The Budweiser-Themed Tapper Arcade Game was created and released by Bally/Midway in 1983. Originally it was intended only as an arcade game for bars, promoting Budweiser Beer. The game was popular and began showing up in arcades all over the US. Soon children were dropping quarters into the machines and running virtual bars everywhere. Parents were not enthused. To avoid legal matters and loss of popularity, the game was converted into RootBeer Tapper and released in 1984. More details below...
DESCRIPTION
You, the player, are a bartender serving Budweiser beer to patrons. You must serve everyone a beer before they work their way up to the kegs. You must also grab empty mugs before they slide off the end of the bar. Failing to do so will result in a loss of a life. You must be careful to fill and fling the proper amount of mugs down the bar, if you over do it, the mugs will fall and smash, also leading to a loss of a life. If any customers reach the player's end of the bar, they grab the bartender and toss him out the far end of the bar, this too will cost the player a life. In order to complete a level, the player must clear the entire bar of customers. Once this is done, the player is presented with a short skit in which the bartender draws a drink for himself, drinks it, then tosses the empty mug into the air with assorted, usually comical, results. There are a total of 13 levels consisting of 4 different boards or phases. These include a Saloon, a Sports Bar, A Punk Bar, and an Alien Bar. After completing all 13 levels, the player starts at the 1st(Saloon)again, which is more difficult than the first time through.
LEVEL CHARACTERS
SCORING SYSTEM
TIPS
Periodically, customers will leave tips on the bar for the player. These tips are left at varying places, but usually near the opposite side of the bar. By collecting the tip, the player earns extra points and initiates "entertainment" for that level (dancing girls on the saloon level, cheerleaders on the sports level, rocker chicks on the punk level, and alien babes on the alien level). While the entertainment is active, some of the customers will be distracted and stop advancing towards the player, in your favor, however they will also stop catching mugs.
BONUS ROUND
With your bartender's back turned, the masked villain shakes up five of the six cans in the center. He then bangs the table and the cans start moving around. If you focus on your can you should be able to figure out where it winds up, but with one little distraction, you will lose track of the can. The cans get faster until level 9, when you really need to pay close attention. If you win, you get A This Bud's For You, if you lose, the can fizzes up in the Bartender's face.
ROOTBEER TAPPER
In 1984, RootBeer Tapper was introduced. It was developed because the original version was construed as advertising alcohol to minors (since many of the games appeared in video game arcades). RootBeer Tapper is almost identical to the Budweiser version, except the player is a soda jerk serving non-alcoholic root beer. Many Budweiser Tapper machines were converted into RootBeer Tapper machines.
CLICK THE PIC TO PLAY!!
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YOU MUST HAVE THE LATEST VERSION OF SHOCKWAVE IN ORDER TO PLAY THIS GAME
***If that one isn't compatible with your setup, here's a knockoff version of the game. Check it out...
http://www.freewebarcade.com/game/beer-tapper/
