jblenkle

Oil's Well - 131,500

Yeah, this is another game that I never originally played very much. But now it's become quite addictive. I'm starting to get the hang of it now, although you've got to play perfectly when you get to the higher levels. One mistake and you're pretty much toast.

Oil's Well - 107,170 Edit: Grrrr...I've stalled out on this game again. After having a good run and getting this score, I haven't been able to get past 47,000. Can't seem to reach the bottom on some of the levels and keep losing lives.

Thanks for the tips...I actually figured out the "leave one dot" tip on my own last night. That way you can use the maximum time for collecting points. No sense rushing through the level as you don't get a bonus for completing it quickly. I'm still having trouble clearing levels 4,5,6 without losing a life, but I'm getting better. It's kind of hit and miss right now.

Oil's Well - 43,580 Anyone got any tips on playing this game? It seems to be impossible to get through some levels without losing at least one life, and, of course if you do that...you aren't going to get very far.

Oil's Well - 28,890

Oil's Well - 25,390

Have you tried cleaning the contacts on the game where it plugs into the console? This screws games up sometimes. There might be corrosion or foreign matter on the metal contacts.

Venture - 352,000 One fantastic run at it yesterday morning...haven't been able to get over 100,000 since.

More on the "Starship Enterprise" appearing in The Last Starfighter. Here are some emails I exchanged back in 2008 with someone in the "know" when I asked about it. I asked... Hey, you've been around the Atari for a long time...can I ask you a game related question that has haunted me for years? The Last Starfighter, which if I understand was never actually released as such, and was later renamed Star Raiders II. Many years ago while playing The Last Starfighter, suddenly out of nowhere, this little Starship Enterprise went sailing across the screen. I had never seen it before and I have never seen it since. I happened to mention it to a friend who was really into Atari and he absolutely freaked out. He had heard about this, but never seen it. Have you ever heard about this or know the story behind it? Sometimes I almost think I imagined it, but I'm sure I didn't. But I have never, ever, heard anyone else mention this!!! The answer... It is true. It was put in by John Skruch Director of Software development at Atari who put out over 300 games while at Atari from 1982 until it closed in 1998. Here is a note from him about the origin. Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 05:17:19 -0800 Yep, its there. It will appear randomly. My idea. The ceiling of the Non Com Club at Moffett Field was painted like the night sky. Someone painted an Enterprise in the sky and every now and then they would "move" it in the sky so it appeared to travel across the room. Loved it. Cheers, John Skruch Another note from Curt at Atari Historical Society Yes, I've encountered it twice while recharging/repairing the players ship while in orbit over one of the Sun's. I've never found exactly what trips the sequence to get it to occur, but I've personally seen it happen twice. Curt

I've played The Last Starfighter game for years...absolutely love it...but how many of you have seen the Starship Enterprise go whizzing across the background while playing it? I saw it once, but never again...

Venture - 9,000 Another game I suck at!!!

I had hit the 60mph mark kind of by accident (left my finger on the button too long) just as I got to the water. Since you can't change speed at that point I was kind of screwed and had to try slowing down after the water, but the obstacles came too quick and I'd die.

BC's Quest - 15,650

Yeah, well don't look for me breaking my 14,240 score again anytime soon...I had three lives left and couldn't make it up the hill. I think I need to slow down more. I was going 60 going into that screen and kept dying as I tried to slow down.

BC's Quest - 14,240 Shoot, I can't remember if this was my second time through or third...but if you are having trouble with the ugly broad, go right as soon as you can and pause briefly on the 3rd turtle...then continue...might take a little experimentation to get the timing right.

I would try B&C ComputerVisions at http://www.myatari.com/ If you don't see it on their web site, drop them an email and ask. I've gotten parts and had repairs done by them before.

Don't feel bad...this game is hard to master. I always get stuck at the parts where you have to go across the water jumping on the dinosaurs heads...or I guess they are turtles backs...don't know for sure. I usually always get clobbered by the fat broad on the first one. Then, for some reason, after playing this thing for what..25+ years???...I just now figured out instead of going straight across, your time might be better spent jumping back and forth on the first two heads/backs until you can time jumping on the third when her club is up and not down.

I have noticed that too, but I always thought it was just an itchy finger on the joystick control. Even a slight nudge will make him jump sometimes.

Man, thanks to whoever posted the high score sheet today. That reminded me that I had created one for myself many years ago. I just took a look at it (I don't actually print it out, just keep it on hard disk and would update it when needed with new scores). I was going to record my 88,950 score for Montezuma's Revenge only to find I already had 449,651 filled in for it!!! I know back in the olden days I used to play this game for hours and hours, but after struggling to come in with 88,950 for this contest, I can't imagine how I ever got to 449,651. This had to have been from the late 80s and has been passed down by myself for years and years. I rarely delete computer files...just store them away.

Yeah, that bird is a toughy the second time. It zips by you pretty fast. I guess you have to be going the exact right speed to catch it. My last play through I caught it entirely by accident on the 2nd level. I was accelerating and accidently jumped just as I got under it, which just happened to be as I got to the part where you jump or die.

BC's Quest For Tires - 8,250

Yeah, I play with an emulator...I didn't realize your high score stays at the bottom...just didn't even think to look. I just saw the score you posted and a 4x by the tire/wheel icon so I was thinking you were still playing. I punch the screenshot key immediately after losing my last life so I'm not just taking a pic of the black screen with the scores on it. Guess I'll have to transfer the rom to my 128-in-1 cart so I can play it on my CV. I don't know how well it will handle with a standard Coleco controller, but it should do well with my Power Stick. This game is one of the best for the CV...I almost wish they'd done more with it...maybe a couple of extra screens. It would have been a killer Super Game for the ADAM Computer. Joe B.

Just curious as to why you are posting a high score of 12,200 when your screen shot still shows you have four lives left. Bathroom break?

BC's Quest For Tires - 6,700 I remember when this first came out I used to sit and play it for hours...very addictive!!!