It's humbling to think that the game is older than I am...hehe
I actually have played Tempest in the arcade while on vacation; it has become a sort of ritual, a flashback to something I had never experienced...placing me in a kind of quasi trance...ok, maybe not, but I still think the game is genuinely fun and unique. The spinner control is probably one of the coolest I've played with. I'd really like to get a nice one. Currently I have an Arkanoid spinner installed, but it 'sticks' now and then, with one of the spokes on the gears worn away. (replacement parts available?)
I remember why I spent so many hours on Tempest, if you ended the game on some certain scores, it gave you 40 free games.
Wow! You learn something knew every day! From history.dat:
- TIPS AND TRICKS -
These are cheats that were apparently left in by somebody at Atari. They were removed in ROM 217 and 222 software revision 2. First, you must complete level 8 and get a score with the format XXYYZZ : XX must be greater than 16, YY between 29 and 60, ZZ is a code listed below...
00 - freeze screen
01 - access bookkeeping totals
05 - allows playing during attract mode
06 - 40 free credits
11 - 40 free credits
12 - 40 free credits
14 - credit sound without actual credit
15 - credit sound without actual credit
16 - 40 free credits
17 - 40 free credits
18 - 40 free credits
41 - switch last 2 digits of score
42 - increase score quickly
46 - demonstration mode - start at any level, up to level 81
50 - player moves by itself
51 - player moves by itself
60 - objects drift down
66 - objects drift right
67 - objects jump
68 - objects drift up
70 - objects drift up
After code '05' (play during attract mode) is activated, the following cheats become available...
Set the last two digits to 46 : Random-colored level with wrong enemies.
Set the last two digits to 48 : 255 extra lives.