Your Blue-Print for Success
By Scott Stilphen
The pieces of the machine aren’t
randomly placed, but instead are placed in one several distinct patterns. The
method used to place them is quite simple, but very effective. When you power
the game up, it randomly selects 1 of at least 15 different sets of patterns for
the opening screen. Each set has 5 patterns, and they always appear in the same
order. A quick example to prove this is to turn the game on and press RESET.
Notice where the pieces go. Now press RESET 5 more times. Each time, the pieces
go to difference houses, but on the 5th RESET, the pieces fall in the same order
as the first time you pressed RESET. After each opening pattern, there are 11
more, leading up to screen 12. The patterns start over at screen 13 with the
pattern from screen 3.
The following screen patterns will get you to the password and even to roll the
score (at 20,000). To use them, just keep turning the game on and off and
pressing RESET until you notice the pieces fall as shown in the first one. It
seems as though the program is partial to starting with this pattern. It should
only take a few tries to get it.
Tips on playing
When moving throughout the maze on
higher screens, it helps to keep the fire button on your joystick pressed down.
It increases your speed. When using the machine, keep it in the middle and
charge it until the arrow is on “H”, but not past it. If you press the fire
button just as what’s-his-name reaches the edge of the screen, you’ll hit him
every time.
After you’ve uncovered the secret password – TEALPEHN – and end the game, a
small box with an “X” in it appears on the title screen. The only reason I can
think of for it is to prove you finished the game. This would have been handy
for CBS when players sent in pictures of their completed game screens in order
to receive an award or prize. If I recall, the game came with a postcard that
had 8 spaces on it. All you had to do is fill in the eight letters and mail it
to them.
See the Easter egg entry for this game.
