"Planet Mongo!"
By Fred Rodney
Unpublished "Arcadian" Submission
Sent to Bob Fabris on June 11, 1984


Planet Mongo has a nuclear waste disposal problem.  Within 99 ticks on the 
clock, 100 points must be played (bonus on 200, 300, etc.).  If the clock 
strikes 0, the planet explodes with complete nuclear meltdown.

Cloud layers form, continents collide, the planet spins and breaks apart from 
the force.  Finally, the planet cools and forms a dense globe in space.  The 
satellite, a nuclear waste disposal unit, can still be seen orbiting Planet 
Mongo and the Game Over" flag appears.  Squeeze trigger 1 to replay.

With joystick 1 you can move the crosshairs (X=Y/2).  Knob 1 controls the rate 
of movement (Delta X, Delta Y).  Move the crosshairs over the satellite to 
score points.  The satellite will move toward your position in a spacecraft 
beyond the satellites orbit.  The satellite will move away (toward the top of 
the screen) as it completes its orbit.  Orbit movement is random but curves are 
smooth and movement can be predicted.

The satellite is 1 pixel in size at the top of the screen and worth 90 points.  
Your crosshairs are 1 pixel centers, so up here it's one to one, high points, 
very difficult.  The satellite increases in size as it moves toward the bottom 
of the screen.  It becomes easier to hit and can become as large as 9 pixels 
square.  At this size it's worth as little as 4 points, but sometimes that's 
all you need to beat  the clock.

At 100+, 200+, 300+ milestones (and so on) the planet will signal a reset clock 
and more time by flashing.  It's important to stay away from the planet at this 
time.  If your crosshairs go over any lit part of the planet, the planet will 
self-destruct and the game will end.  During normal play, the planet has an 
energy ring that must not be touched.  Play begin with the crosshairs in the 
center of Planet Mongo.  You must move the crosshairs out of the planet (knob 
full clockwise + joystick to jump clear).

Cross through the planet at your own risk as you track the satellite.  If your 
crosshairs cover the satellite while you are within the planet's ring, the 
planet will explode and the game will end.