How to play Birthday Mania online
Birthday Mania is a one-player game for the Atari paddle controller, a dial that moves your object left and right. If the emulator does not switch to paddle mode by itself, press Alt + L.
- Turn the paddle: left and right arrow keys
- Paddle button: Space bar
- Start a new game: F12 (the consoleās Reset switch)
- Switch between paddle and joystick mode: Alt + L
- Save and load your progress: Ctrl + 0ā9 saves to a slot, Alt + 0ā9 loads it
What we know about the game
Collector databases have no manual or box for Birthday Mania, so its rules are not documented. Surviving screenshots show a large blue playing area with candles scattered across it, a small object at the bottom of the screen that shoots straight up, and a score counter underneath. From these pictures it looks like a simple shooting game with a birthday theme, but the details are best worked out by playing.
AtariAge gives the cartridge its highest rarity rating, āunbelievably rareā, which makes it one of the hardest 2600 games for collectors to find. Being able to play it in an emulator is the only way most people will ever see it.
