After several years I have updated my Parsec 2600 to v1.7d and I am releasing as a free download. Of course I reserve all distribution rights and rights to the code but it can downloaded for private use from here.

What I have added in v1.7d are some improvements, better play and a BOSS level.

Here is a brief look at the manual (full version included in download).

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Introduction

It's 2600 AD and you are the pilot of the Star Fighter PARSEC patrolling the alien planet of Irata. Suddenly, Maria, your onboard computer, announces that you are about to come under attack from alien fighters, large cruisers, killer satellites, a meteor shower and the strangest thing you ever seen!

The Parsec 2600 Game Cartridge is packed with thrills, danger and excitement.

Waves of attacks from four different types of ships and a thing(?).

Challenging flights through the refueling tunnel.

Avoid the dangerous meteor shower just feet above the ground.

Start from any level and number of ships from menu.

Getting started

Insert the Parsec 2600 game cartridge in your Atari 2600 and turn the console on.

On the screen the Parsec fighter is seated on its landing pad ready to begin battle.

Press the controllers trigger button and the Parsec will rise up and the game will begin.

Optional choose your level

By pressing down on your joystick at the beginning of the game you can choose your starting level and number of ships. You are presented with a screen where at the bottom, where the score will be, is the number of the starting level which is, in this case, one. By pressing up and down with your Joystick you can change the starting level up to 30. When finished press the trigger to move on to changing the number of ships.

Now at the score area is the number four showing you can only start with a minimum of four ship (normally it’s eight). You can have as little as four with the maximum being 254 ships. When you have chosen your number of ship press the trigger to return to starting the game.

The screen

On the bottom right is a timer. As the line shortens, your time shortens. In each wave level of ships you will be given a limited amount of time to clear the screen. When time is up you lose a ship. As the wave goes up levels the time will shorten.

On the bottom left is the number of ships you have left. Each pip marks one ship. The maximum number of ships shown is four but you may have more.

In the middle is your score.

 Option Switches

Switching to B/W at anytime during the game will pause the game. Switching back to Color will continue the game.

Press the reset button will reset the game to the beginning.

Operation

Press the Joystick up and down to move the ship. In the meteor wave you can also move back and forth. Press the fire button to fire except in the meteor stage where you can only dodge.

Waves of ships and danger!

The Swoopers

The first wave of ships is the Swoopers. They swoop down and you must clear all of them from the screen. As each level progresses you will need to hit the Swoopers more times to clear them and less time will given to do it.

The Beamers

These ships move in and fire on your ship. As with the Swoopers you will need to hit them more than once in later levels with less time.

Refueling tunnel

Time to refuel. Navigate the treacherous refueling tunnel to refuel your ship. As the levels progress the tunnel gets longer and your ship will go faster through the tunnel.

The Killer Satellites

Randomly the refueling tunnel will be replaced with the Killer Satellites. They may seem easy to hit with their ziggy pattern, but watch out.

Backwards Swoopers

Watch out! These ships come from behind. Play is same as Swoopers otherwise.

Invisible Beamers

The Beamers become invisible in later levels but are still lethal! Play is the same as other Beamers.

Meteor Shower

Avoid the meteors just feet above the ground. You can't shot them so move fast to stay out of their way!

The BOSS!

Replacing the meteor shower in levels 3,6,9 and randomly after level 12 is the Boss and watch out, he’s out to get you!

At each wave the time gets a little bit shorter, the ships get faster and need to be hit more often. So shot fast and shot often. The world depends on you!

After the games end your ending score will be displayed for a few seconds before the game automatically restarts.

Parsec 2600 v1.7d.zip