Race on a city street, or down a ski slope. Dodge oncoming cars, or fire at flying objects. “Crunch” numbers on a track or play a new game of catch called Scoop Ball. Variety is the name of this game!
About the Game
Street Racer was one of the launch titles for the Atari VCS/2600. Its multiple game modes (and those of its other launch titles) were routinely pushed as a value proposition for the console.
Object of Each Game
In one-player games, you race against the clock in an attempt to score as many points as possible within 2 minutes and 16 seconds.
During two, three and four player games, you compete against opponents to score the most points within 2 minutes and 16 seconds. Your score flashes on-screen during the final 16 seconds of game time.
Street Racer (Games 1 to 6): You’re racing down the strip, avoiding other cars as they whip toward you.
Slalom (Games 7 to 12): Now you’re on skis, swooshing through the downhill slalom gates.
Dodgem (Games 13 to 16): Steer cars and avoid oncoming objects.
Jet Shooter (Games 17 to 20): Pilot a plane, shooting down objects as they approach from above. If you miss, there’s just a split second to avoid a crash.
Number Cruncher (Games 21 to 24): Steer motorcycles and run over numbers as they flash on-screen.
Scoop Ball (Games 25 to 27): Catch the object coming at you and then relay it to the next object.
How to Play
As is the case in all the racing games, use the knob on the top of the controller to steer the vehicle on the playfield. The red button serves as the accelerator in Street Racer Slalom, Scoop Ball, and Number Cruncher. Use the red button as a forward thrust in Dodgem and to fire bullets in Jet Shooter.
Street Racer
Avoid collisions and score points! One, two, three or four players each control one car on the track playfield. In one and two-player games, each player uses a separate vertical track. In three and four-player games, two players share one track.
Each player tests his skill against computer-controlled cars. Use the knob on the controller to steer your vehicle around the oncoming cars heading straight for you! Press the red controller button to increase your speed.
Score one point for every car you pass. Your score, which appears at the top of the playfield, matches your car’s color. Each game ends after 2 minutes and 16 seconds, or when a player or team scores 99 points. Your score will flash on-screen during the final 16 seconds of game time. Also, you’ll hear the hum of the motors, crashes, and beeps when you score.
Game 1
One player steers a car on a moving vertical track avoiding collisions and racing against a computer-controlled car.
Game 2
Two players each steer a car on separate moving tracks avoiding collisions with computer-controlled cars that appear on the track one at a time.
Game 3
Three players control one car and avoid collisions with computer-controlled cars that appear on the track one at a time. Two players share the right track and compete against one player on the left track.
Game 4
Four players compete to avoid collisions with cars that appear one at a time. There are two players on a driving team, each sharing one track.
Game 5
Two players each steer a car down separate tracks while avoiding computer-controlled cars that appear on the track two at a time.
Game 6
In this game variation, four players compete to avoid collisions. Two computer cars head down the track at one time. There are two players on a driving team, each sharing one track.
Slalom
Put on your skis and get ready for the treacherous slopes! One to four players control one set of skis. In one and two-player games, each player skis on his own private ski run. In three and four-player games, two players share a ski run.
Use the knob on the controller to steer through various gates. Press the red controller button to increase your speed down the slope. A player scores one point for every gate that is passed. If a player crashes into a gate, you only lose time— not points.
The color of your skis matches the score that appears at the top of the playfield. The game ends when one player scores 99 points, or after 2 minutes and 16 seconds. The scores will flash on-screen during the last 16 seconds of the game. You’ll hear the swish and the beeps when passing through a gate. You’ll also hear a sound when crashing.
Game 7
One player skis down the right slope and passes through gates that appear one at a time on-screen. The left skier is your computer-controlled opponent.
Game 8
Two players each have separate but identical runs down the slope. The gates appear on-screen one at a time.
Game 9
The ski gates appear one at a time for three players who compete for points. Two players share the right side of the screen and compete against one player on the left side.
Game 10
Four players race down the slope and through the gates to score points. Gates appear on-screen one at a time. Two players are on each ski team and share a run.
Game 11
Two players compete for points by passing through gates that appear two at a time on the ski run.
Game 12
Four players compete for points by passing through gates that appear two at a time on-screen. Two players are on each ski team and share a run.
Dodgem
Sharpen your driving reflexes and score points by avoiding oncoming obstacles.
Use the controller knob to steer your vehicle. Press the red controller button to accelerate; release the button and the car gradually slides toward the bottom of the track.
The goal is to move the car from the bottom of the track to the top while dodging oncoming obstacles. Score one point each time you complete the straightaway. Your car automatically returns to the bottom starting line after completing the track.
The score at the top of the playfield matches the color of your vehicle. The game ends when one player scores 99 points, or after 2 minutes and 16 seconds. The score will flash on-screen during the last 16 seconds of the game. You’ll hear the motors hum, cars crash, and scores “beep.”
Game 13
One player races against the clock and tries to complete the track as many times as possible within 2 minutes and 16 seconds.
Game 14
Two opposing players compete for points on separate vertical tracks while avoiding oncoming obstacles that appear on the track one at a time.
Game 15
One player races against the clock and attempts to complete the track as many times as possible. Oncoming obstacles appear on the track two at a time.
Game 16
Two opposing players compete for
points on separate vertical tracks while avoiding oncoming obstacles that appear on the track two at a time.
Jet Shooter
In this game variation, you’re a fighter pilot. One or two players each control one fighter jet equipped with missiles. Each player has his or her own separate air space.
Use the controller knob to steer through the sky. Press the red controller button to fire missiles and destroy enemy aircraft approaching from the opposite direction.
Score one point for each enemy aircraft you destroy. With the difficulty switch set in the B position, you only lose time (not points) when you collide with an enemy jet. When set in the A position, you lose one point for each collision.
A game ends when one pilot scores 99 points, or after 2 minutes and 16 seconds.
The score will flash on-screen during the final 16 seconds of game time. You’ll hear the missiles fire, crashes, and the hum of the engines.
Game 17
One player guides the right jet through the skies while attempting to shoot down enemy jets that appear on-screen one at a time. The left jet is your computer-controlled opponent.
Game 18
Two players each steer a jet in a private sky. Oncoming enemy jets appear one at a time.
Game 19
One player steers a jet through the sky as enemy jets appear two at a time.
Game 20
Two players each steer a jet as enemy jets appear in the sky two at a time.
Number Cruncher
Got an appetite for numbers? One to four players each control one motorcycle that “crunches” numbers on the track.
In one and two-player games, each player drives up a vertical track. In three and four-player games, two players make up a motorcycle team and share the right track. During four-player games, two players use one track. Use the controller knob to steer your chopper down the track. Press the red controller button to accelerate.
The goal is to run over the numbers (2, 4, 6) that appear on the track. A player scores the face value for each number hit. A player must run directly over the numbers with the nose of the chopper to score the points. An improperly aimed attempt will result in number collisions.
The color of the motorcycle matches the color of the score at the top of the track. Number Cruncher games end when a player scores 99 points, or after 2 minutes and 16 seconds. During the final 16 seconds, your score will flash on-screen. You’ll hear the whine of the chopper engines and the crunch and crash of the numbers.
Game 21
One player steers his motorcycle to “crunch” numbers that appear on the track one at a time.
Game 22
Two players rumble down the tracks looking for numbers that appear two at a time.
Game 23
Three players take a thrilling ride on the track, as numbers appear two at a time on-screen. Two players are on one motorcycle team and oppose one player.
Game 24
Four players become a Number Cruncher motorcycle gang looking for numbers to squash on the track. Two players are on each motorcycle team and share one track. Numbers appear on-screen two at a time.
Scoop Ball
The goal in Scoop Ball is to catch balls and deposit them into a computer scooper. A player uses a giant moving scooper to catch the balls. Two, three or four players each control one scooper. In two-player games, each player moves along a private track. Two players share the right track in three-player games; during four-player games, two players are on each track.
Use the controller knob to steer the scooper on the track. Press the red controller button to accelerate the scooper.
You score one point each time you catch a ball. Continue to catch balls until a computer-controlled scooper appears on-screen.
When you steer your scooper into the computer-controlled scooper, you score three points and deposit the ball (or balls) collected. If you crash before depositing your balls, you lose your chance to score.
Your scooper is color coordinated with the score at the top of the track. A game ends when a player scores 99 points, or after 2 minutes and 16 seconds. During the final 16 game seconds, your score flashes on the scoreboard. You’ll hear crashes, the scooper motors, the scoop, and the deposit of the balls.
Game 25
Two opposing players compete for balls and computer-controlled scoopers that appear on the track two at a time.
Game 26
Three players compete for points. Two players are on one scooper team and share the right track.
Game 27
Four players compete for points. Two players are on each scooper team, as balls and computer-controlled scoopers appear two at a time.
Difficulty Options
Slide the difficulty switch from B to A and you lose one point for each collision that occurs during the game.