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'''Centipede''' is a vertically oriented shooter game originally developed by [[Atarisoft|Atari]] in June of 1981. It was ported to TI-99/4A by [[Atarisoft]] in the [[:Category:1983 Software|4th quarter of 1983]]. In Centipede, the player fights off centipedes (as the name implies), spiders, scorpions, and fleas. The winding centipedes are the main enemy of each level, and a level is completed after the centipede is destroyed.
{{Infobox video game
| collapsible =
| image = Centipede Box Front.jpg
| alt = Front of Retail Packaging for Centipede for the TI-99/4A
| caption = Centipede Retail Packaging<ref>{{cite web|title=TI99ers On-Line User Group: TI-99 Cartridge Listing|url=http://www.ti99ers.org/timeline/cartbytitle.html#C}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=TI Video Game House: Centipede|url=https://www.videogamehouse.net/centipede.html}}</ref>
| publisher = [[Atarisoft]]
| part = RX 8503
| programmer = [[James Landowski|James G. Landowski]]
| format = [[:Category:Solid State Software Command Module|Solid State Software<sup>TM</sup> Command Module]]
| released = [[:Category:1983 Software|1983 (4th quarter)]]
}}
==Gameplay==
The player controls an insect-like fighter at the bottom of the screen referred to as the ''Bug Blaster''. The player can move left, right, up (to a limited height), and down to the bottom of the screen. While moving to avoid enemies, the player also fires darts in an attempt to hit and destroy foes. The main enemy, the centipede, appears in multiple segments. When the player hits a segment with a dart, that segment becomes a mushroom in the mushroom patch. If the centipede segment was in the middle of the centipede, the centipede splits into two portions with the rear portion sprouting its own head. The player can face multiple centipedes, all of which descend and attempt to destroy the player. It is, therefore, advantageous for the player to focus shots on either the head or tailpiece of the centipede so as to limit the number of enemies to destroy. The head is worth 100 points when shot, whereas all other segments are worth only 10 points.
The original centipede is 10 to 12 segments long and always starts at the top of the playing area, and works its way down toward the ''Bug Blaster''. With each level, the centipede decreases in size by one segment, with the missing segment becoming its own head which moves at a faster speed. This pattern of segments starting out as heads continues continue until all segments have become individual heads, at which point, the games repeats itself beginning over with a single, full-length centipede.
Centipedes always travel exactly left or right, and change directions and drop one level down each time they reach the edge of the screen or touch a mushroom of the patch. Mushrooms can be destroyed in an effort to prevent the centipede(s) from descending upon as rapidly, but each mushroom requires four shots to eliminate. When a centipede reaches the bottom of the screen, it moves back and forth within the player's area, and a periodic new head will appear. This continues until the original centipede and all additional heads are destroyed.
'''Get out your bug blaster and save that fungus! The thrill of the arcade game.'''
An insidious invasion of multiplying insects (centipedes, jumping spiderspiders, poisonous scorpions, and frenzied fleas) pose different perils to the mushroom patch. You must repeatedly blast enraged creepers and stubborn obstacles or lose your enchanted fungus. Remember to listen for the distinctive sounds of the attacking bugs, and watch out for blasted centipede segments, each one grows a new head!
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magical powers. Luckily, you have a ''bug blaster'' to fight them off -- LORD MOTLEY BUGNUT, BUG EXPERT!
====To Begin Your But Bug Hunt====
Insert the Centipede cartridge into your Tl99/4A Home Computer, as explained in your computer owner's guide, and turn on your computer. Plug the joysticks into the Controller Jack.
====Dreaded Bug Blaster====
The bug blaster destroys bugs and mushrooms. You start each game with three bug blasters (the number remaining is shown at the top of the screen next to the high score). Press the red button once on your Joystick Controller for a single shot, hold the button down for rapid-fire blasting. You'll be awarded an additional bug blaster for each 10,000 points you score, and you can earn up to six bug blasters at any one time.
====March of the Centipedes====
The Centipedes attack from the top of the TV screen, zig-zagging back and forth each time they bump into a mushroom. The bug blaster destroys the Centipede by blasting each segment separately.
You must destroy each segment of the Centipede before it can reach the bottom of the screen. Otherwise, more Centipede segments will start to appear to attack your bug blaster at the bottom of the screen. When an entire Centipede is destroyed, a new one attacks from the top of the screen.
====Jumping Spider====
But wait, there are other dangers. The Jumping Spider, which isn't blocked by the mushrooms, can pounce on your bug blaster and destroy it. And when the Spider jumps over a mushroom, that mushroom may magically disappear.
====Poinsonous Scorpion====
The Poisonous Scurrying Scorpion can dash across your patch and poison any mushroom just by touching it! When a Centipede touches a poisoned mushroom, the Centipede goes insane and heads straight to the bottom of the screen.
====Frenzied Flea====
The Frenzied Flea may create more mushrooms wherever he lands, making it difficult to shoot a bug until it is dangerously close. The flea's bite can destroy your bug blaster too. It takes several shots to destroy a flea.
====Scoring====
* [[File:Mushroom (Whole).png|35px]] 1 point for each mushroom that's totally eliminated by your bug blaster.
* [[File:Mushroom (Partial).png|35px]] 5 points for each mushroom that is partially eliminated or has been poisoned by a scorpion when your blaster has been destroyed.
* [[File:Centipede.png|35px]] 10 points for each body segment of the Centipede that you destroy.
* [[File:Centipede.png|35px]] 100 points for each head segment of the Centipede that you exterminate. (Remember, every time you blast a Centipede apart, each new segment forms a new head worth 100 points.)
* [[File:Flea.png|35px]] 200 points for each Frenzied Flea that you destroy with your bug blaster.
* [[File:Scorpion.png|35px]] 1000 points for destroying a Scurrying Scorpion at any time during the game.
* [[File:Centipede-Spider.png|35px]] 300 points for exterminating a Jumping Spider at long range.
* [[File:Centipede-Spider.png|35px]] 600 points for destroying a Jumping Spider at medium range.
* [[File:Centipede-Spider.png|35px]] 900 points for blasting a Jumping Spider at close range.
Each time you blast a spider, your points earned will appear on the screen where the spider was blasted.
The high score for each round of games is shown at the top center of the screen to the right of the player's score.
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==Downloads==
<gallery>
Centipede Cartridge.png|Centipede Cartridge
Centipede Cartridge Top View.png|Centipede Cartridge (Top View)
Centipede Cover Front.jpg|Cetipede Manual Front Cover
Centipede Box Front.jpg|Centipede Box (front)
Centipede Box Back.jpg|Centipede Box (back)
Centipede Cover Front.jpg|Centipede Manual Complete (pdf format)|link=https://4apedia.com/manuals/Centipede%20Manual.pdf
Centipede Cartridge.png|Centipede MAME/MESS Rom (rpk format)|link=https://4apedia.com/roms/Centipede.rpk
Waranty Card.jpg|Atarisoft Warranty Card (pdf format)|link=https://4apedia.com/manuals/Atarisoft%20Waranty%20Card.pdf
Questionaire Card 1.jpg|Atarisoft Questionnaire Card|link=https://4apedia.com/manuals/Atarisoft%20Questionnaire%20Card.pdf
</gallery>
==References==
<references/>
==External Links==
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/ti-994a/centipede_ MobyGames: Centipede (TI-99/4A)]* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/ti-994a/centipede_/trivia MobyGames: Centipede (TI-99/4A) Trivia]* [http://www.pixelatedarcade.com/games/centipede PixelatedArcade: Centipede]* [https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Centipede Stragey Wiki: Centipede]* [http://www.ti99ers.org/timeline/cartbytitle.html#C TI-99ers On-line User Group: TI-99 Cartridge Listing]* [https://www.videogamehouse.net/centipede.html TI-99/4A Video Gamehouse: Centipede]* [http://vgpavilion.com/games/centipede/ Videogame Pavilion: Centipede]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centipede_(video_game) Wikipedia: Centipede (Video Game)]
