39 replies to this topic

[Ze_ro]

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

Strap yourself in, and get ready for the green light. It's time to put the pedal to the metal and burn rubber down the quarter mile. Speed is the name of the game, and you'll have to push your engine to the absolute limit in order to win, because this week's game is Dragster!

Important Note: This is the final game of Season 6. Season 7 will start next week with everyones scores reset! For the final Season 6 standings, please see this post.

Game Information

Game Name: Dragster Released By: Activision, 1980 Left Difficulty: N/A Right Difficulty: N/A Game Mode: Game 1 - Straight-Ahead Dragster Chosen By: Ze_ro 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 August 19th at 1:00 AM (CST).

Current High Scores 5.54 (Atardi) [+11] [+2] 5.61 (the 5th ghost) [+10] [+2] 5.77 (rmartin) [+9] [+2] 5.78 (Animan) [+8] [+2] 5.84 (vjames) [+7] [+2] 5.84 (toymailman) [+7] [+2] 5.94 (sloth713) [+6] [+2] 5.97 (LarcenTyler) [+5] [+2] 5.97 (Zoyx) [+5] [+2] 5.97 (darthkur) [+5] [+2] 6.04 (shadow460) [+4] 6.17 (ChrisKoopa) [+3] 6.24 (aftermac) [+2] 6.51 (godzillajoe) [+1] 6.64 (Wickeycolumbus) [+1] 6.68 (Kurt_Woloch) [+1] 6.94 (roadrunner) [+1] Best Tips sloth713 [+2] Challenges Patch Challenge - World Class Dragster Club - Finish with a time of 6.00 or less and get 2 extra points! TwinGalaxies Top 3 (Game 1, Difficulty B) 5.51 (Todd Rogers) 5.61 (David B Yancey, Douglas C Korekach) 5.74 (Wolff K Morrow)

Current Standings toymailman [482] darthkur [360] Deteacher [343] aftermac [298] Kurt_Woloch [217] Impaler_26 [174] Mister VCS [135] shadow460 [117] DarthCalvin [117] SpiceWare [112] vjames [108] Atardi [105] jjd [98] LarcenTyler [91] sloth713 [69] Hornpipe2 [55] doctorclu [54] the 5th ghost [47] Nathan Strum [46] mcge0053 [44] ChrisKoopa [43] Zoyx [35] roadrunner [33] SeaGtGruff [31] IHATETHEBEARS [27] Jess Ragan [26] theKLT [26] homerwannabee [22] godzillajoe [21] Shannon [20] Jred [20] LaserHawk [20] Spector [20] chuckwalla [19] Omegamatrix [19] ClassicGMR [18] iangamer [15] MrBeefy [14] Wickeycolumbus [14] LoneWolfSeth [12] Thomas Jentzsch [12] midnight magicman [11] vdub_bobby [11] Phantom [11] ed1475 [10] Animan [10] Random Terrain [10] maf [9] TimsterAA [9] DtY [8] ballistik [8] missioncontrol [8] LS_Dracon [7] BSA Starfire's girlfriend [7] RJ [6] mightymage [5] 4Ks [5] Dryerlint [5] lucifershalo [5] Blackjack [5] phaxda [5] Vectorman0 [4] vintagegamecrazy [4] Captain Beard [3] mika [3] rasty [3] Cream147 [3] Trinity [2] joeypsp [2] rheffera [2] pacmanplayer [2] ratfink [2] flammingcowz [2] Lendorien [1] Crazy Climber [1] Dan Iacovelli [1] Cafeman [1] Yar76 [1] Artlover [1] brandonwright [1] holgibo [1]

Scoring Points in Dragster

This game is all about getting the best time. See the manual for information on how to play.

Hints and Tips

The Manual

As always, you really should read the manual. In case you don't have the manual, AtariAge has a scanned copy and a typed copy available online. Here are the hints it provides: The key to World Class times in Dragster is training your reflexes to clutch and shift quickly, accelerating at maximum power in each gear without blowing your engine. Call it racing shifting, if you like, but it's the only way you'll get your speed down under seven seconds. There are a couple of tricks that are not so obvious. For example, put the clutch in during the last numbers of the countdown, hold it in, rev up (careful) and pop the clutch by letting go of the Joystick the instant the screen reads 0. Then you should try to rev your engine to keep the tach in the red as you go through all four gears (without blowing your engine). You've got to keep your revs up for speed. If you drop out of the red in any gear (and particularly in third or fourth), try tapping the Joystick quickly to the left a few times ("popping the clutch") to get added acceleration. Do a wheelie? Sure, go ahead. When your front wheels come up off the road, you're getting maximum acceleration. But watch out! Push the gas too hard and you'll blow! It's also worth pointing out that we played this game a few years back. You might want to check it out for further hints.

vjames

Seems it doesn't matter much when you shift so long as you're getting wheelspin. In fact, I got the same results when I shifted to fourth in less than 2 seconds. Really adds a challenge to have to not blow the engine at the end of the course...

sloth713

The best piece of advice I can give is skip to 2nd gear as quick as possible off the start. Also make sure that your taps to left to shift are as quick as humanly possible.

--Zero

[Wickeycolumbus]

8:01

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[darthkur]

5.91


I thought that I'd give it a little "test drive" on Stella before setting up the VCS.

[roadrunner]

6.94

[LarcenTyler]

5.97

Finally, beat the Activision record!

Edited by LarcenTyler, Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:41 PM.

[godzillajoe]

What is the theoretical best time possible on this one again?

This is a limit right?

[Wickeycolumbus]

6:64

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[toymailman]

5.91

[ChrisKoopa]

6.17

[vjames]

5.84

Seems it doesn't matter much when you shift so long as you're getting wheelspin. In fact, I got the same results when I shifted to fourth in less than 2 seconds. Really adds a challenge to have to not blow the engine at the end of the course...

It would be neat if the countdown was random - this would test your reflexes instead of your timing (which always gets better with practice).

Those TwinGalaxies scores are amazing...

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[godzillajoe]

I hate this game.

There. I said it.

I don't think I've gotten out of first gear yet without my engine dissolving into a puddle of molten goo.

More practice over the weekend.

[shadow460]

Rolled it! 99.99.

And I rolled it again!

My first posted time was the 6:04 in the bottom lane and my best time so far is 5.91 also in the bottom lane. I plugged in a LaserActive controller and tunred it upside down, then put it on the table. I used my fingers to work the controls, left index finger to hit B and right to hit the clutch and/or reset.

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Edited by shadow460, Sat Aug 15, 2009 2:29 AM.

[Animan]

Man, so close to becoming the third world best...
5.78...

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Edited by Animan, Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:53 PM.

[godzillajoe]

6.88 but I think I can do better. I sorta "get it" now

Wish you could reset with the joystick.

a six second game and you gotta get up and press reset every time. Ugh.

[shadow460]

godzillajoe, on Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:48 AM, said:

6.88 but I think I can do better. I sorta "get it" now

Wish you could reset with the joystick.

a six second game and you gotta get up and press reset every time. Ugh.

You can. Wait until both tachometers are at zero, then push the stick to the right. Works anytime the tachs are at zero, not just at the end of the game.

[godzillajoe]

Cool. I will try that. Thanks.

[aftermac]

6.57

[toymailman]

New personal best for me on this one.

5.84

[toymailman]

Does anyone know if there a setting that I must have enabled to view the "current standings" animated list? Thanks.

[aftermac]

6.27

[Atardi]

5.54

[homerwannabee]

Atardi, on Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:03 AM, said:

5.54

That is an amazing score!

[Ze_ro]

I forgot to include the patch challenge when I made the initial post, but it's there now. 2 extra points if you can break 6.00.

--Zero

[the 5th ghost]

Atardi, on Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:03 AM, said:

5.54

Holy smokes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You must describe how you did that, please.

I've been stuck at 5.61 and never cracked the 5.5s

You are one tick away from perhaps the ultimate world record in Atari history, held by Todd Rogers (5.51)

Amazing and congrats!

[Vectorman0]

Atardi, on Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:03 AM, said:

5.54

Was this with a PAL cartridge? Does anyone know if PAL is timed differently? (I ask because I have a feeling the answer is "yes" to both)

Either way, that is a very impressive time!