Powerplay: The Game Of The Gods

About the Game

POWERPLAY – The Game of the Gods is a competitive trivia-strategy game set within a mythological narrative. The gods of Mount Olympus must prove their wisdom and power through a contest devised by Zeus, combining knowledge-based challenges with tactical movement on a grid-based battlefield. Each player controls a team of warriors, beginning with weaker units and evolving to stronger ones by correctly answering questions. The ultimate objective is to eliminate all opposing warriors and become the “Wisest and Most Powerful God of All.”

Game Premise and Warrior Types

The conflict takes place in a courtyard of the Temple of Apollo, where each player commands four warriors at the start: three Hercules units (weakest) and one Cyclops (moderate). By gaining wisdom points through correct answers, players can mutate their warriors to stronger forms: Minotaur (strong) and Satyr (strongest). Stronger warriors face more difficult questions but have higher resilience inside challenges. Eliminated pieces cannot return, making strategic upgrades essential.

Loading the Program and Question Files

Instructions are provided for loading the game on several 1980s home computer platforms: Amstrad, Commodore 64, Atari, and MSX. After loading the main program, the player must load a question file from the cassette tape. The cassette includes multiple question sets, totaling more than 2,000 questions. The L key initiates the loading of a question file by name.

Player Options

Before gameplay begins, players choose:

Number of players: 2–4

Difficulty level: Determines the time allowed per question (10 seconds at level 1 down to 2.5 seconds at level 4).

Input devices: Keyboard or joystick, with multiple players allowed to share devices.

Selections are confirmed using the keyboard and finalized with the ESC/ESCAPE key.

Core Gameplay Overview

The courtyard consists of a grid divided into colored squares, each associated with a trivia category:

Blue – General Knowledge

Red – Sports & Leisure

Green – Science & Technology

Yellow – History & Geography

Players take turns selecting one of their warriors. When a piece is selected, its strength and wisdom score are displayed. The player receives a question determined by the piece’s current square color and difficulty level (based on warrior type). The four difficulty levels correspond directly to the four warrior strengths.

Trivia Questions and Answering

Questions appear on a scroll with four directional answers (left, right, up, down). Players answer via keyboard cursor keys or joystick directions.

Correct answers earn wisdom points.

Speed matters—the quicker the response, the more points gained.

Incorrect answers or timeouts pass the turn to the next player.

Once a warrior accumulates 25 wisdom points, it becomes eligible for mutation to a stronger class. Mutating increases survivability in challenges but results in harder questions.

Movement and Teleport Squares

After answering correctly, the player may move the piece to any free adjacent square. Movement uses directional keys or joystick directions. Forbidden moves include leaving the board or moving onto a square occupied by one’s own warrior.

Four cyan “teleport” squares exist on the board; stepping onto one transports the warrior to a randomly selected teleport square (except ones occupied). Teleports can be used strategically for fast repositioning or escaping nearby threats, though randomness makes them unreliable.

Challenges (Combat System)

A challenge occurs when a player moves onto a square occupied by an opponent. Both players must answer the same question as fast as possible, using their assigned input devices. Difficulty is determined by the stronger of the two warriors involved.

Challenge rules:

First correct answer wins.

First incorrect answer loses.

Failure by both players results in the challenger losing.

Loser’s warrior is mutated down one level; Hercules units are eliminated instead.

If the defender is eliminated, the challenger moves into the square.

This system rewards quick thinking and tactical positioning while penalizing reckless attacks.

Sound and Controls

Sound can be toggled anytime using S (enable) or O (disable). A complete list of keyboard and joystick controls is provided for selecting pieces, moving warriors, mutating, and answering.

Custom Question Compiler

The manual includes instructions for a built-in "Question Compiler" tool allowing players to create or modify their own question files.

Key features:

Locations for inputting topic, difficulty level, title, question text, and four possible answers.

One correct answer indicated by letters A–D.

Editor supports navigation with cursor keys and basic text editing.

At least one question per topic and difficulty level is required before saving.

Files save back to cassette via CTRL-X.

Powerplay: The Game Of The Gods Trailer