How to play Starmaster on the 7800

[supercat]

Given the frequency with which people suggest hacking Starmaster to make it playable on the 7800, it seems many people aren't aware that it already is.

 

Simply use either difficulty switch in place of the Color/BW switch to change screens.

 

Simple and easy, but apparently many people aren't aware of that trick.

[Danno]

It says that right in the manual. You'd think people culd figure that out.

 

Same thing with space shuttle.

[supercat]

It says that right in the manual. You'd think people culd figure that out.

901898[/snapback]

 

From the manual "5. Difficulty switches (skill levels on Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade) may be set at either level and should not be moved during game play." So no, it isn't in the manual (not sure why) but nonetheless does work.

[D.Yancey]

The 7800 didn't exist when the manual was written. The left diff switch always works to switch to the map on the 2600 or the 7800(just like the color/BW switch on the 2600). It's a little more difficult to reach as quickly, but it does work.

[shadow460]

I wonder if this will toggle the shileds off in Phaser Patrol...

It, too, uses the Color/BW switch for gameplay functions.

[Harry_Dodgson]

Ever play any games using your feet? I played Defender on the 800 using a gentle touch on the space bar with my foot for Smart bombs. You can do that in Starmaster as well - just press down on the Pause button and hold it.

[Lauren Tyler]

It's reasons like that that make me wish my classic 4-switch woodgrain still worked!

[Bruce Tomlin]

Ever play any games using your feet?  I played Defender on the 800 using a gentle touch on the space bar with my foot for Smart bombs.  You can do that in Starmaster as well - just press down on the Pause button and hold it.

I made a "Toe Control[tm]" for my 5200 back in the day. I used half of one of those Radio Shack project boxes covered with foil, and another piece of foil wrapped around my big toe and held in place with a small alligator clip. I hooked those up to a little 15-pin extender I made from a DB15-M and a DB-15F. Much easier to use than those accursed side buttons, even before I knew about 5200 controller rot.

[+remowilliams]

I wonder if this will toggle the shileds off in Phaser Patrol...

It, too, uses the Color/BW switch for gameplay functions.

902055[/snapback]

Seems not. You have to hold the pause button in to lower the shields :/

[shadow460]

How about this mod?

Wire a toggle switch across the pause control.

Once it's mounted, one position is for all 7800 games and the color position on a 2600.

The other position is to be used only for running 2600 games in BW mode.