Denis Hruza's Space Duel FAQ Contents Space Duel - Overview Targets Game Versions (Modes) 1 Player Fighter mode 1 Player Station mode 2 Player - Separate Fighter mode 2 Player - Fused Space Station mode _________________________________________________________________ Overview _________________________________________________________________ Space Duel is a one- or two-player game with a color X-Y (vector) video display. X-Y Video (vector) Display: This screen displays dazzling color and unique visual effects in a spectacular multi-dimensional display. Unlike most raster monitors, an X-Y monitor is capable of a very dark playfield with bright, crisp game graphics. There are 3 color guns which make up the basic colors red, green, blue. These gun colors combined also create the basic colors used in most X-Y games: yellow, pink, cyan and white. For more information on Vector displays try Jess Askey's - Atari Vector Game Page. Great page dedicated to the X-Y displays. In the first wav, spinners enter and break into 2 smaller pieces when shot. Each piece splits into 2 smaller pieces when shot again. Each of these pieces is destroyed when shot again. Other targets split apart in the same manner when shot. Here are the amount of items per wave according to the difficulty setting of the game: Easy - In the beginning of the first wave, 3 targets appear on the screen. Targets increase by one in each new wave. Normal - Space Station action is the same as Easy. Fighter action has 4 targets in first wave. Targets increase by 2 in each new wave. Targets move faster and more targets enter. Medium and Hard - 4 in First wave. Increase by 2 in each new wave. As difficulty increase, targets move faster and more targets appear. At the end of each wave, a bonus wave begins and a low humming is heard. BONUS LEVEL and the number of points for that level, flash on the screen. A box appears and the screen edge and ships cannot leave that boundry. Fuzzballs, Stars and Saucers enter and attack the player. The targets can go out of the boundries of the box and wrap around as in a normal wave. Stars that exit one side of the screen re-enter the other side as Fuzzballs _________________________________________________________________ Space Duel Targets _________________________________________________________________ The following objects enter from the screen edge. Split into 2 smaller targets first time shot. Each target splits into two smaller targets next time it is shot. Each of these targets is destroyed next time shot. Target - Scoring - Wave Target First Appears -Spinner 20/50/100 - Wave 1 - Octahedron 20/50/100 - Wave 2 - Cube 20/50/100 - Wave 4 - Pentagon 20/50/40 - Wave 7 - Book 20/50/100 - Wave 10 - 8-Pointed Star 20/50/100 - Wave 13 - Hexagon 20/50/100 - Wave 16 - 5-Pointed Star 200 points - Bonus Enters from screen edge when a few targets remain If it leaves the screen it returns as a Fuzzball - Fuzzball 200 Points - Bonus Enters from screen edge and tracks ship Fuzzballs will travel in an arc and curves - Mine 100 Points - Wave 1 Enters from screen edge, tracks ship and speeds up as game play prgresses When shot it stops and changes color If hit enough times it turns white and can be destroyed - Saucer 300 Points - Wave 1 Enters screen from edge when targets are less than the wave number Shoots at targets and ships - Saucer 300 Points - Wave 1 Enters screen from edge when targets are less than the wave number Shoots at targets and ships Enter as a pair (Red and Green) and shoot at, but do not destroy, each other Targets between pair are shot As play progresses, distance between pair increases _________________________________________________________________ Game Versions _________________________________________________________________ Space Duel offers players a choice of four different games versions. 2 One-player versions and 2 Two-Player versions _________________________________________________________________ 1 PLAYER This is the first version. Your a lone fighter and it's you against everybody. This is the same type of game mode as Asteriods. Player controls consist of ROTATE LEFT, ROTATE RIGHT, THRUST,SHIELDS and FIRE pushbuttons. The 1 player controls are color coded red to match the players ship color. The right side of the deck is the 1 player side (why?) Sheilds protect a ship from all saucer shots and collisions. Shields wear out with time or if hit by targets. One hit and it's all over. Your allowed 4 shots on the screen at one time. So make em count. _________________________________________________________________ 1 PLAYER Space Station The second 1 Player version consists of 2 ships connected together by a "fuse". This is considered the "Space Station" version. The scores of the two ships are combined and there's only so many objects per wave so your score isn't actually doubled, just your fire-power. You have control of the guns of each ship but only the thrust controls on the one one (red) ship. This makes playing a little more interesting:) You can get a real mean pinwheeling effect going. The ship is easy to get back under control, but you have to be careful of the other ship which always seems to be in the wrong spot. Although not easy at first..this configuration is controlable. Space stations have twice as much shield energy. This mode also allows each ship to sustain one hit without being destroyed. When one of the ships is hit it's outter hull breaks off, it's onscreen shots are reduced to 1 and the ship is slower to react. The other ship remains at a rate of 4 shots onscreen. What is the "fuse" you ask. It's exactly what it's called. When one of the ship sustains it's 2nd hit and is destroyed, the linking fuse is lit.....Need I say more? _________________________________________________________________ 2 PLAYER Separate Fighters This version consists of separate fighters and scores for each player. All the other rules go out the window. Be ready with those shields. Hit once and your destroyed. Forget about the saying from Crossbow "Don't shoot your friends!". It's kill or be killed. Shooting your friend here means 500 points. They're destroyed but they'll be back without losing ship. You can really agravate the hell outta somebody in this mode. Might turn into a real brawl. :) You can shoot the other player right before the bonus wave and keep out of the bonus wave. If one player loses all of his ships before the other player, his last ship returns as a damaged ship. It is possible to earn a bonus ship while damaged _________________________________________________________________ 2 PLAYER Space Station This version is the same as the 1 player space station except for one thing. That madman on the other set of controls flinging you around aimlessly! If you didn't lose your mind playing the 2 player fighter mode...your gonna loose it here. Both players have thrusters. Tug-a-war anybody? This requires teamwork....for about the first 10 seconds then watch out! :) _________________________________________________________________ I WILL be adding more to this page. Stop back some time :) _________________________________________________________________ king@arcade.org Last updated 3/28/96 Created and maintained by Denis Hruza