bonus game
STAR VENTURE
by RONALD SAARINewcomers to the Atari computer should find Star Venture a relatively easy game to type. This space opera is created with just a few redefined characters in Graphics mode 0. It will run on all Atari computers of any memory size, with either disk or cassette.
"Kid, I've jockeyed rockets from one end of the galaxy to another, but
I've never seen anything hairier than the Ghost Station of Antroni..."
The Sarge's words echoed in my head as a huge metal gate clanged shut behind
me!
Yes, I was now locked in the vast outer chamber of the
legendary Ghost Station! Beyond my viewport floated rare and incredibly
valuable Quontex crystals. All I had to do was fly over them to pick them
up-while avoiding those lethal Kirollian Death Pods!
Yet I knew this was my last desperate chance to avoid
spending the rest of my life toiling as a slave in the living mudslime
of the Antronian glort fields. Shipwrecked in the Antroni star cluster
after barely surviving a cataclysmic meteor storm, I needed to come up
with plenty of cash for repairs and refueling-not to mention those outrageous
Existence Taxes they charge on Antroni!
So I rubbed the sweat from my palms, gripped the control
stick, and pushed gently forward...
GHOST STATION
Each chamber of the gargantuan abandoned space station was slightly
different. Only some of them had barriers, but every chamber contained
nine near-priceless Quontex capsules as well as too many death pods.
But until I collected every capsule from one chamber,
the gate to the next remained forever locked. One brush against the walls,
barriers or death pods and I'd be nothing but a handful of stardust!
As I carefully explored the station, I was surviving long
enough to notice a pattern: After five chambers, it seemed as if I was
starting all over again- except it was harder. A lot harder! Whatever long-forgetten
alien race built this Ghost Station was crazy, not to mention sadistic
as all get-out.
Luckily, I still had some shield energy left. I'd started
with 15 shields, but you know sometimes you just can't avoid those killer
pods. So you've got to press the old fire button and.. BLAMMO. . . there
goes another pod. Well, I still have enough left for three more shields.
And there's gotta be a way out of here with my crystals!
Doesn't there?
Ronald Saari would be happy to have you log onto his New Jersey Atari BBS, the Loony Bin, at (201) 449-3895.
Listing 1 STARVENT.BAS Download