VTech Electronic Talking Battleship Command (originally released around 1988–1990) is a vintage strategy game praised for its interactive sound effects and automated gameplay that prevents cheating by locking in ship coordinates. While it remains a nostalgic favorite for collectors, its older manual-programming mechanics can be tricky for modern players without the original guide. Overview of Gameplay & Features Interactive Command
: The game features a "talking command" system that guides players through turns and announces hits, misses, and sunken ships. Multiple Game Modes
: It typically includes several play styles, ranging from a classic mode with single shots to advanced versions where players can fire multiple times until they miss.
: Unlike the basic board game, this electronic version allows for a solo mission against the computer with varying skill levels. Special Radar Planes
: Unique to this VTech edition are reconnaissance planes that act as radars to detect enemy ships, though some users find them visually cool but confusing to use. Influenster Programming Instructions Summary Vtech Electronic Talking Battleship Command Manual
If you are missing the physical manual, here is the basic setup based on archived instructions Set to Load
: Move the selector switch to the "Load" position and turn the power on; you should hear a continuous sonar beep. Clear Memory
: Press the "Clear Memory" button to ensure no previous game data remains. Enter Coordinates
: Input the letter and number for each of your 17 ship locations. For ships in a row, you only need to enter the letter once followed by the numbers (e.g., A1, 2, 3). If Red light flashes on the enemy grid: “Direct hit
: Once all coordinates are entered, the game will play a specific "whooping" sound. Switch to "Go" mode to begin. Review Summary
Here’s a simulated user manual for the VTech Electronic Talking Battleship Command — a fictional advanced version of the classic Battleship game with voice prompts, digital targeting, and sound effects.
Let’s walk through a game as prescribed by the Vtech Electronic Talking Battleship Command Manual.
Step 1: Setup
Press Set Up. The computer says, “Position Carrier. (5 spaces).” Look at your left grid (Your Fleet). Press the starting coordinate (e.g., A1) and then the ending coordinate (e.g., A5). The five red lights will illuminate in a row. Press Set Up again to confirm. Repeat for Battleship (4), Cruiser (3), Submarine (3), Destroyer (2). Press START .
Step 2: Start
Press Start/Reset. The computer says, “Enemy fleet approaching. You fire first.”
Step 3: Fire
Press B then 4. The computer pauses.
Step 4: Computer’s Turn The computer will beep, move a cursor over your grid, and fire. You will see a red (hit) or green (miss) light on your left grid. Important: The manual notes that the computer cheats slightly on Easy mode to keep the game moving.
Step 5: Sinking When you score the final hit on a ship, the computer announces the sinking. The corresponding ship light on your console will go out.
Step 6: Winning The first player to extinguish all five opponent ship lights wins. The fanfare plays, and the unit automatically resets for another game after 10 seconds.
The VTech Electronic Talking Battleship Command is a strategy game for two players. The goal is to guess the location of your opponent's fleet and "sink" their ships before they sink yours. The electronic unit acts as the moderator, tracking hits, misses, and announcing game status with voice prompts and sound effects.