Professional Bull Rider

Last updated: January 23, 2026

Overview

Professional Bull Rider is a sports simulation video game developed and published by Sierra On-Line, Inc. under its Sierra Sports label, released for Windows in late 1999¹². The game serves as an officially sanctioned computer-game recreation of the sport of bull riding, featuring over 40 of the top bull riders on the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit³⁴. Marketed with the tagline “Play as the bull or pray as the cowboy,” the game offered a unique twist on the sports genre by allowing players to control either the cowboy attempting to stay mounted for eight seconds or the bull trying to dislodge its rider⁵⁶.

The game distinguished itself through its use of motion-captured riding sequences to create lifelike arcade play, combined with authentic running color commentary⁷. Professional Bull Rider was positioned as an offbeat but accessible entry in the sports gaming market, successfully balancing simulation authenticity with arcade-style action⁴⁸. Sierra Sports made a significant commitment to the rodeo sports category with this title, becoming the first software company to sponsor cowboys in the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. 1999 Bud Light Cup Tour season³.

Released at a retail price of $19.95, Professional Bull Rider was designed to appeal to both fans of the sport and gamers seeking something different from traditional sports titles³. The game featured tutorial narration by bull-riding legends Ty Murray and Tuff Hedeman, with play-by-play commentary provided by official PBR announcer Justin McKee⁴⁷¹.

Game Info

Developer: Sierra On-Line, Inc.¹ Designer: Dan Rogers, Jeremy Jones, Mike Jacob¹ Publisher: Sierra Sports³ Engine: Proprietary Platforms: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me⁷ Release Year: 1999 Series: Professional Bull Rider Protagonist: Player-created bull rider Sierra Lineage: Sierra Sports

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Professional Bull Rider features a straightforward control scheme that belies the depth of technique required for successful gameplay. As PCMag UK noted, “We assumed that the secret to successful bull riding was simple: Hang on and try not to die. But in Sierra Sports’ Professional Bull Rider, there’s a lot more technique involved.”⁹ The game supports force feedback controllers to enhance the immersive experience of riding a bucking bull⁷.

The entire bull riding run lasts only eight seconds, mirroring the real sport, which creates an intense and focused gameplay experience⁶. Players must carefully manage their rider’s balance and position while the bull performs increasingly violent bucking maneuvers. The fixed camera angle, while providing a consistent viewing perspective, can sometimes make it difficult to distinguish left from right during rides⁴.

Structure and Progression

The game offers multiple modes of play to accommodate different skill levels and preferences. Players can choose to compete as a cowboy attempting to achieve high scores by staying mounted for the full eight seconds, or they can take control of the bull with the objective of dislodging the rider as quickly as possible⁶⁵.

The career mode allows players to progress through the PBR circuit, competing against the real riders and bulls featured in the game. A novel two-player mode enables head-to-head competition where Player One controls the cowboy while Player Two controls the bull, providing what PCMag UK described as “endless replay” value⁹.

Mechanics and Features

• Cowboy Mode: Control a rider attempting to stay mounted for eight seconds while scoring points for style and technique⁶
• Bull Mode: Control the bull with the goal of dislodging the rider, then attempting to gore them after they fall⁶
• Tutorial Mode: Learn the basics from bull-riding greats Ty Murray and Tuff Hedeman⁴⁷
• Two-Player Mode: Competitive mode where one player controls the cowboy and another controls the bull⁹

The bull gameplay was particularly noted for its visceral appeal, with IGN’s Tal Blevins observing that “there’s nothing quite as exciting as going after a downed cowboy with both horns pointed at his back.”⁶

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Professional Bull Rider received generally positive reviews upon release, with critics praising its unique premise and solid execution. GameSpot’s Andrew Park awarded the game 8 out of 10, declaring it “an offbeat but nonetheless great sports game that successfully treads the line between orthodox simulation and arcade action.”⁴⁵ Park further noted that “Simply put, Professional Bull Rider looks great, sounds great, and plays pretty durn well too.”⁴

IGN gave the game 7 out of 10, with reviewer Tal Blevins stating that “PBR is one of those games that turned out to be a lot more fun than we first expected” and calling it “a great bull riding simulation and well worth the money if you’re looking for something a bit different.”⁶ The IGN staff summary noted that “We grabbed the bull by the horns and were happily surprised in return.”⁶

PCMag UK was more reserved, awarding an average score of 3.0 and commenting that “Graphically PBR isn’t spectacular, and game play is pretty straightforward.”⁹ However, the publication praised the two-player feature as a standout element.

GameSpot Detailed Scoring:⁵

• Gameplay: 8/10
• Graphics: 8/10
• Sound: 8/10
• Value: 6/10
• Reviewer’s Tilt: 9/10

Modern Assessment

Professional Bull Rider has maintained a modest but positive reputation in retrospective evaluations. The game is recognized as a unique entry in the sports genre that offered something genuinely different from mainstream sports titles.

Aggregate Scores:

• MobyGames: 60% (based on 4 ratings)¹
• GameFAQs: “Great” (based on 5 ratings)²
• My Abandonware: 3/5¹⁰
• Amazon Customer Reviews: 2.5/5 (6 reviews)⁷

Development

Origins

Professional Bull Rider emerged from Sierra Sports’ strategic expansion into niche sports markets during the late 1990s. As Sean Gleason, Director of Marketing, stated in the official press release: “Sierra Sports has made a significant commitment to the category of rodeo and our first PC game release, Professional Bull Rider, will show fans just how committed we are to delivering quality games to a large and growing audience.”³

The development team set out to create an authentic representation of the PBR experience, securing official licensing and the participation of real riders and bulls from the professional circuit³⁴. This commitment to authenticity extended to the marketing campaign, with Sierra Sports becoming the first software company to sponsor cowboys on the PBR tour³.

Production

The development utilized motion capture technology to create realistic bull and rider animations, which reviewers noted contributed significantly to the game’s visual appeal⁴⁷. The team incorporated FMV sequences and worked to balance simulation depth with arcade accessibility⁴.

Sierra Sports set up interactive booths at PBR events featuring virtual bull riding experiences, allowing fans to test whether they could make the eight seconds³. This grassroots marketing approach helped build awareness among the core target audience.

Development Credits:¹

• Designer: Dan Rogers
• Designer: Jeremy Jones
• Designer: Mike Jacob
• Composer: Craig Utterback
• Play-by-Play Announcer: Justin McKee

Technical Achievements

The game’s motion-captured riding sequences represented a significant technical achievement for a budget-priced sports title, creating what reviewers described as “astonishing realism” in the bull’s movements⁴. GameSpot noted that “There’s no banjo-pluckin’, yee-hawin’, or tobacco-spittin’, and the only bull in the game is a big mean critter that moves with astonishing realism and bucks like hell.”⁴

Technical Specifications

System Requirements:⁵

• Processor: Pentium-166 MHz minimum
• RAM: 32 MB
• CD-ROM: 8X speed
• Video: SVGA with 2MB VRAM
• Sound: Sound board required
• Operating System: Windows 95 or Windows 98

Media: CD-ROM¹

Players: 1-2⁵

Difficulty: Medium⁵

Learning Curve: 2 to 2.5 hours⁵

Stability: Stable⁵

Technical Issues

The game featured static polygonal bulltenders and bitmapped crowds that reviewers noted looked dated even at release⁴. The fixed camera angle, while providing consistency, could make spatial orientation challenging during intense riding sequences⁴.

Modern compatibility issues have been reported, with some users noting the game “doesn’t work on Windows 10,” although other users have successfully run the game on modern systems¹⁰.

Easter Eggs and Trivia

• The game featured real PBR riders and bulls from the 1999 circuit, providing authentic roster representation⁴⁷
• Players could control either the cowboy or the bull, a dual-perspective approach that was unusual for sports games of the era⁶⁵
• Sierra Sports’ sponsorship of the PBR tour marked the first time a software company had sponsored professional bull riders³
• The entire riding event lasts only eight seconds, faithfully recreating the real sport’s timeframe⁶

Voice Cast

Character	Voice Actor
Tutorial Narrator	Ty Murray7
Tutorial Narrator	Tuff Hedeman7
Play-by-Play Announcer	Justin McKee14

Justin McKee served as the official PBR announcer, providing color commentary that GameSpot described as contributing to the game’s authentic atmosphere⁴¹¹.

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

Professional Bull Rider was positioned as a budget title at $19.95, making it accessible to casual fans of the sport³. The game’s success led to a sequel, Professional Bull Rider 2, released in September 2000¹²¹³.

Sequel

Professional Bull Rider 2 was released on September 4, 2000 by Sierra On-Line¹²¹³. GameSpot awarded it 6.9 out of 10, with reviewer Andrew Park noting that “Professional Bull Rider 2 reuses most of the same exact graphics, music, voiceover, and gameplay as those of the previous game.”¹¹ The sequel was criticized for being more of a content update than a true follow-up, with Park stating “It’s unfortunate, and maybe even a bit misleading, that the game is called Professional Bull Rider 2, as it implies that it’s a full-blown sequel.”¹¹

IGN was less favorable toward the sequel, rating it 5 out of 10 and commenting “We grab the bull by the horns, and end up feeling trampled on and dirty.”¹³

The sequel included a new track by Lynyrd Skynyrd and contained a trailer for an upcoming film¹¹.

PBR Gaming Franchise

The Professional Bull Riders license continued in gaming beyond Sierra’s involvement:

PBR: Raging Bulls (Mobile, 2014) Developed by RED Games Co., LLC for iOS devices, this mobile game featured legendary bull Bushwacker and 13 PBR and fantasy bulls¹⁴. The app received a 4.0/5 rating on the App Store but has since become incompatible with current iOS versions¹⁴.

8 To Glory (2018) Developed by Three Gates AB and published by Jumpgate AB, this title was released for PlayStation 4 on July 31, 2018¹⁵¹⁶. Marketed as “The only officially licensed video game of the PBR,” it featured the 2018 PBR circuit and received a 4.03/5 rating on the PlayStation Store¹⁵¹⁶. The game was also available on console and mobile platforms¹⁷.

Critical Perspective

Professional Bull Rider represented an unusual entry in the late 1990s sports gaming landscape, offering a focused simulation of a niche sport that had rarely been explored in interactive entertainment. The game demonstrated that even unconventional sports subjects could make for compelling gameplay when developed with attention to authenticity and accessible mechanics.

While never achieving the commercial impact of mainstream sports franchises, Professional Bull Rider carved out a unique space in gaming history. It showed Sierra Sports’ willingness to explore underserved market segments and proved that the company’s expertise extended beyond its core adventure game legacy. The game’s positive critical reception—particularly from GameSpot and IGN—validated Sierra’s approach of creating polished, budget-friendly titles for specialized audiences.

The franchise’s continued existence through mobile and console titles decades later demonstrates the enduring appeal of the bull riding simulation concept that Sierra Sports pioneered.

Downloads

Download / Preservation

• Internet Archive – Professional Bull Rider 2¹²
• My Abandonware – Professional Bull Rider¹⁰

Purchase (Original)

• Amazon – Professional Bull Rider PC⁷

Series Continuity

Professional Bull Rider was the first game in Sierra Sports’ bull riding franchise, establishing the core gameplay mechanics and authentic PBR integration that would carry forward into the sequel. The game set the template for future PBR-licensed titles, demonstrating the viability of bull riding as a video game subject.

• Next: 2000 - Professional Bull Rider 2

References

Footnotes

1. MobyGames – Professional Bull Rider – developer, publisher, credits, ratings, platform information ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸

2. GameFAQs – Professional Bull Rider – release date, developer, publisher, user ratings ↩ ↩²

3. Blues News – Professional Bull Rider Press Release – marketing details, retail price, sponsorship information, rider count ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

4. GameSpot – Professional Bull Rider Review – detailed review, scores, technical analysis, voice cast ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷

5. ESPN/GameSpot – Professional Bull Rider Review – detailed scoring breakdown, system requirements, tagline ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

6. IGN – Professional Bull Rider Review – review, gameplay details, quotes ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

7. Amazon – Professional Bull Rider PC – release date, voice cast, technical specs, customer reviews ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹

8. Metacritic – Professional Bull Rider – release date, developer, publisher ↩

9. PCMag UK – Professional Bull Rider – review, score, two-player mode description ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

10. My Abandonware – Professional Bull Rider – preservation, compatibility comments ↩ ↩² ↩³

11. GameSpot – Professional Bull Rider 2 Review – sequel review, comparison to original ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

12. Internet Archive – Professional Bull Rider 2 – sequel preservation, release date ↩ ↩² ↩³

13. IGN – Professional Bull Rider 2 – sequel release date, rating ↩ ↩² ↩³

14. App Store – PBR: Raging Bulls – mobile game details, developer, ratings ↩ ↩²

15. PlayStation Store US – 8 To Glory – modern PBR game details, pricing, ratings ↩ ↩²

16. PlayStation Store Canada – 8 To Glory – release date, developer, publisher ↩ ↩²

17. 8 To Glory Official Website – platform availability ↩