CapitanClassic

I think the big key with this game is to use the right pattern throughout the maze so you are mostly invincible. For the first 9 or so cities, your shield seems to last long enough to get through all the hatching pod locations without ever being (vincible?) vulnerable. Additionally, you needn't shoot while traveling the city, which avoids costing you -1,000 points if a spaceman happens to appear in your path while firing (this doesn't happen that often) As far as scoring goes you score the most points for killing hatching spider warriors (100+200+300+400+500+600)=2,100. If you are unfortunate to have a Spaceman on the screen, only 5 spider men will hatch costing you 530 points. You don't even score that many points for saving spacemen at the end of the city. I suppose you could avoid the Disrupters on an early level (say 3-5) and earn 10 * 3 = 30 or 10 * 5 = 50 points per spaceman, but you earn 1,500-2,100 per hatching pod location, so it seems a slow way to earn points. On later levels, one false move can put you in the path of debris, possibly costing you all your saved up bonus points (which I guess are only kept in a byte, so don't rescue more than 255 spacemen per level). Flash Gordon (AKA Space Adventure) - 273,060

I don't think this one counts (or Fantastic Voyage). In Final Approach, the RADAR is the normal playfield. In Fantastic Voyage, the "radar" is the current life meter (kind of like Fear Effect on PSX). Neither of these are a radar in a traditional sense.

First Attempt (Why is it called AKA Space Adventure?) Flash Gordon - 104,365 and the very obvious Radar Lock

+1 this. The first thing you should do is inflate and kill a double stack of enemies (through a protected barrier if possible. You can send your hose through a thin wall whiteout digging through.) this leaves only 5 enemies to attack you. You will probably have a couple of ghosts coming at you now. I usually dig back and forth to give myself some room to inflate ghosts as they turn into creatures. Since monsters are only worth 1,000 for dropping a rock, 1,000 for the dragons from the side, and 500 from top/bottom (with slightly lower points depending upon depth) and the fruit is worth 8,000 you might as well just pick up fruit.

"The number of objects on a single scanline is ridiculous - but all of the asteroids rotating is impossible! If I'd seen a video of this claiming to be a 2600 game I would've thought it was a fake, by someone who didn't know that the VCS just can't do those kinda things :thumbsup:" (Screwed the quote formatting) Technically it cannot. SpiceWare is performing some calculations on a seprate chip (not the 6507), and adding some cartridge RAM (needs 5k, where the VCS has only 0.5k). Still very impressive. This isnt uheard of. The SNES had several cartridges that used co processors to help perform Mode7 calculations (Mario Kart, MegaMan X, the SuperFX chip as well)

I think I am probably done for the week (got other obligations). These scores should be good enough. Dig Dug - 477,260 Space Rocks - 108,030

Yep, I thought the same thing, but just read the rules. Extra lives stop at 200K. http://atariage.com/manual_page.html?SystemID=2600&SoftwareLabelID=141&ItemTypeID=&currentPage=2&maxPages=5 My strategy changed slightly. The rules indicate that not only do you have to drop 2 rocks, you also need to kill one meanie for the Fruit to show up. My first moves are to inflate any nearby meanies, then dig some defensive tunnels around myself. Finally go and drop two rocks if possible. Only 7 meanies are on screen at once, and you get 8,000 for the fruit (equivilant of squishing 5 meanies with a rock). You also get double points for inflating firebreathers from the side (1,000 at lowest level instead of 500). My most recent attempt is respectable, but no where near rollage. (Probably won't attempt it, Space Rocks is more fun.) Dig Dug - 371,880

First serious attempts.Pretty sure I can roll Dig Dug. Seems like it would take just under 2 hours. Space Rocks is quite fun. Some clarification though. Is leaving 1 or a couple of rocks on the screen to shoot ufos considered cheating? (if so, my score doesn't count) Space Rocks - 36,680 85,270 Dig Dug - 241,850 3rd Attempt, using the UFO trick. You can score big on the mini ufo's and Magma Mines.

I am correct in believing that you score 0 points for the knife throwing guys? It seems that when I punch or kick them my score doesn't increase.

Some hints for those who want to get a high score on Kung Fu. You cannot be hit (with punches) if you face backwards. You can get into position for the low gut punch (face backwards). Then watch your opponents kick/punch pattern. If you time it right, you can turn toward the boss with a gut punch immediately after they miss, and then turn backwards again. This technique doesn't work on the Boom-rang or Wizard. For Chuck Norris, the first enemies are low kicks (hold down and press fire) The next are bob punches (hold up and press fire) Then you can superkick (press forward and fire). You can guide yourself in the air, just make sure to land before you touch the enemies. The remaining enemies alternste between high and low hits.

I think I am done for the week. No time to play this week, so these will likely be my final scores. Kung Fu - 184,380 Chuck Norris Superkicks - 182,000

I am not sure what you mean? You seem to be allowed to choose the firing difficulty configuration you prefer. From the OP

Yes. Your ship moves faster when not firing. If you don't fire and hold right, it should be timed perfectly to get the 'E' energy container. The dip switch settings (Difficulty Left & Right) determine when you fire. Setting it to LeftB, RightB means you always fire when not pressing the red fire button. Setting it to LeftA, RightA means you only fire in the direction(s) that you are pressing when you press the red fire button. I personally prefer setting LeftA, RightB, which is only fire when the red fire button is pressed, but fire forward in addition to the direction(s) pressed.

Yes, one and the same. I wish he would. Trying to get a high score here, with Travis's Nintendo Challenge and Atari Challenge is becoming too much of an investment (I even considered entering the HSC for the NES here).