(Taken from Greg Chance's History of Home Videogames homepage)
(http://www.sponsor.net/~gchance)

ON DEVASTATING DREADNAUGHTS: A GUIDE

OVERVIEW:  Dreadnaughts dwarf stars.  They are huge.  They are rude, intruding
where they are least wanted.  Dreadnaughts can destroy fleets, planets, solar
systems and entire galaxies.

OBJECTIVE:  DISABLE AND DESTROY ALL DREADNAUGHTS.  Failure will result in the
negation of this galaxy.
Your mission ends when you destroy the entire Dreadnaught convoy, when any
Dreadnaught reaches the Stargate with at least one missile silo intact, or
when all Novara Hyperfighters have been destroyed.

IGNITION

* Insert cartridge.  Turn power on

* To select one of seven missions:
   Atari(R) Home Computers: Press Game Select until the number of the desired
   mission appears onscreen.
   5200(TM): Press Reset on left controller.  Press 1-7 on controller pad.

* To begin:
   Atari(R) Home Computers: Press Start on console, then push Joystick forward
   or press the firing button.
   5200(TM): Press Start on left controller, then press any side button.

* Turn power off before removing the cartridge.

HYPERFIGHTER BASICS

PILOTING:
* To accelerate: Push Joystick forward
* To decelerate: Pull back on Joystick.

WEAPONRY:
Atari(R) Home Computers: Press Joystick button to fire laser bolts.  To drop
strontium bombs, press Joystick button three times.

5200(TM): Press either top side Joystick button to drop strontium bombs.  Press
either bottom side Joystick button to fire laser bolts.

HYPERFIGHTER RESERVES STATUS:  You will begin each mission with 10 Novaray
Hyperfighters.  While flying missions 1-4, 2 additional Hyperfighters will be
added to your squadron for each Dreadnaught you destroy.  Receive 4 additional
Hyperfighters for each Dreadnaught destroyed on missions 5-7.

CLASSIFIED PRIORITY ONE

What follows represents all existing intelligence on the Dreadnaught.  Read
it carefully.

STATUS SCREEN.  Consult your status screen before takeoff.  Your Novaray
Hyperfighter appears at the Stargate.  Behind you are reserve Hyperfighters,
lined up in attack sequence in front of the Galactic Unstable Energy Field.
At the top of the status screen you will see the total number of Dreadnaughts
destroyed on this mission, the outline of the Dreadnaught you will attack,
and that Dreadnaught's distance from the Stargate, as measured in parsecs.

PLAN OF ASSAULT

Launch your Novaray Hyperfighter from the Ground Zero Stargate.  Proceed on
course for the Dreadnaught.  Bomb or strafe Dreadnaught targets.  Once beyond
the Dreadnaught, you will return to the Stargate and prepare for another
attack pass.  The Dreadnaught advances on the Stargate when an attack pass is
completed.

SCORING DIRECT HITS.  You earn points for destroying each Dreadnaught target
and prematurely detonating in-flight tracking missiles launched from the
Dreadnaught.  Score bonus points for each Dreadnaught you destroy.

STRONTIUM BOMBS destroy the following targets for these point values:

Energy Vent     20
Engine          25
Silo            50

[A picture appears which details what the different items are.  I will attempt
a description of each here:
Launcher: The smallest of the three green objects, it looks a little like the
Trekkie Enterprise.

Small Cannon: Midsize green object, has 2 legs and a top that looks like the
top of a mushroom.

Large Cannon: Same shape as Small Cannon, but much bigger, with 2 blue stripes
at the bottom of the mushroom part.

Engine: Checkerboard grey pattern with red flame coming out of it.

Bridge: Larger yellow rectangular object, flanked by two Towers.

Tower: Smaller yellow oval object, flanks Bridges.

Missile Silo: Dark Grey, mostly filled, almost circular, about the same size
as the Small Cannon.

Energy Vent: Dark Grey, oval, with lines across it like a street grate.]

LASER BOLTS destroy the following Dreadnaught weapons for these point awards:

   WEAPON                     POINTS
   Small Cannon                 1
   Large Cannon                 5
   Drone Launcher               5
   Tower                        5
   Queen Launcher              10
   Bridge                      10

BOMBING PRIORITIES

* Destroy all BRIDGES to reduce Dreadnaught firing rate by 50 percent.

* Destroy each ENGINE to slow the Dreadnaught's approach velocity.

* SILOS house anit-matter missiles which can detonate the Unstable Energy
Field.  Destroy them.

* In order to destroy a Dreadnaught, bomb all ENERGY VENTS.

MISSION VARIATIONS

Game Level     Difficulty      Number of Dreadnaughts
    1            Basic                  1
    2            Novice                 1
    3            Intermediate           2
    4            Challenge              5
    5            Advanced              10
    6            Expert                15
    7            YGTBK+               100

+ You've Got To Be Kidding
* Rate of fire increases as level of mission advances.

JOIN THE ACTIVISION(R) "DREADNAUGHT DESTROYER" CLUB

Defeat the entire fleet of Dreadnaughts on mission level 4 or higher, and you
will earn galactic acclaim, a place in stellar history, and a membership in
the prestigious "Dreadnaught Destroyer" Club.

Send us a picture of your TV screen and we'll mail you the Dreadnaught
Destroyer emblem, along with our heartfelt thanks.

Be sure to write "The Dreadnaught Factor" on the bottom left corner of the
envelope.

TACTICAL TIPS FROM THE TOP

Tips from Tom Loughry, designer of The Dreadnaught Factor(TM), and Eric
Nickell, adaptor of this version.

"Keep track of the Dreadnaught's distance from the Stargate.  As it gets
closer, it's a good idea to slow down its velocity by bombing the engines.
If it gets really close, destroy all the missile silos.  That way, the Unstable
Energy Field is safe even if the Dreadnaught reaches the Stargate.  Unless you
lose all your Hyperfighters, that is.

"Destroy those Dreadnaught weapons which give you the most difficulty.  But
keep in mind that the only way to destroy a Dreadnaught is by bombing all its
energy vents.  Don't waste time or attack passes trying to destroy every
target.

"Let us hear from you between missions.  We'd like that.  May the grace of
God be with you." [Aackkk!]

[Pictures of Eric Nickell and Tom Loughry appear, with their signatures.  From
the looks of it, is Eric who is the religious one.]

ACTIVISION(R) COMPUTER SOFTWARE CARTRIDGE LIMITED ONE-YEAR WARRANTY

Activision, Inc. warrants to the original consumer purchaser of this Activision
computer software cartridge that it will be free from defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase.
Activision agrees to either repair or replace, at its option, free of charge,
any cartridge discovered to be defective within the warranty period upon
receipt of the cartridge, postage paid, with proof of date of purchase, at the
address below.  U.P.S. or registered mail is recommended for cartridge returns.

This warranty is limited to the electronic circuitry and mechanical parts
originally provided by Activision and is not applicable to normal wear and
tear.  This warranty shall not be applicable and shall be void if the defect
in the cartridge has arisen through abuse, unreasonable use, mistreatment or
neglect.  This warranty is in lieu of all other express warranties and no
other representation or claims of any nature shall be binding on or obligate
Activision.  Any implied warranties applicable to this cartridge are limited
to the one-year period described above.  In no event will Activision be liable
for any special, incidental or consequential damage resulting from posession,
use or malfunction of this product.

Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts
and/or the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so
the above limitations and/or exclusion or limitation  of liability may not
apply to you.  This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may
also have other rights which vary from state to state.

CONSUMER REPLACEMENTS
Consumer Relations
Activision, Inc.
2350 Bayshore Frontage Rd.
Mountain View, CA  94043

To ask questions or get on our mailing list, call (415) 940-6044/5.

ACTIVISION(R)
Drawer No. 7287
Mountain View, CA  94039
Atari(R) and 5200(TM) are trademarks of Atari, Inc.
(C) 1983, 1984 ACTIVISION, INC.
G-943-02
Made in U.S.A.



