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Freeway [Model AG-009]

Atari 2600 cart. published 43 years ago by Activision, Inc.

Listed in MAME

Freeway [Model AG-009] screenshot

Freeway © 1981 Activision, Inc.

If you think driving on a busy freeway is intense... wait 'till you try to cross it on foot! In Freeway by Activision, your challenge is to guide a chicken across ten lanes of the most perilous freeway traffic imaginable. Be careful, because those speeding cars and trucks don't brake for animals! So, before you start the chicken across the road, take a minute to read these instructions. You'll find out how to score points by leading your fearless fowl to safety without getting his feathers ruffled by a 'semi'.

Features eight game variations:
Game 1: Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, 3 A.M.
Game 2: Interstate 5, Seattle, 6 A.M.
Game 3: Santa Monica Freeway, Los Angeles, 10 A.M.
Game 4: Bayshore Freeway, San Francisco, Midnight
Game 5: John Lodge Expressway, Detroit, 9 P.M.
Game 6: The Beltway, Washington D.C., 6 P.M.
Game 7: LBJ Freeway, Dallas, 5 P.M.
Game 8: Long Island Expressway, New York City, 3 A.M.

Goodies for Freeway [Model AG-009]
Click to enlarge
(members only)
TECHNICAL

Model AG-009

TRIVIA

Back in the 80s, Activision wanted to recognize your traffic dodging achievements. So, if you were successful in guiding your chicken through traffic at least 20 times in either Game 3 or Game 7, you would become an official member of the Activision 'Save the Chicken Foundation' by sending a picture of your TV screen showing your accomplishment; they would send you a special membership emblem.

SCORING
Each time you guide your chicken successfully across the freeway, you are awarded 1 point.
TIPS AND TRICKS

Each game offers a different challenge. The type, speed and frequency of traffic may vary, depending on the game.

GAME 1: LAKE SHORE DRIVE, CHICAGO, 3 A.M.
Automobiles only. Traffic is thin. Speeds are relatively slow. Autos move slowest in lanes closest to curbs, then faster with each lane closer to center of highway.

GAME 2: INTERSTATE 5, SEATTLE, 6 A.M.
Upper lane closest to center of freeway has trucks; all others have autos. Traffic is thicker and moves faster than in Game 1. Speeds of autos increase in the same order as they did in Game 1.

GAME 3: SANTA MONICA FREEWAY, LOS ANGELES, 10 A.M.
Trucks are now in both center lanes. These trucks are the fastest-moving vehicles, and they move faster than the fastest moving vehicles in Games 1 and 2. Traffic is thicker in the two lanes closest to the curbs.

GAME 4: BAYSHORE FREEWAY, SAN FRANCISCO, MIDNIGHT
There are trucks in all lanes. The trucks in the lanes closest to center, as well as those closest to the curbs, move at the same speed as the trucks in Game 3. The trucks in lanes 2 and 4 move at half the speed of those in lanes 1 and 5. The trucks in lane 3 are the slowest, and move at half the speed of those in lanes 2 and 4. (Lane at bottom of screen is lane 1; lane at top is lane 10.)

GAMES 5-8
Similar to Games 1-4 in the amount of traffic for each game. But, take care, because the speeds of the vehicles are increased and decreased at random throughout each of these games - without regard to lane. You'll really have to be on your toes, because you can never tell when the speed of any particular traffic will change.

Tips from David Crane, designer of Freeway :
"As unusual as Freeway is, you still will have to employ some tried and true gaming skills to do well at it. For instance, you must become familiar with the different traffic patterns in order to anticipate and make the right moves. This is especially difficult in Games 5-8, where traffic speeds can change instantly."

"You'll notice that clusters of vehicles in each lane travel at generally the same distance apart, at the same speed. If a cluster happens to be in a fast lane, you'll have to plan in advance how you're going to get through without being hit."

"Succeeding at Freeway will depend on your ability to develop quick reflexes to avoid the traffic and "hit the hole" at just the right time. Have fun and watch the traffic!"

"Drop me a line. I'd like to hear about your exploits."

STAFF

Programmer: David Crane

PORTS

CONSOLES:
usa Sony PlayStation (sept.30, 1998) "A Collection of Activision Classic Games for the Atari 2600 [Model SLUS-00777]"
usa Sony PlayStation 2 (nov.19, 2002) "Activision Anthology [Model SLUS-20588]"
europe australia Sony PlayStation 2 (2003) "Activision Anthology [Model SLES-51313]"


HANDHELDS:
usa Nintendo Game Boy Advance (dec.9, 2003) "Activision Anthology [Model AGB-BAVE-USA]"
usa Sony PSP (nov.8, 2006) "Activision Hits Remixed [Model ULUS-10186]"
europe Sony PSP (feb.9, 2007) "Activision Hits Remixed [Model ULES-00640]"
australia Sony PSP (feb.14, 2007) "Activision Hits Remixed [Model ULES-00640]"


COMPUTERS:
usa PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (jan.1, 1994) "Activision's Atari 2600 Classics"
usa PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (apr.4, 1995) "Atari 2600 Action Pack"
usa PC [Microsoft Windows, CD-ROM] (oct.2003) "Activision Anthology: Remix Edition"
usa Apple Macintosh [CD-ROM] (2003) "Activision Anthology: Remix Edition"


OTHERS:
usa Android (aug.30, 2012) "Activision Anthology"
usa Apple iPhone/iPad (aug.30, 2012) "Activision Anthology [Model 542727742]"
usa "Atari Flashback 8 Gold Activision Edition" (sept.22, 2017) by AtGames

SOURCES

Game's ROM.