The Sport of Space Hockey
Basics
What started as a mining equipment malfunction on the moon has turned into mankind’s favorite spectator sport in the mid 22nd Century. Riders on rocket-powered hoverbikes chase a glowing, chrome-plated puck around a large platform. The object of the game is to capture the puck in front of your bike and launch it into your opponents goal, which looks like a swirling vortex of energy. Those without the puck can shoot lasers at the puck and at their opponents to dislodge it.
The Bikes
While there are several models of hoverbikes available to professional riders, the Specter (pictured here) is what most new riders cut their teeth on. A rocket engine and a magnetic handbrake give a Space Hockey hoverbike extremely dynamic maneuverability. They’re also equipped with a Gravity Pulse feature, which allows a rider to capture (or influence) a loose puck from up to 12 meters away. All hoverbikes also include dual customizable laser cannons for those sad times when your opponent has the puck.
Formats
Space Hockey is traditionally played by two teams of two riders, typically referred to as “Doubles”. “Singles” is also a common format, though less popular and less prestigious than Doubles. Some tournaments employ a free-for-all format where three or four riders all compete against each other, though this format is generally reserved for charity events and off-season exhibition games. But if you like chaos, “Four Players” is for you!
Faceoffs
The start of each game and the restart after each goal consists of a Faceoff. The puck is dropped onto the platform from a few meters above it. When it hits, it rockets randomly either left or right hard enough to bounce off the side wall. The teams chase the puck to gain control of it and try to score. Or…they shoot each other first, then try to gain control of the puck.
Puck Possession
When your bike gets close enough to a loose puck, the puck becomes magnetically bonded to your bike until you launch it or it’s shot away from you by an opponent (or careless teammate!) The puck glows your teams color so all riders know who’s captured it. When carrying the puck your bike travels slower than usual, so get those shots off quickly!
Gameplay & Scoring
A typical Space Hockey game lasts 3 minutes, though some competitions favor shorter or longer games. Goals are scored when you shoot the puck into the very center of your opponents’ goal. Most goals are worth 10 points, though if you drive the puck directly into the goal or knock it in with your lasers you only get 3.
A game can be won two different ways: 1.) scoring 50 points, or 2.) leading when the clock runs out.