=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dancing Plates For the Atari 2600 General FAQ Last Updated 2/21/05 Version 1.0 Written & Compiled by "TestaALT" Email address TestaALT@aol.com This file is Copyright (c) 2005 Andrew "TestaALT" Testa. All rights reserved. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ================== Table of Contents: ================== 1. Version History 2. Introduction 3. Dedication 4. Controls 5. Overview 6. Strategies 7. Frequently Asked Questions 8. Credits 9. Legal Disclaimer 10. Contact Information ============================================================================= 1. Version History ============================================================================= Version 1.0 (02/21/05): Initial version of document - it's complete. ============================================================================= 2. Introduction ============================================================================= Haha, another Atari game that is an "unknown" to GameFAQs besides its name and genre, although Dancing Plates is hardly an "action" game. If anything, it's a big nuisance. See, the goal of the game is to catch plates that are in the air. The only thing is that there are ten plates , and it's hard to juggle catching all those plates at the same time! Nevertheless, this is another small one level game that I just had to cover. ============================================================================= 3. Dedication ============================================================================= I decided to dedicate this guide to all Atari 2600 gamers out there. They really keep this system alive, even though it seems "dead." Atari 2600, in a lot of people's minds, was the first gaming console ever created. This really isn't true, as there were other obscure systems before it. However, this was most people's first video game system. This is the system that brought them into gaming. And so, I dedicate this guide to the Atari 2600 gamers that still play this old system and keep it alive. This guide is also dedicated to Brian P. Sulpher and AboveAverage. Brian for showing me that you can write for very old systems. AboveAverage for showing me which system to write on... the Atari 2600! ============================================================================= 4. Controls ============================================================================= Fire Button: It does nothing at all. Joystick: Used to move the dancer. ============================================================================= 5. Overview ============================================================================= The basic layout of the game: ======================================================================== | | - - - - - - - <- Plates | - - - - - - | | | | |-------------------------------------------------------------------- | ========================================================================= If you have almost any Scooby Doo then you know how to play this game. The object of the game is to save the plates from falling below the "-" line. If they do, one of your four chances will disappear. When you run out of chances the game ends. This might seem easy at first but soon eight or nine plates are falling and it becomes almost impossible to catch them all. It takes around thirty seconds for a plate in the air to finally fall - it usually is multi-colored when it finally falls. It will turn into a blue brick when it falls. Their are several stages that show when its going to fall, however. When it's yellow and not moving that means it just spawned - you shouldn't really have to worry about it yet. When it starts to spin it will turn green. A couple seconds later, it will start to spin and show two colors. Soon, it will start to show four colors. When it does that means it is going to fall very soon. When it finally falls, it is your job as the dancer to get the plate. You can't jump or anything, so you have to be directly under it to get the plate. This is basically the course of the game. Your points will go up constantly very slowly because you haven't lost yet. When you catch a plate you get an instant one-hundred points. This game is pretty simple until you have to worry about eight or nine plates, then it gets pretty tough. ============================================================================= 6. Strategies ============================================================================= Some key strategies to saving plates in Dancing Plates. * The best strategy is to position yourself according to the plates. If some plates are almost going to fall you should set up under them. * The first stage of the plates is when they are not moving at all and are yellow. * The second stage of the plates is when they are barely moving. They are still yellow. * The third stage of the plates is when they are moving in some up-down pattern. They are now green. * The fourth stage of the plates is when they are moving in an up-down pattern and are cycling two colors. * The final stage of the plates is when they are moving in an up-down way and are changing to different colors constantly. * Put priority on the plates in the later stages because they will fall a lot faster than the ones in the earlier stages. * Set up under the plates in the later stages so they are easier to collect. It's hard to collect plates when you are on the other side of the screen. * When there are five plates in the air stand in the middle of them so you can collect them more conveniently. * When there are more than eight plates, try to put priority on all the plates in the third or later stage. If you just try to collect the ones in the last stage you will lose plates. * Also, consider running back and forth between the later stage plates so you are closer to them. * After eight plates start to collect plates by touching their sides instead of setting up under them. * The gauge on the left side of the screen shows you the altitude of the plates. This is somewhat useful when trying to collect many plates that are falling because you know which ones to put priority on and which ones are still floating high in the air. * Do not move the dancer to one side of the screen unless all the late state plates are on that side. * When in doubt go to the middle of the screen or the closest late stage plate. * If too many start to fall at the same time focus on the ones that are the highest - you have a better chance of getting these plates than the plates that are almost gone. * The plates go straight down so you don't have to worry about them moving around from side to side. * Also, the plates stay in their location until they fall. ============================================================================= 7. Frequently Asked Questions ============================================================================= Question: What does the fire button do? Answer: Nothing at all. It's pretty sad, but the only way you can get the plates is by being under them. Question: Can I jump in this game? Answer: No; only move around. Question: What is the gauge on the left hand of the screen for? Answer: It determines the altitude of a falling plate. It's pretty useful but most of the time you'll be looking at the plates and not the side of the screen. Question: What's the best way to get plates? Answer: The best way is to set up under it and get it. When things get hectic, try to get them just before they hit the ground. Question: Can I play this with a friend? Answer: Not that I know of. Question: My game doesn't work, how do I get it to work!? Answer: You might have a corrupted version of the game, or perhaps the old 2 K version, which doesn't work very well. Question: Where can I get this game? Answer: The Atari 2600 hasn't had any new games made for years, so you can't buy it from them. You can get the game at a garage sale or ebay, if you like. ROMs also work, if you have the game and it is broken, that is. ============================================================================= 8. Credits ============================================================================= * CJayC for creating GameFAQs. * Brian Sulpher for referring me to a good ROM site. ============================================================================= 9. Legal Disclaimer ============================================================================= This document is Copyright (c) 2005 Andrew "TestaALT" Testa. All Rights Reserved. This document may not be reproduced or retransmitted in any form and under any circumstances without the complete consent of the author. It may not be sold, altered, or published in any way without the advanced permission of the author. All sources, which have contributed to this document, are cited and/or credited in some form. The only sites I allow this document to be viewed at are: GameFAQs IGN If you see this document at any other site please email me as I do not allow this document to be published at any other sources. Please do not ask me if you want this document on your website, as the answer will most likely be no. These terms have become binding once the recipient (or reader) opened this document. Violation of these terms are strictly prohibited and will result in a lawsuit. Please do not take these terms as threats and/or not read them as they are all very much true. I can sue you for an act of plagiarism and will not hesitate to do so. Thank you for reading this legal disclaimer and have a nice day! =) ============================================================================= 10. Contact Information ============================================================================= Contact me via email (TestaALT@aol.com) or AIM (TestaALT) if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this guide. Just make sure that you put the game name in the subject line. If you don't, I'll probably delete you're email thinking it's spam. Also, make sure that the question isn't answered in the latest version of the document, which can be found at GameFAQs. Try to ask me legibly, as I can't decipher chickenscratch. For AIM, just beep me whenever you like. Thanks for reading, and check some of my other work at: -> http://gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/23249.html <- -- EOF --