+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
                            | M I L L I P E D E |
                            +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

              GAME:  MILLIPEDE
          PLATFORM:  ARCADE
             GENRE:  ARCADE SHOOTER
           CREATOR:  ATARI 1982
AUTHOR OF THIS FAQ:  Kevin Butler AKA War Doc
            E-MAIL:  kevinb(at)technologist(dot)com
       FAQ VERSION:  1.0

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

    UNIT   I:  INTRODUCTION

1.  Legal Stuff
2.  Version Information
3.  Acknowledgements
4.  Welcome
5.  Overview

    UNIT  II:  GAME INFORMATION

6.  The Game

    6.1  The Controls
    6.2  The Playing Field
    6.3  Scoring
    6.4  Difference Between Millipede and Centipede

    UNIT III:  STRATEGIES

7.  Playing the Game

    UNIT  IV:  CONCLUSION

8.  Conclusion

_______________________________________________________________________________

To find a particular chapter or subchapter do the following:

1.  Highlight the chapter or subchapter name you wish to find.
2.  Press CTRL-C
3.  Press CTRL-F
4.  Press CTRL-V
5.  Press CTRL-F
5.  You will arrive at the desired chapter or subchapter.

_______________________________________________________________________________

                                **************
********************************* U N I T  I **********************************
                                **************
+=================+
| 1.  LEGAL STUFF |============================================================
+=================+

This guide may not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal
private use.  It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed
publicly without advanced permission from the author.  Use of this guide on
any other web sit or as part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and
a violation of copyright.  All content in this guide is Copyright 2003 by
Kevin Butler.  Only the sites listed below have permission to publish this
work or to display it:

www.gamefaqs.com
www.cheats.de
faqs.ign.com

If you wish to put this guide on your site, e-mail me and ask.  Save yourself
the headache of putting up with lawsuits and whatnot because you failed to ask
a simple "Can I post your guide on <insert site>?".  If you wish to use info
in this guide, please acknowledge that you have done so.

If you see this guide on any other site then the one listed above, please
e-mail me.  If you wish to ask questions or give input to this guide, please
e-mail me.  Just have Millipede as the subject so I know it isn't another kooky
vendor trying to sell me hair gel or another XXX site telling me I have new
friends.

+=========================+
| 2.  VERSION INFORMATION |====================================================
+=========================+

Version 1.0  10/13/03:  A guide is born.

+======================+
| 3.  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |=======================================================
+======================+

The following are a list of people or organizations that have made this FAQ
possible:

My wonderful family (who has had to put up with the tapping on the keyboard)
Atari for making a great arcade game
GameFAQ's for putting up this FAQ

+=============+
| 4.  WELCOME |================================================================
+=============+

Welcome to my FAQ for Millipede.  Since the game is just a shooter that goes
until all your men are killed, there is no walkthrough per se.  Instead it will
be broken up into the game itself, strategies for survival, and some in-
teresting quirks in the game.  Input is appreciated along with constructive
criticism.  If you wish to e-mail me thoughts on this FAQ, better ways of doing
things, other strategies, etc., feel free.  Make sure you put Millipede as the
subject.  If you don't, I'm liable to discard the e-mail as spam.

+==============+
| 5.  OVERVIEW |===============================================================
+==============+

Sequels to arcade games can be a "hit and miss" thing.  Taito was able to make
a successful sequel to its Space Invaders game by releasing Space Invaders II.
Atari also attempted to make a sequel to its hit Asteroids called Asteroids
Deluxe.  Unfortunately, the sequel was not received well and Atari took a loss
with it.  Atari had another runaway hit in 1980 called Centipede.  The game
basically involved having the player take out insects and mushrooms that dotted
the playing screen.  Taking another chance, Atari released a sequel in 1982
called Millipede.  Fortunately, Millipede received a better reception then
Asteroids Deluxe did as a sequel and it did fairly well at the arcades.  Other
games that Atari released such as Dig Dug, Gravitar, and Pole Position may have
also helped the sequel along.  The game play was essentially the same as the
original.  It was the addition of more enemies and a few other gameplay changes
that made Millipede stand out on its own.  Good luck surviving the bug
invasion.

                               ***************
******************************** U N I T  II **********************************
                               ***************

+==============+ 
| 6.  THE GAME |===============================================================
+==============+ 

Millipede is a two-dimensional shooter.  You use your shooter to take out the
insects and the mushrooms.  Your job won't be easy, though, since you will have
to deal with multiple enemies.  In addition, each of these enemies has a
certain pattern of attack that you must know to successfully get through each
round.  Your dream of being an exterminator is now a reality.

 ____________________
/ 6.1  The Controls /__________________________________________________________
--------------------

In order to become a master of this game, you must be familiar with the
controls.  The controls are pretty easy to work.  You just have to play the
game some to get used to them.

-  An optical track-ball

-  A fire button

 _________________________
/ 6.2  The Playing Field /_____________________________________________________
-------------------------

The playing field consists of your shooter and all the different enemies.  The
screens change color with each round.  I have included an example of what the
playing field looks like (a little larger then normal):

    +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |  SCORE #SHOOTERS LEFT                                             |
    |  /\                    _                     ____<-MOSQUITO       |
    |  ||                   / \                     /                   |
    |                      |DDT|<-DDT BOMB                              |
    |                       \_/                                         |
    |                  /\                       \---\<-EARWIG           |
    |     \/( )\/<-DRAGONFLY                    /---/                   |
    |                                                                   |
    |                               /\             /\                   |
    |                               ||             ||<-MUSHROOM         |
    |                                                                   |
    |       /\                                                          |
    |       ||               /\/\-                \0/                   |
    |                  BODY->\/\/-<-HEAD           0<-BEE               |
    |                                                                   |
    |                    MIILIPEDE                                      |
    |                                                                   |
    |           /\                                                      |
    |        __/  \__<-INCHWORM                                         |
    |                                                                   |
    |                                                                   |
    |                                                                   |
    |                                                                   |
    |                                                     _             |
    |    /\||/\<-SPIDER                                  (_)<-BEETLE    |
    |    /\||/\                  |                       //\            |
    |                           / \                                     |
    |                           \_/<-PLAYER'S SHOOTER                   |
    |                                                                   |
    +-------------------------------------------------------------------+

You control your shooter through these screens.

 _______________
/ 6.3  Scoring /_______________________________________________________________
---------------

Scoring in this game is pretty simple:

Millipede (Body)  :     10 points
Millipede (Head)  :    100 points
Spider            :    300, 600, 900, 1,200 points (Points increase the closer
                                                    the Spider is to the
                                                    player's Shooter when shot)
Earwig            :  1,000 points
DDT Bomb          :    800 points
Dragonfly         :    500 points
Mosquito          :    400 points
Beetle            :    300 points
Bee               :    200 points (Takes two hits.  First hit speeds it up,
                                   second hit destroys it)
Inchworm          :    100 points
Mushrooms         :      1 point (Takes four hits to destroy)
Poisoned Mushrooms:      5 points (Takes four hits to destroy)
Raids             :    100 points per insect which increments 100 points per
                       additional insect to a maximum of 1,000 points per
                       insect.

You start the game with 2, 3, 4, or 5 Shooters.

Depending on the machine set up, you will earn a free Shooter at the following
scores:

Every 12,000 points
Every 15,000 points
Every 20,000 points

 ___________________________________________________
/ 6.4  Differences Between Millipede and Centipede /___________________________
---------------------------------------------------

Although gameplay is much the same between the two games, there are some major
differences.  Millipede can be though of as the challenging version of
Centipede.

-  Instead of the Centipede and three enemies, you now have to deal with the
   Millipede and seven enemies.

-  In addition to the Bee dropping mushrooms, the Dragonfly also drops them.
   The difference between the two enemies is that the Bee goes in a straight
   line from top to bottom while the Dragonfly zig-zags across the screen from
   top to bottom.

-  Beetles turn mushrooms into flowers which can only be destroyed with DDT
   bombs or by Spiders.

-  On some screens, some of the mushrooms will disappear while others grow in
   other random places.

-  The Shooter now shoots arrows instead of laser-type shots.

-  The screen advances down one level after each round is completed or for each
   Beetle that is hit.  This will reveal other things when a new top level is
   revealed.  Mosquitos cause the screen to advance up by one level.

-  Different events are based on how many segments the Millipede has (a segment
   is defined as not being the head).

-  DDT (a chemical that was banned in the 60's for pest control) bombs have been
   added to help you take out areas of bugs, flowers, and mushrooms.

-  A new bonus setting has been implemented.  It works depending on what the
   machine is set at for gaining bonus Shooters.  Once you cross that threshold
   multiple, you can start a new game from that score minus the original bonus
   score.  The score tops out at 300,000 points.  You have 30 seconds after
   your game ends to choose to do this.  It works like this:

   -  The maximum level a player can start at is one level lower then the last
      free Shooter they received.  For example, you receive a free Shooter
      every 20,000 points.  If you achieved a score of 50,000 points, then the
      last free shooter you received was at 40,000 points.  Going one level
      lower, you can either start with a bonus of 0 or 20,000 points.  It works
      the same for free Shooters awarded at 12,000 or 15,000 points.

   -  The player will also be allowed to start a new game at a bonus level.
      Again, depending on what the machine settings are for free Shooters will
      determine this bonus.  The bonus will be 0, 1, 2, or 3 times whatever the
      score required is for a free Shooter (i.e. 0, 12,000, 24,000, or 36,000
      points to name one).  You will have ten seconds to make a decision.

-  There are more score dependent settings for the game.  This means more
   enemies will do different things depending on the player's score.

-  Millipede cycles back and forth with head to body ratio instead of just
   having heads like Centipede does.


                               ****************       
******************************** U N I T  III *********************************
                               ****************       

+======================+
| 7.  PLAYING THE GAME |=======================================================
+======================+

When you start the game, you will be put in the middle at the bottom of the
screen.  You have an area five mushrooms high (about a fifth of the playing
area) to maneuver your shooter in.  The game will start when the Millipede
enters the screen.

-  Know your enemies:  This is the single most important aspect of this game.
   If you don't know how each of the enemies behave, you won't last long.  The
   enemies are:

   -  Millipede (Body and Head):  Goes back and forth across the screen.  Will
      drop to the next level when it encounters a mushroom, flower, DDT bomb,
      another insect, or the side of the game field.  It will go all the way to
      the bottom when it hits a poisoned mushroom.

   -  Spider:  These appear from the top left or right of the player area.
      They will either bounce across the player's area at 45 degree angles or
      bounce in at a 45 degree angle, bounce up and down a couple of times, go
      to the middle at a 45 degree angle, bounce up and down a couple of times,
      then finally go to the right side (at a 45 degree angle), bounce up and
      down, then exit the area.  They destroy flowers and mushrooms they pass
      over.

   -  Dragonfly:  These appear when the Millipede has less then ten body
      segments.  It goes in a zig-zag pattern from top to bottom leaving a
      trail of mushrooms in its wake.

   -  Bee:  These appear randomly.  They will usually appear when you have
      cleared out most of the mushrooms in the player area.

   -  Earwig:  These appear when the Millipede has less then eleven body
      segments.  They go across the screen and poison all the mushrooms in
      their path.

   -  Beetles:  These appear randomly after round one.  They enter from the
      side of the screen, then go to the bottom.  They travel at least halfway
      along the bottom before going up to their original entry level.  They
      then exit from the side.  All mushrooms in their path are converted to
      flowers.

   -  Mosquitos:  Randomly enter the screen and fly in a diagonal pattern from
      the upper left or upper right corners.  Hitting them causes the screen to
      go up one level.

   -  Inchworm:  These appear when a Millipede has less then eleven body
      segments.  Hitting them causes all enemies on the screen to slow down for
      about three seconds.

-  The Millipede will start out as a head and eleven body segments on round one.
   Round two will be a head with ten body segments and a head that enters from
   the opposite side.  Round three will be a head with nine body segments and
   two heads that enter from opposite sides.  This progression keeps going
   until round twelve where you have twelve heads.  It will then reverse this
   progression on round thirteen.  This cycle occurs every twelve rounds.

-  Shooting the Millipede can have two effects:

   -  If you shoot the head, then that part turns into a mushroom and the next
      segment becomes the new head and the Millipede will travel in the
      opposite direction (since it hit the new mushroom created).

   -  If you shoot the middle of the body, then the segment hit will become a
      mushroom.  The old Millipede will continue in the same direction.  The
      new Millipede will develop a head at the next segment after the break and
      head off in the opposite direction.

-  A good strategy to ensure you destroy the Millipede's in one stroke and to
   keep the Bees at bay is to create "mushroom corridors".  Mushroom corridors
   are basically corridors between two rows of mushrooms where you can funnel
   the Millipede down and destroy it when it is moving head-first at your
   shooter.

-  In reference to the above "mushroom corridors", keep in mind that on random
   screens, some mushrooms die while others take their place.  This means you
   may have to clean up the area since some of your corridors may have been
   affected by this change.

-  Watch out for the Spiders.  They enter at either the top or bottom corners.
   Your shooter may be in the way if this happens.  In addition to collisions,
   the Spiders wipe out all mushrooms that are in its path.  This can create
   problems when you are creating mushroom corridors.  It can also cause the
   Fleas to appear since you won't have many mushrooms in the player area.  In
   later rounds, multiple Spiders may appear in the player area.

-  At the beginning of a round, take a quick look to see how many segments the
   Millipede has.  This will determine the behavior of enemies on that or
   subsequent rounds.

-  On rounds where the Millipede has an odd number of segments (i.e. one,
   three, five, etc.), be prepared for the next round after clearing out the
   current round.  The next round will have a "raid" of bees, dragonflies,
   mosquitos, or a mixture of the three.  When you shoot one of these you get
   100 points.  For each insect hit thereafter, you add 100 points to the
   previous score.  This will reach a maximum of 1,000 points per insect.

-  On the round where the Millipede only has four segments, the screen will
   scroll down once every two seconds.  The only way to stop this from
   happening is to set off a DDT bomb or destroy the Millipede.  Of course this
   can work to your advantage when you need to get more DDT bombs or a
   different configuration of mushrooms in a hurry.

-  You can have a maximum of four DDT bombs on the screen at any given time.
   Wait until either the Millipede is right next to one or there is a heavy
   concentration of enemies before setting it off.

-  Beetles can cause a lot of problems if they aren't dealt with quickly.  Of
   course, if you have your mushroom corridor set up, they may be a blessing.
   Since they create relatively indestructible flowers in their path, this
   would help prevent you from shooting them accidently.  Of course, you still
   have to worry about the Spiders and DDT bombs.

-  Keep track of where the Earwigs move across the screen.  As soon as the
   Millipede hits a poisoned mushroom, it will immediately head for the bottom
   of the screen.  The only way to stop this headlong plunge is to shoot it in
   the head.  In the later rounds, it is not uncommon to have multiple Earwigs
   going across the screen.  They also provide the most points in the game.

-  Another way mushrooms get poisoned is if they grow next to a DDT bomb.
   Again, watch the screen for new growth.

-  If you get unlucky and let the Millipede into your area, you need to destroy
   it before it gets to the bottom of the player area.  Once it reaches the
   bottom, it will ascend again and remain in the player area.  If it does
   reach the bottom of the player area, another head will come out from the
   opposite side to start its back and forth march across the screen.  This
   will continue until you destroy all the Millipede parts in the player area
   or until your Shooter is destroyed.

-  If your Shooter gets destroyed, all partially shot up mushrooms are re-
   generated and you start at the beginning of the round you got killed on.

-  Depending on the difficulty the machine is set up at, the following events
   occur:

   -  At easy, the Spider moves slowly up to 10,000 points.  At hard, the
      Spider moves slowly up to 5,000 points.

   -  At easy, the Beetle moves slowly up to 400,000 points and four Beetles
      appear in each round after 500,000 points.  At hard, the Beetle moves
      slowly up to 300,000 points and four Beetles appear in each round after
      350,000 points.

   -  Regardless of setting, the Inchworm will move faster after the player
      reaches 80,000 points.

   -  All other enemies move at their same speeds
  
                               ****************
********************************  U N I T  IV *********************************
                               ****************

+================+
| 8.  CONCLUSION |=============================================================
+================+

I've never been one that is big on sequels.  Granted, I enjoyed the sequel to
Space Invaders and I was probably one of the few that actually did play
Asteroids Deluxe.  This, however, didn't mean I enjoyed all the sequels that
came out.  This was probably due to the fact that many of the popular games had
a lot of clones running around.  When I saw Millipede, I figured it was just
Centipede with a few things added in.  Of course, once I started playing the
game, I thought differently.  It was a challenge enough keeping track of a
couple of enemies in Centipede.  Millipede multiplied that challenge and had
the player constantly watching everything on the screen.  If anything, it
definitely developed one's peripheral vision.  Another nice feature was the
fact you didn't have to start at the beginning if you lost all your Shooters.
It was nice to continue a game close to where you left off from your last game.
The pace, though, was much faster and this in turn made the game a lot harder
then the original.  Again, one had to be good at using the track-ball if they
were going to survive for any length of time in this game.  Unfortunately, it
is very rare to find this machine anywhere.  However, through the miracle of
emulation, a whole new generation is realizing what we "old" folks enjoyed
those many years ago.  I hope this guide helps you in being able to get the
most amount of gameplay for this game.  If you do have other ideas or thoughts,
please e-mail me and share them.  Who knows, maybe I'll start a Q&A Chapter in
this guide if enough people ask the same questions.  Anyway, thank you again
for reading this guide.

To see other FAQ's I have written please go to:

           http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/32691.html

           ~~~  No trees were harmed in the making of this FAQ ~~~