I contaced DotEmu about a way to alter the ship count, specifically to change it back to 3 ships like in the arcade.

"Hello,

Thank you for your feature suggestion. We care a lot about your feedback and will evaluate if it can be part of an update.

Kind regards,
DotEmu Support"

So, maybe we'll see an update...

Those other people need to learn the credo "Losing is Fun!"

(Because learning is fun. Never learned nothin' from winning I didn't already know!)

I'm glad you contacted them. It would be nice to have the option of adding more lives so mere mortals can actually beat the game.

I got another reply today...

"Hello,

Currently, such an option isn't available. But an update is on it's
way and should provide it"


So, that's cool.

Excellent news! Thank you for reaching out to them, and keeping us posted on the results!

Good news. Thanks OP.

I'd go for optional unlimited credits or at least a button action to add credits.

Is there any way to cheat in this game? Like unlimited lives cheat/trainer or something?

I wish. Some people like curb-stomping difficulty and limited lives, and for those, high difficulty and limited lives/continues should be an options, but some people like me just want to shoot **** up and not have to worry about lives or continues.