Atari 5200 HSC Rules of Play

[Atari5200]

Hello all. I'm adding this topic so I basically don't have to repeat the rules in every round of the HSC, also, this topic can be used to discuss the rules themselves, make recommendations or suggestions regarding the rules and regulations.

 

Rule #1. However you can play the game is fine as long as you're playing the actual 5200 game and not a port or other version. This basically means the game must be played on actual 5200 hardware or an emulator that supports 5200 bins.

 

Rule #2. Default difficulty for each game, no easy unless it is the default setting.

 

Rule #3. Any controller scheme is fine. With all the debate over the stock controller vs. xx other controller, I don't really care. Whatever you want to use is fine.

 

Rule #4. Screenshots preferred but not required. Though I would like to see screenshots, they are not required, even myself, have a hard time getting screenshots when I'm trying to get a quick game in here or there.

 

Rule #5. Do not use any cheat/hack options. These include auto-fire, unlimited lives, invinciblity. etc. Also no continues. Only games started at the beginning count.

 

Rule #6. Please do not abuse bugs in the games!

Many Atari games have loopholes that allow you to easily get huge amounts of points without

much work (An example of such "point scumming": in Asteroids, you can eliminate all but one

small asteroid, and then "hunt" UFO's without the level ending), or finish the game while

skipping alot of the actual content. Not only do these result in somewhat bogus high scores,

but it ruins the fun and challenge of the game in the process. I'll try to point out "forbidden"

tactics as i become aware of them, but if you happen to stumble across one that i was not aware of

please let me know! (Note: If a bug is proven to exist partway through the contest, existing scores may be removed if it can be proven that they have exploited the bug even if it was not intentional.

If you have triggered the bug accidentally, i would urge you to voluntarily remove your score

and post a new one.)

 

Rule #7. Rolled The Score, Once someone gets good enough at a particular game, it's entirely possible

for them to play (for all ensive purposes) forever! On a number of weeks we've run into a problem

that a number of people were good enough to do this. The problem then is how to decide who get's the #1 place. I don't want to force people to play a game for 10 hours straight just so they can roll

the score that one extra time to get a few extra points. I want people to enjoy the game, not get

sick of it. So, in the case that multiple people are skilled enough to roll the score, then their

scores will just be listed as the maximum it can go before rolling, and everyone who does so will

just be tied for first place. The person with the highest score who didn't roll the score will be

considered as the 2nd place and so on.

However, even though you won't get any extra points for obscenely high scores, i highly encourage

you to record the game and send it to the people at Twin Galaxies.

I'm sure they'd love to see it!

 

Rule #8. "Acting Champion" Disclaimer:

In the event the original champion or point leader is unable to fulfill his/hers duties as champion/ point leader, the person with the next highest point total will take over as champion and/or point leader.

 

Rule #9. No threatening remarks nor foul language will be tolerated. Any thing I deem unacceptable will be deleted from the post. Based on previous rounds, I don't think this will ever be a problem.

 

Thats it for now.

 

Thanks guys

-Dave

 

 

Scoring for each round:

Accumulated points are garnered from what position a participant finalizes in on each round utilizing the same scoring formula as the 2600 HSC uses:

 

Highest Score: +11 points

2nd Highest: +10 points

3rd Highest: +9 points

4th Highest: +8 points

5th Highest: +7 points

6th Highest: +6 points

7th Highest: +5 points

8th Highest: +4 points

9th Highest: +3 points

10th Highest: +2 points

11th and onwards (Participating): +1 point

Edited January 31, 2011 by roadrunner

[jerry32]

Hello all. I'm adding this topic so I basically don't have to repeat the rules in every round of the HSC, also, this topic can be used to discuss the rules themselves, make recommendations or suggestions regarding the rules and regulations.

 

Rule #1. However you can play the game is fine as long as you're playing the actual 5200 game and not a port or other version. This basically means the game must be played on actual 5200 hardware or an emulator that supports 5200 bins.

 

Rule #2. Any controller scheme is fine. With all the debate over the stock controller vs. xx other controller, I don't really care. Whatever you want to use is fine.

 

Rule #3. Screen shots preferred but not required. Though I would like to see screen shots, they are not required, even myself, have a hard time getting screen shots when I'm trying to get a quick game in here or there.

 

Rule #4. Trash talking is encouraged as long as it is not over the top. No threatening remarks nor foul language will be tolerated, foul language being the f bomb, s bomb, etc, the real nasty stuff. Any thing I deem unacceptable will be deleted from the post. Based on previous rounds, I don't think this will ever be a problem.

 

 

 

Thats it for now.

 

Thanks guys

-Dave

 

can i get in

Edited June 20, 2008 by Atari5200

[Atari5200]

I edited your post to what I think you were trying to say. If it's wrong please let me know.

 

Yes, you can participate at any time in the current round. previous rounds you can post scores if you want, but they will not count towards total point rankings.

[RangerG]

Are you ever going to start the rankings over? - like a fantasy football season every year. It may encourage those that are way in the back and encourage new people to join if there is a fresh start. Keep the old winners and rankings in a league historian's file.

Edited December 22, 2008 by RangerG

[darthkur]

Are you ever going to start the rankings over? - like a fantasy football season every year. It may encourage those that are way in the back and encourage new people to join if there is a fresh start. Keep the old winners and rankings in a league historian's file.

 

Yes, a new season will commence in February.

[+Cafeman]

It looks like we never put Missile Command into the HSC. Is that because it is hard to play on the emulator, with its analog control scheme?

[darthkur]

It looks like we never put Missile Command into the HSC. Is that because it is hard to play on the emulator, with its analog control scheme?

 

I'm not certain. I've never tried to play it using an emulator. I have no objections in including it or any other game available for the system. In fact I'll add Missile Command to the choices on the next poll.

[+Cafeman]

It's one of the must-play games on 5200 and is a different experience than the A8 version, due to the pinpoint analog controller-to-screen mapping. I've never tried it on emu either - but if it translates the analog to digital, it'd be unplayable since the cursor would be hard-left/right/up/down, not allowing you the spots in between.

 

Great score-based game and each session doesn't last too long either.

[RangerG]

Great - I'll start up in February.

 

Take care,

RG

[NoahsMyBro]

I find it difficult to find the explanation of the scoring when I want to look it up. I believe I found it here:

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1627121

 

I think you ought to add the information there to the 'Rules' post (message 1 of this thread), so it's easier to find.

 

Thanks,

Steve

[darthkur]

I find it difficult to find the explanation of the scoring when I want to look it up. I believe I found it here:

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1627121

 

I think you ought to add the information there to the 'Rules' post (message 1 of this thread), so it's easier to find.

 

Thanks,

Steve

 

 

That's a good idea. Info is now part of the original post. Thanks for the suggestion.