yes.
Q: What happens when you beat the game?
A: You get a headline saying "Paperboy Retires in Glory."
Q: Why do customers paint their houses when they cancel their subscriptions,
or resubscribe?
A: I don't know, it's just how the game works.
Q: At the end of the Training Course, it looks like one of the guys doesn't
have a head! What's the deal with this?
A: The guy's head and the bleachers behind him are the same color. Therefore,
he looks like he doesn't have a head.
Q: Did you REALLY beat Paperboy?
A: For the last time, yes!
Q: Why is a man hiding in the sewer?
A: It's his home.
Q: Why is it that you can crash into a measly little grate? It just doesn't
make sense!
A: The grate is covered with grease and wet leaves, so you slip if you hit it.
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12. Game Genie Codes
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And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for...
Game Genie Codes!
SXSEVZVG Infinite lives
PAUOEIGA Start with 1 life
TAUOEIGA Start with 6 lives
OZNOKAVK Infinite papers
GOXAUOZA Start with 20 papers
GPUONUZA Gain 20 papers on pick-up
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13. Acknowledgments
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First off, I'd like to thank Nintendo for making the game.
My other big word of thanks goes to Gamefaqs, for posting this FAQ on their
website.
Thanks to <
[email protected]> who pointed out a mistake that I made.
Thanks to <
[email protected]> for telling me about his theory of the lawn
ornament that comes to life.
And also, thanks to Gamesages, which is where I got the Game Genie Codes from.
Thanks a lot everybody!
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14. Copyright Info
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This FAQ Copyright 1999 by Ian Rogers
This FAQ may not be reproduced in any way, shape, or form without written
permission from the author. That means you have to email me if you want my
FAQ posted on your website. You may NOT steal this FAQ and claim to have
written it. You also may not separate this FAQ into little pieces, and put it
on your website that way.
Well, that's the end. Email me if you have a question, a comment, or a
suggestion.
Bye.
