Paddles

Goal

Return the ball with your paddle without ever letting it past. Every missed ball gives the opponent a point. The first to reach the chosen number of points, with a two-point lead, wins the game.

Controls

• Mouse: the paddle follows the pointer; click to serve.
• Keyboard: W and S or the arrow keys to move the paddle (A and D, or left and right, when the table is vertical); Space to serve; P or Esc to pause.
• Two players on the keyboard: player 1 with W, S and Space; player 2 with the arrows and Enter.
• Touch screen: slide your finger, the paddle follows it; tap the screen to serve (slide as you release to give an angle). With two players, each controls their half of the screen and both can play at the same time.

Spin and angles

• Point of impact: in the centre of the paddle, the ball goes straight back; towards the edges, it goes off at an angle, more and more sharply.
• Edge shot: hit very close to the tip, the ball speeds up noticeably.
• Brushed ball: if your paddle is moving at the moment of impact, the ball picks up spin and curves in the direction of the movement. The spin fades with time and with every wall.
• Every return speeds the ball up a little, up to a top speed that depends on the level.

Serving

The serve changes every two points; in a tight finish, it alternates on every point. Move your paddle as you serve to aim the ball and give it spin. If you do nothing, the serve goes by itself after five seconds.

About the AI

The AI calculates the complete trajectory of the ball, wall bounces included, by simulating exactly the same physics as the game. Its paddle has a limited speed and acceleration, and it only reacts after a reaction time. At the lower levels, its estimate contains an error that shrinks as the ball approaches, and it ignores spin. From the Normal level, it often aims for the side opposite your paddle; at the Infernal level, it anticipates almost perfectly, reads the spin and targets the angles.