¢" P I N G "¢THE ULTIMATE GAME OF SKILL¢Shareware Version 1.3¢¢Based on an ancient mythical martial arts training device and featuring microcosmic virtuality by George Victor¢¢(C) Copyright 1993 George V. Czerniecki¢All Rights Reserved¢¢¢ T H E S C R O L L O F P I N G¢¢"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."¢William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I, Scene 5¢¢ There is a vital energy permeating every part of the universe. It has been called many names by many peoples: Japanese call it Ki, the Chinese...Chi, Hindus...Prana, Arabs...Baraka, Israelites...Manna, Egyptians...Ka, Romans...Numen, Greeks...Pneuma, Iroqouis...Orenda, etc. This vital energy is present in the human body, where it can be generated, condensed, circulated, and projected outwards. Circulation distributes it evenly, cleansing and balancing the body, promoting health and longevity. Projection, typically from the hands, can be used to heal, or to harm.¢¢ This energy can also be projected from a point just below the navel. A number of scrolls were recently discovered in the ruins of an ancient monastery belonging to a long extinct order of warrior priests. One of these scrolls describes a device, called the Ping, used to achieve mastery of space and time thru telekinetic energy projected from a center in the lower abdomen.¢¢ An ironwood box, open on the front side, was lined with tiles of ivory and jade. A round blue opal was placed inside the box along with a copper disc, and the opening was then covered with a sheet of clear quartz.¢¢ Energy was projected from the abdomen to heat the disc until it softened and could then be moved at will around the walls of the box. Touching the opal ball with the hot disc would make it jump away and bounce around the walls. The objective was to intercept the ball before it touched a wall, initially as often as possible, and ultimately every single time. This was made difficult by the fact that the ball flew faster each time it was touched by the disc.¢¢ The scroll goes on to describe the nature of events occuring in time as being composed of individual segments which move at such great speed that they only appear to be continuous. The function of Ping was to enable transcendance of this linear experience of time by honing attentiveness to such a keen edge that the space between the segments of time could be apprehended, and then penetrated. At this point, which contains all other points, time stands still, and everything that is, was or will be, is one.¢¢ Strange as all this may seem, it is not unlike many other examples of martial arts literature, ranging from the distant past to the present day. The range of exercises and training devices described, and the benefits claimed, is not only vast, but often unbelievable. Some of the best fighting systems in the world were developed by spiritual practitioners, to protect themselves during their quest for immortality. The practices used to refine the common, base state of human existence into its pure, radiant essence were adapted to various boxing, wrestling, and weapons techniques to produce fighting arts of exceptional speed, power and efficiency. Ironically, it is said that martial arts are meant to be studied, practiced and mastered, then abandoned and forgotten. The power behind the techniques eventually makes the techniques themselves superfluous.¢¢¢ P L A Y I N G P I N G¢¢ PING is an all machine language Atari 800/XL/XE 3D action game, designed for an analog controller, although a joystick can also be used. It works best with an Atari ST mouse.¢¢ Paddles (both at once) or a graphics tablet will give an idea of analog control, but they are not easy to use and their buttons won't work. The KoalaPad corresponds to the Ping coordinate system, but the Atari Touch Tablet has an inverted Y-axis, so back and forth motion will be in reverse.¢¢ There are three different control modes. One is for joysticks, giving the standard 8 directions of travel. The remaining two are analog modes, one for the ST mouse, and the other for paddles and tablets.¢¢ The ST mouse uses Port 2, all other devices use Port 1, and the program automatically senses which device is active. Controllers can be switched at any time and both ports can be occupied at the same time. (If your mouse doesn't respond at first, try jiggling its connector while moving it around.)¢¢ There are four readouts on the bottom of the screen, from left to right:¢¢ 1. Bounces since last hit.¢ 2. Total bounces.¢ 3. Total hits.¢ 4. Average bounces between hits.¢¢ This last one is your "Ping score". In the beginning, you may get Ping 40 or so, and with practice it will get lower. When you can maintain a zero score indefinitely, you will have mastered space and time.¢¢ The Gravity Control slider is on the bottom right of the screen. Gravity can be adjusted by holding the button down (left one on the mouse) and moving the stick (or mouse) left or right. Normal gravity is 0 and decreases from 1 to 5. The lower the gravity, the slower the ball moves, making it easier to hit.¢¢ There are three positioning cue options:¢¢ 1. no cues (default)¢ 2. wall lights¢ 3. floor shadow¢¢ Cycle through them by holding the button down in Gravity Level 0.¢¢ The joystick stops the disc when released, or a deceleration mode can be toggled by holding the button down and pulling the stick back briefly.¢¢¢ T H I S I S S H A R E W A R E¢¢If you like PING, please .....¢¢1. Send money, as much as you can, to:¢¢ George Victor¢ 1030 S. Courtland¢ Park Ridge, IL 60068¢ USA¢¢2. Pass it around, upload it to BBS's & information services.¢¢3. Help me develop 16-bit PING. I have some ideas about refining and expanding it, and am looking for PC, Mac, Amiga & ST developers. Write me at the above address, or leave mail on SCAT BBS, 708-231-7227.¢
