INTRODUCTION A number of options are available to you before you begin to play Superstar Ping-Pong. Use the joystick to make changes in any of the nine option categories, which are discussed in detail below. Note that selection of the SIDE VIEW table perspective limits the number of options you can make. SIDE VIEW is recommended for advanced players only. THE SUPERSTAR PING-PONG OPTION SCREENS Push the joystick forward or pull it back to move the hand icon on the left side of each of the three option screens from one option category to another. When the hand is aligned horizontally with an option category you want to change, push the joystick left or right to highlight the option you want within that category. You need not press the fire button to select a desired option. At the bottom of each screen, you will see an option to see the NEXT MENU or LAST MENU. To move from menu to menu, pull back on the joystick to move the hand icon to the bottom of the screen, then move the joystick to the left or right to highlight your choice (NEXT MENU or LAST MENU). Press the fire button, and the new option screen will appear. FIRST OPTION SCREEN NUMBER OF PLAYERS: You can play a one-player game against the computer, a two-player game, or, if you select TOO TIRED, you can watch the computer play against itself. In a one-player game, the computer's skill will vary from match to match. NOTE: WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO VIEW A MATCH FROM THE SIDE PERSPECTIVE, A TWO-PLAYER GAME AUTOMATICALLY IS IN EFFECT, REGARDLESS OF YOUR SELECTION FOR NUMBER OF PLAYERS. PLAY PERSPECTIVE: You can elect to see the game from an END VIEW of the table or a SIDE VIEW of the table. However, if you choose SIDE VIEW, a two-player game with manual paddle control automatically is in effect, regardless of other selections you may have made for numbers of players or paddle control. SELECT SIDE VIEW ONLY WHEN YOU AND YOUR OPPONENT ARE ACCOMPLISHED PLAYERS READY FOR A NEW CHALLENGE. PADDLE CONTROL: When MANUAL MOVE is selected, you have to move the paddle to the ball with the joystick in order to make contact. If you choose AUTO MOVE, the computer will move the paddle to the ball for you. However, control of the paddle is returned to you when serving in AUTO MOVE. GAME SPEED: Select either NORMAL, BEGINNER or HYPERDRIVE. BEGINNER is the slowest speed; HYPERDRIVE the fastest speed (strictly for advanced players). SECOND OPTION SCREENS POWER ASSIGNMENTS: Power assignments give you the flexibility to "design" players so that they have individual strengths and weaknesses. For example, you might decide that it is more important for your player to have great endurance than a terrific backhand. To accomplish this, take a power point or two away from the BACKHAND category in your player's column and assign more of you AVAILABLE POWER POINTS to the ENDURANCE category. As you learn more about your own playing abilities, power assignments can become an effective part of your strategy. AVAILABLE POWER POINTS indicates the total number of points that you can split up among the following six categories that appear on the option screen: SMASHING, FOREHAND, BACKHAND, REACTION TIME, SPEED and ENDURANCE. Each player can change the number of AVAILABLE POWER POINTS to any number between 12 and 20 (inclusive). The greater the number of power points, the greter the player's overall strength. You can assign as few as one or as many as four points to each category, as long as the combined total of the six categories does not exceed the total number of power points available for the player. When you assign a value of four to a category, you give yourself maximum ability in that category; three gives you above average ability, two gives average ability, and one gives minimal ability. The total number of points already assigned is given for each player next to POWER POINTS USED, which appears below the six categories. To change the distribution of power points, first select the player you want to redesign by moving the hand icon up to the top of the screen, then move the joystick to the left or right to highlight PLAYER 1 or PLAYER 2 (COMPUTER if you are playing a one-player game). If you want to change the total number of power points available for the player you have selected, pull back on the joystick so that the hand icon is aligned with AVAILABLE POWER POINTS. Then move the joystick to the right to increase the total, or to the left to decrease the total. Use this same method to change the number of power points assigned to any of the six categories. When you are through, highlight NEXT MENU or LAST MENU and press the fire button. THIRD OPTION SCREEN PADDLE COLOR: The paddle colors of each player can be changed. To see the colors available, use the joystick to move the hand icon up to PLAYER 1 PADDLE COLOR or PLAYER 2 (or COMPUTER) PADDLE COLOR. Then move the joystick left or right. Each time you move the joystick left or right, the paddles shown on the screen will change color. The computer prevents you from choosing the same color for both players. ALTERNATE SIDES: If you select YES for ALTERNATE SIDES, you and your opponent will switch sides of the table after each game. Otherwise, everyone stays put. NUMBER OF GAMES NEEDED TO WIN: Matches can be set for one game, best of three games, best of five games, or best of seven games. START MATCH: When you are ready to play ping-pong after selecting your options, pull back on the joystick to move the hand icon to the bottom of the third option screen. Highlight START MATCH with the joystick and press the fire button to get underway. PLAYING THE GAME GENERAL RULES AND SCORING: Players automatically switch service every five points. The first player to score 21 points with at least a two-point lead over the opponent wins the game. If a score of 20-20 is reached, players will change service after every point, and the first player to establish a two-point lead wins the game. A scorecard for each player appears on either side of the table. The two-digit number gives the number of points scored by each player in the game in progress, and the single digit number gives the number of games won in the current playoff by each player. HOW TO PLAY: Use the joystick to move the paddle. Press the fire button to serve the ball. If you have selected AUTO MOVE, after the serve, the computer will mover the paddle toward the ball for you. In MANUAL MOVE, use the joystick to move the paddle toward the ball. When you are playing from the END VIEW table, push the joystick to the left to move the paddle to the left and push the joystick to the right to move the paddle to the right. On a SIDE VIEW table, pull the joystick back to move the paddle toward the bottom of the screen, and push the joystick forward to move the paddle toward the top of the screen. Press the fire button to seing your paddle. Both players in Superstar Ping-Pong are right-handed. The timing of your swing controls the direction in which the ball will be hit. The ball can be hit in 15 different directions by mastering your timing. Swinging the paddle a little early or a little late will increase the angle of your shot. You can use the joystick while you press the fire button to either smash or put backspin on the ball. When you are playing from the END VIEW table, you can smash the ball by pushing the joystick forward while you press the fire button to seing. To put backspin on the ball, pull the joystick back while you press the fire button to swing. You automatically put topspin on the ball just by pressing the fire button to swing in both the SIDE VIEW and END VIEW games. From the SIDE VIEW table, smash the ball by pushing the joystick to the left as you press the fire button to seing the paddle. You can put backspin on the ball by pushing the joystick to the right. A smash is tough to get over the net, and it wears down your endurance - so smash sparingly. You also fatigue when you chase the ball. As your endurance decreases, all aspects of your game decline. A good strategy is to work your opponet "all over the table" to wear down the player.