Each game is 15 minutes long and is played on a standard 100-yard football field. There are no kickoffs, and each side is given five players. The team on the offensive side of the ball has a
quarterback, a
flanker, and three
offensive linemen (a
center and two
guards); the user controls the one with the ball. The team on defense has two
defensive linemen, two
cornerbacks, and one
linebacker, which the user controls. On offense, the user is given these choices for plays: pass left, pass right, run or kick. The game does not recognize a handoff (the usual method of a running play) and has no
running back, although the quarterback is allowed to scramble. After the play is selected, the user presses the joystick button to snap the ball and start play. Once the quarterback lets go of the ball on a passing play, user control immediately moves to the receiver. To pass or kick the ball, the user presses the joystick button, and to navigate the field, the user moves the joystick. In kicking, the game does not differentiate a
punt from a
field goal kick. Also, there are no kick returns — the place where the ball lands on a punt is where the opponent starts to play, unless it
enters the end zone or counts as a field goal, in which case play starts on the 20-yard line. On defense, there are more choices: full-out
blitz, left cornerback cover, right cornerback cover, and
prevent (both cornerbacks deep).
Interceptions are incorporated into the game, but play is called dead when one occurs, and possession is turned over to the interceptor. Seven points are scored for a
touchdown, three for a successful field goal, and two for a
safety. After each score, the opposing team gains possession at their own 20-yard line. The scoreboard shows a maximum score of 99 per team, but hitting that limit does not stop the game. The Novice and Expert switches affect the speed of the players on each side of the ball, as well as receivers' ability to catch a pass if the player is human. == Development ==