Steeplechase
Platform: Atari 2600
Region: USA
Media: Cartridge
Controller: Paddles
Gametype: Licensed
Release Year: 1983
Developer: Video Gems
Publisher: Video Gems / Sears
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The object of Steeplechase is to be the first player to advance your horse to the right side of the screen display.  Each horse gallops at a given speed from left to right.  While the horse gallops, hurdles of different sizes approach the horse from right to left.  Your task is to jump and clear the hurdles, and get your horse to the right side first.

As you are jumping each hurdle, your horse actually has no motion from left to right.  Whenever you hit a hurdle your horse loses some horizontal position (distance) while it falls to the ground and gets up.  The higher you jump your horse, the easier it is to clear all hurdles.  However, the more time it takes to clear the hurdles, and the more time it takes to reach the right side of the screen.

The height of a jump can be set by adjusting your height indicator bar. There are four height settings.  Each horse has its own height indicator bar.

http://www.atariage.com/manual_html_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=508
