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FAQ
ATARI 2600/5200 1983
Version: 1.01 released on the 21st of February 2012
Author: odino http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/47976.html
This guide is EXCLUSIVELY available at GameFAQs.
.============================================================================.
| .========================================================================. |
| | TABLE OF CONTENTS | |
| '========================================================================' |
|============================================================================|
| 01.) Introduction | G0100 |
| 02.) Basics | G0200 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------|
| 03.) Events | G0300 |
| 100m Dash | G0310 |
| Long Jump | G0320 |
| Javelin Throw | G0330 |
| 110m Hurdles | G0340 |
| Hammer Throw | G0350 |
| High Jump | G0360 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------|
| YY.) Version History | GYY00 |
| ZZ.) Credits & Thanks | GZZ00 |
'=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-'
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01.) INTRODUCTION G0100
===============================================================================
Welcome to 'Track & Field' for the Atari 2600/5200, a game released by Atari
in 1983. It was never officially released on the 5200 but it was on track to be
published in 1983 as well.
As just mentioned, the game was canceled before completion. Although it looks
fairly complete, it never saw the light of retail day. A port of this game was
released on the Atari 2600. I matched this guide for the 5200 prototype but
later noticed the game is the same for the 2600.
There may be several protos flying around of this game, they may thus differ in
gameplay. I got mine from www.atariage.com (last viewed December 24th 2008),
and it plays like a demo. As far as I know their ROM is legal as this is now a
public domain prototype. This also means you have to get yourself an emulator
to play this game, which there are plenty of to find on the web.
Suggestions, comments or errors - tell me about it. Enjoy!
===============================================================================
02.) BASICS G0200
===============================================================================
Controls:
`````````
Track & Field makes use of the LEFT and RIGHT buttons to gain speed, i.e. run.
The action button controls jumping, throwing, and their angles. Apart from
these three buttons you only need to select the event 1 through 6 from the
main "Demo" screen.
Qualifying:
```````````
Each even gives you a certain record you have to achieve. For example, the
100m Dash demands you to finish below 13sec00 to qualify. Should you pass this
mark, however, nothing happens. Usually this is where the game rewards you
with a second round with a higher setting, but as this is a demo you will just
have to replay this stage over and over again instead.
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03.) EVENTS G0300
===============================================================================
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
100m Dash G0310
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World Record:
1st 09s59
2nd 09s67
Qualify: 13sec00
This is the most basic event. It only makes use of the run buttons. As soon as
the gun is off, start bashing the left and right buttons as fast as you can
to blitz towards the finish line. It is easy to break the world record, and
qualifying is a joke, not there is much point to it...
If you get away from your starting position too early, you make a fault start.
On the third fault start in the same race you will be disqualified (scratched).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long Jump G0320
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Record:
1st 8m83
2nd 8m57
Qualify: 6mtr50
To start, gain speed. It is very easy to fill up the bar, but keeping it up to
the end of the lane is the second most important thing. Once you get close to
the jump off line, hold down the action button for long enough to get the angle
up to 45 degrees. The best jump is achieved by letting go just before the white
line and with a perfect angle.
If you step over the white line, the attempt is a foul. You have three attempts
to qualify, the longest result will count.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Javelin Throw G0330
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Record:
1st 91m32
2nd 90m21
Qualify: 75mtr00
Gain speed with the left/right buttons. Keep this up towards the end of the
lane. Before the end is reached, press and hold the action button to set the
angle as close to 45 degrees as you can. A good positioning and angle will fire
the javelin well far.
If you step over the end of the lane, the attempt is a foul. You have three
attempts to qualify, the farthest result will count.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
110m Hurdles G0340
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Record:
1st 14s17
2nd 14s33
Qualify: 16sec50
Use the left/right button to run, but most of the time is actually spent
jumping the hurdles. The first one comes up very shortly, and by then you need
to take care of the jumping rather than the speed. Jumping is obviously done
with the action button. It does not matter, unlike in some other Track &
Field games, how smooth you can get over them. In other words, jumping early
or late does not matter, as long as the hurdle is crossed. Running into a
hurdle will slow you down a lot, so you will want to avoid that for sure.
Between each hurdle, tap the running buttons as you can, but do concentrate
more on the jumps. In my opinion is is hard to distinguish between the finish
line and one of the hurdles, so you may want to keep an extra eye on that so
you do not hit the jump button while actually at the end of the lane.
If you get away from your starting position too early, you make a fault start.
On the third fault start in the same race you will be disqualified (scratched).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hammer Throw G0350
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Record:
1st 96m21
2nd 93m49
Qualify: 75mtr00
This is the hardest event in the game. The speed is a little harder to build
up, and if you do not manage this early on in your attempt then the rest is all
for naught. Basically you will have to bash the buttons as well as you can,
then when you are near the white line and the character is facing the right
side, press the action button and hold it until you reach as close to 45
degrees to release the hammer. Even if you think you did well, it may
disappoint you once the game switches to the overhead view.
If you step over the white line, you make a foul. You have three attempts to
qualify, the farthest shot will be counted.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High Jump G0360
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Record:
1st 2m40
2nd 2m39
Qualify: 2m25
This even is actually the most complicated one in terms of the rules, but it is
still easy to figure out. Each jump is a set height, you cannot change this. It
starts with 2m20 and increases my 5 centimeters each time you successfully leap
over the bar. If you fail, one of the "fault" lights will turn solid. These
lights are permanent and are not reset once you pass the next height. Once you
have run out of fouls, the event is over.
As for the actual technique, it is not so easy to explain but rather just play
and get the feel for how the jump is done. Naturally the speed is done with the
left and right buttons. The action button should be pressed and held until you
have a good angle, around 60 degrees is pretty good. You also need to be very
close to the bar before jumping off, else you will jump into thin air or, if
done too late, you will jump through the bar. Both will result in a foul.
===============================================================================
YY.) VERSION HISTORY GYY00
===============================================================================
v1.0 Finished the guide (24th of December 2008)
v1.01 Added Atari 2600 info (21st of February 2012)
===============================================================================
ZZ.) CREDITS & THANKS GZZ00
===============================================================================
GameFAQs for hosting this file.
Atari for the game, even though it was canceled.
AtariAge.com for the ROM.
All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their
respective trademark and copyright holders.
This guide may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for
personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise
distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on
any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited,
and a violation of copyright. ,,,
(o o)
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