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
Thescreen 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