63 replies to this topic

[Ze_ro]

Important note: This weeks competition is over. If you still wish to discuss this game, then feel free to do so, but no further scores will be accepted. Thanks to everyone for all their contributions! Please join in on the latest High Score Club competition!

An alien race from far away is attempting to eradicate all aliens within the solar system. Unfortunately, their first encounter with aliens is none other than humanity, and they intend to destroy each and every last trace of us. There's no time to waste, so get your space cruiser ready for takeoff and get your trigger finger warmed up, because this week's game is Galaxian!

Game Information

• Game Name: Galaxian
  
• Released By: Atari, 1983
  
• Left Difficulty: A / Expert - Single Shot
  
• Right Difficulty: N/A
  
• Game Mode: Game 1 - Normal Difficulty
  
• Chosen By: LarcenTyler
  

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 will be approximately Tuesday, Sept 20th at 1:30 AM (CST). In case you haven't already done so, please read the High Score Club rules. There is other useful information contained in that previous link, including a list of previous High Score Club games!

As before, next week's game will be chosen by the next person in the member list, which happens to be 128bytes! Please send me a private message with your choice of game for next week!

If you are not a member of the High Score Club, but would like to be, then all you have to do is post a score for this week's game, and I'll add you to the list!

Current High Scores

• 127,410 (the 5th ghost) [+11]
  
• 88,330 (homerwannabee) [+10]
  
• 67,770 (SpiceWare) [+9]
  
• 53,630 (keilbaca) [+8]
  
• 45,160 (shadow460) [+7]
  
• 44,210 (Recycled) [+6]
  
• 43,880 (silverpoodleman) [+5]
  
• 28,980 (Cybergoth) [+4]
  
• 22,260 (Fellow Atari Man) [+3]
  
• 21,320 (gospeedde) [+2]
  
• 20,400 (khryssun) [+1]
  
• 19,490 (Keir) [+1]
  
• 18,400 (vdub_bobby) [+1]
  
• 17,090 (Numan) [+1]
  
• 15,880 (Dones) [+1]
  
• 15,140 (Goochman) [+1]
  
• 12,280 (scogey) [+1]
  
• 11,730 (durden26) [+1]
  
• 11,160 (supercat) [+1]
  
• 9740 (LarcenTyler) [+1]
  
• 4890 (mitsubachi) [+1]
  

Best Tips

• Fellow Atari Man [+2]
  

Bounties and Challenges

• Roll The Score - Roll the score to get 2 bonus points.
  

TwinGalaxies Top 3

• 1,343,700 (Todd Rogers)
  
• 250,080 (Robert T Mruczek)
  
• 224,610 (Mark Feldt)
  

Current Standings

SpiceWare [79] keilbaca [63] shadow460 [47] khryssun [43] sku_u [34] the 5th ghost [29] LarcenTyler [25] Keir [25] panda_racer [23] durden26 [22] Numan [17] Mad Scientist [17] Goochman [16] vgcollector666 [15] neotokeo2001 [14] mitsubachi [14] xeex [13] Omegamatrix [13] brendano [12] Robert M [11]

scogey [10] vdub_bobby [10] supercat [9] Recycled [9] Christophero Sly [7] 128bytes [6] Fellow Atari Man [5] Malc74 [4] arlo [4] gospeedde [3] davepesc [3] FireTiger [3] Atarifever [2] Dan Iacovelli [2] video game addict [1] Gamemaster_ca_2003 [1] Gateway [1] StanJr [1] Luigi301 [1]

Member List

128bytes, Goochman, mikeftrevino, StanJr, Osbo, Numan, vdub_bobby, Dones, Gamemaster_ca_2003, awsomo3000, Voch, Stingray, scogey, Bubbledragon, video game addict, pitfallaimee, Blackjack, racer raul, SpiceWare, Robert M, Lord Helmet, Lord Thag, Mad Scientist, Dan Iacovelli, iguana, Luigi301, Gateway, Damon Plus, gospeedde, Kepone, internetotaku, panda_racer, KaeruYojimbo, cyberneticimplant, bjk7382, davepesc, neotokeo2001, xeex, bmlbytes, Omegamatrix, the 5th ghost, Xebec's Demise, khryssun, vgcollector666, chadtower, moycon, Malc74, shadow460, Atarifever, Keir, supercat, FireTiger, Philflound, Fellow Atari Man, keilbaca, brendano, Cybergoth, durden26, sku_u, mitsubachi, arlo, Recycled, LarcenTyler

Scoring Points in Galaxian

• DRONES 3 BOTTOM ROWS (GREEN) = 30 POINTS; IN FLIGHT = 60 POINTS
  
• EMISSARIES 4TH ROW UP (PURPLE) = 40 POINTS; IN FLIGHT = 80 POINTS
  
• ESCORTS 5TH ROW UP (RED) = 50 POINTS; IN FLIGHT = 100 POINTS
  
• FLAGSHIPS TOP ROW (WHITE) = 60 POINTS; IN FLIGHT = 120 POINTS
  
• FLAGSHIP IN FLIGHT WITH ONE RED ESCORT = 200 POINTS
  
• FLAGSHIP IN FLIGHT WITH TWO ESCORTS = 300 POINTS
  
• BOTH ESCORTS FIRST THEN THE FLAGSHIP = 800 POINTS
  

Hints and Tips

The Manual said:

As always, you really should read the manual.

What's that? You don't have the manual? Well, AtariAge happens to have a typed version of it online for your reading pleasure. Here are the tips the manual provides:

- WARNING: Sometimes exploding particles from a destroyed red escort are deadly.
- Shoot escorts (red members of the Galaxian fleet) only when they are escorting a Flagship; shoot the Flagship only in flight. Doing this will help you score higher points.
- Study the Galaxian attack patterns; that way you'll know what to expect from each member of the Galaxian fleet.
- If you need a rest while fighting waves 1 and 2 of the Galaxian attacks, go to the extreme right or extreme left of the screen for a few seconds. During the higher level waves, stay away from the corners to avoid being trapped by a Galaxian.

Fellow Atari Man said:

Tips:

*If you can take out the flagship's escorts first without due risk, THEN hit the flagship for top points, do it. However, it's not worth risking death for a few extra hundred points if there's a lot of bombs dropping and/or other aliens are swarming down as well.

*If you can, take out the aliens on the sides of the screen, making their formation less wide, which there will be less attacks coming from all angles of the screen.

shadow460 said:

Shooting the aliens on the sides maes the formation travel further, as in Space Invaders. The difference here, though, is that there's more open space. If you miss, your shot isn't as likely to wipe out an escort or flagship while still in formation. It's also an old Galaga trick--as the aliens generally don't attack you as fiercely there. The same rules apply to both games...sides are somewhat safe but don't get trapped there.

keilbaca said:

Alright some tips. Be sure to get under the pink ships, especially in the later levels. They will sweep from one end of the screen to the other, to divebomb into your ship. Don't worry about the green ships too much, they're nice and slow. Take out the pink, the most deadly ships!

Don't go for points, go for survival. How can you make points if you're dead?

Other than that just dodge and fire, and stay to the center as much as you can.

SpiceWare said:

I've found on the higher levels, when the galaxian's swerve left/right a lot, it helps to stay closer to the 1/4th or 3/4th position on the bottom of the screen instead of 1/2(center). The excessive swerve forces Galaxian's you've missed to go off the edge of the screen instead of swerving back and hitting you.

homerwannabee said:

The key to this game is to primarily focus on the purple ships. Whenever a purple ship is in the air concentrate only on that ship. Also try to at all costs stay in the middle of the screen. That way you can go either left or right if the ocassion demands it. It seems that the ships are also easier to shoot when your in the middle.

Good luck everyone!

--Ze_ro

[Fellow Atari Man]

Tip:

*If you can take out the flagship's escorts first without due risk, THEN hit the flagship for top points, do it. However, it's not worth risking death for a few extra hundred points if there's a lot of bombs dropping and/or other aliens are swarming down as well.

Edited by Fellow Atari Man, Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:26 AM.

[LarcenTyler]

Just so you know, right after you lose your last fighter, and the Galaxian fighters return to formation, the title appears onscreen with some weird effects on the sides, then it goes to the attract mode, where it shows the computer playing on Wave 1, with your score at the top. I was able to get a shot in right before the title screen came up, but don't be surprised if everyone's shots say they're on Wave 1.

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Edited by LarcenTyler, Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:22 PM.

[keilbaca]

53630 for my first game

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[vdub_bobby]

12,140

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[Goochman]

9060

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[SpiceWare]

15,080

This is one impressive game! They definitely used a few tricks to make it.

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[shadow460]

Well, whaddaya know, I have Galaxian!
I couldn't remember buying it, so I was a little disaapointed. then I got to thinking I'd went a bought some 2600 titles to go with their 7800 counterparts (sequel in this case), and I did buy it!

I get another week of HSC gaming on the real hardware!

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[Omegamatrix]

Yep, HSC has been good two weeks in a row now for having games I actually own too. I wish I had a camera, but in the meantime it's just fun to play on real hardware.

[shadow460]

17180. Playing that gray game on the left at its hardest setting made this one seem easy. I got stupid and lost a couple of lives, though.

Wait, there's a better one at 29690.

Addictive little bugger, this is.

Try playing it on Game 9 to get used to that speed. Also, if you have Galaga, throw that in for a while on one player expert mode.
After either training mission, you'll be set for starting on level 1.

I can't play these one at a time...
Galaxian score is 29690, Galaga is much better at 44390!

Edited by shadow460, Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:59 PM.

[Fellow Atari Man]

SpiceWare, on Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:45 PM, said:

This is one impressive game!  They definitely used a few tricks to make it.

Yep, took, what, 8K? 16K? (Being too lazy to look.)

Funny thing was, I played this once at a Sears years and years ago when it first came out, but didn't remember being impressed with it at all. The "picture" (drawing) in the Atari Age mag looked pretty bad too (although it was pretty accurate as to what the game looked like). Then years later I tried out the ROM for it just out of curiosity, and I later got the cartridge! Heh...

*Another tip: if you can, take out the aliens on the sides of the screen, making their formation less wide, which there will be less attacks coming from all angles of the screen.

Dang, this is annoying on difficulty a though.

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[shadow460]

Diff a doesn't change the game. You can only shoot one shot at a time even in diff b.
Also, shooting the aliens on the sides maes the formation travel further, as in Space Invaders. The difference here, though, is that there's more open space. If you miss, your shot isn't as likely to wipe out an escort or flagship while still in formation. It's also an old Galaga trick--as the aliens generally don't attack you as fiercely there. The same rules apply to both games...sides are somewhat safe but don't get trapped there.

[Fellow Atari Man]

shadow460, on Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:12 AM, said:

Diff a doesn't change the game.

It does if I'm having to constantly hit the button to make my ship fire, rather than just holding it down.

shadow460, on Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:12 AM, said:

You can only shoot one shot at a time even in diff b.

I didn't say it allowed your ship to fire more than one shot, I said it was annoying to having to constantly press the button, rather than hold it down.

shadow460, on Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:12 AM, said:

Also, shooting the aliens on the sides maes the formation travel further, as in Space Invaders.  The difference here, though, is that there's more open space.

Plus if the formation isn't as wide, then you're not having to move from one side to the other for kamikaze attacks. It's best (in my opinion) to remain in the center as much as possible, rather than being sent to the sides where you could possibly get trapped.

shadow460, on Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:12 AM, said:

The difference here, though, is that there's more open space.  If you miss, your shot isn't as likely to wipe out an escort or flagship while still in formation.

Actually, I find that I hit the flagships more often in this version by accident, due to the gaps. But then, I'm comparing that to the arcade version (which has fewer space in between aliens), which you didn't mention anyway.

[shadow460]

So, whats your highest score?

I just racked up 21740. Got no time to toss in a Galaga round to go with it, though.
I learned this type of game on an arcade Galaga machine. Then I learned the scrolling type on NES Burai Fighter.

[khryssun]

20,400

Finally a good game, Thanks !

I suck at galaxian but I love It

An amazing adaptation from the arcade version.

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[vdub_bobby]

shadow460, on Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:09 PM, said:

Try playing it on Game 9 to get used to that speed.  Also, if you have Galaga, throw that in for a while on one player expert mode.
After either training mission, you'll be set for starting on level 1.

I can't play these one at a time...
Galaxian score is 29690, Galaga is much better at 44390!

What Galaga are you referring to? 7800 Galaga?

[Fellow Atari Man]

shadow460, on Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:37 PM, said:

So, whats your highest score?

I don't know, actually; I've toyed with the idea of keeping a 2600 high scores list once I got back into my 2600 a few years back, but obviously I haven't done much with the idea. Probably not much higher than the score I posted here, though: I'm usually pretty consistant with the game, getting through several screens, so I doubt I'll suddenly have a 20,000 or more game, but you never know.

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

Starting with a score of 6640 in my first game...

Greetings,
Manuel

[vdub_bobby]

16,930

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[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

After some warming up I just scored 11.380

Greetings,
Manuel

[shadow460]

Fellow Atari Man, on Wed Sep 14, 2005 1:02 PM, said:

shadow460, on Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:37 PM, said:

So, whats your highest score?

I don't know, actually; I've toyed with the idea of keeping a 2600 high scores list once I got back into my 2600 a few years back, but obviously I haven't done much with the idea. Probably not much higher than the score I posted here, though: I'm usually pretty consistant with the game, getting through several screens, so I doubt I'll suddenly have a 20,000 or more game, but you never know.

Perhaps you will have a few this week.

vdub_bobby, on Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:18 PM, said:

shadow460, on Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:09 PM, said:

Try playing it on Game 9 to get used to that speed.  Also, if you have Galaga, throw that in for a while on one player expert mode.
After either training mission, you'll be set for starting on level 1.

I can't play these one at a time...
Galaxian score is 29690, Galaga is much better at 44390!

What Galaga are you referring to? 7800 Galaga?

The one and only. I don't own a 2600, and probably won't for a while due to space constraints. I just use my 7800 for 2600 games.

[SpiceWare]

19,060 - Nice "fireworks" in the photo due to motion blur

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Edited by SpiceWare, Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:10 PM.

[shadow460]

37100.

Hmm, looks like I'm nearing the Galaga score level...

Hey wait a sec...I was chattin with keilbaca yesterday before I got back to the HSC--and he's the only one beatin' me!

That won't last. Soon I'll be trailing sku_u and LarcenTyler and SpiceWare and Cybergoth and vdub_bobby and ...

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Edited by shadow460, Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:04 PM.

[durden26]

11730. Way more fun than last week's game. I didn't have a chance without a paddle...

[Goochman]

15140

It seems that key to this game is not getting lazy