GAME DESCRIPTION: Commodore's INTERNATIONAL SOCCER is one of the most realistic sports games available for the C64 Games System. This is a game that demands strategy and skill to master. This game challenges the best, but it's still fun for the less skilled player. Countless game details make this an outstanding version of soccer, with strikingly accurate and exciting play quality. SPECIAL FUNCTIONS: If you don't like the colour combination blue against red you can change both teams to another colour by moving the games controller to the left to change the colour of the player displayed on the left hand side of the screen, and to the right for the player on the right. The player on the left represents the team controlled by the games controller in port No.2. The player on the right is the team directed by the port No.1 joystick. Your team can be any of the following colours: blue, red, yellow, orange, white or grey. You can play International Soccer with two players or against the computer. When playing the computer, you can choose the skill level of your opponent from 1 to 9 by moving the games controller up and down. Keep moving the games controller until you reach the skill level you want. A level 9 team plays letter-perfect soccer, passing crisply, shooting accurately, and playing tough defence. A level 1 opponent is eminently beatable, an adequate opponent for a young child. After selecting colours and opponent, press the fire button on the games controller to start the game. The whistle blows to signal the beginning of play, and the running clock starts timing the first half. There are two halves, lasting 200 units of time each. The teams switch goals after the first half. MOVEMENT: You directly control one player with your games controller at any given time. This player changes to a lighter shade of the team colour so that he is easily recognised. In other words, a player on the blue team turns light blue, a player on the red team changes to pink, etc. The player controlled by the games controller moves in the direction the controller is pushed. Press the fire button to kick the ball. A player always kicks the ball in the direction he is facing. The player that is under direct control is based on ball possession. The offensive player with the ball or nearest the ball changes colour to be moved around by your games controller. The other players on the team run patterns in their appropriate zones, related to the movement of the ball. The defensive player that changes colour is the one closest to the ball. The other defensive players play their zone or pursue the ball. Only a portion of the field may be seen at one time. The area of the field shown depends on the location of the ball. If a controlled player goes off the screen, that player will re-appear at the opposite end of the screen. Players move at different speeds: a player dribbling the ball moves slower than a player without the ball. This leads to an increased emphasis on a downfield passing attack. Another way to move the ball downfield is by getting a player to 'head' the ball. A player heading the ball moves at the same speed as a player running without the ball. It is possible to become sophisticated in heading ability so that passing the ball and scoring goals becomes even more realistic and challenging. The goaltender is controlled by pressing the fire button only: he automatically moves in the direction the ball is kicked. Press the fire button to get the goalkeeper to attempt a save. If the ball goes out of play, a free kick, goal kick, or corner kick is awarded. Press the fire button to get the ball to be thrown or kicked back into play by the proper player. If the fire button is not pressed, the ball is brought back into play automatically after a short interval. The team displayed on the left side of the introductory screen (from control port No.2) has possession of the ball to start the first half. The other team begins the second half with possession. If the score is tied after two halves, the contest ends in a tie. If there is a winning team, they come back onto the field for the presentation of a gold cup. STRATEGY HINTS: Many strategies can be developed for use against another player or the games system. You'll find what often works against the games system fails against a human opponent, and vice versa. There are many elements of the game that can be developed, formulated, and refined. This is a game that can be played at several levels; it can be an easy, straightforward contest or a territorial struggle in which the winner is determined by superior strategy, skill, and even an occasional lucky break. It is a fun and challenging game that mirrors the excitement of real life soccer. INTERNATIONAL SOCCER isn't just a home video game; it's a sporting event!