How to Play Computerized Battleship

Electronic Talking Battleship, 1989

• 1

  Turn on the game, and select the version that you want to play. There are four modes of play. The first is the standard mode in which each player gets one shot per turn. The second game allows each player to continue shooting until they miss. In the third setting, each player is allowed one shot for each remaining ship in their fleet that hasn't been sunk. The fourth mode is reserved for two-player games only and allows the players to create and enforce their own firing rules without computer interference. In the fourth mode, the game still will announce whose ships were hit or sunk but will not dictate whose turn it is.

• 2

  Select a one- or two-player game by pressing the "1" or "2 and a half" buttons. If one-player mode is selected, the computer will ask you to set the skill level. Press button one for the beginner level, button two for an intermediate challenge and button three for an expert setting.

• 3

  Choose the placement of your ships. Override the instant programming feature by pressing enter. The prompt will ask for the location of each boat one at a time. Enter the coordinates for one end of the boat and the direction that the rest of the boat is oriented. Repeat for the remaining ships.

• 4

  Begin game play. Player one fires first by selecting the coordinates and pressing enter. Sound effects will indicate whether the missile hit (explosion sound) or missed (whistle sound). If the target was hit, the computer will announce what ship was hit. Players alternate turns until one player's entire fleet has been sunk.

Electronic Battleship: Advanced Mission, 2006

• 5

  Turn on the game, and select a one- or two-player game by pressing the "1" or "2 and a half" buttons.

• 6

  Choose a game. The first game is the standard play and is nicknamed "Territorial Waters Mission." The other games are the "Salvo Mission" (2 and a half) and the "Target Plus One Mission" (3). The Salvo Mission allows one shot for each ship that is still afloat in your fleet. The Target Plus One Mission allows you to continue firing until you miss.

• 7

  Select weapons. Number "1" selects basic weapons, which imitates the original game. Number "2 and a half" selects Advanced Weapons, which complicates the game with special weapons, attack squadrons and other features. Press enter.

• 8

  Enter the location of player one's ships. Press "1" for manual position input. Press enter. The computer will name a ship, and you'll enter the coordinates of one end of the ship. Press enter. Enter the coordinates of the opposite end of the ship. Press enter. If two-player mode is selected, the second player will need to enter their ships' locations also.