| Angle ball (Mastertronic 1987)
THE GAME This new game accurately simulates the traditional game of pool but is played on an unique table. After each frame is cleared the player is faced with a new arrangement of the balls. PLAYING INSTRUCTIONS You are first shown an options screen, here you can select from solo play, play against the computer or two player options. There is also an option to alter the control and a frame designer option. select from these using the numbers on the balls. You can play solo, in which case the aim is to amass as many points as possible, or against an opponent, which is played as the first to five frames. The object of the game is to clear the balls, as in pool you may clear the coloured balls in any order, but you must leave the black eight ball till last. At the start of each game you will be asked to chalk up, i.e. enter your name. Do this using the keyboard and then press enter. If you play solo you will be offered the option of starting at frame 1,4,8,12,16,or 20. SCREEN DESCRIPTION The screen shows the table, underneath this to the left there is the frame number and name. this is the number of the frame layout, not a count of the frames played, though in the solo option these may be the same thing. At the top right of the screen is player one's name, with his frame score and the number of missis, In the solo game the total score is printed above the frame score, in two player games the number of frames won is given in the big blue box beneath the frame score. Player two has a similar display at the bottom of the screen, but this is the other way up. At the far top right of the screen there is the spin indicator, with the strength indicator below. The name of the player actually in play is given along the right hand side of the table TAKING THS SHOT first position the cursor at the aiming point, the cue ball will travel through this point, provided it does not collide with any other ball first,in the direct line from its starting position. If you want to play off the cushions, you must position the cursor at the point on the cushion you want to make the first impact You do this either with the joystick if selected, or by using the keyboard. These keys are slso used to set spin, up for top spin, down for back spin etc. When you have made your choice press the fire button or selected key. You then select the spin, the diagrm on the right of the screen indicates the position at which you desire to hit the cue ball. Top spin causes the cue ball to run onafter if has hit the object ball. Back spin, hitting the ball low, makes the ball run back as its name suggests, left and right spin makes the ball veer off in those directions. These types of spin can be conmbined to get the ball to move in the required direction. If you want the ball to remain at the point of impact, hit the ball centrally,i.e. select no spin at all. The same button are used to tell the computer you have finished. Finally you select the speed of the shot using the diagram of a cue that appears in the bottom right of the screen. The further from the cue ball the harder the shot. When you feel the cue is in the right position, hit one of the standard buttons. If you realise that you have made a mistake with the posititon or spin, select no power on the shot , and the cursor will return to the cue ball, allowing you to retake the shot with no penalty. The computer will then take the shot . If you pot a ball or balls you will be congratulated and your score will increase. The first in a break scores ten, the next twenty etc., this carries over between frames, going back to ten for the first of the next break. In the subsequent frames scores increase by five points per frame, so in the second frame balls score 15 then 25 etc. and in the third 20 then 30. If you miss or commit a foul e.g. sinking the cue ball or sinking the 8 ball out of sequnce, your breaks ends. If you are playing solo the number of misses left will go down by one, when you run out of misses your game ends. When playing against an opponent, missing merely ends your break and allows your opponent to the table. The frame ends after both players have missed three times or one player has an unbeatable score-but be warned, committing a foul gives your opponents points. Frames follow on automatically. While the computer takes its shots, you will see it line up, and select spin etc.-just as if it were a human opponent. FRAME DESIGNER Included in the package is a frame designer, enabling you to tailor frames to your own requirements, you can make them as easy or as hard as you like. Play through the two player option a few times first, as these give you random screen, and will allow you to judge quite how hard you wish to make the frames. Editing the frames is simply a matter of selecting the frame you wish to alter, and then selecting the edit farme option. Y-the cursor will move through the balls in turn, starting with the white. Just use the normal controls to position the balls, pressing fire when you are happy, you cannot place one ball on top of another, but you can use the routine several times to make the exact change you want. You have the option of saving your altered frame, or discarding it and returning to the original. When you have finidhed you will be given the opportunity to save your frames to tape or disc to preseve them to furtue use. LOADING INSTRUCTIONS Type Load"" and press ENTER |