CX2633
COMPLETE GAME PLAY INSTRUCTIONS
8 GAME VARIATIONS
GAME SELECT MATRIX Section 6
 

NOTE: Always turn the console power switch off when inserting or removing an ATARI Game Program cartridge. This will protect the electronic components and prolong the life of your ATARI Video Computer System game.
Manual, Program, and Audiovisual (c)1980 ATARI, INC.
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. GAME PLAY                 1
2. USING THE CONTROLLERS     1
3. CONSOLE CONTROLS          2
4. GAME VARIATIONS           3
5. SCORING                   3
6. GAME SELECT MATRIX        4
 

1. GAME PLAY

You're in the drivers seat and the track is just ahead of you on the television screen. Your car is permanently fixed at the bottom of the screen, as shown in the diagram. All you have to do is accelerate and steer the car through one of the four tracks (see USING THE CONTROLLERS). Each time you veer off the track and hit one of the pylons or hit an oncoming car, a simulated crash scene will appear on the screen.

It is a good idea to quickly read through these instructions so that you won't miss any important details. Be sure to read what happens when you change the position of the difficulty switches (see DIFFICULTY SWITCHES), as well as how each game number represents a slightly different game (see GAME VARIATIONS).
 

2. USING THE CONTROLLERS

Use your Paddle Controllers with this ATARI Game Program cartridge. Be sure the Paddle Controller cable is firmly plugged into the LEFT CONTROLLER jack at the back of your ATARI Video Computer System game.

Since NIGHT DRIVER is a one-player game, you must use the Paddle Controller connected to the left cable. The controller connected to the right cable will not work. See Section 3 of your owner's manual for further details.

The knob on your Paddle Controller is your steering wheel, and the red button is your accelerator. Be sure to hold the controller with the red button on the left. You must press the button to accelerate and start the action.

Turn the controller knob to the right to steer the car to the right, and left to steer left. Try to avoid hitting the pylons on either side of the road, as well as oncoming cars. Your initial tendency will probably be to "oversteer" the car,
which will cause you to crash. However, don't be discouraged if this happens. With time and practice you will get the knack of it, and eventually become quite skilled.

NOTE: When first starting out don't use maximum acceleration throughout the course of the track. Instead, let off slightly or even all the way as you wind through tight turns and difficult spots on the track. This should help you avoid crashes and low scores.
 

3. CONSOLE CONTROLS

GAME SELECT SWITCH

Use the game select switch to select the game number you wish to play. The game number changes at the top, left side of the screen as you press the switch down.

GAME RESET SWITCH

When you have selected the game number you wish to play, press down the game reset switch to start the game.

DIFFICULTY SWITCHES

The right difficulty switch on the console controls the maximum speed which your car will travel. In the a position, the car will travel the fastest. In the b position, the maximum speed will be slower. (Beginners should start with the right difficulty switch in the b position.)

The left difficulty switch may or may not act as a warning device, depending on its position. In the a position, oncoming cars WILL NOT honk before they appear on the screen. In the b position, oncoming cars honk just before they appear.

TV TYPE SWITCH

Set this switch to color if you have a color television set.  Set it to b-w to play the game in black and white.
 

4. GAME VARIATIONS

GAMES 1, 2, 3 and 4 are timed. At the beginning of each of these games, a "clock" will begin counting down from 90 (seconds) at the upper right corner of the screen.

GAMES 5, 6, 7, and 8 have no time limit. They may be played for an indefinite period of time and there will not be a clock counting down on the screen.

GAMES 1 and 5 have the easiest track (NOVICE) and should be used by beginning players. Games 2 and 6 have the medium difficulty track (PRO). The EXPERT track in Games 3 and 7 is more difficult than the NOVICE or PRO tracks.

All of the tracks described so far (Games 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7) are stored in the program memory of the game. So even though the NOVICE, PRO and EXPERT tracks are progressively more difficult, each track will always follow a fixed course. This makes it possible for players to eventually memorize the track as their driving skill increases.

The RANDOM track, however (Games 4 and 8), follows a different course each time, making it challenging for the most skilled players.

Use the GAME SELECT MATRIX as a quick reference for game variations and game numbers.
 

5. SCORING

The object in all of the games is to obtain a high score. Scoring is done automatically by the computer as you travel through the course. As you pass certain spots (invisible to you) on the track, the computer automatically tallies one point to your score, which is displayed in at the upper left corner of the screen.

In games with no time limit (Games 5, 6, 7 and 8), your scoring possibilities are infinite.
 

6. GAME SELECT MATRIX

Game    Track               Time/
Number  Description         Untimed

1       Novice (Easy)       90 Seconds
2       Pro (Medium)        90 Seconds
3       Expert (Difficult)  90 Seconds
4       Random              90 Seconds
5       Novice (Easy)       No Time Limit
6       Pro (Medium)        No Time Limit
7       Expert (Difficult)  No Time Limit
8       Random              No Time Limit
 

C016943-33 REV.1  MANUAL, PROGRAM AND AUDIOVISUAL (c)1980, ATARI INC.  Printed in U.S.A.