Grand Prix Atari 2600 FAQ/Strategy Guide
Version: 1.0
Author: Rob 'Larcen Tyler' Adair
Last Revision Date: 02/15/04
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
This document is electronically published work Copyrighted ¸2004 by Rob
'Larcen Tyler' Adair. Permission is granted to make a copy _ONLY_ as a
personal reference copy, in which case the document _MUST_ remain in its
original, unedited form. Any other reproduction is strictly prohibited.
This document may not be used as a promotional item or for profitable means of
any kind (even if no profit is intended to be gained.)
This document is only allowed to appear on the GameFAQs website and no other
website whatsoever, nor may any part of this document appear on any website
for any reason whatsoever.
Grand Prix is a registered trademark of Activision.
Atari 2600 Video Computer System, and any accessories mentioned within are
registered trademarks and copyrighted materials owned by Atari Games.
GameFAQs is a registered trademark and copyrighted 1995-2004 by Jeff 'CJayC'
Veasey.
Any other names mentioned within not mentioned within this section are
registered trademarks and/or copyrighted materials of their respective owners.
Larcen Tyler is in no way affiliated with any of the companies listed above,
or their affiliates in any way. No affiliation should be assumed for any
reason whatsoever.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. REVISION HISTORY
2. HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
3. TRACK INFORMATION
4. TIPS
5. CONTACT INFORMATION
6. CREDITS
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
1. REVISION HISTORY
02/15/04: Had nothing better to do, so I decided to write a guide for this
classic game.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
2. HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
You have been entered in the Activision Grand Prix, one of the most exciting
races ever. Each racer must dodge other cars and obstacles as they attempt to
reach the finish line in the quickest time possible. Ladies and gentlemen,
start your engines!
(The Difficulty Switches aren't used in this game.)
(The point of view for this game is a little different than most. Your
car appears on the left hand side of the screen and drives from left to right,
with things like cars and other obstacles coming at you from the right hand
side. This to help you understand the layout of the controls.)
The race can take place on one of four tracks. Select the track by using the
Game Select switch on your Atari 2600 console. The tracks available for play
are:
When you have chosen the track you wish to play on (indicated by the number on
the bottom of the screen) simply press the Game Reset switch. Your racer
will appear onscreen, ready for action!
Press the action button to start your car and get the race underway!
ACCELERATING: Use the action button to accelerate. You don't have to worry
about shifting during the game, so just keep the button pressed.
STEERING: Move the joystick up or down to steer your car in those respective
directions.
BRAKING: If you need to slow down quickly, pull the joystick to the left,
and you will hear the sound of your brakes squealing as you come to a halt.
If you want to reduce speed a little, simply let off of the accelerator.
Note that once you are stopped, you can't move your car.
OBSTACLES:
OIL SLICKS: Oil slicks are found at random intervals throughout the tracks.
They don't slow you down, but they do cause you to slip and slide, possibly
into another car! It's best to avoid them as much as possible.
RIVAL CARS: There are other racers on the circuit, and they can come from
anywhere at any time. If you hit a car, your speed will be greatly
reduced. You'll end up losing time as you try to get back up to speed, but
you won't be out of the race. Be careful, as you bounce off rival cars when
you hit them, meaning you could bounce off one and into another, slowing you
up big time.
BRIDGES: Bridges appear on every track except for Watkins Glen. For every
mile of the race that you've completed on those tracks, you'll cross a
bridge over blue water. When you cross the bridge, your elapsed time to
the bridge is displayed briefly. The race timer will resume once you've
finished crossing the bridge. If your car hits the side of the bridge,
it will slow down greatly. If you crash into the bridge going in (hitting
the water instead of the road) you'll stop completely and lose valuable
time as you get back on track.
THE FINISH LINE: Eventually, you'll come to a line of checkered flags. When
your car touches it, the race is officially over. Way to go! Now, see if you
can beat your current record!
RECORDS TO AIM FOR:
When the Atari 2600 was in it's peak days, Activision held a promotion where,
if you accomplished a certain feat in their games and snapped a photo of it
and sent it to them, they'd send you a special emblem. The following were
minimum times to match or beat to enter the Activision Driving Team:
WATKINS GLEN:
Watkins Glen is a short track with no bridges and makes a great track to warm
up on. The traffic is generally light on Watkins Glen.
BRANDS HATCH:
Brands Hatch is slightly longer, with the first bridge to contend with. Once
you've gotten a feel for the controls, try Brands Hatch out.
LE MANS:
Le Mans has two bridges to contend with, meaning a longer race and more drivers
to watch out for.
MONACO:
Monaco is the longest of the tracks, with three bridges to contend with. Since
this is the most difficult track, traffic is generally heavier, so be careful.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
4. PLAYING TIPS
-For your sake and mine, please, don't drive drunk! :)
-Cars generally leave a lot of oil right before bridges, so if you see a large
patch of oil slicks, be ready to move into the center of the track so you
don't crash into the bridge.
-Try to avoid unnecessary braking in order to save time. You should ease off
of the accelerator if you need to avoid an accident. Use the brakes only as
a last resort.
-Sometimes, an oil slick can actually be useful in shaving a second or two off
of your time, if you drive straight through them. There's no guarantee,
however, that this will always work, and if a car is around, I'd strongly
advise against doing it.
-The records that were listed for the tracks are very difficult, even for
myself, so don't give up!
-And lastly, HAVE FUN!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
5. CONTACT INFORMATION
READ THIS BEFORE YOU SEND ME ANY E-MAIL!
The following types of E-Mail I will _NOT_ accept under any circumstances:
-Mail that contains flaming (insults) or offensive content within. If you
don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything!
-Spam/Advertisements of any kind. This is against the law, and will not be
taken lightly.
-Asking if you can use this on your website/in your FAQ/Magazine/anything
like that will not be tolerated. In case you missed it, I specifically
stated that I won't allow it in the disclaimer section at the beginning.
-Asking where to find this game in a ROM format, or any other illegal
software requests will be ignored.
-Asking me where to find this cartridge.
(Honestly, I wish I knew where to find Atari games, but I have as much of
a hard time finding them as you probably do! Your best bet is to check
online.)
The following types of E-Mail I will accept:
-Suggestions and/or constructive criticism.
-Strategies of your own.
-Any information I may have left out in this version.
-Generally, anything that will help me improve this guide in future revisions!
(Make sure you put "Grand Prix Guide" as your subject line.)
You can reach me at: LarcenTyler7650 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
6. CREDITS
It's always important to give credit where credit is due, so without further
ado, on with the credits:
-My mother, for buying the Atari 2600 and passing her love for it onto me.
-David Crane, for writing this simple yet fun video game.
-Jeff 'CJayC' Veasey, for providing us writers with a place to share our work.
-Atari, for putting out the Atari 2600.
-AtariAge (www.AtariAge.com) whose bevy of information regarding this game
helped me so much.
-And, of course, the most important person of them all: YOU, for reading this!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
¸2004 Rob 'Larcen Tyler' Adair All rights reserved.
