Sidewinder Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Object
• Equipment
• Set Up
• Playing
• Winning
• Play Again
• Note on Dials
• Suggested Game Play

Object

You and your opponent each control a hungry—and sneaky—desert snake in a race around the desert to get to the food first. Try to capture more vulture "eggs" (steel balls) than your opponent. Use the unique hand dials to race your snake in any direction. Slither forward, backward, around sharp corners, and into tight places. Grab an egg with your magnetic "fangs," then wriggle it into your den. But watch out, because your opponent's snake can grab the egg from you! The first one to capture 7 eggs is the winner.

Equipment

• 3-dimensional game board
• 13 steel balls (the "eggs")
• 4 rubber "feet"

Set Up

1. Separate the 4 rubber feet, then tip the game board over. Push and twist each of the feet into the posts on the bottom of the game board.
2. Refer to the illustration on the game box cover to place the stickers on the sides of the game and the orange and red snake stickers onto the dials of the game.
3. Use the hand dials to move one snake so its magnetic head blocks the entrance to its den. Then use the other hand dials to move the other snake either to the left or right in its den. (See Figure 1.)
4. One at a time, push each of the 13 eggs into the hole at the center of the den of the snake you just moved. (See Figure 2.) Then tip the game board to remove any eggs from the snake's den.
5. Re-coil the snake from its den, then move it so its head also blocks the entrance to its den.
6. Tip the game board back and forth to scatter the eggs across the desert. Select a snake—and you're ready to begin the race!

Playing

Turn the hand dials back and forth to move your snake forward, backward, and to the left and right to find as many eggs as you can. Use your magnetic fangs to grab an egg, then wriggle it back into your den. But watch out! Your opponent can steal an egg from you while your snake is out in the desert. However, once an egg is in your den, your opponent's snake can't take it from you.

If the snakes become tangled at any time during game play, don't force the snakes apart. Instead, both players should cooperate in moving their hand dials to gradually separate the snakes.

Winning

The first player to capture 7 eggs is the winner.

Play Again

To play again, first move one snake's head so it blocks the entrance to its den. Then coil the other snake to its shortest length. Now tip the game board back and forth to remove each of the eggs from that snake's den. Repeat this same process to remove the eggs from the other snake's den, scatter the eggs, and you're ready to play again!

Note on Dials

If you should accidentally drop this game, the hand dials may pop out of place. To replace a dial, first make sure the tape ("snake's body") is pushed back into the circular track under the dial. Then hold the dial so the tab on the outer rim is above the notch at the end of the tape. (See Figure 3.) Push the dial down until it snaps into place.

Suggested Game Play

At all times, be sure to use both hand dials to maneuver the snake across the desert and to recoil the snake to its den. When recoiling the snake, use both hand dials to keep both halves of the snake's body together, as shown in the Correct illustration.

Do not attempt to recoil a snake if its body has "buckled," as shown in the Incorrect illustration. Instead, first use both hand dials to move both halves of the snake's body together. Then recoil the snake by using both hand dials.

If the snakes become tangled at any time during game play, don't force the snakes apart. Instead, both players should cooperate in moving their hand dials to gradually separate the snakes. Don't force the dials when this happens.