HSC Season 4 Week 5: E.T.

[Ze_ro]

Important Note: This week's competition is over. If you still wish to discuss E.T. and compare scores, feel free to do so in this thread, but no further scores will be added to the list.

 

What kind of crazy planet is this, anyway? We came here to conduct a simple study of primitive planets, and look what happened! These...things...came and scared away my friends. Before I knew it, all my friends boarded our lightship and flew home.

 

What do I do now? The only one I can trust is that nice little alien-- Ellleeott. He gives me those tasty energy pills (What did he call them? Reeessseess Peeesssesss?) But these other aliens! Every time I get ready to assemble my transgalactic communicatior, they come and take me away. The one with the white coat sticks that temperature measuring device in my mouth (I wonder why he was so upset when it melted?), and the other one in the trench coat keeps muttering those strange sounds (Naaashaaannaall Seeeccuuuureeetteee?) I just want to go home! I hope Elllleeott and I can assemble all the pieces of my communicator before my energy runs out.

 

Oh, oh. Here come those crazy aliens again. Help me, Elllleeott! Help me get home!

 

Game Information

• Game Name: E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
  
• Released By: Atari, 1982
  
• Left Difficulty: B / Novice
  
• Right Difficulty: B / Novice
  
• Game Mode: Default
  
• Chosen By: sku_u
  

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 will be approximately Thursday, June 1st at 1:30 AM (CST).

 

If you want to suggest a game for future weeks, please send me a private message and let me know! I will add your game to the list. One one game per person will be kept on the list, so you will not be able to suggest a game until your first game is played!

 

Anyone can play! Just post a score and I'll add you to the list! Please read the Rules & Information if you haven't already done so!

 

Current High Scores

1. 1,000,000 (Random Terrain) [+11]
   
2. 305,900 (Jred) [+10]
   
3. 86,549 (Rom Hunter) [+9]
   
4. 28,988 (keilbaca) [+8]
   
5. 21,842 (SpiceWare) [+7]
   
6. 15,413 (vdub_bobby) [+6]
   
7. 14,184 (LarcenTyler) [+5]
   

Best Tips

• Random Terrain [+2]
  

Bounties and Challenges

• Super E.T. - Score 75,000 points or higher, and get 2 bonus points!
  • Random Terrain, Jred, Rom Hunter [+2]
    

TwinGalaxies Top 3

(Difficulty B)

1. 1,011,657 (Todd Rogers)
   
2. 122,848 (Kevin M Herbert)
   
3. 78,332 (Ron Corcoran)
   

Current Standings

1. Rom Hunter [44]
2. shawnb [39]
3. keilbaca [31]
4. vdub_bobby [30]
5. SpiceWare [29]
6. the 5th ghost [24]
7. Lord Thag [15]
8. Lord Helmet [14]
9. BrianC [11]
10. 128bytes [11]

• scogey [10]
• Cybergoth [7]
• Malc74 [7]
• phaxda [7]
• LarcenTyler [6]
• supercat [5]
• Christophero Sly [4]
• Jred [4]
• Omegamatrix [1]
• Dan Iacovelli [1]

Scoring Points in E.T.

• Your score is shown at the end of the game, or when boarding the rescue ship:
  
• Candy Pieces carried onto Rescue Ship - 490 points each
  
• Candy Pieces given to Elliott - 770 points each
  
• Candy Pieces after the 31st piece - 1000 points each
  
• Remaining energy - 1 point per unit
  

Hints and Tips

As always, you really should read the manual. In case you don't have the manual, AtariAge has a typed copy of it available online. This game is somewhat complicated and misunderstood, so it's worth your time to read the manual and understand how to play. Here are the hints the manual provides:

 

1. Use the wells as escape zones. Since humans can't go into the wells, E.T. can deliberately fall into one if a threatening human approaches. Remember, floating in and out of wells costs energy.

 

2. Since the game is set up so that only one human at a time can be on the screen with E.T., you might occasionally want to let the scientist capture E.T. This way, the FBI agent can't get our hero and take away precious phone pieces.

 

3. Give Elliott as many pieces of Candy as possible. The more you give him, the more bonus points you score at the end of the game.

 

4. To pause play, allow E.T. to fall into a well. You can leave him there as long as you like without endangering E.T. or subtracting from his energy. When you're ready to play again, levitate E.T. out of the well and resume the game.

 

5. Sometimes E.T. will fall back into a well after he has levitated up to the planet surface. To prevent this, move E.T. right or left immediately after the scene changes from the well interior to the planet surface. E.T. will move from the well onto solid ground, in the same direction you move your Joystick.

Random Terrain has some excellent information on E.T. Check out this webpage of his, devoted to E.T. Also check out this set of hints complete with some pictures. Finally, check out this video he made of himself playing the game!

 

--Ze_ro

[Lauren Tyler]

Just when I thought we'd played them all...

 

sku_u, I cannot believe you chose this game.

 

Anyway here's my first score... *sigh*

[sku_u]

Just when I thought we'd played them all...

 

sku_u, I cannot believe you chose this game.

 

Anyway here's my first score... *sigh*

 

I chose it because I suck at it and was hoping someone could post some useful tips on how to rack up points.

[+Random Terrain]

Question
I've never done this before. I read the rules, but I don't understand one thing (maybe I missed it). I could probably play the game past the deadline by pausing the game in a well while I sleep, so here is my question:

Are we just supposed to record a one-sitting score, or continue playing the game for days (letting the score add up)?


Tip
For those who don't already know, you can view a 'map' and scans of the manual and tips sheet here:

randomterrain.com/atari-2600-memories-et.html

[Dan Iacovelli]

this is amazing: three weeks in row I have the game in the HSC.

[vdub_bobby]

AFAIK, you can "pause" games that allow it, like E.T., Donkey Kong, etc. Just gotta cut it off at some point to get a score by the deadline.

[+Random Terrain]

 

 

AFAIK, you can "pause" games that allow it, like E.T., Donkey Kong, etc. Just gotta cut it off at some point to get a score by the deadline.

 

Thanks.

[+Random Terrain]

The following tips and more can now be found on this page:

randomterrain.com/atari-2600-memories-et-tips.html


Tips
These tips may not be unique, but they could be a useful reminder.

• Do not trust the placement of the zones in the forest when the game first starts. Things could look a lot different when you return.
  
• Never let E.T. drop fast and smack hard into the bottom of a well (you'll lose around 270 energy units). You can save a lot of energy by releasing the joystick and pressing the fire button to catch yourself in midair as soon as you start to fall. You can then gently lower yourself to the bottom (or float out if you didn't mean to fall in). Whether you gently land or float back out, you'll save around 208 energy units every time and that can add up.
  
• Do not curse those times when you mistakenly fall into a well. You already know that you can catch yourself, and besides that, you might find the wilted flower or a phone piece .
  
• You'll want to be on the lookout for the Call Ship Zone (looks like an alien creature) when you are zipping around looking for those Find Phone Piece Zones (looks like a question mark). When you see the Call Ship Zone, remember where it is. You won't have to waste energy looking for it later. If you don't see the Call Ship Zone, there is a good chance that it is in the forest or Washington, D.C. If it's in Washington, D.C., you'll probably need to call Elliott so you have a chance to phone home using the Call Ship Zone. You can only phone home when you are alone or when Elliott is on the screen, so you can see why it can be hard to phone home in the city without Elliott's help.
  
• If you need to go to Washington, D.C. to look for the Call Ship Zone or because you already know it's there, take a free ride in the arms of the Scientist. You'll conserve energy and if you pay attention to the zones that he passes through, you might find something useful on the way (I have found the Call Ship Zone many times while on a free ride). If you ever need to stop your free ride prematurely, you can escape from the scientist by trying to run away just as he is about to walk off the screen.
  
• Remember that more than one phone piece can be hidden in a well site, so check the 'question mark' one more time after collecting a phone piece before you move on. I have had all three pieces in one well site before.
  
• After you call the ship, don't just sit on the Landing Zone in the forest with your thumb up your butt, also find the Send Humans Back Zone . After you have both zone locations burned into your brain, it's a good idea to stand on the Send Humans Back Zone as long as possible, then zip over to the Landing Zone.
  
• When standing on the Send Humans Back Zone while waiting for your ship, don't fool around with the FBI agent. Send him away as soon as he pops on the screen. If you let him take a phone piece, it will be harder to finish the game if your timing is off. It's better to use the Scientist as a plaything to help you time things out just right. Don't worry if you miss the ship. If you didn't piss away all of your energy and you remember where the Call Ship Zone is, you can keep trying to reach your ship. Missed it three times? No problem, try again. Your timing should be perfect by then.
  
• Keep Elliott away from the forest while waiting for the ship. If the ship lands when Elliott is on the screen you can kiss your high score goodbye. The ship will land on Elliott making him an instant bloody corpse then the game will freeze (you don't see Elliott's bloody corpse, but when a spaceship lands on a boy, there's usually a bloody corpse underneath). Keep Elliott and your game alive by making sure he doesn't wander into the forest.
  
• Since you are playing for a high score, the most important thing is to get E.T. home so you can continue playing, so try not to get more than 31 candy pieces since you would end up with less energy to start the next round. Unless you are a very good player, starting with less energy usually means that round will be your last.
  
• Do not give Elliott any candy pieces until you know where the Call Ship Zone is. If the Call Ship Zone is in a really hard to find place, you might need to eat every candy piece you can get your hands on.
  
• Elliott not only has the ability to save the day, he can also save you a lot of time. After you know where the Call Ship Zone is and you have found two phone pieces and you have nine candy pieces, you can stand on a Call Elliott Zone to call Elliott and he will come take the candy pieces from you. Do not let Elliott leave. You don't have to wait for him to come back, just call him right after he takes the candy and he will give you the last phone piece. So now you have all three phone pieces, bonus points for giving Elliott the candy, and more energy for finishing the game since you don't have to go looking for the last phone piece. Just call your ship and go home.
  
• In case you don't know, using a Send Humans Back Zone on the scientist or FBI agent brainwashes them so completely that they are harmless until they return to Washington, D.C. (you can touch them and nothing bad will happen). Since only one human can be on a site at the same time, a human will often mindlessly walk in place waiting to go back to Washington, D.C. if another human is blocking their path. While the human is 'stuck,' you are free to search the site for any useful zones.
  
• If you play the game using an emulator, remember not to hit the escape key out of habit.

[Christophero Sly]

First Donkey Kong, now E.T.

 

I guess I won't worry about picking Skeet Shoot.

[Lauren Tyler]

Never let yourself drop fast and smack hard into the bottom of a well. You can save a lot of energy by pressing the fire button to catch yourself in midair as soon as you start to fall. You can then gently lower yourself to the bottom (or float out if you didn't mean to fall in).

 

I never knew you could do that! Thanks!

 

First Donkey Kong, now E.T.

 

I guess I won't worry about picking Skeet Shoot.

 

You pick that and I'll give you SUCH a pinch!

(just kidding!)

 

 

 

Oh, and now that I learned about that saving yourself trick in the well, I've found myself doing a bit better.

Edited May 26, 2006 by LarcenTyler

[+Random Terrain]

 

 

Oh, and now that I learned about that saving yourself trick in the well, I've found myself doing a bit better.

 

You will probably do a lot better before you are done. I started playing at 10pm and had to take a 30 minute break, so this is all I have so far:



I'm going to keep going until I get sleepy then I'll jump in a well.

[+Random Terrain]

Going to bed now. I jumped in a well and I will continue sometime tomorrow if the lights don't blink on and off. This is what I have so far just in case:

 

[128bytes]

Great tips, Random Terrain! I never knew the technique to hit the fire button before you hit the bottom of the well. Glad to see you participating in the HSC with your favorite game.

[+Random Terrain]

 

 

Great tips, Random Terrain! I never knew the technique to hit the fire button before you hit the bottom of the well. Glad to see you participating in the HSC with your favorite game.

 

Thanks.



All Done
I read the rules and they say that if you roll over the score you can quit. I rolled over the score a few minutes ago. Here's the last screenshot I took before it rolled over:


And here is the screenshot I just took after the score rolled over:


I guess that's unofficial proof that you can get E.T. back home many times and roll over the score in a fairly short time. I think I did it in about 12 hours of actual game time (playing off and on since last night).

Anyone else going to play and try to roll it over too?

[+SpiceWare]

21,842 Annoying game at first (the pits are the pits), but I seem to be getting the hang of it Anyhow back to work on MM.

[keilbaca]

4623... I just can't get the hang of this game.

[keilbaca]

28988

 

Once you get the hang of it, its easy. However, I won't be playing this game anymore. I just can't take it anymore...

[+Random Terrain]

To make reading the manual and tip sheet scans even easier, I made this page:

randomterrain.com/atari-2600-memories-et-manual.html

[+SpiceWare]

Thanks! Your tips have been most helpful so far

 

I need to take a break from ET for a couple days - need to have a Medieval Mayhem ROM ready for Al by Monday evening and I'll be using some time tomorrow afternoon to see X-Men with some friends

Edited May 28, 2006 by SpiceWare

[+Random Terrain]

Thanks to sku_u and this thread, I'm making a new tips page based on the tips I have posted here, but it will look a little different. One of the things I'm trying out is recording videos of me getting E.T. home. Click on the link below to view all of my E.T. videos:

 

Random Terrain's E.T. Videos

 

 

[i updated this post in 2015.]

[Christophero Sly]

First Donkey Kong, now E.T.

 

I guess I won't worry about picking Skeet Shoot.

 

You pick that and I'll give you SUCH a pinch!

(just kidding!)

Oh, come on. It'll be fun--we can pretend we're blasting E.T. carts.

[Rom Hunter]

 

Edited May 30, 2006 by Rom Hunter

[vdub_bobby]

Thanks for the video, RT - it helps seeing someone do it. I spent an hour trying unsuccessfully to beat it once; after seeing your video and with a little more practice I was able to beat it twice through:

15,413

[Jred]

Started off hating the game, but after about an hour actually started to enjoy myself. Unfortunately my wife came home around the 4 hour mark and asked me why the hell I was still playing ET so I finished that round and called it quits.

 

 

Not sure how to make pictures in thumbnail form like everyone else is doing. Gogo forum newbie.

[sku_u]

Started off hating the game, but after about an hour actually started to enjoy myself. Unfortunately my wife came home around the 4 hour mark and asked me why the hell I was still playing ET so I finished that round and called it quits.

 

 

Not sure how to make pictures in thumbnail form like everyone else is doing. Gogo forum newbie.

 

Nice score!