Boing!

Boing! © 1983 First Star Software, Incorporated.

You bounce the BUBBLE around a playfield of 36 STEPS (6 rows of 6). The BUBBLE must land on each step and turn it "on", sometimes in a particular order. The BUBBLE EATER or the PIN will pop the BUBBLE if either comes in contact with it. The BUBBLE EATER chases the BUBBLE, while the PIN descends the steps from the top row down. The PIN will pop the BUBBLE or the BUBBLE EATER if they are in its path.

The object of the game is to jump the BUBBLE around and turn each step on. When you first begin the game a short tune will play before you can start. Int the first 3 levels, jumping on a step will turn it on and leave it on; but in the last 3 levels, each time you jump on a stepit will reverse: if it's "off", it turns "on" - if it's "on" it turns "off! On some levels you must turn on a particular row or rows of steps before you can turn on steps in any other row (see LEVELS).

The BUBBLE EATER always start out in the lower right corner, waits a couple of seconds and the tries to catch you (the BUBBLE). If he lands on you or you lands on him, you lose a BUBBLE. The PIN starts out at the top, randomly choosing one of the 6 columns. Avoid the PIN as it is a fatal to the BUBBLE! You can temporarily zap the BUBBLE EATER by luring him under the oncoming PIN. The BUBBLE EATER disintegrates and starts glowing. After a few seconds the BUBBLE EATER reappears and continues the chase. Make good use of this time! The glowing time (when you are safe) decreases as the waves advance (see LEVELS). You can turn on steps while the BUBBLE EATER is out of commission. When the BUBBLE EATER is stunned and glowing, the BUBBLE can jump on him without popping.

You start the game with 5 BUBBLES. 3 of which are displayed at the bottom of the screen. Every time you are popped you lose a BUBBLE. For every 10,000 points you score, you are awarded a bonus BUBBLE. If you are popped while on the lower right hand step, you will automatically be moved one step to the left to avoid being popped repeatedly.

Upon losing the last BUBBLE, the game will end, thus activating the demo mode. Your score will remain at the top of the screen.

There are 6 game levels, numbered 1 through 6. In each level of plaqy there are 5 waves. With each wave, the BUBBLE EATER becomes faster and more intelligent than in the last wave. The glowing time of the BUBBLE EATER, when he is popped, will decrease with each higher wave. If you complete all 5 waves you will advance to the next level. The new level number will be displayed briefly at the bottom of the screen and a short tune will be played. The player has the option to select levels on through 3 with the Game Select Switch. Levels 4 through 6 must be earned by winning the previous level.

Level 1: If the BUBBLE jumps on any step is off, the step turns on. Landing on a step more than once has no effect.

Level 2: Jumping on a step turns it on. However you must turn on all the steps of the indicated row before going to the next row. The indicated row is clearly marked by the white edges. You start with the bottom row and turn on all 6 steps across. Once the bottom row is complete, you must then turn on the 6 steps of the next row up. This continues all the way up to the top row.

Level 3: Jumping on a step turns it on. However you must turn on the steps of all three even rows before you can turn on the steps of the 3 odd rows. The rows to turn on are clearly indicated with white.

Level 4: Jumping on a step always reverses its current condition. For example: land on a turned off step, it turns on. Land on a turned on step, it turns off.

Level 5: Jumping on a step always reverses its current condition. However, like level 2, you must turn on the six steps of the indicated row before going up to the next row.

Level 6: Jumping on a step always reverses its current condition. However, like level 3, you must turn on the steps of all the 3 even rows, indicated with white, before you can turn on the steps of the 3 odd rows.