INTRODUCTION Hop on and hang ten as you crash around corners, swerve on sidewalks, and leap skateboarder's fantasy world where virtually every surface is skatabel. Flip and twist around the street fighters, Frisbee throwers, hard bodies and killer bees that jam city streets. Polish your skills and take your act to the skate parks where you'll vie for medals and cash in downhill, jump, ramp, and slalom competition. Shoot the tubes, "catch air" as you fly off ramps - master all of the moves, including the dangerous 720'. You'll need avery edge as you try to become champion of the skating world! FEATURES All the action and excitement of the arcade game. Super graphics and animation. Awesome freestyle and competitive skateboard action. Multiple skill levels. Special events - downhill, jump, ramp and slalom. Street traffic, killer bees, hard bodies, street fighters, and the dreaded Frisbee throwers to avoid. A chance to be Skateboard Champion of the World! The arcade's ultimate aerial experience comes home! GETTING STARTED What you need: Commodore 64 or 128 computer Disk drive Color monitor Joystick (optional) Loading Instructions: Note to C128 users: Play 720 Degrees in 64 mode. NOTE: If you use a fast load cartridge and experience problems loading the program, turn off the computer and disk drive, remove the disk from the disk drive, remove the fast load cartridge, and then follow the instructions to load the program. With no cartridge attached, the program should load normally. 1. Make sure the joystick is plugged into Port 1 of your computers. 2. Insert the 720 Degrees disk, label side up, into the disk drive and close the drive door. 3. Turn on the monitor, disk drive and computer. 4. Type LOAD"*",8,1 and press RETURN. 5. The game will begin loading. You will then be prompted to flip the disk over and press RETURN to continue loading. GAME PLAY As the jammin' skateboarder you know you are, you've got to test your skills in the toughest course any skateboarder has ever seen. You start off with a hundred bucks in your pocket, your trusty skateboard, and the awesome moves you've learned along the way. Find your way around the park while dodging kamikaze cars, looney thugs and killer bees. You've only got a short amount of time to work your way through each one of the four levels, or classes, of difficulty. Show off your hot moves, and rack up points to earn tickets to the parks. If you’re lucky, you might find some loose bills lying around. Scoop'em up. You know you'd like to get the dough to buy those cool duds and some of that hot equipment. There are four different parks to test your skill and concentration. In the Ramp, you've got the perform your best moves while riding a wave of concrete. The slalom is a downhill ride that takes you through an obstacle course of flags. In the jump, you've faced with a water-hazard-filled course that will push your reflexes to the limit. The downhill course is packed with enough twists and turns to leave your head spinning. If you do well in the parks, you'll earn cash and bonus points, as well as the chance at a Bronze, Silver or Gold medal. Make it through all of the parks, and you just might graduate to the next class. GAME OPTIONS After the game has loaded, a title screen will appear listing some of the options available to you. Press the corresponding key to change the game options on the screen. If you do not make a selection at this time, a demo will start. To exit the demo, press the joystick fire button or the spacebar. F1 - There are 4 classes to choose from, Class 1 is the easiest level. F3 - Select between joystick and keyboard control. F5 - Continue in the class you were last playing. F7 - Start in the class listed on the screen in the first option. During gameplay, press F1 to quit the game and return to the option screen. GETTING STARTED You start off the game in the Main Park. You have three lives, and your goal is to make it through all four of the special events (located in different corners of the Main Park) with enough points to "graduate" to the next class. You begin the game with three event tickets; rack up points to earn the fourth ticket for the last event. If you do well in the events you'll earn cash and bonus points, as well as the chance at a bronze, silver or gold medal. Use your cash to buy better equipment in the shops, located in the Main Park. Once you get to the next class, you’ll have to earn more points to get more event tickets and even better equipment. As you progress throught the classes, the events will become more and more difficult. GAME CONTROL You can use either a joystick or keyboard to control the skateboarder. Push the joystick in the direction you would like to skate. See instructions below for performing jumps, spins and specific moves for each of the events. Keyboard controls: I - Left P - Right Q - Up Z - Down Spacebar - Jump Press the corresponding keys to head in the direction you want to skate. To move diagonally, press two keys together, such as P and Q to move to the upper right. See instructions below for performing jumps, spins and specific moves for each of the events. THE GAME There are four events you must complete before you can proceed to the next class. You start off the game with three events tickets. Rack up points to earn the fourth ticket to get you into the last event. You only have a limited amount of time to make it through each event. If you get a good time, you'll earn bonus points and cash prizes, as well as a gold, silver or bronze medal. Once you get to the next class, you'll have to earn more points to get more event tickets. As you progress through the classes, the events become more and more difficult. At the bottom of the screen you'll see a time bar showing you how much time you have left to get to the next event. To the left of the time bar is the scoreboard. You'll also see the event tickets you have left; the number of points you need to earn in order to get next ticket is also displayed. To the right of the time bar is a picture of a skateboarder; this shows you what equipment you have. After you have purchased a piece of equipment, that item will flash on the skateboarder and then change color to show that you now have that item. THE MAIN PARK You start off the game in the Main Park. You've got to get to the events before time runs out. Keep your eye on the time bar. If your're almost out of time, a message, "skate or die", will appear warning you to get your rear in gear and into one of the events fast. If you run out of time, a swarm of bees will buzz by and syop you in your tracks. If you're stopped by the bees, a message will appear prompting you to press the fire button, or spacebar, to continue, and you'll take up frm where you left off, If you don't press the fire button, you'll return to the Option Screen. You've got three lives to get your through the game. As you skate around the Main Park, watch out for cars ripping through the streets, rough-looking thugs, frisbee-throwing freaks and hazards such as pools of water, high curbs and ramp. Score points by jumping over water and off of ramps, and by performing spins and jumps. If you don't land on all four wheels, you'll end up landing on all two cheeks. Time goes fast, so don't blow it! If you're lucky, you might find some dollar bills lying around on the ground. Pick them up by skating over them. Save up your dough and buy new equipment, like hot skateboards, helmets, pads and shoes. These will help you skate faster, move better and really tear through parks. Lost? Skate around and find one of the many map stations located throughout the Main Park. The stations are marked by a letter "M" on the sidewalk. Skate over the M and the map will pop up. Your current position and the locations of the events and stores will be displayed. Press the fire button or spacebar to return to the game. Skate over one of the map stations to pause during the game. JUMPS AND SPINS Wanna know how to do those rad spins? After you have pressed the fire button to jump, move the joystick left, right, up or down; it doesn't matter, as long as it's in a different direction than you're heading. If you're using the keyboard, press the spacebar to jump and then press a different direction key than the one you were pressing before you started your jump. When you're about ready to land, make sure that you're heading in the same direction as when you started your jump; if you're not, then you'll crash. The more you spin, the more points you earn. If you spin oce, that's a 180, and you'll get 100 points, If you spin twice, you'll get 200 points, and if you spin three times, you'll get 300 points. If you think you're good enough, go for the ultimate - a 720 - that's worth 500 points! If you spin over water hazards, grass patches, and ramps, you'll earn extra points. And if you spin after jumping from a curb, you'll gain extra height to do those mega-point moves. THE EVENTS In the Downhill, Slalom and Jump events, rip through the course as fast as you can to get the most number of points. Don't fall down, or you'll lose valuable seconds that could cost you bonus points and cash! In the Ramp event, show off as many of your moves as you can; the clock is ticking away, so skate your heart out. At the bottom of the screen is an indicator that shows whether you are eligible for a bronze, silver or gold medal, or no medal at all. Each event requires one ticket to play. Since you start off with only three, you'll have to score mega-points to earn more tickets. The number of points you must earn to get the next ticket is displayed at the bottom of the screen, below the time bar. Once you complete an event, your score will be displayed, followed by a Medal Table displaying the events you have completed. Press the fire button or spacebar to return to the Main Park. As you make it through the classes, the events will become more difficult to complete. But then, you're an ace skateboarder and can handlle it, right? DOWNHILL This event is filled with hairpin curves, in a course built on stilts over water. You have to jump from one section of the course to the next, and if you miss, you'll end up being the first underwater skateboarder. Control your skateboard as explained above. As you approach the end of one section of the course, keep your eyes open for the arrows that'll tell you which way the course is going to turn. As you go sailing off the end of one ramp, turn in the direction of the next ramp to land. If you're lucky, and a little crazy, you can do spin or two to get extra points. Keep your eyest on the clock, though, cause you only have a little time to get all the way down the course. Medals are awarded for getting through the course with time left on the clock. RAMP Here's a wild concrete tidal wave ready to be tamed? You only have a couple of seconds to get as many points as you can by showing off your awesome moves. As you skate up the side of the ramp, prepare to soar through the air and twist around for a perfect spin, or try that cool handstand. This is the place to really show what you've got. Medals are awarded for the most points earned in the alloted time. Spins... When you reach the top of the ramp, push the joystick towards the center of the ramp, so that if you are on the right side of the ramp, you'll press the joystick left, and if you're on the left side of the ramp, you'll press the joystick right. If you are using the keyboard, press the I or P keys (I if you are on the right side of the ramp, and P if you are on the left). Make sure you're facing towards the center of the ramp when you land, or you'll get a quick facelift. Handstand... When you reach the top of the ramp, press and hold down the joystick fire button and move the joystick towards the center of the ramp. As above, if your are on the giht side of the ramp, move the joystick to the left. Hold the fire button down and then release after a second or two. If you are using the keyboard, hold down the spacebar and then press the I or P keys (I if you are on the right side of the ramp, and P if you are on the left); let go of the spacebar after a second or two. Don't hold that handstand too long, or you'll slide down the side of the ramp. Slide... When you reach the top of the ramp, press and hld down the joystick fire button and move the joystick away from the center of the ramp. You'll hanf on the edge of the ramp, teetering on the bottom of your board. If you move the joystick up or down, you can slide back and forth on the ramp edge. Hold the fire button down and then release after a second or two. If you are using the keyboard, hold down the spacebar and then press the I or P keys (I if you are on the left side of the ramp, and P if you are on the right); let go of the spacebar after a second or two. Skating Handstand... If you're really daring, try a handstand on your board. When you're off the sides of the ramp, press the fire button and move the joystick in the direction you are heading, and you'll pop up into a handstand. If you're going to the right, press the joystick right; and if you're going to the left, press the joystick left. To get down from the handstand, move the joystick in the opposite direction you're heading; do it fast, before you start heading up the sides of the ramp, or you'll end up skating on your head. If you are using the keyboard, press the spacebar and then press the I or P keys (I if you are going left, P if you are going right); then press the I or P key to get down from the handstand. JUMP You've got to have quick reflexes and a great sense of timing to get through this tough course. As you speed down the ramp, time ypur jumps so that you can make it over the water hazards and land on the ramp. When you reach the end of one section of the ramp, or a water hazard, press the fire button or spacebar to jump to the next section of the ramp. If you make a successful landing, you'll score points. Rack up more points by doing spins and jumps on your way down the slope. Sounds easy? Try jumping and landing on the bonus markers (various shapes placed on the ramps around the water hazards) for extra points. Medals are awarded for getting the most points during the course. SLALOM Fly down a flag-filled course built over water, weaving your way through a series of gates. Steer your skateboard as detailed earlier. You must go through all the gates to win the event. Each set of flags you go through will add time to the clock, the more time you have left, the better the score and the better your chances are at getting the gold. When you successfully make it through a gate, the flags will turn yellow, more time is added on the clock than if they turn blue. Keep your eyes peeled for curves and other hazards. Don't ho flying all over the place, or you'll end up skating with the fish; this course winds its way down a ramp built over water. THE STORES So you did good in the events, and now you've got a pocket full of dough. What are you gonna do with it? Spend it, ofcourse! You want to get the hot equipment that'll make you jump higher, go faster and do those moves you've only dreamed about. There are four shops located in the Main Park: Skateboard Shop, Helmet Shop, Shoe Shop and Pad Shop. You can upgradeit your equipment in each class. When you skate up to a shop you will be outfitted automatically with that shop's equipment, and the price will be deducted from your stash of case. You can only purchase one of each item per class, so watch how you spend your money. The new equipment will show up on the picture of the skateboarder on the bottom right of the screen. Each time you buy something, like a skateboard for instance, it'll flash and then change colors, letting you know what you've bought so far. SKATEBOARD SHOP... Buy one of those hot skateboarders that'll make you jump higher and score more points. Some of those new ones will rally let you soar through the air. HELMET SHOP... Now when you crash or fall, you'll be well protected. It won't take you as long to recover from those bumps and bruises. SHOE SHOP... Get some really cool high-tops; you know the ones that'll let you burn rubber. With shoes like those, nothing will stand in your way of getting the best times to rack up more points. PAD SHOP... Hey, you can never be too careful! With these pads on your knees and elbows, you won't look like you wre hit by a truck after a wipe-out. Besides, now you can skid into just about anything and still come out alive. THE STATUS PANEL A Status Panel down of the screen shows the points earned, time bar, cash, event tickets, and equipment. TIME BAR The time bar decreases gradually as you skate; when the time bar disappears completely, the message "Skate or Die" will appear on the screen. After this, you'll only have a few seconds to get to an event before a swarm of bees makes a "beeline" for you...and stops you in your tracks. POINTS Earn bonus points in the four special events, and by performing jumps and spins in the Main Park. You'll need all the points you can get to earn the fourth event ticket, and to qualify for the next class. CASH You begin the game with $100; earn more cash in the events. You can also find dollar bills on the streets in the Main Park. Use your money to buy better equipment in shops located around the Main Park. EVENT TICKETS You have three event tickets at the beginning of the game; earn extra event tickets by scoring points (the number of points needed to earn the next ticket will be displayed at the bottom of the event screen). EQUIPMENT You may purchase four types of equipment in shops around the Main Park: boards, helmets, shoes, and pads. Although you can only purchase one of each item per class, you can upgrade your equipment when you move up to the next class.