Pétanque

Pétanque is the French game of boules, a cousin of bocce ball, played here as singles with three boules each. Throw the little jack, then take turns throwing your steel boules: whoever is not closest throws next. When all boules are thrown, every boule nearer the jack than the rival's best scores a point. First to 7 points wins; court champions play to 9.

Every throw is two moves: drag to choose where the boule lands, then tap the bar when the needle is in the green. Pick your throw:

• Roll: low and long, great on smooth ground.
• Half-lob: lands halfway, then rolls.
• Lob: high and steep, stops almost dead.
• Shoot: knocks a rival boule away.

Physics does the rest: boules dig in, roll, bounce off each other and push the jack. Knock a rival off the jack and take its place for a CARREAU in slow motion. Leave a boule kissing the jack for a BIBERON. Too close to call? The camera zooms in and a tape measure settles it.

Career takes you through 4 courts with 6 rivals each, each with a throwing style of their own, from Petit Louis the roller to the court champions Papy Marcel, Le Capitaine, The Duchess and Sidi Mokhtar:

• Village Square, Provence: fine gravel under the plane trees, a fair court.
• Pine Beach: soft sand eats your rolls, so lob it in.
• Old Park: roots, bumps and a sneaky slope to the right.
• Marrakech Riad: hard red earth, fast, bouncy and crowned in the middle.

Win without letting the rival score and it's a FANNY. Quick Match lets you pick any court, a rival level and a game to 7, 11 or 13 points, and 2 Players puts two people on one screen.