******************************************************************************* Dig Dug for Atari 2600 FAQ by BHodges Version 1.0 Created 07/06/2020 This document Copyright © 2020 by Brian Hodges. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders. ******************************************************************************* Table of Contents I. Introduction II. Background Story III. Getting Started A. Game Select B. Beginning the Game C. Continuing IV. Basic Gameplay A. Objective & Basic Gameplay B. Controls C. Lives D. Vegetables E. Enemies 1. Pooka 2. Fygar F. Tips V. Scoring VI. Version History VII. Contact Information ******************************************************************************* I. Introduction This is a FAQ for the Atari 2600 game Dig Dug. It contains information on how to play, an explanation of the scoring system, and tips for getting high scores. Dig Dug for the Atari 2600 is an excellent port of the arcade classic. In Dig Dug, you take on the role of the titular character as you travel underground collecting veggies and battling Pookas & Fygars. ******************************************************************************* II. Background Story Here is the background story from the instruction booklet: "You are Dig Dug, the underground miner. With your jet-powered shovel, you create intricate, subterranean mazes. Ever on the watch for vegetable prizes, you must also look out for the fierce Fygar and mean Pooka that lurk underground. Their touch kills! Worse, these two meanies can transform into spooky ghosts that will appear out of nowhere and haunt you to death." ******************************************************************************* III. Getting Started ............................................................................... A. Game Select On the Title Screen use GAME SELECT to toggle between Normal or Easy mode. A teddy bear head will appear in the center of the Title Screen to indicate when Easy is selected. EASY - Maze never changes - Only two baddies per round - Baddies never turn into ghosts - Prize vegetable will always be a carrot NORMAL - Maze changes each round - Number of baddies increases each round (to max of 7) - Baddies can turn into ghosts - Vegetable prizes increase in value as you progress ............................................................................... B. Beginning the Game Press the Fire button when you are ready to begin playing Dig Dug. ............................................................................... C. Continuing After a Game Over, press the fire button within ten seconds of returning to the Title Screen to restart the game on the last round played. ******************************************************************************* IV. Basic Gameplay ............................................................................... A. Objective & Basic Gameplay The objective of the game is to get the highest score possible. You score points by killing enemies and collecting vegetables. Dig Dug is armed with an Air Pump that can be deployed using the Button on the Joystick. An enemy will become stunned when you strike it with the Air Pump, keep hitting the Button to inflate the enemy until he pops! Dig Dug can also kill enemies by dropping rocks on them. Dropping two rocks will cause a vegetable to appear in the starting spot for a few seconds. When there is only a single enemy left, he will turn into a ghost and attempt to flee via the top left of the screen. The round ends when the last enemy is either killed or successfully escapes. ............................................................................... B. Controls Joystick Move Dig Dug Button Use Air Pump ............................................................................... C. Lives Dig Dug starts the game with four lives. He earns a bonus life at 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 150,000, and 200,000 points. Dig Dug loses a life when: - He is touched by an enemy - He is hit by Fygar's fire - He is squished by a rock ............................................................................... D. Vegetables Dig Dug can collect vegetables to earn bonus points. One vegetable will appear each round for a few seconds after two rocks have been dropped. The vegetable will always appear in the same spot where Dig Dug began the round. Please note that the vegetable will not appear unless there are 6 or fewer baddies remaining. ............................................................................... E. Enemies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. Pooka Pooka is the round, orange enemy. He is capable of turning into a ghost so he can travel through soil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Fygar Fygar is the green enemy that looks like a dragon. Not only is Fygar capable of turning into a ghost, he can also breathe fire! ............................................................................... F. Tips - The last enemy will always try to escape via the upper left of the screen - Collecting vegetables is a key strategy to achieving a high score - Build a long, vertical tunnel under a rock then wait for baddies to approach before moving left or right and dropping the rock - Fygar can only breathe fire horizontally so it's safer to attack him from above or below ******************************************************************************* V. Scoring /===================================================\ | Killing Pooka | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | Top Soil Layer | 200 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 2nd Soil Layer | 300 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 3rd Soil Layer | 400 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | Bottom Soil Layer | 500 pts | \===================================================/ /===================================================\ | Killing Fygar (from above or below) | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | Top Soil Layer | 200 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 2nd Soil Layer | 300 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 3rd Soil Layer | 400 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | Bottom Soil Layer | 500 pts | \===================================================/ /===================================================\ | Killing Fygar (from the side) | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | Top Soil Layer | 400 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 2nd Soil Layer | 600 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 3rd Soil Layer | 800 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | Bottom Soil Layer | 1000 pts | \===================================================/ /===================================================\ | Vegetables | |------------+--------------------+-----------------| | ROUND(S) | PRIZE | POINTS | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 1 | Carrot | 400 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 2 | Turnip | 600 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 3 | Mushroom | 800 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 4 & 5 | Cucumber | 1000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 6 & 7 | Eggplant | 2000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 8 & 9 | Bell Pepper | 3000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 10 & 11 | Tomato | 4000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 12 & 13 | Onion | 5000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 14 & 15 | Watermelon | 6000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 16 & 17 | Galaxian | 7000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 18+ | Pineapple | 8000 pts | \===================================================/ /===================================================\ | Squashing Baddies with Rocks | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 1 Baddie | 1000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 2 Baddies at once | 2500 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 3 Baddies at once | 4000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 4 Baddies at once | 6000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 5 Baddies at once | 8000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 6 Baddies at once | 10000 pts | |---------------------------------+-----------------| | 7 Baddies at once | 12000 pts | \===================================================/ Notes: - You earn 10 points for every two chunks of dirt you dig - Point values for killing Fygar from the side are double those earned from above or below! ******************************************************************************* VI. Version History 1.0 07/06/20 Completed FAQ. ******************************************************************************* VII. Contact Information You can contact me at bhodges080@aol.com Please leave constructive comments. I especially appreciate emails letting me know if I have made a mistake, missed anything, or if you have any ideas for improving this FAQ. End