Powerplay

Aka:	The game of the gods
Console:	Sinclair ZX Spectrum
TV Standard:	Region Not Set
Developer(s):	Arcana Software Limited
Publisher(s):	MCM Software
Release Date:	1988-01-04
Players:	4
Co-op:	Yes
ESRB:	Not Rated
Type:	Party, Quiz

POWERPLAY: THE GAME OF THE GODS

SPECTRUM LOADING INSTRUCTIONS
Powerplay is recorded on the A side of the cassette. Owners of 48K
machines type LOAD"" (ENTER). 128K owners select the LOADER option
from the power-up menu.
The question sets are recorded on the B side of the cassette so
follow the on screen prompts when the main game has loaded.
Recorded after the main game is Andy Severn's amazing 128K only
CD Demo. Load by selecting the LOADER option.

POWERPLAY, THE GAME
Each player starts the game with 4 warriors, and is tested on their
knowledge of the universe, the better a player responds the more
powerful his warriors become. The four grades of warrior are
HERCULES: the weakest, CYCLOPS: possesses the strength of many men,
MINOTAUR: a very powerful warrior, SATYR: the most evil and
powerful. These warriors will fight bravely for their masters until
only one player remains.

GETTING STARTED
Firstly you must select the desired control methods for Players 1-4.

The object of the game is to eliminate you opponents' pieces from
the arena.
The current player may cycle through his pieces by pressing up or
down. Having chosen a piece the player must press fire.
The player is then given a question. The squares in the arena are
divided into four colours corresponding to the following subject
areas:

(empty square) general knowledge
(lined square) sport and leisure
(cross-lined square) science and technology
(full square) history and geography

The question will appear at the base of the screen along with four
possible answers, the player may select an answer using the up,
down, left and right controls.
If the answer is correct, 'wisdom points' will be awarded to that
piece. The slower you answer the less points will be gained. If the
player answers incorrectly, or runs out of time, no points are
awarded ans play passes to the next player.
When a question has been correctly answered the player may move the
selected piece onto any neighbouring square using the following key
combinations:

Left: rotate anticlockwise
Right: rotate clockwise
Fire: jump

A piece may not be moved off the board or onto a square occupied by
a piece belonging to the same player. Moving onto a square occupied
by an opponent's piece will invoke a challenge.
Falling into a hole will cause you to disappear and then reappear on
any unoccupied hole.

MUTATION
If during the course of the game a piece accumulates a score of 25
wisdom points or more the option to mutate to a higher strength
level will be given. If mutation is desired, press FIRE.

CHALLENGES
To invoke a challenge, a player must try to move his warrior onto a
square already occupied by an opposing player. The challenge
sequence consists of two players competing against each other to
answer a question on a randomly selected subject.
When the question is presented each player must answer as quickly as
possible. The player answering first wins the challenge if the
correct answer is given. If neither player answers within the time
limit the challenger will lose the challenge.
The warrior belonging to the losing player will be mutated down one
level. If the losing player's piece is at the lowest strength level,
it will be eliminated from the game.

POWERPLAY CREDITS
Original design, code and graphics: The Arcana Software Design Team.
Spectrum Code & Loading Sequence: ANDY SEVERN
Sprites and Backdrops: COLIN SWINBOURNE

PLAYERS PRESENT
THE 'CD' DEMO (128K ONLY)
Andy Severn's CD demo bit in the middle.
1 BRAT ATTACK (TAMARA DUB MIX)
2 SHANGHAI KARATE (CHINA TOUR)
3 SHANGHAI KARATE (CELEBRATION OF A NATION)
4 SWORD SLAYER (SPARTACUS THEME)
5 JOE BLADE II (MUSCLE MIX)
6 JOE BLADE II (MAIN THEME)
7 DO OR DIE (JB2 SUB-GAME 1 MIX)
8 BRAIN ACHE (JB2 SUB-GAME 2 MIX)

Music by HOUSE MASTER MIKE BROWN
Performed by AY
Engineered by ANDY SEVERN
Art Direction & Graphic Design by JABBA
Original Concept and Production SIMON 'FAX' DANIELS
LICENSED FROM ARCANA SOFTWARE DESIGN
PRODUCED FOR PLAYERS SOFTWARE
BY RICHARD PAUL JONES
(C) 1988 PLAYERS

PLAYERS - Mercury House, Calleva Park, Aldermaston, Berks. RG7 4QW.