Play Meter

G"tting
ston"d
Atari introduces Asteroids , an
exciting one or two player adventure
game with its new Quadrascan video
system .
Players compete to destroy the
oncoming asteroids and enemy
saucers. Waves of asteroids ap-
proach from all directions . Accurate
respon se buttons are used to control
ship rotation and thrust .
The rapid fire is directed to hit the
asteroids , deflecting them in different
directions and shattering them into
smaller pieces . Enemy saucers ap-
pear randomly , shooting as th ey
approach the player's ship , adding
danger to the space adventure .
The hyperspace button can be a
last-minute escape from unavoidable
disaster; however , there is the risk of
destruction upon re -entry at an
unknown point. Asteroids' action
provides the excitement and thrills of
avoiding danger and destruction with
quick reflexes and developed skill.
The score builds with each
successful hit shattering rocks into
small fragments for high scoring.
Large asteroids score 20 points ,
medium are 50 pOints, and small
ones are 100 points each .
Hitting enemy saucers offers the
best scoring potential with 200 pOints
for the large one and I , 000 for the
small one . Operators can adjust the
game to three or four ships per play
and bonus ships for each 10,000
points scored.
High score initial display of the top
10 scorers in the attract mode
challenges players to test and
develop their skill .
PLAY METER. November. 1979
A ,,,al
tim"
machin"
William's new pinball, Time Warp .
now in production at the company's
Chicago factory . features a triple
sound option and futuristic curved
flippers .
There are two ways to make a
special, two ways to advance the
bonus multiplier , and two ways to
collect the bonus . A five -bank of
drop targets steps a player through
four time zones , advancing the bonus
multiplier in each zone, culminating
with an automatic special. Warping
the ball into the top eject hole in one
of four other time zones also
advances the bonus multiplier . Place
the eject hole in the fifth dimension
from a three-bank of drop targets ,
and it will award an extra ball .
The multiplier can advance to a
record -breaking lOX . Making A -8 -C
roll overs twice activates a time tunnel
bull 's-eye target for a special. Rico -
chet into another eject hole from any
three of five jet bumpers or make it
automatically as the ball returns from
the time tunnel and collect all the
bonus that has been built-up .
For technical considerations , Time
Warp provides William s front-end
programming that originated with
Flash . There is also memory lock that
protects all game adjustments when
the coin door is closed .
A triple sound option allows
selection of futuristic sounds, musical
notes , and one of several back -
ground soun ds including the exciting
background from the Flash game .
Time Warp , available with an
optional dollar coin chute , has the
playfield action and graphics to
captivate the pinball enthusiast ,
company officials note .
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