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'''Moon Patrol''' is a port of the popular [[:Category:Action|action]]/[[:Category:Shooter|shooter]] arcade cabinet game of the same name, for the TI-99/4A released by [[:Category:Atarisoft|Atarisoft]]. It was released on [[:Category:Solid State Software Command Module|Solid State Software<sup>TM</sup> Command Module]] cartridge as part number RX 8531 for $44.95 (USD). It was programmed by [[Douglas Craig|Douglas Brian Craig]]. It originally sold during the [[:Category:1984 Software|second quarter of 1984]].
{{Infobox video game
| price = $44.95 (USD)
}}
==Gameplay==
The player in Moon Patrol plays as a volunteer police officer on Sector Nine, known as the home of the toughest thugs in the galaxy. The player controls a lunar buggy vehicle over the surface of the moon from a side view. The vehicle travels from left to right during gameplay. The player faces many obstacles along the way including craters, mines, and missiles from overhead UFOs. These missiles also create new craters that can make for a unique situation when they hit immediately in front of the player.
The player maneuvers through various courses, each of which is divided into 26 checkpoints each or which is labeled with consecutive letters of the alphabet starting from A and going through Z. Checkpoints ending in E, J, O, T, and Z denote a major stage of each course which changes the theme and background color. At the end of each stage, the player's time spend to complete the stage is compared to the average stage time, and bonuses are awarded based on the time taken to complete each stage. Extra lives are awarded at 10,000, 30,000, and 50,000 points.
==Advertising Blurb==
===From Back of Retail Packaging===
Applications being accepted for replacement gunners in high-risk job. Hostile environment. Road conditions nonexistent due to meteor and crater hazards. Small native populations of killer plants also reported. Quick reflexes, marksmanship and driving skills a must. Bonuses for UFOs and enemy tanks. Recognition for valor. Volunteers only.
===From Triton Catalog - Spring 1985===
You patrol sector nine, home of the toughest thugs in the galaxy. Fortunately your patrol car has anti-gravity jump buttons and laser bullets to deal with moon rocks, craters, hostile UFO's and tanks.
<!-- Manual -->
Press SPACE BAR once to pause during the game. Press it again to resume play Press + or 9 (BACK) during the game to return to the game option screen.
Press 8 (R EDOREDO) any time to restart the game with the same options. This can be done when GAME OVER is displayed to avoid having to go through the option screen again.
'''NOTE:''' Compatible with all TI 99 / 4A computers except units with a Version 2.2 Operating System.
===Joystick Controls===
| Right-Handed Player || Y or . || E || S || D
|}
===Patrol Mission===
When you signed up with the Luna City Police Department, who would have thought that you'd be assigned to Sector Nine? (It's home to the toughest thugs in the galaxy!) Sure, you've got the finest car on the force, complete with anti-gravity jump buttons and laser bullets, but in the rough terrain of Sector Nine, you need more than fancy equipment to survive. Just hopping over huge craters and moon rocks is bad enough without having to deal with hostile UFO's and enemy land mines and tanks. Getting through your patrol in one piece is almost impossible.
===Patrol Details===
Your beat is divided into two courses: BEGINNER (for rookies) and CHAMPION (for experienced cops). Each course is divided into 26 segments, marked by points A-Z. A gauge at the bottom of the screen indicates your location. The gauge is divided into five sections: A-E, E-J, J-O, O-T, and T-Z. At the end of each section, you're awarded bonus points based on your travel time. The faster you complete a section, the more points you'll score.
As you travel your beat, the number of obstacles you encounter increases, and it becomes harder to avoid enemy attacks.
===Hints For Rookies===
□ . . Play the BEGINNER game variation first, to learn how to control your patrol car.
□ . . You'll jump farther when your patrol car is moving fast; be sure you're driving fast enough to jump over an obstacle.
□ . . Try taking one long jump over two closely positioned obstacles.
□ . . Your laser bullets are only effective a short distance in front of you. Don't fire too early or you might miss your target.
□ . . Some UFOs drop missiles that form new craters. Learn to recognize these UFOs and eliminate them quickly:
□ . . When an enemy car or missile appears from behind, jump over it, then blast it when it's in front of you.
===Scoring===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| [[File:Moon Patrol - Small Crater.png|50px]] || '''Small Crater'''
Jumping - 50
|| [[File:Moon Patrol - Space Plant.png|50px]] || '''Space Plant'''
Jumping - 100
Destroying - 300, 500 or 800
|-
| [[File:Moon Patrol - Large Crater.png|50px]] || '''Large Crater'''
Jumping - 100
|| [[File:Moon Patrol - Tank.png|50px]] || '''Tank'''
Jumping - 100
Destroying - 200
|-
| [[File:Moon Patrol - Small Rock.png|50px]] || '''Small Rock'''
Jumping - 100
Destroying - 100
|| [[File:Moon Patrol - Enemy Car.png|50px]] || '''Enemy Car'''
Detroying - 500, 800 or 1000
|-
| [[File:Moon Patrol - Large Rock.png|50px]] || '''Large Rock'''
Jumping - 100
Destroying - 100
|| [[File:Moon Patrol - UFO1.png|50px]]
[[File:Moon Patrol - UFO2.png|50px]]
|| '''Regular UFOs'''
Destroying - 100
|-
| [[File:Moon Patrol - Rolling Boulder.png|50px]] || '''Rolling Boulder'''
Jumping - 100
Destroying - 50
|| [[File:Moon Patrol - Crater UFO.png|50px]] || '''Crater UFO'''
Destroying - 200
|-
| [[File:Moon Patrol - Mine.png|50px]] || '''Mine'''
Jumping - 50
|| ||
|}
====Bonus Points====
Destroying all UFOs in a formation of 3 . . . . . . . . . . 500
Destroying all UFOs in a formation of 4 . . . . . . . . . . 800
Completing a section in less than average time on the Beginner Course is worth 1000 plus 100 for each second better than the average time.
Completing a section in less than average time on the Champion course is worth 2000 plus 100 for each second better than the average time.
====Bonus Lives====
At 10,000 points, 30,000 points, and 50,000 points, you earn an extra patrol car.
<div id="mp-tfp" style="margin:0.1em 0.4em 0.6em;"></div>
==Downloads==
<gallery>
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
==External Links==
* [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ti99/948155-moon-patrol GameFAQs: Moon Patrol TI-99/4A]
* [https://www.gamesdatabase.org/game/texas-instruments-ti-99-4a/moon-patrol Games Database: Moon Patrol - Texas Instruments TI 99/4A]
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/ti-994a/moon-patrol MobyGames: Moon Patrol (TI-99/4A)]
* [https://pixelpedant.com/items/show/12 PixelatedArcade: Moon Patrol]
