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Welcome to Project 64!

The goal of Project 64 is to preserve Commodore 64 related documents
in electronic text format that might otherwise cease to exist with the
rapid advancement of computer technology and declining interest in 8-
bit computers on the part of the general population. If you would like
to help by converting C64 related hardcopy documents to electronic
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Extensive efforts were made to preserve the contents of the original
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for these limitations, alterations, and possible omissions.

Document names are limited to the 8.3 file convention of DOS. The
first characters of the file name are an abbreviation of the original
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document. Finally, the document is given a .TXT extension.

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members of Project 64 will assume liability for damages either from
the direct or indirect use of this etext or from the distribution of
or modification to this etext.

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The Project 64 etext of the Sports-A-Roni manual.  Converted to etext
by Russell Reed <rreed@cei.net>.

SPORON10.TXT, November 1996, etext #97.

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SPORTS-A-RONI

IT'SA FUNNA!

  It'sa wild.  It'sa wacky.  It's Sports-A-Roni!
  Take eight of the silliest sports ever invented.  Put them in eight
of Italy's liveliest locations.  Then invite 18 different countries to
compete.  And what have you got?  Some downright, old-fashioned,
world-class fun!
  Start with a sack race in pot-holed Naples.  Then pop over to Pisa
to balance a precarious pile of pasta plates.  Next it's on to Rome,
where you'll hurl Casanova's boot -- with or without a bootful of
water.  Then try to pole vault the Arno river -- without ending up
with your head in the sand.
  Scale a pole in Verona that's coated with Italy's finest olive-oil
-- and topped with her bubbliest seltzer.  And if you're really
starting to climb the walls by now, Venice is the place to do it.  But
don't forget your hat!
  When you take part in a pillow fight on a wobbly gondola, someone's
going to end up in the canal.  Then last but not least, pogo through a
field of ancient ruins -- bursting balloons as you go.
  Play as many games as you like.  Against as many as six opponents.
Then view your final scores and placements on a special screen at the
end of each event.
  Sports-A-Roni.  It's enough to make you a little crazy.  Which is
exactly what makes it so much fun!


GETTING STARTED

  To load Sports-A-Roni, find the information for your system in this
section and follow the steps.

  || Note:  When playing Sports-A-Roni on all systems, use the Epyx
  || 500XJ joystick with tactile-response micro-switches for precise,
  || instant control.  The 500XJ is the only joystick that actually
  || fits your hand and puts the fire button right at your trigger
  || finger.


Atari ST

1. Set up your system as explained in the owner's manual.  If you're
   going to use a joystick, plug one into joystick port 1.  For two
   players, plug another joystick into joystick port 0.

2. Insert Sports-A-Roni Disk A into drive A and turn on your system.

3. Sports-A-Roni loads and the title screen appears.  Press the fire
   button to see the credits screen.

4. Insert Disk B as instructed and press the fire button.


Commodore 64/128

1. Set up your system as shown in the owner's manual.  If you're going
   to use a joystick, plug one into joystick port 2.  For two players,
   plug another joystick into joystick port 1.

2. Remove all disks from the disk drives and turn on the system.  For
   Commodore 128, hold down the C= key when you turn on the system to
   set it to C64 mode.

3. Insert the Sports-A-Roni disk into the drive, label side up.  Type
   LOAD"*",8,1 and press Return.  (Or, if you have an Epyx Fast Load
   cartridge, hold down the C= key and press Run/Stop.)

4. Sports-A-Roni loads and the title screen appears.  Press the fire
   button to see the credits screen.  Then press the fire button again.

5. Turn the disk over as instructed on screen and press the fire
   button.


IBM PC and Compatibles

1. Set up your system, following the instructions in your owner's
   manual, and connect your joystick.

2. Insert the DOS disk into drive A and turn on the system.

3. After DOS boots, remove the disk from drive A and insert the
   Sports-A-Roni disk.

4. If your system boots from a floppy drive, type SPORTS and press
   Enter.  If your system boots from a hard drive, type A: and press
   Enter.  Then type SPORTS and press Enter again.


Polly Plays a Record

  A screen appears showing a parrot, an old phonograph, and a box of
records.  Use the keyboard to type your name at the bottom of the
screen.  Then press Return.
  Next, choose your country.  To cycle through all 18 countries, push
the joystick handle forward or backward.  When the country of your
choice is shown, press the fire button.  Then wait for the parrot to
play you a song from your country.
  Continue entering names and choosing countries for every player.
When all the players have finished, press Return to view the game
selection screen.


Selecting Games

  You'll now see a screen with eight video monitors and a video camera
in the right hand corner.
  Each video monitor displays the name of a game and its number.  The
camera displays the number of the game currently selected.  To change
the number, move the joystick handle forward or backward.
  To select one game, push the joystick handle up or down to reveal a
number from 1 to 8.  When the number of the game you want is selected,
press the fire button.  The video monitor for that game will turn on.
  To play multiple games, continue selecting games until the video
monitors for all the games you want to play are turned on.
  To practice or begin the competition, push the joystick handle up or
down until the number 9 appears in the camera.  Then push the handle
right or left to see either Practice or Compete.  When the word you
want is showing in the camera, press the fire button to start.

  || Note:  No scores are kept in a practice session.

  In multi-player games, you can select your opponent.  Once a game
starts, push the joystick handle up or down to highlight your
opponent.  Then press the fire button.
  To continue the game after each event, press the fire button.

  || Note:  When instructed to flip the disk or insert a new disk, do
  || so and press the fire button to continue.


ENJOYING THE GAMES

Sack Race

  Bounce.  Bounce.  Bounce to the finish line.  And try not to fall.
But if you do, jump up again.  And watch out for those manholes.  Jump
over 'em.  Or go around 'em.

Action                 Joystick Moves

Begin the race.     Press fire button and wait for the balloon to pop.
                    Then move the joystick handle to the right.

Race forward.       Jiggle handle left and right.

Go around           Push handle up or down.
manholes.

Get up if you       Push handle up.
fall.

Jump.               Press fire button.

  || Note:  When two players are competing, player 1 is at the bottom
  || of the screen.

  The player who crosses the finish line with the best time wins.


Pile of Plates

  Whoa...  Watch out!  You've got a stack of plates.  As many as you
can carry.  And you have to tread gingerly towards the finish line.
Hold on to as many plates as you can.  And still try to go as fast as
you can.  You only have 100 seconds!

Action                 Joystick Moves

Select the number   Push handle up and down.
of plates.

Begin walking.      Press fire button and push handle up.

Walk faster.        Push handle up.

Walk slower.        Pull handle down.  (But be careful!  If you do it
                    too long, you'll start walking backwards.)

Move arms to        Push handle right or left.
balance plates.

Drop a plate.       Press fire button.

  Scoring is based on the number of plates you're carrying when you
cross the finish line.  You earn 3 points for each plate plus 1 point
for each unused second.


Boot Throwing

  How far can you fling the boot?  It all depends.  On whether it's
empty.  Or full of water.  And on whether you release it too soon.  Or
too late.  It's tougher than it looks.  And try not to drop the boot
on your head!

Action                 Joystick Moves

Select empty or     Push handle up or down to highlight selection.
full boot.          Then press fire button.

Begin.              Press fire button.

Swing the boot.     Push handle left and right.  (The speed indicator
                    in the right corner tells you how much force
                    you've built up.  Try to release the boot at full
                    speed.)

Release boot.       Press fire button.

  The farthest throw wins.


River Jump

  Pole vaulting is all in how you carry the pole.  The ideal angle is
perfectly straight.  But the pole is heavy and prone to drop.  So hold
it steady while you run.  Then let it drop at the river's edge.

Action                 Joystick Moves

Begin running.      Press fire button.

Control pole        Push the handle up and down.  (The best angle is
angle.              straight, but it takes practice.)

Plant pole in       Pull handle down.
water.

Release pole,       Press fire button.
vault across river.

  The player who jumps the farthest across the river wins.


Pole Climbing

  Climb up, up, up to the top -- where there's a special surprise for
you.  It's a bottle of Italy's finest seltzer!  But be careful sliding
down.  If you drop too fast, you'll break your precious prize.

Action                 Joystick Moves

Begin climbing.     Press fire button.

Climb pole.         Push handle up, press and hold fire button, and
                    pull handle down.  Release fire button.  Then
                    repeat.  (Your climbing speed depends on how fast
                    you work your joystick.)

Slow down your      Press fire button.
descent.

  || Note:  When two players are competing, player 1 is on the left.

  The player who gets to the top and down again with the best time
wins.


Run Up the Wall

  This one will drive you up a wall!  Literally.  Get a running start.
Then be sure and grab that hat as a prankster parrot drops it from the
sky.  Finally, climb the wall, sticking the hat there at the very top.
And remember: you can't climb the wall if you don't have the hat.

Action                 Joystick Moves

Begin running.      Push handle up.

Go faster.          Push handle up repeatedly.  (The speed signal in
                    the right corner tells you how much speed you've
                    built up.)

Slow down.          Push handle down.

Get in position     Keep your eye on the birdie.  (He'll stop three
to catch hat.       times before dropping hat.  You have to get right
                    under it.)

Catch hat.          Press fire button when hat is right above you.

Climb wall          Press fire button on your approach.  Then push
                    handle up.

Place hat on top    Press fire button when you're at highest point on
of wall.            wall.

Climb down.         Pull handle left, then down.

  The player who places the hat on the wall and safely jumps down with
the best time wins.


Pillow Fight

  Everyone loves a good pillow fight.  Especially when the loser ends
up in the water.  Learn how to work the joystick for the best
offensive -- and defensive -- moves.

Action                 Joystick Moves

Hit opponent on     Hold down fire button and push handle down.
your nearest side.

Hit opponent on     Hold down fire button and push handle up.
your farthest side.

Defend your         Push handle down.
nearest side.

Defend your         Push handle up.
farthest side.


For player on the right

Hit opponent        Hold down fire button and press handle left.
from above.

Dodge a hit from    Press handle left.
above.


For player on the left

Hit opponent        Hold down fire button and push handle right.
from above.

Dodge a hit from    Push handle right.
above.

  || Note:  When two players are competing, player 1 is on the left.

  You earn 5 points each time you hit your opponent with the pillow
and 50 points if you can send him swimming.


Pogo Stick

  What a pogo course!  Complete with stone fences, archeological
ruins, and billowy balloons.  Pogo through the course, bursting
balloons on your way.  You have ten minutes to stomp all 20 balloons.

Action                 Joystick Moves

Begin pogoing.      Push fire button.

Pogo forward.       Push handle up.

Pogo backward.      Push handle down.

Move left or right. Push handle left or right.

Get up if you fall. Press fire button.

  You earn 10 points for each balloon you pop and 1 point for each
unused second.  The player with the most points wins.


SCORING

  At the end of each event, you'll see your score.  At the end of the
game, you'll see a scoreboard listing all players, their countries,
the number of gold, silver, and bronze medals won, and the total point
score.  Each gold medal is worth 5 points, silver is worth 3 points,
and bronze is worth 1 point.


Epyx, Fast Load, and 500XJ are trademarks of Epyx, Inc.  Atari and ST
are trademarks of Atari Corporation.  Commodore 64 and Commodore 128
are trademarks of Commodore Electronics Limited.  IBM is a trademark
of International Business Machines Corporation.  Sports-A-Roni, Tower
Toppler, and U.S. Gold are trademarks of U.S. Gold Ltd., U.K.

Sports-A-Roni game program is licensed from U.S. Gold Ltd.  Copyright
1987, Gremlin Graphics, Ltd.  Sports-A-Roni manual written by Paula
Polley and Epyx, Inc.

Copyright 1988 Epyx, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Reproduction of all
or any portion of this manual is not allowed without the specific
written permission of Epyx, Inc.

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End of the Project 64 etext of the Sports-A-Roni manual.

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