This is the Atari 2600 version of Star Trek on many college mainframes.
Like these computer programs, it has no graphics, only text. You use the joystick, moving left or right to select the desired command, then press the red button. Then move the joystick left or right to select options for that command, if any. You start by pressing the Reset or Select button to choose how many enemies you need to kill in how many stardates.
The commands and parameters are as follows:
Galaxy Map = 6x6 grid that starts blank until you do a long distance scan. After that, a 2-digit number will appear in the quadrant. The left figure is the number of foreigners in the region. The correct number will be either 1 or zero, depending on whether or not there is a starbase in that area. The galaxy map does not require energy or stardates.
LR scan = long range scanning. This will tell you what is in your quadrant and the bullseye next to you. If there are any enemies in the square when you perform an HP Scan, they will attack you. LR scanning doesn't require energy or stardates, but that's not the case at all.
Scanning CP = Scanning over short distances. He shows you the stars, aliens and messengers in your sector. You must do this to destroy the aliens and dock with the pose. How to scan LR, if there are aliens in your sector, they will attack after using Scan Cp. Also, like the LR scan, the SR scan does not require star or date energy, but it does roll.
Warp = Warp is how you move, either from quadrant to quadrant or sector to sector. You go to settings 2 settings. The first is your direction. You choose a direction based on numbers.
Next, you choose how many quadrants and sectors to move. If you want to move into a quadrant, set the left row to zero so you don't exit that quadrant. The warp uses stardates, energies and rotation. If you are not comfortable in a quadrant where there is only you and the stars, the screen will be green. If you are not comfortable in the alien quadrant or the aliens and space bases, the screen will be red. If you are not comfortable in the quadrant of the starbase, then the screen will be gray. Can't warp through the stars. If you try, you will waste time and energy, but you won't get anywhere.
Photon Torpedo = If you hit an enemy with one of these, just one shot will kill him. You choose a direction with the same numbers as the curvature. There must be a direct line of sight between you and the enemy; no stars. You carry up to 9 torpedoes and they can be refueled. Photon torpedoes do not require energy or time, they just turn on.
Phasers - Unlike a photon torpedo, you don't need to be directly on the enemy line or tell the game where the fire is coming from. You just sit there with as much force as you want the explosion to be, through three numbers, and the computer kicks in. The closer you are to the enemy, the harder you will hit. Phasers use the amount of energy you release when you fire. You can also use your own queue.
Status - status report. This will tell you how many star stars, aliens, power plants and photon torpedoes are on the left, if you have any damage and what kind. If you have damage, you will see a negative number next to the damaged item. This is how many stellar days it will take to repair the item as you see fit. You cannot leave the sector unless your engines are damaged. Instead, you should try to skew the number of quadrants, which will take so long. You will not go anywhere, but you will be engaged in repairs.
If you pin it on a starbase, you'll instantly repair all damage, refill fuel, and resupply torpedoes. Envoys are randomly placed in the galaxy and are never moved or destroyed. There are always two in the galaxy. At the dock, move to the sector and sector where the base is located so that you are on top.
Qualifications (difficulties) switches:
- The right switch determines how easily you deal damage. In the expert position (A) your chances of taking damage are twice as high as in the beginner position (B).
- The left switch controls the power of the phaser. In novice position (B), your phasers are twice as strong as those of the aliens. In the expert position (A), your phasers have the same power as the aliens.