1st March 1987
10th Frame
Roger and Bruce Carver are already famous for their golf simulation on the C64, which is starting to become the standard of sport simulations on the computers. This game has been based on the characteristic values of Leaderboard. The way you bowl the ball is very similar to the way you hit the ball in Leaderboard.
The man involved in 10th Frame also looks similar to the golfer. The animation for the run-up to bowl the ball is of the highest quality. The movement of the ball moving down the bowling alley can be a bit jerky, but this does not spoil the enjoyment of the game. The skittles may look a bit small but are adequate for the game. To help you decide on where to bowl the ball, there is a view from above, above the bowling alley. This can help you get some of the almost impossible shots.
To bowl the ball you have to position the man from where the run-up starts then on the bowling line you want to take. After all this has been done, you have to decide on the speed and hook of the ball in the same way you do in Leaderboard.
Now I hear you asking, "How many players can use 10th Frame at any one time?" Well, if you select the Open Bowling option, then you can have up to eight players involved. After you have chosen you get the chance to select the skill levels, kids, Amateur and Professional. Then you are given the choice of one to five games.
If you chose the League bowling option you have to enter the names of two different teams, with up to four players in each team. This section also allows for any skill level and the choice of up to three games.
Each man wears a different colour so you can tell whose go it is without looking at the names. At the end of a round, a scoreboard is displayed in Leaderboard fashion so you can see who is leading the competition.
If you fancy having a sneak practice game to improve your skill then the practice option will come in handy. At the end of each game you are given the option to dump the scoreboard to a printer, so that you can keep a record of any high scores you get.
This game has to be the best thing to come out of America since Leaderboard was released. If you have got the right computer then rush out and get a copy of it quick, but do not pester your local software shop too much for it.
Screenshots
