Hey gamers! As Hard Drive continues to expand its non-satirical guides section, we will be posting guides to bona fide classics in addition to today’s hits. Up next? None other than the godfather of gaming, Pong!
Originally released in 1972, many detractors claim that Pong lacks the nuances that today’s most competitive games offer. We at Hard Drive respectfully disagree, however, as we’ve found it to contain a depth that isn’t evident at first, but reveals itself over time. With that in mind, here are 10 tips and tricks that will help all of you left paddle mains out there!
#10 — Move it up
One of the main components of the Pong gameplay loop is how that crazy ball bounces all over the damn place. We find that moving the paddle up quite often results in a successful volley, assuming the paddle makes direct contact with the ball, of course.
#9 — Just sit there
Not sure which direction to move the paddle? No problem! You can just sit there until it becomes clear what you should do. This will help to make sure you don’t find yourself stranded at the top of the arena when the ball makes a break for the southernmost tip of the goal, or vice versa!
#8 — Go up then down
If you keep moving the paddle up, it’s inevitable that your opponent will try to fire one off towards the bottom of the screen before too long. That’s why we are recommending this slightly advanced tactic, that sees the player display a false signal of upward movement only to abruptly stop and change direction entirely, breaking for the bottom of the screen. It’s a little tricky, but your opponent will never see it coming!
#7 — Move it down
If the above move proves too tricky at this point, that’s okay. Just eliminate the juke at the beginning, and move the paddle down regular style if you need to. Voila! Very solid tactic.
#6 — Move it down, then up
This is a lot like ‘Go up, then down,’ but in reverse. It’s actually not as complicated as it sounds! Make a little move towards the bottom of the screen, and then fly like hell up to the top.
Also, once you’ve mastered some of these tactics, a further layer you can add to the strategy of the game is to start saying things like “Better go to the bottom of the screen,” as you begin this maneuver. For the most advanced players only.
#5 — Move it up, then down
Wait, did I say this one already?
#4 — Move it a little bit
If you feel your opponent is starting to anticipate your coast-to-coast movements, feel free to deploy this curveball to keep them guessing. Instead of faking one way and going another, or even going very far in a particular direction, keep your paddle towards the center of the screen, and only stray from that area when absolutely needed (like to stop the ball from scoring, etc.)
#3 — Let them score
Okay, now we’re getting VERY advanced, but if you want to see how easy it can be to score against an opponent with their guard down, we recommend letting them take the first couple of points. You want to make sure that it looks like you’re attempting to play and just coming up a bit short. Once they’re lulled into a state of overconfidence, the wind will be at your back. Which is good, because you’re playing from a few goals behind.
#2 — Stop letting them score
The most important part of the aforementioned strategy is to know when to stop. Be aware of the score of the game and how many goals are necessary to win. I think it’s usually 11, right?
#1 — Line the paddle up with the ball
This is the absolute best strategy we’ve come up with, the one that proves effective against players of all skill levels and play styles. You want to line that sucker up with the ball when it’s coming toward you. Think of it like a metaphorical barrier between your opponent and them getting a point, if it helps you at all.
Well there you have it. Good luck to all you left paddle mains out there!
(Note: These tips and tricks are for left paddle mains, and therefore aren’t endorsed by Hard Drive if you are using the right paddle. Stay tuned to this space for a right paddle main guide, coming soon!)
