Introduction

Welcome to A Question Of Sport, the home computer version. Introduced by David Coleman, with team captains Ian Botham and Bill Beaumont, you at last have the chance to compete in the B.B.C.'s most popular TV Sports Quiz of 1988 on the same kind of one-to-one basis as your favourite sporting stars do on the show itself. In selected versions, you can play as Bill's or Ian's team with the options of a one- or two-player game. You can pit your wits against your family, your friends or, if you're on your own, against your computer - and you don't have to wait for the show to appear on TV. Now you can play whenever you're in the mood!

When loading the game, you will be asked whether you want to play a one- or two-player game. Move the cursor over your choice and "Select". On some versions of the game, you will be able to define the keys you want to use (see "Playing Instructions") as well. Choose your specialist subject by selecting the correct icon from the icons at the sides of the screen. Then select your other two team members so that they can best compliment your team captain's specialist subject. The computer selects its team members. If you are playing a two-player game, your opponent will be asked to select his or her team and specialist subject. At some stage (depending on which machine you have) you will be asked to choose which block of questions you want to answer.

The Rounds

The game has six exciting rounds that will test your knowledge of the sporting world to the limit.

1. Pictureboard

The first is a Pictureboard round. This is an individual round. Each member of each team will be asked one question. The first question will be asked of a member of team one, the second of a member of team two. Thereafter questions will alternate. Each individual will be asked to choose one of the twelve numbered squares displayed: it will highlight to reveal the Olympic type sports symbol for the sport the question will be about. Wait while David asks the question, then select your answer from the four displayed, using the cursor and "Select". If you get it right, you'll get two points; if you answer incorrectly, or "Time Out" is called, the opposing team will be given a chance to identify the correct answer for one bonus point. Each question will be asked only once.

2. Mystery Personality

Round two is called Mystery Personality. You'll be given three clues to the personality's identity. After each clue, you will have a chance to select your answer from a choice of four: you will get three points of you answer correctly on clue #1, two points on clue #2 and one point on clue #3 - but beware! - if you answer incorrectly, your turn is over. So, if you can't answer clue #1 or #2, do nothing - wait for the next clue. But if you answer incorrectly or "Time Out" is called on the last clue, you will be given no points and the next round will commence.

3. Home or Away

Home or Away comes next: This is an individual round. Each member of each team will be asked to select one question, either "Home or Away" and the Home question is on your specialist subject; Away is on a different subject. There's one point for each correctly answered Home question and two for a correct Away answer. The first question will be asked of a member of team one, the second question will be asked of a member of team two. Thereafter the questions will alternate. If you answer incorrectly or "Time Out" is called, the opposing team will be given a chance to identify the correct answer for one bonus point from the four answers shown.

4. What Happened Next

What Happened Next speaks for itself. This is a team round. Each team will be asked one question. You will be given an outline of an event. Then David will describe four possibilities of "What Happened Next". Finally, you will be asked to identify from the four options shown, the correct answer. Beware - David will describe "What Happened Next" only once!

5. Quick Fire Round

Round five is the Quick Fire Round. You will get 60 seconds to answer nine questions. After each question, you will have a chance to select your answer from a choice of four. If you answer correctly, you will score two points. If you answer incorrectly, you will score nothing, and incur a two-second time penalty. You will get only one chance to answer each question. Incorrectly answered questions and/or any unanswered questions remaining if David calls "Time Out" are not passed to the opposing team. If you are playing any other versions of the game, the sequence is different. After each question, you'll have a chance to select your answer from a choice of four. Again you'll get 60 seconds to answer nine questions. However, whether you are playing the one- or two-player game, the first player to select an answer will stop the clock. David will tell the team who answered first whether their answer will stop the clock. David will tell the team who answered first whether their answer was correct and if it is, they will get two points. If not the opposing team will get one point. Only the first answer selected for each question will be considered.

6. Pictureboard

The last round is another Pictureboard round: all you have to do is select from the remaining squares and answer the questions they conceal - your last chance to prove your mettle!

Question Blocks

To ensure that this version of A Question Of Sport provides many hours of entertainment and education, it has been designed to minimise the repetition of questions and answers. Selected versions of A Question Of Sport will therefore prompt you after you have player four games to load a new question block (to do this see the playing instructions). Other versions may start to repeat some questions after four games. When this happens, you are recommended to select another question block which contains fresh questions.

A Question Of Sport is an enthralling game for young and old alike and the only limit is your own knowledge. Good luck!

Loading Instructions

After the game has loaded, the following message will appear on the screen: "Please Enter Game Code". You should then select a set of questions by pressing any key between A and M to load a question file from side one of the cassette, or between N and Y to load a question file from side two of the cassette. The question file you have selected will load in after the specialist subjects and team members have been chosen. To minimise repetition of questions, it is recommended that you start from question file A and work through to question file Y, remembering of course, that question files N to Y are on side two of the cassette. On completing a game, the next question file will load in.

Game Controls