INTERNATIONAL UPDATE
New Program with Easier Game Play
for Asteroids Deluxe (TM)
Transcribed by hand in anal retentive detail by
Gregg Woodcock (
[email protected])
The read-only memories (ROM)s in this kit contain a new program that
changes the Asteroids Deluxe (TM) game play. To attract new players,
the game play is now operator-adjustable to be either easy for
approximately the first 30,000 points or hard throughout the game.
The technical manual describes the game play correctly if the game
PCB option switch at R5 is set to "hard." [sic] If you set the switch
to "easy", then the following game-play changes happen:
* Four large asteroids begin the game. The second wave of asteroids
begins with five, and the subsequent waves start with size through
nine large asteroids. In addition, the asteroids move much more
slowly across the screen. (If the option switch is set to hard, the
waves begin with six to nine large asteroids.)
* The large ships ("death stars") when shot will break up into three
slowly-moving diamonds. (If the option switch is set to hard,
diamonds would immediately begin chasing the player's spaceship at
high speed.)
After installing these five ROMs, we recommend you set your game to
easy game play. To do so, refer to the figure that follows. You should
note also that the self-test now displays an additional 0 or 1 to
represent your game difficulty selection.
Game Option Settings
To change toggle positions on the switch assemblies, you need not
remove the game PCB. The switches, usually colored blue, are easily
accessible when the Asteroids Deluxe (TM) Game PCB is mounted in place.
When changing the options, verify proper results on the monitor
display by performing the self-test. Note that changing an options on
any of the following eight toggles will cause an immediate change on the
monitor screen during the self-test.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toggle Settings of 8-Toggle Switch on Asteroids Deluxe PCB
(at R5 - LEFT switch when PCB is in game)
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Option
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
On On English language $
On Off German language
Off On French language
Off Off Spanish language
On On Game starts with 2 ships *
On Off Game starts with 3 ships * $
Off On Game starts with 4 ships *
Off Off Game starts with 5 ships *
On 1-play minimum $
Off 2-play minimum
On Easier game play for first 30,000 points $
Off Hard game play throughout game
On On Bonus ship at every 10,000 points + $
On Off Bonus ship at every 12,000 points +
Off On Bonus ship at every 15,000 points +
Off Off No bonus ship
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ Manufacturer's suggested settings
* If set for no bonus ship or 50 cent play, add 1 ship per setting
+ [sic: Not "every" but "at"; i.e. once]
[new page]
Self-Test Procedure, continued
+--Coin Bonus Adder
/ 0, 5, 6, or 7 = No bonus coins
/ 1 = For ever 2 coins * inserted,
/ game logic adds 1 more coin *
/ 2 = For every 4 coins * inserted,
/ game logic adds 1 more coin *
/ 3 = For every 4 coins * inserted,
/ game logic adds 2 more coins *
/ 4 = For every 5 coins * inserted,
/ game logic adds 1 more coin *
/
/ game logic adds 1 more coin *
/ +--------Left Mech Multiplier
/ / 0 = Left coin mech x 1
/ / 1 = Left coin mech x 2
/ /
/ / +------Right Mech Multiplier
/ / / 0 = Right coin mech x 1
/ / / 1 = Right coin mech x 4
/ / / 2 = Right coin mech x 5
/ / / 3 = Right coin mech x 6
/ / /
/ / / +------Game Price
/ / / / 0 = Free Play
/ / / / 1 = 1 coin * for 2 plays
---+ +--+ +--+ ---+ 2 = 1 coin * for 1 play
| | | | | | 3 = 2 coins * for 1 play
---+ | | | | ---+ * In the U.S. a "coin" is defined as 25 cents.
| | | | | | In Germany a "coin" is 1 DM.
---+ +--+ +--+ ---+
+------Game Languages
/ 0 = English
/ 1 = German
/ 2 = French
/ 3 = Spanish
/
/ +------Ships at Game Start
/ / 0 = Game starts with 2 to 4 ships
/ / 1 = Game starts with 3 to 5 ships
/ / 2 = Game starts with 4 to 6 ships
/ / 3 = Game starts with 5 to 7 ships
/ / (See graphic display in the third line for
/ / exact number of ships)
/ /
/ / +--------Minimum Number of Plays
/ / / 0 = 1-play minimum
/ / / 1 = 2-play minimum
/ / /
/ / / +------Game Difficulty
/ / / / 0 = Easy
/ / / / 1 = Hard
+--+ + +--+ +--+ +--+
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
+--+ + +--+ +--+ +--+
\
+-Bonus Ship
/\ /\ /\ /\ 0 = Bonus ship at every 10,000 points +
_/\_ _/\_ _/\_ _/\_ 1 = Bonus ship at every 12,000 points +
/ /\ \ / /\ \ / /\ \ / /\ \ 2 = Bonus ship at every 15,000 points +
\/__\/ \/__\/ \/__\/ \/__\/ 3 = No bonus ship (adds 1 ship at game start)
\ + [sic: Not "every" but "at"; i.e. once]
\
+--Graphic Display of # of ships per game (up to 7)
+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+
| | | | | | | | |<------Point score at which a bonus ship is granted
| | | | | | | | | (blank if no bonus ship)
| | | | | | | | |
+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+
[new page]
To install the five new ROMs in this kit, refer to the drawing and
parts list that follow:
[Picture of ROM area of PCB removed for obvious reasons]
Asteroids Deluxe (TM) Game PCB Assembly
A036471-03 and -04 F
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part No. Description (Reference Designations and Locations in Bold)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
036430-02 Read-Only Memory (D1)
036431-03 Read-Only Memory (E/F1)
036432-02 Read-Only Memory (H1)
036433-03 Read-Only Memory (J1)
036800-02 Read-Only Memory (R2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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/ | \
ATARI(R)
ATARI INC 1265 BORREGAS AVENUE P.O. BOX 427 SUNNYVALE, CA 94086
\\\ A Warner Communications Company
--
THANX...Gregg day 214.684.7380 night UNLIST/PUBL TEXAS NOT CANADA!
[email protected] or
[email protected]
*CLASSIC VIDEOGAME COLLECTOR BUY/SELL/TRADE NON-COMPUTER (ARCADE/HOME)*
"If you quote me on this I'll have to deny it; I won't remember because
I have such a bad memory. Not only that, but my memory is *terrible*."
