Postal
This page is for the original Postal. For the 2016 remake, see Postal Redux.
Developers | |
---|---|
Running With Scissors | |
macOS (OS X) | Ryan C. Gordon[1] |
Linux | Loki Software[2] |
Publishers | |
Ripcord Games | |
Canada | Softek International[3] |
Japan | MicroMouse[4] |
Korea | Shinsung[4] |
Russia | Akella |
Europe | Take-Two Interactive[5] |
Classic and Uncut | Whiptail Interactive[6] |
Engines | |
RSPiX[7] | |
Release dates | |
Windows | September 24, 1997[8] |
Mac OS (Classic) | September 24, 1997[8] |
Linux | October 29, 2001[9] |
macOS (OS X) | July 26, 2005[1] |
Reception | |
Metacritic | 56 |
Taxonomy | |
Monetization | Freeware |
Modes | Singleplayer, Multiplayer |
Pacing | Real-time |
Perspectives | Bird's-eye view, Isometric |
Controls | Direct control |
Genres | Shooter |
Art styles | Cartoon |
Themes | Dark, North America |
Series | Postal |
Postal | |
---|---|
Postal | 1997 |
Postal² | 2003 |
Postal III | 2011 |
Postal Redux | 2016 |
Postal 4: No Regerts | 2022 |
Postal: Brain Damaged | 2022 |
Poostall Royale | 2023 |
Warnings
- The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.
Postal is a singleplayer and multiplayer bird's-eye view and isometric shooter game in the Postal series developed by Running With Scissors and published by Ripcord Games.
The game was released for Windows and Mac OS in September 1997,[8] Linux on October 29, 2001,[9] and OS X on July 26, 2005.[1]
Postal first became available digitally via the Stream Theory rental streaming service on November 15, 2001.[10] The game then became downloadable with Softwrap DRM via Running With Scissors' online store on November 23, 2005.[11] The game was then re-released digitally via MacGameStore on November 1, 2006,[12] GamersGate on October 30, 2008,[13] GOG.com on April 22, 2009,[14] Direct2Drive on February 6, 2011,[15] and Steam on March 21, 2013.[16]
The game's Steam release was followed by updates that introduced various bug fixes, improved compatibility with modern systems, widescreen support, twin-stick controls, and other quality-of-life enhancements.[17][18]
On December 28, 2016, Running With Scissors released the source code for Postal.[19] A community-contributed update for the game was subsequently released on November 14, 2017, reintroducing exclusive levels and audio from the Japanese release, improving mouse aim controls, and restoring LAN multiplayer, Challenge Mode level selection, Demo mode, and other legacy features.[20]
In December 2019, Postal became permanent freeware on Steam and GOG.com.[21][22]
General information
- GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
- GOG.com Support Page
- Steam Community Discussions
- Source code (retrieved)
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retail | Custom DRM code may sabotage the game by igniting all characters or forcing the Postal Dude to commit suicide.[23] | |||
Developer website | ||||
GOG.com | Freeware. | |||
Steam | Freeware. | |||
ZOOM Platform | Freeware. Your Mom's Box Set also available. |
|||
Humble Store | ||||
GamersGate (unavailable) | ||||
Green Man Gaming (unavailable) |
- A demo is available.
Version differences
Going Over the Edge
- Violence-neutered European release that removes enemy executions, the marching band in Parade of Disasters, and the Elementary School post-game cutscene.
- Censored content can be restored with patches.
Postal Plus
- 2000 re-release that has the Special Delivery expansion built-in.
Super Postal
- 2001 Japanese release of Postal Plus that includes two exclusive levels, Tokyo and Osaka.[4]
- Exclusive levels are included in digital releases.
Classic and Uncut
- 2003 re-release of Postal Plus.[24]
- The retail installation CD includes the "Monday" demo of Postal 2.[6]
- All digital releases are based on this edition.
Monetization
DLC and expansion packs
Name | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Special Delivery | Adds four new levels (EZ Mart, Shanty Town, Earthquake and La Palamino Resort). Included in Postal Plus and later releases. |
Essential improvements
Official patches
- Not necessary for digital releases.
- Latest retail patch (Euro-violence patch included). The Special Delivery expansion and later game releases have the patch built-in.
- Going Over the Edge Windows versions must have the Euro-violence patch applied before applying the retail patch.[25]
- Going Over the Edge Mac OS versions must have the configuration file renamed to
POSTAL.INI
after applying the patch.[25]
- Latest Postal Plus patch.
Fan patch
- Unofficial patch that fixes bugs and adds new features, cheats, and optional balance changes.
- Designed for digital releases; compatibility with retail releases is untested.
- An overview of features is presented in the author video, and in the mod readme.
Mod installation instructions |
---|
|
Game data
- Digital releases write all game data to
%APPDATA%
.
Configuration file(s) location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | <path-to-game>\POSTAL.INI[Note 1] <path-to-game>\Postal Plus.ini[Note 1] %APPDATA%\RunningWithScissors\Postal Plus\POSTAL.INI |
Mac OS (Classic) | |
macOS (OS X) | |
Linux | $XDG_DATA_HOME/PostalPlus/ |
Save game data location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | <path-to-game>\savegame\[Note 1] %APPDATA%\RunningWithScissors\Postal Plus\savegame\ |
Mac OS (Classic) | |
macOS (OS X) | |
Linux | $XDG_DATA_HOME/PostalPlus/ |
- This game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux.
Save game cloud syncing
System | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
GOG Galaxy | ||
Steam Cloud |
Video
Graphics feature | State | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Widescreen resolution | Digital versions are updated with widescreen support. Menus are still in 4:3. | ||
Multi-monitor | |||
Ultra-widescreen | UI is stretched. | ||
4K Ultra HD | |||
Field of view (FOV) | |||
Windowed | Press Alt+↵ Enter or use the --windowed command line argument. |
||
Borderless fullscreen windowed | See the glossary page for potential workarounds. | ||
Anisotropic filtering (AF) | |||
Anti-aliasing (AA) | See the glossary page for potential workarounds. | ||
Vertical sync (Vsync) | See the glossary page for potential workarounds. | ||
60 FPS and 120+ FPS | |||
High dynamic range display (HDR) | See the glossary page for potential alternatives. |
Input
Keyboard and mouse | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Remapping | ||
Mouse acceleration | ||
Mouse sensitivity | ||
Mouse input in menus | ||
Mouse Y-axis inversion | ||
Controller | ||
Controller support | ||
Full controller support | ||
Controller remapping | ||
Controller sensitivity | ||
Controller Y-axis inversion |
Controller types |
---|
XInput-compatible controllers |
---|
PlayStation controllers |
---|
Generic/other controllers |
---|
Additional information | ||
---|---|---|
Controller hotplugging | ||
Haptic feedback | ||
Digital movement supported | ||
Simultaneous controller+KB/M |
WASD controls are unintuitive
Edit controls[26][27] |
---|
|
Audio
Audio feature | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Separate volume controls | ||
Surround sound | ||
Subtitles | ||
Closed captions | ||
Mute on focus lost | ||
Royalty free audio |
Localizations
Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
English | ||||
Japanese | Interface translation in retail Super Postal version only. Japanese audio available in digital version, change voices in settings. Japanese audio forced in Tokyo & Osaka levels. | |||
Polish | Retail only. | |||
Brazilian Portuguese | Fan translation, download. Currently, only the main campaign is translated not the challenges or the multiplayer. | |||
Russian | Retail only. Patch for digital release here. | |||
Spanish | Fan translation, download. |
Network
Multiplayer types
Type | Native | Players | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
LAN play | 16 | Co-op, Versus |
||
Online play | 16 | Co-op, Versus No longer functional on modern systems.[28] |
Connection types
Type | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
Matchmaking | ||
Peer-to-peer | ||
Dedicated | ||
Self-hosting | ||
Direct IP |
Issues fixed
Cannot turn left with keyboard + NPCs spin on death
Use the official patch[30] |
---|
|
Other information
API
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
Direct3D | 9 | Introduced in the August 5, 2013 update.[31] |
OpenGL | Introduced in the March 25, 2013 update.[17] Forceable with the -opengl command line argument. |
|
Software renderer | Forceable with the -software command line argument. |
Executable | PPC | 16-bit | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Windows | |||||
macOS (OS X) | This 32-bit-only macOS game does not work on macOS Catalina (10.15) or later. | ||||
Linux | |||||
Mac OS (Classic) |
Middleware
Middleware | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Input | SDL | |
Multiplayer | HEAT.NET |
Santa Patch
- Alternative, official Christmas content theme released in late 1997.[32]
- Compatible with newer game releases.[33]
- Included in digital releases and enabled automatically during holidays as of the November 14, 2017 update.[20]
Apply the patch[33] |
---|
|
Mods
- Hotmail - Mod that adds the signature mechanic from Superhot.
- A Day in Paradise - Total conversion of sorts; changes enemies and story but maintains the same levels.
- Beta Construction Site - Conversion of the original beta level of the game for the full version. A separate version for the Steam release is available here.
System requirements
Windows | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | 95, NT 4.0 | 98, 2000, XP |
Processor (CPU) | Intel Pentium 90 MHz | Intel Pentium 166 MHz |
System memory (RAM) | 16 MB | 32 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 95 MB | 400 MB |
Video card (GPU) | DirectX 5 compatible | DirectX 7 compatible |
macOS (OS X) | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | 10.5.8 | |
Processor (CPU) | 90 MHz | 166 MHz |
System memory (RAM) | 16 MB | 32 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 400 MB |
Linux | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | Ubuntu 12.04 or equivalent | |
Processor (CPU) | 90 MHz | 166 MHz |
System memory (RAM) | 16 MB | 32 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 400 MB | |
Video card (GPU) | No 3D acceleration required |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below
%PROGRAMFILES%
,%PROGRAMDATA%
, or%WINDIR%
might be redirected to%LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore
on Windows Vista and later (more details).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 IcculusFinger v2.1.27 - last accessed on 2023-10-12
- "Running With Scissors, myself, and the MacNinjas spent some time moving the original Postal to MacOS X. If you want it, the complete game is on the MacWorld "Total Tiger" disc, which hits newstands today, July 26th."
- ↑ LOKI GOES LOCO FOR POSTAL (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-10-19
- ↑ POSTAL PLUS LICENSED TO CANADA (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-10-19
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 POSTAL PLUS LICENSED TO JAPAN (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-10-19
- ↑ Leading Interactive Entertainment Company's European Arm Signs Letter of Intent to Publish and Distribute Six Entertainment Titles for the PC, Including Highly Anticipated Postal (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-12-09
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Whiptail bring you the Original Postal (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-06-17
- ↑ Postal Engine :: POSTAL 2 General Discussions - last accessed on 2020-07-11
- "Custom engine, RSPiX."
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Now Shipping (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-12-10
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Loki | Loki in the News | News (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-10-12
- "10.29.01 Postal Plus is now shipping!"
- ↑ RENT POSTAL ONLINE (retrieved) - last accessed on 2024-02-21
- ↑ POSTAL Games Now Available via Download (retrieved) - last accessed on 2024-02-21
- ↑ Running With Scissors and MacGameStore.com Cut A Download Deal (retrieved) - last accessed on 2024-02-21
- ↑ Running With Scissors Cuts Digital Delivery Deal with GamersGate | Running With Scissors Official Website (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-10-20
- ↑ POSTAL Games Join GOG Library | Running With Scissors Official Website (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-10-20
- ↑ Direct 2 Drive Now Carries POSTAL 1, POSTAL 2 and Apocalypse Weekend | Running With Scissors Official Website (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-10-20
- ↑ POSTAL 1: Now on Steam! (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-10-20
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 What's in the latest update?! :: POSTAL General stuff - last accessed on 2023-12-08
- ↑ POSTAL 1 goes on sale and receives major controller improvements! - Running With Scissors - last accessed on 2023-10-20
- ↑ The Original POSTAL Has Been Made Open Source - Running With Scissors - last accessed on 2023-10-20
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 POSTAL - 20th Anniversary Community Update for POSTAL - Steam News - last accessed on 2023-06-22
- ↑ In Development: POSTAL 4: No Regerts + POSTAL 2 giveaway - GOG.com (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-12-12
- "From now on you can also get the first part of the POSTAL series for free on GOG.COM, this time permanently."
- ↑ Running With Scissors on X - last accessed on 2023-12-12
- "Celebrate 8 glorious nights of fire with POSTAL 1 now free on Steam, GOG or http://POSTALgames.com and set ablaze the marching band!"
- ↑ POSTAL Beta - YouTube - last accessed on 2023-12-09
- ↑ Postal: Classic and Uncut announced - GameSpot - last accessed on 2024-02-21
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 POSTAL Patches (retrieved) - last accessed on 2024-02-20
- ↑ WANTED: "Absolute" controls mod for Postal 1, page 1 - Forum - GOG.com - last accessed on 2024-02-20
- ↑ Postal 1 has abominable controls!, page 1 - Forum - GOG.com - last accessed on 2024-02-20
- ↑ Calling All Wannabe Devs - Come Update The Original POSTAL - Running With Scissors - last accessed on 2024-02-21
- ↑ Post #8 - postal 1 left turn fix, page 1 - Forum - GOG.com - last accessed on 2024-02-21
- ↑ Post #14 - postal 1 left turn fix, page 1 - Forum - GOG.com - last accessed on 2024-02-21
- ↑ Please try the beta build! :: POSTAL General stuff - last accessed on 2024-02-21
- ↑ POSTAL SANTA PATCH RELEASED (retrieved) - last accessed on 2024-02-21
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Apply 'The Santa Patch' for maximum holiday cheer! :: POSTAL General stuff - last accessed on 2024-02-21