Activision Dragster - Getting a patch

[RickR]

Has anyone here ever attained a "patch" score (< 6.0 seconds) in Dragster?  I started to try today, and the best I could do is 6.24.  Any tips?

 

[Atari 5200 Guy]

I don't have this one...I don't think.

[HDN]

Don't own the game, and don't plan to own it anytime soon. I have, however, emulated it. I can't help you any; the only thing I ever can do in this game is blow the engine.

[RickR]

I think in general, this game is loathed.  It's so simple.  But I remember the arcade version, and I think it's kind of fun to get the timing just right.  You just have to sit close to the console so you can press "reset" over and over and over.

 

[HDN]

@RickR I could never get the hang of this game. What are you even supposed to do? Just mash the button until your engine blows out?

[RickR]

6 minutes ago, HDN said:

Don't own the game, and don't plan to own it anytime soon. I have, however, emulated it. I can't help you any; the only thing I ever can do in this game is blow the engine.

Well I can help you! 

Pushing left on the joystick engages the clutch, and when you let the joystick go, it shifts up a gear.

So you go like this:

• Hold the joystick to the left until you get a green light.  Then let it go and push the button for gas. (you'll be in 1st gear).
• When the tachometer gets into the red, let off the gas, push left, let go, and push the gas.
• Repeat until you get to 4th gear.  Then you just hold the button until the race is over. 
• You'll only be in 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear for a few seconds at most.  It's a timing/twitch thing. 

The key to not blowing the engine is to let off the gas while you shift.  And don't let the tachometer get too far into the red.

Once you get the hang of it, you'll start to learn the limits.  The longer you hold each gear into the red, the faster you'll go...but if it goes too far....BLOWN! 

 

 

Edited August 20, 2020 by RickR

[HDN]

@RickR Thanks. I'll have to try it again sometime tomorrow. Sounds like a game that would be better played with others.

[RickR]

I DID IT!  5.97.  Using a trusty "Slik Stik"

 

Edited August 22, 2020 by RickR

[socrates63]

Woot! Congratulations, Rick! 🕹️ 🏆 🏁

IIRC the Slik Stik has a short throw. Did that help?

[RickR]

Thank you!  For me, it helped a lot.  I think the Slik Stik is the best for any twitch games. 

My usual favorite joystick for Atari is a Kraft. 

[Atari 5200 Guy]

Hey @RickR and @HDN Have you guys thought about having a 2-player battle with Dragster?

[Justin]

There should be a thread for sharing your "Patchworthy Scores" on Activision games, where Activision had defined what score you had to reach in order to earn a patch.

[RickR]

WHOOPS!

I'm watching the Atari Archive review of Dragster, and guess what?  I goofed!  The patch score is under 6.5 seconds, not 6.0!  So my initial score above was good enough.  No worries, I had a lot of fun getting under 6.0.

 

 

 

[HDN]

I love it when this guy posts. Always fun to watch. I forgot to mention this, but I have gone and tried this game out. It really is wuite fun when you know what the heck you're even doing! He's right about the mobile game loop thing, but I usually don't care much for mobile games. Dragster is pretty good though.

[RickR]

I did even better for a facebook high score contest.  5.91

 

[RETRO DESTRUCTO]

[RickR]

Sub-six-second club members rule the race track.