Game of the month

OLYMPIC DASH

by JEFFREY STANTON

SYNOPSIS
This simulation of the 100-yard dash is Antic's first machine language action game.  The BASIC language listings create the machine language program.  It's a two-player game requiring two joysticks, and runs on all Atari computers and all memory configurations.  Antic Disk Subscribers: From DOS Type L [RETURN] then type DASH.EXE.

Are you an armchair athlete?  Has all the excitement over the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles got your blood pumping in the competitive spirit?  Well, thanks to Jeffrey Stanton and Antic, you can now take part in a video 100-yard dash with two independently scrolling screens - and become the Olympic Atari champion of your block!
   To use Olympic Dash, follow these instructions:

1.  Type in Listing 1.
2.  Check it with TYPO.
3.  Delete the lines containing TYPO before saving the final copy.
4.  SAVE a copy.
5.  Type NEW to clear computer memory.
6.  Type in Listing 2. There's no TYPO program for Listing 2 because all the data in Listing 2 is checked by Listing 1 as it reads the data and stores it in memory.
7.  Use the LIST command to store Listing 2 (i.e. LIST"C:" or LIST"D:LIST2.LST").
8.  LOAD Listing 1.
9.  ENTER Listing 2 to merge the two.
10. RUN the program.
11. The program asks whether you're using cassette or disk.  If you're using cassette, type [C] and [RETURN], and the program will generate a boot cassette. if you're using disk, type [D] and [RETURN].  The program will produce a binary DOS file named DASH.EXE.
12. After you respond to the first prompt, the screen will go black (for faster processing) for a few minutes while the program reads data and places it in a string.  If the program encounters any bad data, which probably means you've made a typing error, the screen color returns to blue and the program prints a message telling you which line contains the bad data.  Correct your error and RUN the program again. (Pay attention to commas, periods, and spaces.)
13. While you're waiting for the data to be read, cassette users place a blank cassette in the recorder and press Record and Play.  Disk users should make sure there's a DOS disk with at least 28 free sectors in your drive.
14. When the screen color returns to blue, you'll see a prompt to press [RETURN] to save the file.  Cassette users must press [RETURN] twice; once at the prompt, and once after the computer beeps twice.  Do so, and the file will be stored.
15. To load the machine language cassette, rewind the tape, press [PLAY] and turn off your computer.  It's not necessary to remove the BASIC cartridge.  Then, while the computer is off, press [START] and hold it down while turning on the computer.  Then press [RETURN] to load the tape.  When the program has loaded, it will automatically begin.
16. To load from disk, go to the DOS menu, and use option L to load DASH.EXE. The program automatically starts upon loading.
17. If you wish to have the program load and run automatically upon booting the disk, rename the game program to AUTORUN.SYS and make sure that DOS.SYS exists on the disk.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
Playing Olympic Dash is easy.  A word of precaution: This game is a joystick buster!  If you have any choice, use your old Atari joysticks to play-they'll work fine, and present less of a problem if they break.
   To play, plug two joysticks into Ports 1 and 2. Player 1 is represented on the top half of the screen, and Player 2 is on the bottom.  Press [SELECT] to choose the speed of the race; fast or slow (shown in the upper right corner of the screen).  Press [START] to begin the race.  Watch the upper right corner for the traditional starter's cry of "On your mark...,Get set...," and listen for the pistol shot when "Go" appears.  Then start moving your joysticks from side to side (not up and down) as fast as possible.  The faster you wiggle the stick, the faster your player runs.  The first to cross the finish line is the winner.  Total running time for both players is constantly displayed. if another player isn't handy, try to beat your own best time.

Jeffrey Stanton has a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  In 1979, he bought an Apple computer and began designing and writing video games, but he soon switched over to Atari computers because of their superior graphics capabilities.  He is co-editor of The Book of Atari Software and co-author of a new book, Atari Graphics and Game Design, both from The Book Company, Los Angeles, California.

Listing 1: DASHLOAD.BAS Download

Listing 2: DASHDATA.LST Download / View

Executable: DASH.EXE Download