            Superstar Ping-Pong
            ------------------- 
            Copyright/Publisher: Mindscape, Release Year: 1986
            Genre: Table Tennis, Number Of Players: 1 or 2
                  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. 


