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Space War - Atari - Atari 2600    Manual Scan icon HTML Manual   

Space War
SPACE WAR

GAME PROGRAM TM INSTRUCTIONS

MODEL CX2604

ATARI

A Warner Communications Company

ATARI, INC., Consumer Division
1195 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086

(c) 1978 ATARI, INC.                                  C011402-04

Use your Joystick Controllers with this Game Program TM. Be sure
the Controllers are firmly connected to your Video Computer
System TM. See your Owner's Manual for details. Hold the
Controllers with the red button to your upper left towards the
television screen.

To prolong the life of your Atari Video Computer System and
protect the electronic components, the console should be OFF when
inserting or removing a Game Program.

CONTROLLER ACTION

   THRUST
      ^
      |
      |
   <----->
TURN  |  TURN
LEFT  |  RIGHT
      v
  HYPERSPACE

Just like learning to drive a car, it takes a bit of practice to
learn how to control your Star Ship during Space War and Space
Shuttle games. The following exercises will help you gain
proficiency in controlling your Star Ship. Game 14, a Space
Shuttle game, is an excellent practice field.

    <--- TURN LEFT . TURN RIGHT ##### (COUNTER CLOCKWISE) ^ # \ (CLOCKWISE) \ ### / ### v \ ### ^ / ### v # / ##### '>

EXERCISE 1

After cycling to Game 14, push the Game Reset button. Push the
Joystick to the left; your Star Ship will rotate counter
clockwise
(left). Push the Joystick to the right; your Star Ship will
rotate clockwise (right). Practice rotating your Star Ship in
both directions. Notice how the Star Ship looks when it is each
position.
                                             
     INCREASE SPEED                   SLOW SPEED
            |                             |
  DIRECTION V DIRECTION                   | DIRECTION
         OF | OF                          | OF
     TRAVEL | THRUST                      | TRAVEL
            V                             V
          #####                           #
           ###                           ###
           ###                           ###
            #                           #####
            |                             ^ 
            |                             | DIRECTION
            |                             ^ OF
            V                             | THRUST

EXERCISE 2

Push the Game Reset button. By pushing the Joystick forward
(towards the television screen), give your Star Ship three quick
short bursts of "thrust". notice that your Star Ship is now
travelling in a forward motion towards the bottom of the
playfield. By turning the Star Ship either clockwise or counter
clockwise, turn the Star Ship so it is facing away from the
forward motion. Give the Star Ship thee short quick bursts of
thrust. Your Star Ship will slow almost to a stop. Push the Game
Reset and try again. Practice this exercise until you can stop
the Star Ship completely.

INCREASE SPEED

DIRECTION OF    #
TRAVEL          ###
--------->----->####---->
DIRECTION OF    ###
THRUST          #


SLOW SPEED

                #
              ###
------>----->####<----<------ DIRECTION OF ### DIRECTION OF TRAVEL # THRUST 

EXERCISE 3 

Push the Game Reset button. Turn your Star Ship so it is facing to your right 
and down (approximately 45 degrees). Give your Star Ship continuous "thrust" 
until it is moving rapidly across the playfield. Alternate using horizontal 
"thrust" and vertical "thrust" to bring the Star Ship to a near standstill 
in the middle of the playfield. After mastering the above exercises, you 
should be an experienced Star Ship captain, ready to do battle among the stars.

 \ \ DIRECTION OF TRAVEL \ # \## ### #### ^ \ | 
 DIRECTION \ | OF THRUST # ### ### ##### # ### 
 <---#### DIRECTION ###\ OF THRUST # \ \ 
 
HANDICAP Difficulty Switches The left and right Difficulty switches must be in the "B" position during all Space 
War games. In Space Shuttle games, slide the Difficulty switch "A" and you must exactly match your Star 
Ship's velocity to the Space Module's velocity. In "B" position, your Star Ship does not have to travel 
at the same speed to dock with the Space Module. SCORING During Space War games (1 through 7) you score 
one point when your opponent's Star Ship explodes. A Star Ship will explode when: * A direct hit is made
 by firing a missile. * The Star Ship collides with the Space Sun (games 4 and 5). * The Star Ship runs 
 out of fuel while in Hyperspace (games 2 through 7). * The Star Ship tries to enter Hyperspace when out 
 of fuel (games 2 through 7). In one and two-player Shuttle games (8 through 17) one point is scored each 
 time the Star Ship is successfully docked with the Space Module. You have ten minutes to score a maximum ten points. 
 
SPACE GLOSSARY 
 
Space Combat and Shuttle game playfields are characterized by 
different "galaxy" variations. The following descriptions will 
tell you what to expect when a game features any of these 
variations. [Picture of the playfield.] 

GALAXY BOUNDARY 
In some galaxies your Star Ship cannot penetrate the playfield 
boundaries and will instead bounce off the edges. 

WARP DRIVE 
Move your Star Ship off one edge of the Galaxy Boundary and it 
will go into Warp Drive and reappear on the opposite side. For 
example, move your Star Ship off the right edge and it will reappear on the left edge. 

SPACE SUN 
Fight the pull of gravity from the sun in the center of the 
Space Galaxy. In some games your Star Ship will explode from 
exposure to the extreme heat and reset to the starting position. 

HYPERSPACE 
Pull your Joystick towards you. Your Star Ship goes into Hyperspace 
and becomes invisible. When in Hyperspace, your Star Ship uses more 
fuel. It is impossible to be hit by your opponents missiles or to 
collide with the Space Sun while in Hyperspace. To make your Star 
Ship drop out of Hyperspace and reappear, pull the Joystick towards you. 

STARBASE 
Make contact with the Starbase at the center of the galaxy to refuel 
and resupply your missiles. Your missile and fuel gauges at the top 
of the playfield will reflect resupplies as your Star Ship resets to the starting point. 

SPACE WAR GAMES 

You and your opponent blast off into space. Each player controls one Star Ship with the Joystick Controller. 
The object is to score points by shooting your opponent's Star Ship with missiles fired by the red button 
on your Joystick Controller. Aim the nose of your Star Ship in the direction you want to fire. Space War 
games last ten minutes or until one player scores ten points. Player's scores appear at the top of the 
playfield and are color coordinated with the Star Ships. The two lines to the right of your score refer to 
fuel and missile supply. The top line is the fuel gauge; the bottom line is the amount of missiles remaining. 
Each player begins with eight missiles. Once the arsenal is depleted, the game will automatically reset each 
player with eight more missiles ONLY when both players are out of missiles. In most War games, fuel cannot be 
resupplied. In games 6 and 7, players can refuel and resupply missiles by docking with the Starbase. Fuel is 
used by adding "thrust" to your Star Ship or by putting your Ship into Hyperspace. 

GAME 1 
It's war in space as two players attempt to score 10 points 
first. You have Galaxy boundaries in this game. 

GAME 2 
Engage in combat in a galaxy which features Galaxy Boundaries and Hyperspace. 

GAME 3 
Oppose your space opponent in a galaxy which has Warp Drive. 
Use Hyperspace as a defensive move. 

GAME 4
The Space Sun in the center of the galaxy exerts gravity during combat. 
Avoid your opponent or collision with the Space Sun by using Hyperspace. 
You also fight within Galaxy Boundaries. 

GAME 5 
The Space Sun, Warp Drive, and Hyperspace are the features of the galaxy playfield. 

GAME 6 
You can refuel and receive more missiles at any time during this game. 
Steer your Star Ship to the Starbase. This galaxy also features Galaxy Boundaries and Hyperspace. 

GAME 7 
Steer your Star Ship to the Starbase at any time during the game to 
refuel or receive more missiles. This galaxy also features Warp Drive and Hyperspace. 

SPACE SHUTTLE GAMES 
If you have mastered the exercises, you are ready to try Space Shuttle. Connect your Star Ship with the Space Module to score.
 Recommended strategy is to first match your Star Ship's speed to the Space Module's speed. Then slowly maneuver your Star 
 Ship towards the Space Module. During Shuttle games the Star Ships have an unlimited supply of fuel. In one-player 
 games, you control one Star Ship with the left Joystick Controller and compete against the clock. You have ten minutes 
 to score a maximum ten points. During two-player games each player maneuvers his Star Ship to score. In two-player games 
 with two Space Modules, the target Space Module will be the same color as your Star Ship. First player to score ten points 
 or the most points in ten minutes wins. 
 
2-PLAYER GAMES 
 
GAME 8 
Two players each control one Star Ship and attempt to connect with the 
Module which is color coordinated with the Ship. Warp Drive is present in this galaxy. 

GAME 9 
Two players each control one Star Ship and compete to connect with the 
same Space Module. This galaxy features Warp Drive. GAME 10 Each player 
controls a Star Ship and attempts to connect with a color coordinated 
Space Module. This galaxy has a Space Sun and Galaxy Boundaries. 

GAME 12 
Galaxy Boundaries characterize this galaxy. Each player controls a Star 
Ship and attempts to connect to the same Space Module. 

GAME 13 
Each player controls a Star Ship and attempts to connect with the Space 
Module that is color coordinated to the Star Ship. Galaxy boundaries are featured. 

1-PLAYER GAMES 

GAME 14 
One player controls a Star Ship and attempts to connect with the Space Module. 
This galaxy features Warp Drive. 

GAME 15 
A Space Sun and Warp Drive characterize this space galaxy. One player 
steers the Star Ship to connect with the Space Module. 

GAME 16 
One player controls a Star Ship and attempts to dock it with the Space 
Module. Galaxy Boundaries characterize this playfield. 

GAME 17 
A Space Sun and Galaxy Boundaries could affect one player's strategy to 
connect the Star Ship with the Space Module. 

SPACE WAR STRATEGY TIPS 

After you master controlling your Star Ship, you're ready to develop game strategy. The 
following tips should help you begin your competitive strategy for Space Shuttle and Space War games. 

SPACE WAR
 * Change your Star Ship's position as soon as the game is in the Start position. The 
 initial location of the Star Ships makes it easier for players to score a direct hit.
  * Keep close surveillance on your opponent's missile supply gauge. Plan your shots 
  so that your opponent deletes his missile supply first, leaving no defense against your missiles.
  * Note that missile supplies are automatically replenished only when BOTH players 
  have used all their missiles. Use this feature to you advantage when these three variables occur at once:
   	* Your opponent has no remaining missiles. 
	* You have remaining missiles. 
	* You are playing in a galaxy with a Starbase. 
    Leave your opponent without a chance for resupplying missiles by obtaining all of 
	your missiles at the Starbase BEFORE your supplies are completely depleted. 
	
SPACE SHUTTLE
 * The easiest way to match you Star Ship's speed with the Space Module speed it to first, 
 stop your ship. Point it in the DIRECTION the module is travelling. Apply thrust until the 
 Star Ship and the Space Module are moving at the same speed. Then move 
 the Star Ship towards the Space Module.
 * To efficiently make your Star Ship contact the Module: 
  	* Your Star Ship must travel at the same speed as the Space Module. 
	* Your Star Ship must travel in the same direction as the Space Module. 
	Now point your Ship at the Module and apply thrust. 
	
	
SPACE WAR / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 .
---------------------+----------------------------- 

No. of Players | 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 | 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 

Single Module | | X X X X X X 

Galaxy Boundary | X X X X | X X X X X 

Warp Drive | X X X | X X X X X 

Space Sun | X X | X X X X 

Hyperspace | X X X X X X | 

Starbase | X X | 


This document obtained from the History of Home Video Games Homepage, ©1997-1998 by Greg Chance