Bowling FAQ
for the Atari 2600
Version 1.0
Dated 5/5/03
Written & Compiled by TestaALT
Email Address TestaALT [at] NetZero.com
=================
Table of Contents
=================
I. Introduction
II. Basics
A. Story
B. Controls
C. Overview
III. Strategies
IV. Frequently Asked Questions
V. Closing
A. Credits
B. Legal Disclaimer
C. Contact Information
==============================================================================
I. Introduction
==============================================================================
Welcome, welcome to my short (and hopefully sweet) guide on Bowling. This guide
covers the game on it's video game origin, the Atari 2600. Bowling is an art,
well, maybe not. Most people know it as
the-sport-where-you-wear-other-people's-shoes. Hell, I even know it as that.
But I can give you assurance that the professionals have there own shoes, as
well as socks and under. But, besides the point. Here is my walkthrough on
Bowling for the atari 2600. Maybe you have it, maybe you do not even have an
atari. Either way, this guide is sure to please all!
Note: You do not have to wear other people's shoes while playing this game.
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II. Basics
==============================================================================
==============================================================================
A. Story
==============================================================================
This guy was walking down the street and he sees someone get shot and and...
Wait, There IS no story for this game!
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B. Controls
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Joystick - Controls the character and the bowling ball. Just remember
that the bowling ball will only use your first movement.
Fire Button - Allows the player to throw the bowling ball.
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C. Overview
==============================================================================
Short little screwy diagram of the bowling lane. Oh, this is the overview of
the game for beginners that don't know what this ball-pin game is.
-----------------------------------------------------------
| <- Gutter Lane
| •
| •
| • •
| • •
| • •
| •
| •
| <- Gutter Lane
-----------------------------------------------------------
Pins
----
One of the most basic things in this game is the pins. There is 10 pins and
they are stationed at the end of the bowling lane. What you need to do is get
your bowling ball and throw it, sliding on the ground, at the pins. If you hit
a pin you will accumulate a point. If you hit many you will get as many points
as pins you knocked down. There is some special bonus points if you knock down
all of the pins.
Bowling Ball
------------
This is that 6-15 pound ball you throw at the pins. Well, not really "throw."
Sort of like slide. That's right. You slide the bowling ball down the lane to
the pins. The more you hit the more points you get. This bowling ball has three
holes in it big enough for a human finger. Reason being is because you put your
fingers in the hole when throwing the ball. But that does not have anything to
do with this game, what I am babbling about now?
The Lane
--------
This is the long yellow wood stretched to the pins. You slide the bowling ball
on the lane and it slides over to the pins. It takes a little more skill then
that, mind you. Oh, and just for you to know, they keep the floor freshly
polished and waxed so *please* do not get a 10 pound bowling ball and throw it
on your Mom's to-die-for tile. She will be pissed.
The Points
----------
Gosh, what did I say in pins? Every pin you knock down serves as a point. So,
if you knock down 8 you would add 8 points to your total. There are things like
strikes and spares which count for more points. These are *special*. Oh, and
the point meter is located on the top of the screen in big letters. Look for
the oh-so-colorful atari numbers.
Gutter
------
The gutter is located at the sides of the lane. If you get your ball into the
gutter it will slide by and not hit *any* pins. You do not want this so don't
be a terrible shot. Aim for the pins and not the side of the lane, for christ
sakes!
The Line
--------
You cannot go up close to the pins and knock them down. There is a line that
you cannot cross fairly far away from the pins. This means that you have to
make a good slide and not get into the gutter while you roll down a lot of
floor. Good game now, ain't it?
Strikes
-------
This is something when you get all the pins down in one go. You can get up to
thirty points if you get the same thing on the next turn.
Spare
-----
This is something when you get all of the pins down in two goes. You can get
extra points if you hit down pins in the next turn.
The Player
----------
You control a little 8-bit contorted freak on the side opposite of the pins.
You are the little dude (that is very square today, might I add) that throws
the ball to the pins. You can go up or down to aim the bowling ball to where
you want it to go to.
Controlling the Ball
--------------------
This is the weird part in this game, after you throw the ball and why it is
rolling down the lane you can either move it up or down. Remember that it will
use your first movement and your first movement only. If you press up expect it
to steadily go up. Same goes for down. This is good to be more accurarte and
adds more uniqueness to this game as well as hard-ness..
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III. Strategies
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Legend
------
Y
O = The player, the U is his
U boots and the Y is his face.
• = Bowling Pins
- = Side Lane and Bowling Ball.
#1 "How to get a strike"
------------------------
This is how you get a strike in this game. It is actually quiet easy if you are
at the exact placement. The diagram below shows you where you have to be when
you throw the ball. It will also show the balls movement.
-----------------------------------------------------------
•
Y •
O • •
U ----------------------------------------- • •
• •
•
•
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you are off on precision, you need to up or down the ball
to avoid having a split. The next two diagrams are of the
ball going in the upper and downward motion and how it will
effect the pins. Upward will knock down 7 pins on the first
try as the downward will.
Upward
-----------------------------------------------------------
Y •
O •
U ------------------------------------------. • •
•'. •
•'. •
•'.
•
-----------------------------------------------------------
Downward
-----------------------------------------------------------
•
•.'
Y •.' •
O •.' •
U ------------------------------------------' • •
•
•
-----------------------------------------------------------
#2 "Getting the remaining pins"
-------------------------------
This little strategy will tell you how to get the remaining pins that are on
the bowling lane. There might be a couple diagrams and there might be a dozen.
What this strategy is suppose to tell you is how to get the remaining pins, as
the title states.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Y
O •
U -------------------------------------------•
• •
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
Y
O
U --------------------------------------------------•
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
Y
O
U ----------------------------------------•. •
•' •
•'
•
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
Y
O •
U ------------------------------------------- •
•
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
Y
O .'•
U --------------------------------------------•
-----------------------------------------------------------
#3 "Getting a Spare"
--------------------
The point of this is to get a quick spare and avoid the dangers of trying to
get a strike. Here is a diagram that is of where you need to throw the ball to
get a spare. It should work with a little practice and a little luck.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Y
O •
U -------------------------------------------•
• •
• •
• •
•
•
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
Y
O
U ----------------------------------------•. •
•' •
•'
•
-----------------------------------------------------------
#4 "The Split"
--------------
This is a strategy to getting the split which is extremely hard and will take
months to do.
-----------------------------------------------------------
•
:
:
:
Y :
O .
U ---------------------------------------------'•
-----------------------------------------------------------
And that basically concludes any strategy you will need. It is only 4 but they
will grow and are basically all this game needs hence it is very... short.
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IV. Frequently Asked Questions
==============================================================================
Q: What is the highest score you can acquire in this game?
A: Three-Hundred is a perfect game.
Q: What is your highest score in this game?
A: My highest score would be 217.
Q: How do I make the ball rise and sink?
A: Hold up or down on the joystick.
Q: I rise it but I cannot control the ball after this, what gives?
A: Nothing gives, the game would be way to easy if you could control the
balls every movement. Basically, it goes off of your first movement of
the joystick and that's it.
Q: How many pins are there in this game?
A: Ten to be exact.
Q: What is a split?
A: When the pins on either side are still up after your first throw. This is
a "split." It is very hard to get all of the pins, now.
Q: How are the points marked up?
A: Every pin you knock down counts as a point. If you get a strike and knock
them all down you are able to get thirty in one run because the next throw
counts for the first one and the second one.
Q: This game flickers when I play it, how can I make this not happen?
A: You have the old 2 K version. This version is defective to some.
Q: Where can I buy this game?
A: No clue. Most likely Ebay or another site with ancient games such as this.
Q: My "skillz" suck at this game, how can I get better?
A: Play the game more and try out my strategies. After time you will get
good.
Q: All that strike and spare bolongy, I don't get it. What does it mean?
A: See: Basics section.
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V. Closing
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A. Credits
==============================================================================
Credits to the people that have made this document possible.
- CJayC for creating GameFAQs.
- Trace, Chad, Brian, Seth, David, and others for being great people which
inspire me to write. They are also very intriguing people that make great
guides. And well, I talk to them all the time. Also the FAQ Contributor Board
for being a place to go to.
==============================================================================
B. Legal Disclaimer
==============================================================================
This document is Copyright © 2003 Andrew "TestaALT" Testa. All Rights
Reserved. This document may not be reproduced or retransmitted in any form and
under any circumstances without the complete consent of the author. It may not
be sold, altered, or published in any way without the advance permission of
the author. All sources, which have contributed to this document, are cited
and/or credited in some form. The only sources you can see this document at
are GameFAQs (GameFAQs.com) & IGN (IGN.com). If you see this document at any
other sources email me telling so as I will not allow this document to be
published at any other sources. Please do not ask me, as it is very annoying.
These terms have become binding once the recipient (or reader) opened this
document. Violation of these terms is strictly prohibited and will result in a
lawsuit. Please do not take these terms as threats and/or not read them as
they are all very much true. I can sue you for an act of plagiarism and will
not hesitate to do so. Thank you for reading this legal disclaimer and have a
nice day!
"Don't Steal, just ask!" - Breath of Fire III
==============================================================================
C. Contact Information
==============================================================================
This section will tell you how to contact the author regarding work that he
has done. If you have a valid question my email address is
[email protected].
I will not respond to your email if the answer can be found in this file. If
the version for this guide is marked "Final" then this means that the author
thinks the game is covered completely. If you have a question that cannot be
found in this file do not hesitate to email me. If it is of any use for the
guide it will be added in the next update. I will try my best to respond to
your question. Thank you for reading this information.
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+- End of File -+
