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                               Laser Blast
                           for the Atari 2600

                               General FAQ
                          Last Updated 2/28/05
                               Version 1.0

                     Written & Compiled by "TestaALT"
                      Email address [email protected]


This file is Copyright (c) 2005 Andrew "TestaALT" Testa. All rights reserved.

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==================
Table of Contents:
==================

1. Version History
2. Introduction
3. Dedication
4. Controls
5. Overview
6. Strategies
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Credits
9. Legal Disclaimer
10. Contact Information

=============================================================================
    1. Version History
=============================================================================

Version 1.0  (02/28/05):  Initial version of document - it's complete.

=============================================================================
    2. Introduction
=============================================================================

Although Laser Blast has an excellent concept, it fails to keep gamers
entertained. You have to destroy the SAME three attackers in the SAME
positions as many times as you can. The really sad part is that you can
destroy the attackers without dodging any lasers yourself. The designers had
a good concept but slacked off and failed to make things innovative.

=============================================================================
    3. Dedication
=============================================================================

I dedicate this guide to all Atari 2600 gamers out there. They really keep
this system alive, even though it seems "dead." Atari 2600, in a lot of
people's minds, was the first gaming console ever created. This really isn't
true, as there were other obscure systems before it. However, this was most
people's first video game system - this is the system that brought them into
gaming. And so, I dedicate this guide to the Atari 2600 gamers that still
play this old system and keep it alive.

This guide is also dedicated to Brian P. Sulpher and AboveAverage. Where did
you go, AboveAverage? You told me which system to write for! And of course,
Brian taught all of us that you can write billions and billions of guides for
old games.

=============================================================================
    4. Controls
=============================================================================

Fire Button: Used to fire a laser.

Joystick: Used to move the UFO. Also used to direct laser.

=============================================================================
    5. Overview
=============================================================================

The basic layout of the game:

==================================================
 Lives -> ##     #### <- Score
--------------------------------------------------
                                    UFO
                                    /
                                   /
                                  /
                                 /
                                /
                               /
                              /
     +              +        /       +
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
--------------------------------------------------
==================================================

<http://www.vgmuseum.com/images/2600/02/laserblaster.html>


Not much to say here... you are a UFO and it's your job to destroy the
attackers on the ground. They will always come in waves of three, and you
will always have laser power to kill them. You can shoot diagonally, as the
attackers can. The difficulty for the game only depends on how fast things go
- it doesn't make things necessarily "harder."

=============================================================================
    6. Strategies
=============================================================================

Basic strategies to destruction.

 *  Always keep the UFO as high in the air as you can. This will make it
    easier to dodge (and see) enemy lasers.

 *  The best strategy is to never be in the attacker's straight line of
    sight. They usually don't make accurate diagonal shots, but they *do*
    make accurate straight shots.

 *  Learn how to shoot diagonally as it is the safest way to kill the
    attackers. The diagonal has a certain angle to it that's hard to
    pinpoint at first, but once you know the angle the game gets
    substantially easier.

 *  Learn how to use the laser. It's "bulky" because you can't just mash the
    fire button. Instead, you have to plan your shots. When you LET GO of
    the spacebar the laser will actually fire. This means that you can't
    move and shoot at the same time. So, you are potentially vulnerable to
    the enemy while you shoot - learn how to shoot fast.

 *  Only shoot straight down if the wave is starting up. Otherwise, another
    attacker might shoot at you.

 *  Keep in constant motion so the attackers can't line up their shots.

 *  When down to one attacker you *can* line up a straight down shot if you
    are fast enough.

 *  The attackers come in waves of three in the same position.

 *  The difficulty only determines the speed of the game.

 *  Since it takes the attackers a few seconds to "target" you, you *can*
    destroy all three attackers in that time. It's very hard, though,
    and takes a lot of practice with the diagonal angles.

 *  Laser Blast never gets harder. You actually get a life for every 1,000
    points you rack up.

 *  The attackers go up in point value by ten up to 90 points.

=============================================================================
    7. Frequently Asked Questions
=============================================================================

Question: How many lives can you have?
 Answer: Five lives.

Question: How can you get an additional life?
 Answer: You get one every 1,000 points.

Question: Did people really "complete" this game and get the max points?
 Answer: I think so - it would take an incredible amount of time and
         patience but it's more than doable.

Question: Are you a member of the Activision Federation of Laser Blasters?
 Answer: Hell no. I can't stand playing this game for more than a couple
         thousand points. =/

Question: How many players can play?
 Answer: Just one player.

Question: When did this game come out?
 Answer: March 1981.

Question: Who created this game?
 Answer: Activision.

Question: My game doesn't work, how do I get it to work!?
 Answer: You might have a corrupted version of the game, or perhaps the old
         2 K version, which doesn't work very well.

Question: Where can I get this game?
 Answer: The Atari 2600 hasn't had any new games made for years, so you
         can't buy it from them. You can get the game at a garage sale or
         ebay, if you like. ROMs also work, if you have the game and it is
         broken, that is. I'm sure Activision made one of their "five hun-
         dred games-in-one," too, and you get one from them.

=============================================================================
    8. Credits
=============================================================================

 *  CJayC for creating GameFAQs.

 *  Brian Sulpher for referring me to a good ROM site.

=============================================================================
    9. Legal Disclaimer
=============================================================================

This document is Copyright (c) 2005 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 advanced
permission of the author. All sources, which have contributed to this
document, are cited and/or credited in some form. The only sites I allow this
document to be viewed at are:

GameFAQs <http://www.gamefaqs.com>
IGN <http://www.ign.com>

If you see this document at any other site please email me as I do not allow
this document to be published at any other sources. Please do not ask me if
you want this document on your website, as the answer will most likely be no.
These terms have become binding once the recipient (or reader) opened this
document. Violation of these terms are 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! =)

=============================================================================
    10. Contact Information
=============================================================================

Contact me via email ([email protected]) or AIM (TestaALT) if you have any
questions, comments, or suggestions about this guide. Just make sure that you
put the game name in the subject line. If you don't, I'll probably delete
you're email thinking it's spam. Also, make sure that the question isn't
answered in the latest version of the document, which can be found at
GameFAQs. Try to ask me legibly, as I can't decipher chickenscratch. For AIM,
just beep me whenever you like. Thanks for reading, and check some of my
other work at:

        -> http://gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/23249.html <-

_____________________________________________________________________________
                                             Copyright (c) 2005 Andrew Testa

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