The Laser Blast manual is a six page fold-out, accompanied by the warranty statement on a separate sheet of paper. Page 1 (Front Cover) Activision LASER BLAST(tm) INSTRUCTIONS Get set for the battle of your life. With Laser Blast by ACTIVISION, you're up against enemy attackers in a space shoot-out that defies description. But please, take time out to read these instructions. They're full of helpful hints on how to handle some very relentless adversaries. Good luck and good shooting! ACTIVISION(tm) Page 2 LASER BLAST(tm) BASICS 1. Hook up your video game system. Follow manufacturer's instructions. 2. With power OFF, plug in game cartridge. 3. Turn power ON. If no picture appears, check connection of your game system to TV, then repeat steps 1-3. 4. Plug in left Joystick Controller (it's the only one you'll need). When playing, hold the Controller with red button at upper left. 5. Difficulty switches (skill levels on Sears Tele-Game Video Arcade system) have no effect in Laser Blast by ACTIVISION. 6. Select game with game select switch. Game 1: Cadet Level Game 3: Captain Level Game 2: Lieutenant Level Game 4: Commander Level NOTE: The difference between games is how rapidly the speed and firing rate of the enemy ground attackers improves as the game progresses. The relative difficulty of an attack group is calculated by multiplying the speed times the firing rate for that group. DIFFICULTY OF GROUND ATTACK GROUPS GAMES GROUP GROUP GROUP GROUP GROUP GROUP ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX or more CADET LEVEL 1 2 4 8 8 8 LIEUTENANT LEVEL 1 2 4 8 16 16 CAPTAIN LEVEL 1 2 4 8 16 32 COMMANDER LEVEL 1 32 32 32 32 32 The chart above shows how the difficulty of each attack group changes during play of each game. For example, at Captain and Commander Levels, the most difficult attack groups are 32 times as difficult as the easiest. 7. To begin play. Push your Joystick up to begin play. To start a new game, press game reset or push your Joystick up again. 8. Piloting. Your Joystick is used to pilot your spacecraft. You can only pilot one ship at a time. Pull the Joystick toward you to lower your ship and push it away to raise your ship. Move your Joystick left or right to move your ship left or right. When your Joystick is in the center, your ship will hover, spinning in a fixed position (not recommended!). 9. Aiming and Firing. The red button on your Joystick is used to fire the ship's laser blaster. Press this button to project the blaster from the bottom of your ship; release the button to fire. The laser blaser can be aimed by holding the button down and moving the Joystick left or right. But remember, the blaster will not fire until the button is released. Page 3 10. Scoring. Your score is kept in the upper left hand corner of the screen. You are awarded points for each attacker you destroy. As you progress through the game, attackers are worth more points, but they're also tougher to destroy. 11. Reinforcements. For each 1,000 points you gain, you're given a reinforcement ship. You can receive an unlimited number of reinforcements during the game. But, you can only have six reinforcement ships on the screen at one time. No matter how many points you score, you must have less than six reinforcement ships before the computer will add to your fleet. SPECIAL FEATURES OF LASER BLAST(tm) BY ACTIVISION(tm) ENEMY RADAR AND FORCE SHIELDS The ground attack forces are equipped with radar detection systems which help them aim their lasers at your ships. If you allow your ship to hover in one place too long, the enemy will quickly line up your ship in its sights, leading to disastrous results. By flying low to the ground, you can keep your craft under their radar. However, as the battle progresses, each new wave of enemy attackers has a stronger force field, which gradually forces your ship farther away from the ground, making it an easier target for the attackers' radar to spot. Your ship will be pushed higher and higher into space until you can't go any lower than the very top level This is when you must be very quick to avoid enemy fire. (Transcriber's Note: This is accompanied by a picture of screen from the game, pointing out the Score, Reserve fleet, Lead ship and Enemy forces. There is also a line drawing of a standard Atari joystick.) Page 4 WHEN YOUR SHIP TAKES A DIRECT HIT Don't give up! Even though your shipt will quickly lose altitude after you are hit, you can control the decent of your crippled ship and try to land on an attacker. This accomplishes two objectives: first, it destroys that attacker, and second it adds the value of the destroyed attacker to your point total After your spaceship has been destroyed, it will be replaced by one of the remaining ships from your fleet (if any). When you're out of ships, the game is over. GETTING THE FEEL OF LASER BLAST(tm) BY ACTIVISION(tm) This isn't an easy game. It takes quick reflexes, concentration and stamina to succeed. We suggest you start out by taking some "reconnaissance" runs quickly over the attackers. Test and see their reactions before you stop and fire back at them. After you've gotten a feel for things, try and master Game 1 before moving on to the much tougher games. The objective is to "fire and fly" and rack up as many points as possible, to add reinforcements to your fleet and to stay in the fight as long as you can. THE ACTIVISION FEDERATION OF LASER BLASTERS If you succeed in scoring 100,000 points or more, send us a picture of the television screen along with your name and address, and you'll be admitted to the Activision Federation of Laser Blasters. Score the maximum 1 million, and all points on the screen will be replaced with exclamation points. If you score the ultimate, please send us a photo! Such an achievement will certainly place you as one of the all time best video game competitors. Page 5 HOW TO BECOME AN ACE AT LASER BLAST(tm) BY ACTIVISION(tm) Tips from David Crane, designer of Laser Blast *David Crane is also the designer of Dragster(tm) and Fishing Derby(tm) by ACTIVISION. He prides himself in taking on some of the most challenging game assignments possible.* "As you will quickly discover, Laser Blast is a game not only of skill but also of *endurance*. There's really no time for taking breathers. "And that brings me to my most important tip. Always keep your ship in motion and fire quickly! A *moving* object is much harder to hit than one standing still. Since the attackers are continuously aiming and firing, you much be quick enough to dodge their fire, move into attack position and destroy their forces. Then quickly move on. "It is possible to stay in one place and fire quickly enough to destroy your attackers before they zero in on you. But this is a very tough strategy to execute and demands superior skill and concentration. "The game can get a little frustrating at times. But keep at it and you'll soon be eligible for membership in the Activision Federation of Laser Blasters. And take time out from your space battles to drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you." David Crane (Transcriber's note: This section is accompanied by a picture of Mr. Crane.) Page 6 (back cover) Look for more Activision video games wherever you buy video game cartidges. Drop us a note and we'll gladly add your name to our mailing list and keep you posted on new Activision game cartridges as the become available. ACTIVISION(tm) Activision, Inc., 3255-2 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95051 (C) 1981 Activision AG-008-03 Rev. 3 Printed in U.S.A. ----------- Enclosed with the manual is a separate sheet containing the warranty. ACTIVISION(tm) VIDEO GAME CARTRIDGE LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY Activision, Inc. warrants to the original consumer purchaser of this Activision video game cartridge that it will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase. Activision agrees to either repair or replace, at its option, free of charge, any cartridge discovered to be defective within the warranty period upon receipt of the cartridge, postage paid, with proof of date of purchase, at its Factory Service Center. This warranty is limited to the electronic circuitry and mechanical parts originally provided by Activision and is not applicable to normal wear and tear. This warranty shall not be applicable and shall be void if the defect in the cartridge has arisen through abuse, unreasonable use, mistreatment or neglect. This warranty is in lieu of all other express warranties and no other representation or claims of any nature shall be binding on or obligate Activision. Any implied warranties applicable to this cartridge are limited to the one (1) year period described above. In no event will Activision be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damage resulting from possession, use or malfunction of this cartridge. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and/or the exclustion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages so the above limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. Factory Repair: Activision, Inc. Service Center 240 S. Milpitas Blvd. Milpitas, CA 95035 AG-940-00 12/81 REV. 3 -------------------Atari 2600 Instructions Archive-------------------