Ze_ro Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Important Note: This weeks competition is over and no further scores will be accepted. You're Charles "Chip" Cragg. There's not a pilot in the galaxy that's as skilled as you... or as reckless. It's what cost you your last job as the lieutenant of the Earth's Space Defense League. When your commanding officers told you that they wanted those bioterrorists brought in "dead or alive," they conveniently forgot to mention not to force their escapejet into the side of the Statue of Liberty! Now you earn a less thrilling living as the business partner of Sal Vaggio's Interplanetary Reclamation Yard. You collect the scrap from ships left abandoned in space, and good old Sal takes most of the profit. All right, so it's not much of a partnership, but it does pay the bills, with just enough money left over to trick out your trusty starskimmers. Sal made a smart choice when he hired you. He's not the only game in town, but your superior flying skills ensure that you get to the choice wreckage before anyone else. Racing those competing scrap collectors to each new prize has kept your reflexes just as sharp as they were back when you were taking orders from the chumps at the SDL. It's a good thing, too, because you're going to need that skill in your next assignment. Sal's sent you out to the edge of the solar system to pick up dozens of fuel rods, scattered from the back of a damaged transport trailer. It seems like easy money, but there's a reason that transport ship left those fuel rods behind, and why none of the guys from those competing wreckage yards are around to pick up the pieces. Your cockpit is getting unusually warm for this sector of space... uncomfortably warm. Your ship's indicator lights start blinking wildly. The viewscreen shows a silent image of Sal... it's obscured by static, but you can see from the pleading look in his eyes and his desperately flailing hands that you're in serious trouble. A dancing ball of light appears in the distance. You vaguely recall news reports of an artificial sun, created by leading scientists to terraform distant planets. You also remember that the fiery orb was extremely unstable, breaking free from its containment field and streaking through the galaxy in search of energy to consume. Energy like the fuel rods scattered all around you. Energy like the kind coming from your ship's impulse engines. Oops. Game Information Game Name: Solar Plexus Released By: Jess Ragan, 2005 Left Difficulty: B / Novice Right Difficulty: B / Novice Game Mode: Default Chosen By: Impaler_26 Post your scores right here in this thread, and I will add them to the list. Remember to play the game with the recommended game mode and difficulty settings as shown above so that your scores will be consistent with everyone elses. The deadline for posting scores is Wednesday November 12th at 1:00 AM (CST). Current High Scores 15,490 (toymailman) [+11] 14,360 (Deteacher) [+10] 12,550 (darthkur) [+9] 12,390 (jjd) [+8] 11,720 (Impaler_26) [+7] 10,540 (Hornpipe2) [+6] 10,240 (iangamer) [+5] 9240 (aftermac) [+4] 9050 (Spector) [+3] 8660 (DarthCalvin) [+2] 5710 (ClassicGMR) [+1] 5310 (LarcenTyler) [+1] 3040 (Nathan Strum) [+1] 2410 (Kurt_Woloch) [+1] 2360 (Yar76) [+1] Best Tips Deteacher [+2] Challenges Best Score on First Life:11,810 (toymailman) 10,130 (darthkur) 8010 (Impaler_26) 3620 (DarthCalvin) Best Score on Easter Egg Game:240 (darthkur) 210 (toymailman) 180 (Impaler_26) 110 (iangamer) TwinGalaxies Top 3 (Game 1, Difficulty B)No scores for this game. Current Standings toymailman [94] Deteacher [88] DarthCalvin [82] darthkur [62] aftermac [52] SpiceWare [47] the 5th ghost [47] jjd [45] Hornpipe2 [39] Nathan Strum [28] Kurt_Woloch [24] Impaler_26 [22] Zoyx [22] Mister VCS [19] Spector [17] homerwannabee [11] LarcenTyler [11] maf [9] iangamer [9] LoneWolfSeth [8] missioncontrol [8] Random Terrain [8] SeaGtGruff [8] Omegamatrix [8] midnight magicman [8] chuckwalla [7] LS_Dracon [7] LaserHawk3000 [7] phaxda [5] vintagegamecrazy [4] ClassicGMR [3] shadow460 [3] ratfink [2] Artlover [1] Scoring Points in Solar Plexus The amount of points you get for collecting fuel rods depends on how long it took you to get it. While moving fast, you can get between 10-200 points per rod. While moving slow, you get twice as many points. Thanks to Deteacher for figuring out the scoring! [+2] Hints and Tips The ManualAs always, you really should read the manual. In case you don't have the manual, then check out this post by Nathan Strum that contains a text copy of it. Here are the hints it provides: There's no place you can hide from the Solar Plexus, but the edges of the screen, especially the corners, are safest from its unrelenting assault. Use this to your advantage while darting around the screen! The fuel rods will always appear on the leftmost and rightmost edges of the screen. Once you pick up a rod, immediately race to the opposite edge of the screen to collect the next one! Make wise use of the reverse retro rockets. They're a great way to speed past the Solar Plexus, but you'll receive a lot less points if you pick up a fuel pod with the rockets engaged. Watch the Solar Plexus carefully to anticipate where it will strike next. It moves in a predictable pattern, and always leaves a gap on the screen that's safe to travel through. The longer you survive, the more quickly your fuel depletes, giving you less and less time for hesitation. At this point, you can't afford to let the Solar Plexus intimidate or confuse you ... just make a beeline for that next rod! If you want to jump right back into the action after you lose your last life, just press the fire button. You'll skip past the Game Over screen and return to the title screen. Press fire one more time to begin a new game. Deteacher- Try to stay on the outer edges as much as possible. It's much easier to avoid the sun.- Use the fire button to go faster. Speed up to the fuel, but let off the button before you pick up the fuel because you score more points if you're going slower. --Zero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Solar Plexus was not released by Activision in 1980. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornpipe2 Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 This game is pretty tough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iangamer Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 This game is pretty tough! I wholeheartedly agree. 3390 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deteacher Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 6,420. Tips: - Try to stay on the outer edges as much as possible. It's much easier to avoid the sun. - Use the fire button to go faster. Speed up to the fuel, but let off the button before you pick up the fuel because you score more points if you're going slower. Speaking of scoring, this is what I've figured out so far: Scoring: - Score seems to be determined by how fast you pick up each fuel tank. The more fuel you have when you pick up the fuel tank, the more points you score. However, if you're moving at slow speed when you pick up fuel, you score 2X more than if you're going fast: Slow speed: 60-340 points. Fast speed: 30-170 points. This may not be 100% accurate, but it's what I've figured out so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornpipe2 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 you score more points if you're going slower. Thanks for doubling my score! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren Tyler Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 5,310 Worth noting about speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nathan Strum Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 (edited) OCR'd from the manual (there's no indication of how scoring works): INTRODUCTION You're Charles "Chip" Cragg. There's not a pilot in the galaxy that's as skilled as you... or as reckless. It's what cost you your last job as the lieutenant of the Earth's Space Defense League. When your commanding officers told you that they wanted those bioterrorists brought in "dead or alive," they conveniently forgot to mention not to force their escapejet into the side of the Statue of Liberty! Now you earn a less thrilling living as the business partner of Sal Vaggio's Interplanetary Reclamation Yard. You collect the scrap from ships left abandoned in space, and good old Sal takes most of the profit. All right, so it's not much of a partnership, but it does pay the bills, with just enough money left over to trick out your trusty starskimmers. Sal made a smart choice when he hired you. He's not the only game in town, but your superior flying skills ensure that you get to the choice wreckage before anyone else. Racing those competing scrap collectors to each new prize has kept your reflexes just as sharp as they were back when you were taking orders from the chumps at the SDL. It's a good thing, too, because you're going to need that skill in your next assignment. Sal's sent you out to the edge of the solar system to pick up dozens of fuel rods, scattered from the back of a damaged transport trailer. It seems like easy money, but there's a reason that transport ship left those fuel rods behind, and why none of the guys from those competing wreckage yards are around to pick up the pieces. Your cockpit is getting unusually warm for this sector of space... uncomfortably warm. Your ship's indicator lights start blinking wildly. The viewscreen shows a silent image of Sal... it's obscured by static, but you can see from the pleading look in his eyes and his desperately flailing hands that you're in serious trouble. A dancing ball of light appears in the distance. You vaguely recall news reports of an artificial sun, created by leading scientists to terraform distant planets. You also remember that the fiery orb was extremely unstable, breaking free from its containment field and streaking through the galaxy in search of energy to consume. Energy like the fuel rods scattered all around you. Energy like the kind coming from your ship's impulse engines. Oops. READY FOR ACTION! Solar Plexus is designed especially for your Atari 2600™ VCS console, but is also compatible with the Atari 7800™. It may also function with other game consoles using a VCS adapter, like the ColecoVision™ expansion unit #2, and the lntellivision™ System Switcher. To play Solar Plexus, first connect a compatible game system to a television set or monitor, using the instructions included with the system. Plug an AC adapter into the system, then plug the adapter into the nearest wall outlet. Next, connect a controller into the left controller port. A standard 2600 joystick will work fine, but JessCREATIONS*, Co. recommends a Sega Genesis Arcade Pad™ (compatible with most 2600 consoles) for optimal control. Set the Solar Plexus cartridge into the cartridge slot on the top of your system, pushing it firmly into place with the end label facing right side up. Turn on your system and press the fire button on the controller to begin the game! HOW TO PLAY When the game begins, Chip's starskimmer appears in the center of the screen, with the deadly Solar Plexus on the left and a flashing fuel rod on the right. Push the controller in any direction to move the skimmer around the screen. The Solar Plexus is irresistably drawn to the energy from Chip's impulse engines, so don't think for a minute you can just fly off the screen to escape! Your only chance of survival is to replenish your fuel supply by collecting the fuel rods scattered throughout the screen. Once a fuel rod is obtained, another appears in a random spot on the opposite edge of the screen. Keep grabbing the rods to restore your ship's fuel and increase your score. As fuel pods are collected, the concentration of energy inside your skimmer grows... and the Solar Plexus becomes more determined to take that energy for itself. The artificial sun will increase in speed and even mutate into new forms as you progress. Fortunately, your skimmer's reverse retro rockets give you an edge in your fight for survival. Hold down the fire button to give yourself a life-saving boost of speed. Chip loses one of his skimmers when he crashes into the Solar Plexus, or lets his fuel supply run dry. When all three skimmers are destroyed, well, let's just say that poor old Sal will be looking for a new employee! HINTS 'N TIPS There's no place you can hide from the Solar Plexus, but the edges of the screen, especially the corners, are safest from its unrelenting assault. Use this to your advantage while darting around the screen! The fuel rods will always appear on the leftmost and rightmost edges of the screen. Once you pick up a rod, immediately race to the opposite edge of the screen to collect the next one! Make wise use of the reverse retro rockets. They're a great way to speed past the Solar Plexus, but you'll receive a lot less points if you pick up a fuel pod with the rockets engaged. Watch the Solar Plexus carefully to anticipate where it will strike next. It moves in a predictable pattern, and always leaves a gap on the screen that's safe to travel through. The longer you survive, the more quickly your fuel depletes, giving you less and less time for hesitation. At this point, you can't afford to let the Solar Plexus intimidate or confuse you ... just make a beeline for that next rod! If you want tojump right back into the action after you lose your last life, just press the fire button. You'll skip past the Game Over screen and return to the title screen. Press fire one more time to begin a new game. Solar Plexus has a hidden surprise for gamers who know their history. Experiment a little and you may just uncover it! CREDITS SOLAR PLEXUS DESIGN TEAM LEAD PROGRAMMER JESS RAGAN ASSISTANT PROGRAMMER FRED QUIMBY DESIGN ENVIRONMENT BATARI BASIC AUDIOVISUALS JESS RAGAN PLAY TESTERS BRIAN "TheFreak" BALSAN ATARIAGE FORUM MEMBERS MANUAL ARTWORK NATHAN STRUM JESS RAGAN MANUAL TEXT & DESIGN JESS RAGAN SPECIAL THANKS RUSS PERRY, JR. ALBERT YARUSSO ALEX BILSTEIN TONY MORSE ALL ATARIAGERS Edited November 6, 2008 by Nathan Strum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deteacher Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 10,220. The Solar Plexus gets pretty tough in the later stages. Collecting 9 fuel rods advances you to the next level (larger Solar Plexus, or multiple Plexuses/Plexi.) I've experimented with the scoring range some more but I haven't been able to score more than 340, or less than 30. Seeing as how 30-170 and 60-340 would be odd scoring ranges, I'm going to assume the ranges are set as: 10-200 (fast moving ship) 20-400 (slow moving ship) I just don't think it's possible to score that high because you can't get from one side of the screen to the other without losing any fuel. Just my thoughts. Any others? The manual suggests a hidden surprise. I'm going to have to play around with that too. I love a good Easter Egg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt_Woloch Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 OK, that's my best so far... 2410. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toymailman Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Fun quick game. You can get many sessions in. 7,010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nathan Strum Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 The manual suggests a hidden surprise. I'm going to have to play around with that too. I love a good Easter Egg. If you get tired of looking, the solution can be found here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iangamer Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 (edited) Speed up to the fuel, but let off the button before you pick up the fuel because you score more points if you're going slower. I think this strategy helped me a little. 5,800 7,020 Edited November 6, 2008 by iangamer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornpipe2 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impaler_26 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Yeah, hope you guys enjoy this game! I like the fast paced action though i really suck at it... First try: 5,900 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjd Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 (edited) This is a tough game. 7,350 8,180 Edited November 7, 2008 by jjd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthkur Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 11,150 Fun game. Reminiscent of Dodge It for the Fairchild Channel F, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toymailman Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Anybody else wish they could move diagonally? Sometimes I find myself trying to zig-zag away from the Solar Plexus. I've been able to break 10k now ( ), but don't have my camera hooked up a the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impaler_26 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 (edited) 7,210 9,710 Edited November 7, 2008 by Impaler_26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nathan Strum Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Just could never get into this game. 3,040 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deteacher Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 11,580. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 (spit take) Holy crap on a crust, my game made the High Score Club! Thanks guys, that was quite the pick-me-up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impaler_26 Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 (edited) 10,590 Edited November 9, 2008 by Impaler_26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iangamer Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Gettin' a little better... 7,510 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassicGMR Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 5,710 RTFM doubled my scores... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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