24 replies to this topic

[Ze_ro]

Important Note: This weeks competition is over and no further scores will be accepted.

The bank has loaned you $5,00 to start your own Ghostbusters franchise. Earn enough money busting ghosts before their dangerous energy emissions (PK energy) reach critical mass at 9999. Otherwise, your business will be foreclosed.

Game Information

Game Name: Ghostbusters Released By: Activision, 1985 Left Difficulty: N/A (used in-game) Right Difficulty: N/A (used in-game) Game Mode: Default Chosen By: Mister VCS Post your scores right here in this thread, and I will add them to the list. Remember to play the game with the recommended game mode and difficulty settings as shown above so that your scores will be consistent with everyone elses. The deadline for posting scores is Wednesday July 8th at 1:00 AM (CST).

Current High Scores $130,000 (Mister VCS) [+11] $66,100 (aftermac) [+10] $56,100 (vjames) [+9] $28,000 (sloth713) [+8] $25,300 (toymailman) [+7] $22,900 (darthkur) [+6] $22,000 (LarcenTyler) [+5] $4500 (Kurt_Woloch) [+4] Best Tips aftermac [+2] Challenges Tourist Challenge - AtariAge only has screenshots for the store and city scenes. Provide screenshots of each of the other scenes (driving, busting, Marshmallow Man, and whatever else happens after the PK energy maxes out), and you get 2 bonus points! vjames [+2] TwinGalaxies Top 3 (Game 1, Difficulty B) 999,999 (Todd Rogers, David B Yancey, Douglas A Loyd, Tom Duncan) 18,700 (Robert T Mruczek)

Current Standings toymailman [427] Deteacher [319] darthkur [310] aftermac [272] Kurt_Woloch [195] Impaler_26 [173] DarthCalvin [117] SpiceWare [112] Mister VCS [111] jjd [98] shadow460 [92] LarcenTyler [82] vjames [67] Atardi [56] Hornpipe2 [55] sloth713 [49] the 5th ghost [47] Nathan Strum [46] mcge0053 [44] Zoyx [35] doctorclu [34] SeaGtGruff [30] IHATETHEBEARS [27] Jess Ragan [26] theKLT [26] homerwannabee [22] Jred [20] LaserHawk [20] Spector [20] Shannon [19] chuckwalla [19] Omegamatrix [19] roadrunner [18] ClassicGMR [18] iangamer [15] MrBeefy [14] LoneWolfSeth [12] Wickeycolumbus [12] Thomas Jentzsch [12] midnight magicman [11] vdub_bobby [11] ed1475 [10] Random Terrain [10] maf [9] TimsterAA [9] ChrisKoopa [9] DtY [8] ballistik [8] godzillajoe [8] missioncontrol [8] LS_Dracon [7] BSA Starfire's girlfriend [7] RJ [6] mightymage [5] Dryerlint [5] lucifershalo [5] Blackjack [5] phaxda [5] Vectorman0 [4] vintagegamecrazy [4] mika [3] rasty [3] Trinity [2] joeypsp [2] rheffera [2] ratfink [2] 4Ks [1] Lendorien [1] Crazy Climber [1] Cafeman [1] Yar76 [1] Artlover [1] holgibo [1]

Scoring Points in Ghostbusters

Money is points in this game. You start the game with $5000. You will have to use some money to buy equipment (at least one Trap). Every trapped slimer increases your earnings. The quicker you catch each slimer, the more you'll earn. The amount of money in your account is shown constantly on the bottom of the screen. When the Marshmallow Man appears, you have a chance to bait him away. If you do so successfully, you earn $2000. If you fail, he'll destroy a city block and you'll lose $4000. The game ends when the city's PK energy level reaches 9999. If you have less than $10,000 then the game is over. If you have $10,000 or more, you will have a chance to earn a bonus $2000 if you defeat Gozer (yeah, the manual says Zuul... I guess David Crane never watched the movie or something --Zero). After this, you'll get to continue playing, even if you failed. Note that on subsequent levels, you will need to make $10,000 over and above what you had when you finished the previous level.

Hints and Tips

The Manual

As always, you really should read the manual. In case you don't have the manual, AtariAge has a typed copy and a scanned copy available online. The manual doesn't provide any real hints, but this game is pretty advanced for an Atari game, so I highly suggest you read the manual so you know what you're doing.

vjames

It is also possible to catch the ghosts by using two parallel streams so that it's sandwiched between them (but still seems random). Forget the image enhancer and vacuum. Not enough ghosts get by to be able to give you enough time to catch more slimers. (you need both on the C64 version). I THINK you only get two baits (hit F7/F8 on stella (right difficulty switch)) to release bait. If you are driving the Marshmallow Man cannot come, so move your cursor all around the screen from about 6-7k on the pk meeter and then drive around (anywhere) the rest of the game.

aftermac

Tip: Make sure you have your first Ghostbuster on the building screen facing to the right otherwise he will fire off to the left and you can't trap the slimers. Tip: As soon as the game gets "out of control" start flipping your right difficulty switch BEFORE the Marshmallow Man appears to bait him. Tip: On the driving screen when you are going after a floater, immediately move your car to the center lane to get in a better position to catch him. If you're on the right and it appears on the left you won't have enough time to catch it. Tip: Always take the shortest route to the closest building... this will make for a shorter car trip and save a bit on the PK meter. (And you will get more money, the faster you get there and the faster you catch the ghost you will get more money. I think the max is 700-800 dollars. --vjames)

sloth713

the best tip i can give is to not hold the ghost too tight between you beams, let the ghost bounce around a little between the beams and you will be more likely to catch it in your trap.

--Zero

[toymailman]

Excellent! I had never tried this one before. However, after trying it a few times I don't think I get the gameplay down. There seems to be a bug in the game?

It happens when I am trying to "bust" a ghost. I go through the process in the manual and move the ghostbusters in toward each other such that the slimer gets caught below the ion streams. This way he is somewhat limited in his random bouncing motion.

Then the "bug" happens. When the slimer is directly above the trap, I press the button. The streams dissappear! Once they go away the slimer is free to randomly bounce around again. The trap mechanism moves much slower than the slimer, and therefore the slimer can almost always avoid being caught. Is this normal? It seems like the streams should stay active until after the slimer is successfully trapped.

I've read through the manual a few more times but it doesn't give any other information or tips.

[Kurt_Woloch]

OK, here's my entry... $ 4500.

I refuse to play this again, because I don't know if I could do much better than that. The process of catching ghosts is too unpredictable in my eyes (as soon as you release the trap, it's basically a matter of luck if you'll get the ghost or not).

[aftermac]

Here are the screenshots I've captured:

Driving:


Marshmallow Man:


Busting:


PK Meter hit 9999 and it went into a demo mode, and the PK counter started from 0:


If the screenshot for the PK hitting 9999 and having $10,000 is required then that might take a while...

EDIT:

Here is Gozer (good catch Ze-ro!) stepping on me:



I'd still like to get a shot of the Ghostbusters crossing the streams after defeating Gozer, but it seems pretty difficult to run through his legs.

Edited by aftermac, Thu Jul 2, 2009 3:16 PM.

[aftermac]

4,800

[vjames]

I never lose anything but I guess I lost this game...I don't remember having so much trouble catching the ghosts. I played the C64 version which I'm also familiar with and it was MUCH easier to catch the ghosts. Oddly enough, I've beaten the Marshmallow Man on this one before but I'm not sure I'll be able to do it again.

It is also possible to catch the ghosts by using two parallel streams so that it's sandwiched between them (but still seems random).

[vjames]

20,400

Much easier now.

Got to make the money early on...note the position of the trap and of the ghostbusters

Got one man past...

So here is where I SAVED STATE because I knew I'd never get the other guy past (must get 2 of the 3). Please disregard the score but here are the pics to show what happens for AtariAge...

Forget the image enhancer and vacuum. Not enough ghosts get by to be able to give you enough time to catch more slimers. (you need both on the C64 version). I THINK you only get two baits (hit F7/F8 on stella (right difficulty switch)) to release bait. If you are driving the Marshmallow Man cannot come, so move your cursor all around the screen from about 6-7k on the pk meeter and then drive around (anywhere) the rest of the game.

Looking forward to the new movie...

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[aftermac]

16,700

Tip: Make sure you have your first Ghostbuster on the building screen facing to the right otherwise he will fire off to the left and you can't trap the slimers.

Tip: As soon as the game gets "out of control" start flipping your right difficulty switch BEFORE the Marshmallow Man appears to bait him.

Tip: On the driving screen when you are going after a floater, immediately move your car to the center lane to get in a better position to catch him. If you're on the right and it appears on the left you won't have enough time to catch it.

[aftermac]

I guess you beat me to the crossed stream pic, vjames.

Edited by aftermac, Thu Jul 2, 2009 3:29 PM.

[toymailman]

Kurt_Woloch, on Thu Jul 2, 2009 7:44 AM, said:

The process of catching ghosts is too unpredictable in my eyes (as soon as you release the trap, it's basically a matter of luck if you'll get the ghost or not).

Yup, this is what I was getting at too. There must be something were missing.

[aftermac]

toymailman, on Thu Jul 2, 2009 7:07 PM, said:

Kurt_Woloch, on Thu Jul 2, 2009 7:44 AM, said:

The process of catching ghosts is too unpredictable in my eyes (as soon as you release the trap, it's basically a matter of luck if you'll get the ghost or not).

Yup, this is what I was getting at too. There must be something were missing.

Unfortunately, I don't think your missing much... once you hit the button for the trap you just have to hope the slimers stay put or fly back into the trap. I actually score half (or more) of my points by "baiting" the Marshmallow Man. I've improved my score, but I want to improve just a bit more before posting it!

[aftermac]

23,200

[vjames]

aftermac, on Thu Jul 2, 2009 4:28 PM, said:

I guess you beat me to the crossed stream pic, vjames.

If you can get there without having to save state and try again and again (and again) then you'll have me beat!


I have a lot better luck with the first guy shooting to the left, as I sweep the ghost to the right towards the trap I have a lot more success than if I aim the guy on the left to the right and the right to the left.

[LarcenTyler]

$22,000

Remember, in order to be able to go to Zuul (OK, Zulu) after the first round, you have to earn a total of at least $10,000 added to your previous total. For example, if you had $13,000 in round 1, you'd need to get to at least $23,000 total to go to the Zulu building. Otherwise, it's game over.

(Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what seemed to happen to me.)

[aftermac]

LarcenTyler, on Fri Jul 3, 2009 12:29 AM, said:

$22,000

Remember, in order to be able to go to Zuul (OK, Zulu) after the first round, you have to earn a total of at least $10,000 added to your previous total. For example, if you had $13,000 in round 1, you'd need to get to at least $23,000 total to go to the Zulu building. Otherwise, it's game over.

(Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what seemed to happen to me.)

That's right. In my score above I would have needed $27,000, because I scored 17,000 in round 1.

[aftermac]

49,400

700 points from a 5th stage! Still haven't beaten Gozer yet, but I did manage to run underneath him once.

Tip: Always take the shortest route to the closest building... this will make for a shorter car trip and save a bit on the PK meter.

[vjames]

aftermac, on Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:06 PM, said:

Tip: Always take the shortest route to the closest building... this will make for a shorter car trip and save a bit on the PK meter.

And you will get more money, the faster you get there and the faster you catch the ghost you will get more money. I think the max is 700-800 dollars.

[Mister VCS]

$ 40,000

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[aftermac]

66,100

[Mister VCS]

Ghostbusters crossing the streams:


Lost interest and quit the game at $ 130,000

[sloth713]

28,000

the best tip i can give is to not hold the ghost too tight between you beams, let the ghost bounce around a little between the beams and you will be more likely to catch it in your trap.

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[darthkur]

$22,900


Beat Gozer once. Didn't quite make enough cash to have another go at him though.

[vjames]

56,100

And you get at least 3 baits for the MM man.

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[aftermac]

vjames, on Tue Jul 7, 2009 11:26 AM, said:

56,100

And you get at least 3 baits for the MM man.

I haven't found the bait limit yet. I've "baited" him as many as 5 or 6 times per round. In fact, as soon as I realize I can't move, I start button jamming the right difficulty switches (buttons) on my game pad. Works every time!

[toymailman]

Whew, just figured this thing out. (a little)

25,300