Controls
| Joystick | Action |
|---|---|
| UP | Up |
| DOWN | Down |
| LEFT | Left |
| RIGHT | Right |
| ◯ ⬤ | Fire |
| ⬤ ◯ | Fire |
| ◸ ◥ | Fire |
| ◤ ◹ | Fire |
Speedball
Speedball is a futuristic sport game of strategy, agility and strength. Two teams compete to score goals in a steel walled arena, collecting and strategically using tokens to bribe officials, award extra stamina or reduce your opponent's skill. Choose to play knockouts, a two-player game or take part in a one-player league. Your team always wears green.
Scenario
Welcome to Speedball - the fastest growing sport of the 21 st century! Developed from the primitive games of soccer, basketball, and hockey in the late 1990’s, Speedball rapidly developed from a pastime in the prisons of Siberia to its current status as the world’s most popular game of strategy, agility, and strength.
Wearing armoured uniforms (covered with razor-sharp spikes!), two 5-man teams compete to score goals by manoeuvring a 5 pound solid steel ball on a sleek, alloyed metal surface. The Object: To score as many points as possible (while hurting the opponent) using a combination of speed, muscle, and strategic use of power tokens.
Playing the Game
One Player Knockout
Human vs. Computer
Your team wears green and will always face the goal at the top of the playing field. A knockout game consists of 10 rounds, the object being to reach the final round and win the championship.
The opposing teams become increasingly difficult as the rounds progress. Each round is based on a best of three matches. Round points are determined as follows:
Win = 2 points Draw = 1 point Loss = 0 points
To qualify for the next round, your team must score 3 or more points. For example, you can win the first match (2 points), lose the second (0 points) and draw in the third (1 point) to qualify. If you gain 3 points in the first and second matches you do not play the third, but automatically qualify for the next round. You will be kept informed of your progress and requirements before the start of each match.
Two Player Game
Human vs. Human-Player 1 controls the green team facing up-court, Player 2 controls the red team facing down-court. You will be asked to set the duration of the league from 10 to 100 weeks. Your team plays 1 game each week, so a 10 week season has ten games. Before each match you will be informed of your current status. You accumulate 100 points for a win, 20 points for a draw, and 5 points for each goal scored. The winner is the team with the most points at the end of the season.
One Player League
Human vs. Computer-A league game is played in a league system with scores of 100 points for a win, 20 points for a draw and 5 points for each goal scored. There are 11 teams in the league, including yours. After selecting One Player League you are prompted to choose between WHC (Western Hemispheric Conference) and EHC (Eastern Hemispheric Conference). After selecting a league season from 10 to 100 weeks, you play each week (one game per week) of the league as in the knockout game. The opposing teams are drawn randomly, so you will meet teams of different abilities throughout the season.
At the end of each week, the computer analyzes the results of the matches played by the other teams and compiles the current league standings. Your team is the name shown flashing in the league standings table.
Each week, 5 matches are played: ten teams play and one team rests. Your team rests in week 11 of league play.
At the end of the season, the top two teams go into a semi-final, and the other top 6 teams play through quarter-finals. The winners of the semi-finals go into a conference final. The winner of each conference final is eligible to play in the championship match.
Team Selection
Three team franchises are available for your selection, each with different characteristics.
| Team | Details |
|---|---|
| Vema | Known for its stamina. This team has great staying power |
| Lacena | A lot of head bashers on this squad. Their trademark is the scars they leave on the opposition |
| Draco | Defensive specialists. Widely known for their tackling and stealing skills |
Team Attributes
Before each match, your team captain will be displayed along with a table of team attributes. The most important of these attributes are power, skill and stamina. Improve these attributes to increase your chances of defeating the toughest opponents.
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Power | The more powerful your team, the more stamina you drain from opponents when tackling |
| Skill | The higher the skill level, the more successful your team will be in tackling. |
| Stamina | As stamina depletes, your players get slower and cannot throw the ball as far, or with as much power. Your team’s stamina is replenished to its maximum level at the start of each game. The small meters at the the bottom left and right of the game screen depict the current level of the highlighted player’s stamina |
The Arena
Speedball takes place in a steel-walled, steel-floored arena, 160 feet long by 90 feet wide. The surrounding walls are 30 feet high. There is a goal mouth (4 feet high) centred at each end of the arena.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Warp Tunnels | At the midpoint of each side wall is a warp tunnel (5 feet high). A pass into the warp tunnel sends the ball shooting out the opposite side at the same speed and angle it entered (see Passing). Use the warp tunnels to pass the ball to teammates on the other side of the arena. |
| Ball Launcher | The ball launcher, located in the center of the playing area, begins each play by rising out of the playing floor, rotating and firing the ball in a random direction. Similar to a face-off in hockey, players struggle for possession of the ball after it is released. |
| Bounce Domes | Located at various locations on the playing area are bounce domes, magnetically charged barriers which rise above the floor. Bounce domes emit electrical energy which repels the ball, but permits players to run over them with no effect. Bounce domes appear in different formations for each match. |
| Time Meter | A time meter is displayed at the bottom center of the game screen. Each game lasts approximately 3 minutes. The time meter stops whenever the ball is not in play. |
| Stamina Meters | At the bottom of the screen are stamina meters which display the current stamina level of the highlighted players. The stamina level of player 1 is shown on the left. The stamina level of the highlighted computer player (player 2 in a two player game) is shown on the right. |
Player Control
The player under your control is highlighted. Use the joystick (or relevant keys) to move your player around the arena. Run over the ball to take possession. The player in possession of the ball is highlighted by arrows.
Offense
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Passing | To throw the ball press the FIRE button. A very short press will throw the ball at waist height. To lob the ball high over oncoming opponents, hold the button longer |
| Jump Catch | If your player is near the ball as it passes by, you may press the fire button to make him jump in the air for an attempted catch. However, when you jump, you are in your most vulnerable position. and can be easily tackled by an opponent |
| Scoring | The team with the most goals at the sound of the buzzer is the winner. Unlike its predecessors (hockey, basketball, soccer), a draw is a draw; there are no sudden deaths or overtimes in Speedball (unless, of course, you bribe the official!) |
Defense
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Sliding | If you press the fire button while your player is moving, he will slide. You may use this tactic to tackle an opponent or to move quickly for an interception. You cannot slide when you are in possession of the ball |
| Tackling | To tackle an opponent, press the fire button (or key) while moving in the direction you wish to tackle. If you are in contact with the opponent, the tackle will knock him down and you can take possession of the ball. If you are at a distance, you will slide toward the opponent. A tackle may or may not be successful; much relies on your team’s skill level. If you succeed in tackling, the opponent will lose some stamina; the amount depends on your strength level. Also, the losing player will be sent reeling and will be unable to do anything for a few moments. |
Playing Tips
A tackle attempt on a player who is in the air will always be successful, regardless of the team’s skill level. Sometimes a successful tackle results in you taking control of the ball. You can tackle a player at any time, because there are no fouls called in this game!
Practice the timing of your short passes. It is very easy to throw the ball too high to enter the warp tunnels and goal mouths.
If you tackle the opposing goalie, he will not be able to save the ball for a few seconds, allowing you a free shot at the goal!
Goalie
The goalie comes under your control when he is visible. Toggle between the goalie and your nearest highlighted player to form a defensive strategy against the attacking opponents.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Jump and Punch | With the joystick in the centred" position, press the FIRE button to make the goalie jump up and punch the ball. As soon as the goalie touches the ball, he will automatically throw it out toward the centre of the playing area (either straight or diagonally, depending on his movement when he takes control of the ball). |
| Diving | If the goalie is moving sideways when the FIRE button is pressed, he will dive in the corresponding direction. Only dive as a last resort. It takes time for the goalie to recover after a dive, leaving the goal wide open for a score. |
Power Tokens
Power tokens are rotating coins that appear at various locations during gameplay. The tokens you collect can be used between matches to improve your chances of winning. Options you can choose include building up your team’s abilities, lowering your opponent’s abilities, and bribing officials. There are no limits to the number of tokens you can collect. However, you can only select each option once per match.
Example: If a round goes three matches, you could increase your skill three times, once before each match.
| Options | Tokens | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Bribe Official | 2 | Buys 1 minute of game time for the previous game (this can be used once per game) |
| Extra Stamina | 3 | Increases your team’s stamina by 3 points (maximum stamina rating = 60) |
| Bribe Timer | 3 | Increases the length of time a temporary token lasts (8 stage countdowns become 10 stage countdowns) |
| Bribe Trainer | 4 | Reduces the intelligence of computer opponent |
| Extra Skill | 4 | Increases your tackling ability by 10 points (maximum skill rating = 255) |
| Reduce Stamina | 4 | Reduce opponent’s stamina |
| Extra Power | 6 | Increases your strength by 100 points (maximum power rating =300) |
| Reduce Skill | 6 | Reduce opponent’s tackling ability |
| Bribe Ref | 6 | Buys a one goal advantage for the next game (or the previous game if you also buy extra time) |
| Reduce power | 7 | Reduce your opponent’s strength |
The changes to the attributes will be shown on the table below your team captain (which is displayed before each match).
Note: The damage to the opponent’s attributes in a two player game are permanent, but in a one player game they affect the opposition for the current round only.
Note: The computer player can pick up tokens, but cannot use them to his advantage.
Power Tiles
Power tiles are rotating squares that appear at various locations during gameplay. Run over the tiles to pick them up. The tiles you pick up go into effect immediately and have a temporary effect on the opposition. The effects differ based on the letter displayed on the token.
| Tile | Effect |
|---|---|
| D | Decrease your opponent’s stamina |
| E | Bolt of energy that tackles any opponent it hits for an a-stage countdown |
| F | Freeze the opposing team (except goalie) for an a-stage countdown |
| G | Get the ball if not already in possession of it |
| J | Reverse opponent’s joystick control for an a-stage countdown (two player game only) |
| M | An 8-way electron burst for an 8-stage countdown |
| P | Protect your team, (i.e., can’t be tackled) for an 8-stage countdown |
| R | Reduce the opposing team’s speed for an 8-stage countdown |
| S | Increase your team’s stamina |
| W | Turns the ball into a weapon. When it is thrown, it will tackle an opposing player for an 8-stage countdown |
Note: The computer player can pick up tiles, but cannot use them to his advantage.
End of Game
The game is over in Knockout competition when you either win the final match of the series or fail to qualify for the next round of play. The game is over in league play when you win the league championship or fail to qualify for the next round of playoffs.
League Standings
| Abbreviation | Description | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| (GF) | Goals For | Total points your team has scored in league play |
| (GA) | Goals Against | Total points scored against your team in league play |
| (MF) | Matches For | Total matches your team has won in league play |
| (MA) | Matches Against | Total matches your team has lost in league play |
| (MD) | Matches Drawn | Total ties your team has had in league play |
| (PL) | Games Played | Total games your team has played |
| (L) | Current Level | The status of your team |
Up arrow = Your team has moved up in the standings. Down arrow = Your team has moved down in the standings. Right arrow = Your team has maintained its position in the standings.
Credits
PROGRAMMER: Pantheon
ORIGINAL MUSICIAN: David Whittaker
ORIGINAL DESIGN: The Bitmap Brothers
ORIGINAL GRAPHICS: Mark Coleman