ACTIVISION
presents

GEEBEE AIR RALLY

Player's Guide
for
Commodore 64/128
Amstrad
Spectrum


PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING

OK, so you're the lunatic who wants to fly the GeeBee? Right, sit down
and we'll run through a few pre-flight details. Fliers of all ages and
nationalities are flocking to Buckeye, Ohio, for the air racing
competition of the century - the GeeBee Air Rally.

Racing against the clock, contestants strive to complete four courses
over eight game levels, accumulating points as they go. Each level is
more difficult than the last and the fourth course in each level is a
special low flying balloon popping or slalom event. Pilots get two
chances to complete each course in the time allotted.

To score the most points, pilots must stay on course and avoid any
midair collisions with other planes. The clock ticks faster if you stray off
course so watch how you fly.

It is possible to survive a midair mishap and resume racing but most
collisions eat up so much time that completing the course within the
limit becomes extremely difficult.

Pilots normally advance from one course to another and from one
level to the next only if they successfully complete the last course or
level.


TAKEOFF WITH GEEBEE!

Yaeehaa! It's time for those daring young men and their flying
machines to take to the air again! Yup, the famous Cartwright Cup is
up for grabs and the world's fastest pilots all want to make sure this
coveted piece of silverware gets a place in their trophy cupboard. And
the winner might just be YOU!

OK, so the Cartwright Cup Classic was never held for real - but this
exciting computer simulation is based on the genuine air race epics
held in the USA during the 1930s.

And the fearsome aircraft you get to fly is based on the real GeeBee, a
purpose built air racer described by one pilot as an airborne coffin!

The GeeBee was the leading speed plane of the 1930's - but it wasn't
a pretty aircraft. Some people said it looked like an apple-barrel with
wings. It handled like an apple-barrel too - but the GeeBee was
lightning fast and pilots with the Right Stuff found they could win
races in it. Others were less fortunate, and the most dangerous plane
ever to take to the air claimed many lives.

GeeBee puts YOU in the hot seat of this 250mph aircraft. Have you
got the guts to win the Cartwright Cup? Can you control the beast
over 100 miles of airborne action? This air race isn't for the
squeamish. But if you want to experience the most exciting flight of
your life, read on!

WARMING UP THE ENGINE

Set up your computer system as detailed in your user manual. Ensure
that all non-essential peripherals - such as cartridges, printers, etc -
are disconnected. Failure to do so may cause loading difficulties.

If you are using your Commodore 64/128 with the cassette version of
GeeBee Air Rally ...
a) Connect your datacassette and switch your TV/monitor and
computer ON. C128 owners should now select C64 mode by
typing G064, pressing RETURN, they Y, then RETURN again.
b) Insert the GeeBee cassette into your datacassette, ensuring that it
is fully rewound.
c) Hold down the SHIFT and RUN/STOP keys together. Then press
the PLAY button on the datacassette. The game should now load.

If you are using your Commodore 64/128 with the disk version of
GeeBee Air Rally ...
a) Connect your disk drive to your computer and switch the disk drive on.
b) Insert the GeeBee Air Rally diskette, label side up, into the disk
drive and turn on your computer and monitor. If you have a
Commodore 128, the game will load automatically.
c) If you have a Commodore 64, type LOAD"*",8,1 and press return.

If you are using your Spectrum, Spectrum 128, Spectrum+, Spectrum+2
or Spectrum +3 with the cassette version of GeeBee Air Rally ...
a) Connect your cassette player to your Spectrum in the normal
manner. Check your user manual for details. (If your computer
features a built in cassette player, this is already done.)
b) If you want to use a joystick, insert the necessary interfaces NOW.
c) Switch your TV/monitor, cassette player and computer ON. If your
computer shows a menu screen you may select either 48K or 128K
Basic.
d) Insert the GeeBee Air Rally cassette into the cassette player. Ensure
that the cassette is fully rewound and that the label marked side
one is facing upwards.
e) Type Load"" and then press the ENTER key. The game should now load.

If you are using your Amstrad CPC 464/664 or 6128 with the cassette
version of GeeBee Air Rally.
a) Switch your TV/monitor and computer ON.
b) If your computer has a built-in disk-drive you should now connect a
compatible cassette player to your computer. Then type '|' TAPE
and hit RETURN. Now your computer will be ready to load data
from tape. To obtain the '|' symbol, press the SHIFT key and the '@'
key together.
c) Insert the GeeBee Air Rally cassette into the cassette player. Ensure
that the cassette label marked side one is facing upwards and that
the cassette is fully rewound.
d) Press the CTRL and small ENTER keys together; then press the PLAY
button on your cassette player. The game should now load.

If you are using your Amstrad CPC 464/664 or 6128 with the diskette
version of GeeBee Air Rally.
a) If your computer has a built-in cassette player; first make sure your
computer is switched OFF and then connect a compatible disk-drive.
b) Now switch the disk-drive, computer and TV/monitor ON. Then
type '|' DISK and hit RETURN. Now your computer will be ready to
load data from disk. To obtain the '|' symbol, press the SHIFT key
and the '@' key together.
c) Insert the GeeBee Air Rally diskette into the disk-drive, label side up.
d) Type RUN"DISK, then hit the ENTER key. The game should now load.

If at any time after loading the game you don't race for 5 minutes, the
game will automatically go into a demo mode. To resume competition,
press Return.

LOADING DIFFICULTIES

We are always seeking to improve the quality of our product range,
and have developed high standards of quality control to bring you this
product. If you experience any difficulties loading GeeBee Air Rally it is
unlikely to be a fault with the product itself. We therefore suggest that
you switch your computer off and repeat the loading instructions
carefully, checking you have read the correct section for your
computer and software. If you still have problems, consult the user
manual for your computer; or consult your dealer for advice. In the
case of continued difficulty after you have checked your hardware for
all possible faults, may we suggest you contact our Customer Advice
Department, in writing, for assistance. The address is:

Activision Customer Advice
GeeBee Air Rally
Units 3 & 4
Lloyds Close
Finedon Road Industrial Estate
Wellingborough
Northampton NN8 4FR

Your letter should include the following details:
- your name and address
- a daytime telephone number (if available)
- the title of the product you are having trouble with
- whether it is on cassette or diskette
- the computer system and any peripherals (joysticks etc) you are using
- where and when you purchased the product
- a detailed description of the difficulties you are having

Please do not send the product to us unless we specifically request it
for testing.

QUICk CONTROL GUIDE

On all versions, once the game has loaded you will be presented with
a menu screen (not on C64/128) which allows you to start the game,
select a joystick or keyboard, or redefine the control keys.

If you are playing on a Spectrum, Spectrum 128, Spectrum+,
Spectrum+2, or Spectrum+3 and intend to use keyboard controls,
you must redefine the control keys ...

Start - O
Redefine Keys - R
Select Joystick - J (Sinclair or Kempston or keyboard)

If you are playing on an Amstrad CPC 464/664 or 6128 ...

Start - S
Redefine Keys - R
Select Joystick - J
Up - Q
Down - A
Left - O
Right - P
Throttle - SPACE
Pause - U
Resume Game - Any key

MULTI-LOAD INSTRUCTIONS

GeeBee Air Rally includes so many exciting features that we had to
make it a multi-load game just to squeeze all the action onto one tape
or disk. If you want to enjoy continuous play please ensure that you
keep your GeeBee Air Rally tape or disk in the datacassette or disk
drive at all times during a session with the game. Follow the on-screen
prompts when you complete a level successfully.

OFF TO THE RACES - PLATING HINTS

Your altimeter, compass and speedometer appear, left to right, on
your control panel.

The allotted time for each race appears at the start of the race and
starts to tick down when the race begins.

Your points total appears in the upper right hand side of the screen -
except during the special balloon-popping events. (See scoring.)

To start racing, press and release the fire button. As you begin to pick
up speed, pull back on the joystick or use the pull-back key on the
keyboard. (See controls.)

To turn, move the joystick in the appropriate direction or use the correct
control keys.

To dive, push forward on the joystick, or use the appropriate control keys.

Stay on course between pylons - you score points only while you stay
on course. Every time you stray off course the time clock runs at four
times normal speed.

As you steer between the pylons, you may find it useful to speed up for
wide turns and slow down for tight turns. Do this by climbing or diving.

When you drift off course, it's a good idea to slow down. You'll be able
to manoeuvre your GeeBee back on course more easily at slower speeds.

To avoid midair collisions, you can fly under; around and over other
aircraft.

If you crack-up in midair, you parachute safely to the ground. To
resume the race simply press the fire button, then take off again. You'll
start roughly from the point on the course where you left off.

If you fail to complete a course within the set time, you'll get a second
chance. If you fail a second time you'll have a chance to record your
cumulative score on the Top Finishers board (not on Amstrad cassette
version).

SCORING

Except during the special balloon-popping events you score points as
you cover the distance over each course. The more advanced the level
at which you're competing the more points you score per unit of
distance.

At the end of each race you complete, you also receive bonus points
in proportion to the amount of time left on the clock. In addition, a time
bonus is added to the allotted time on your next course - but only if
you succeed on your first attempt

During the balloon-popping events, you have to pop a certain number
of balloons before you start accumulating points. The number of
balloons you must pop appears in place of your score until you have
popped the required number. Then your score appears on screen and
you start earning extra points for every additional balloon popped.

When you fail to complete a course in the allotted time, the Top
Finishers screen appears, and you can add your name to the 15 all-
time top scorers.


CREDITS

GeeBee Air Rally was created by Steve Cartwright

Commodore 64 version designed by Steve Cartwright
Graphics by Mike Nowak
Music and Commodore 64 sound by Russell Lieblich
Special thanks to Kelly Zmak and Keith Orr
Produced by Terry Ishida

Spectrum/Amstrad versions by Keith Burkhill Software
Produced by Software Studios

(c) 1987/88 Activision Inc. All rights reserved.