“N.Y.C. The Big Apple” was a 1984 action game written by Russ Segal for the Atari 8-bit family. The stated objective: “As a visiting tourist, you must visit 12 locations in New York City within a specific amount of time.”
 
“Big Apple Games” was a 1986 arcade video game by Merit Industries.
       
 
Wikipedia: New York City (video game)
N.Y.C. The Big Apple (also known as New York City) is an action game written by Russ Segal for the Atari 8-bit family and published by Synapse Software in 1984. Segal previously wrote Picnic Paranoia for Synapse. New York City was ported to the Commodore 64 by Greg Nelson.
   
As part of a “Double Play” promotion, New York City was sold as part of a two game combo, with Electrician on the other side of the disk.
   
Gameplay
The gameplay involves visiting tourist destinations of New York City such as Grant’s Tomb and the U.N. building, as well as less important locations such as the automat and bank. Each location consists of a mini-game, accessed by walking, driving or taking the subway in a stylised rendition of Manhattan island.
       
YouTube
Atari 800 XL - New York City The Big Apple
GamesEmotions
Published on Apr 23, 2007
From Synapse Software, I played a lot this game when I was a kid, I loved it!
       
Google Groups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Game “New York City”   
RoyE
7/7/07
(...)
* THE BIG APPLE *
(NYC)

OBJECTIVE:
—————
As a visiting tourist, you must visit 12 locations in New York City within a specific amount of time. The locations are:
 
LOCATION         SYMBOL
————        ———
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING     ES
UNITED NATIONS BUILDING   UN
GRANT’S TOMB           GT
WORLD TRADE CENTER       WT
CITICORP CENTER         CC
CITY HALL             CH
CENTRAL PARK ZOO         ZO
POST OFFICE           PO
AUTOMAT               AU
MART                 MA
BANK                 BA
SUBWAY               SU
 
The BANK and the SUBWAY are always open during the game. All other locations are open only when you see their two letter symbol at the top of screen under SIGHT. In addition to these 12 locations, you will see 3 other locations:
 
LOT: You must retrieve your car from the lot if it is towed.  To get your car back you must pay $90+$20 for each 7.5 minutes on the game clock.
 
GAS AND GARAGE: If you are involved in an accident or run out gas, your car will be brought here. When you pick up your car, your tank will be full and you will be charged for the gas and $50 to $350 for repairs. You may buy gas voluntarily by parking and then going into the building and position the man in the top center of the screen.  Then hold down the fire button and your gas supply will go up. You will be charged $1 per gallon.
 
YouTube
Atari 8bit game - N.Y.C. The Big Apple - Final
odislaw
Published on Jun 14, 2009
Synapse Software 1984
 
YouTube
NYC The Big Apple (Music Intro Atari 800)
djtechmachine
Published on Nov 5, 2011
   
YouTube
Retro 8-Bit Atari 800 Glitches: NYC: The Big Apple
NuclearNickname
Published on Oct 28, 2012
“NYC: The Big Apple” (AKA “New York City”) is a game from Synapse Software (Synsoft) for the 8-bit Atari 400, 800, XL and XE computers.
 
YouTube
New York City: The Big Apple for the Atari 8-bit family
Highretrogamelord
Published on Dec 29, 2013
Came also out for:
Commodore 64
Game description:
You control Ed Hick, who decided to take a day trip to New York City in his red atomic Plymouth Continental. For a first-timer in the big city, Ed will run into some problems, namely the traffic. There are two types of vehicles that Ed must face. There are harmless cars cruising the streets, and these cars can be run over without taking any damage to yourself. There are also tow trucks that can easily damage your Plymouth. If it takes enough damaged or it runs out of gas, then it is hauled to the garage while you are recovering in the hospital. You must hot-foot it all the way to the garage to pick up your car and fork out $100 for repairs. If you run out of money, the game is over.
     
YouTube
New York City The Big Apple Review (Atari 8-Bit)
RPKVids
Published on Feb 6, 2016
This is my review of New York City The Big Apple on tape cassette for the Atari 8-Bit computers.
This vintage game is being played on a Revision B Atari 800XL.
The game was published by Synapse Software in America and Americana in the UK, programmed by Russ Segal, and released in 1984 in the US, and 1986 in Great Britain.
This is what GTA would’ve been like in the 8-bit days, except maybe with a bit more violence and some hookers thrown in. 😊
 
YouTube
JCG016 - New York City: The Big Apple (1984) (Atari 8bit)
Zolaerla
Published on Feb 2, 2019
It’s the `meandering around Manhattan, missing motorists mashing into mangled masses of metal, and misplacing money at messy mindscrew mini-games` game! As I say in the video, this is one of the strangest and most frustrating Atari games I’ve ever played.
 
Twitter
Westlake
@Dr_Westlake
Replying to @16bitnostalgia @RockstarGames
The father of GTA is a game called New York City The Big Apple for Atari, released in 1984.
3:50 AM - 30 Jun 2019