Barnstorming: Instruction Manual

Barnstorming Basics

1. Hook up your video game system. Follow manufacturer's instructions.
2. With power OFF, plug in game cartrige.
3. Turn power ON. If no picture appears, check connection of your game system to TV, then repeat steps 1-3.
4. Plug in left Joystick Controller. (It's the only one you'll need.) When playing, hold the controller wiht red button at upper left.
5. Set both difficulty swithces to b to begin.
6. Select game with game select switch:
   • Game 1: Hedge hopper (fly through 10 barns, fixed course)
   • Game 2: Crop Duster (Fly through 15 barns, fixed course)
   • Game 3: Stunt Pilot (Fly through 15 barns, fixed course, different than Game 2)
   • Game 4: Flying Ace (Fly through 25 barns, a new course each time you select Game 4)
7. The object of the game is to fly through a set number of barns in the shortest possible time (elapsed time indicated at top of screen).
8. Scoring. Each time you make it through a barn, your barn count number (upper left corner of screen) will decrease by one. If you miss a barn, your barn count will remain the same and you will have to fly further to reach an additional barn. When your barn count reaches zero, the game is ended.
9. To take off, simply press the red button on your Joystick, and push the Joystick up to climb.
10. Using the joystick. Once airborne, the red botton acts as your throttle: press it for greater speed, release it to slow down. To increase your altitude, push the Joystick up, and, to descend, pull the joystick down.
11. Difficulty switches. The left difficulty switch in the a position will lower the clearance heights of the barns, the b position is normal. The right difficulty switch in the a position will add more geese, the b position is normal.
    
    Note to owners of Sears Tele-Game™ Video Arcade®: Difficulty is called skill left (or right); a is expert and b is novice.

Getting the Feel of Barnstorming™ by Activision™

Just as in flying a real biplane, you'll need to get the “feel” of the controls. The better you get at adjusting your throttle and handling your joystick, the better your chances to become a “Flying Ace.”

You needn't worry about stalling out in midair. Your throttle is set to maintain a minimum speed even when you release the red button. The game is mastered by looking ahead and adjusting the controls to make the best speed, fly through every barn and over every windmill, and avoid those pesky geese. Whenever you push the throttle, watch out for geese.

The best time is achieved by covering the course with the fewest possible corrections to your altitiude, so precious seconds can be shaved by flying just above the windmills and just below the openings of the barns.

If you should misjudge and fly over a barn, your barn count will remain unchanged, and the course will be extended until you can make up the missed barns and fly through the required number.

Avoiding crashes with barn roofs, barn interiors, weather vanes, windmills and geese will realy save time. Better to slow down a little and avoid a crash, than to lose time picking up speed from a dead stop.

Join the Activision™ Flying Aces

If you beat a time of 33.3 seconds on game 1, 51.0 seconds on game 2, or 54.0 seconds on game 3, you can join our Activision Flying Aces. Just send us a picture of your television screen, along with your name and address, and we will enroll you in this prestigious organization.

How to Become an “Ace” at Barnstorming™ by Activision™

Tips from Steve Cartwright, designer of Barnstorming