diff --git a/config.js b/config.js
index 8b8e6d4..08a9f22 100644
--- a/config.js
+++ b/config.js
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@ export const TUNE = {
   racketSpeed: 2.8, // m/s the racket zombie shambles to chase a ball
   racketQMax: 0.55, // its return quality is capped here (slower, sloppier than the tennis CPU)
   racketFlub: 0.2,  // chance the racket zombie whiffs a return
-  missHud: 1,       // show the last miss reason on screen (full log: T.G.missLog)
+  missHud: 0,       // show the last miss reason on screen (full log: T.G.missLog) — off; dev-only
+  killPips: 1,      // splatter: show the kills-to-next-point pips on the scoreboard
 };
 
 export const COURT = { L: 23.77, W: 8.23, dblW: 10.97, netZ: 11.885, netH: 0.914, netW: 10.06 };
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index f96f26f..c50e27c 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -10,15 +10,24 @@
   #hint { position: fixed; bottom: 8px; width: 100%; text-align: center;
           font: 12px monospace; color: #6b7688; }
   @media (pointer: coarse) { #hint, #intro .kb { display: none; } }
-  #intro { position: fixed; inset: 0; background: rgba(10, 13, 20, 0.88); display: grid;
-           place-items: center; z-index: 10; touch-action: none; }
-  #intro .card { font: 16px monospace; color: #dfe6f2; text-align: left; line-height: 2;
-                 border: 2px solid #5a6a85; background: #141a26; padding: 24px 32px; }
-  #intro h1 { font-size: 18px; margin: 0 0 12px; color: #f8e048; text-align: center; }
-  #intro p { margin: 0; }
-  #intro p span { display: inline-block; width: 32px; }
-  #intro em { color: #8a96ab; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; }
-  #intro .start { margin-top: 16px; text-align: center; color: #f8e048; animation: blink 1.1s step-end infinite; }
+  #intro { position: fixed; inset: 0; z-index: 10; touch-action: none; display: grid; place-items: center;
+           background: radial-gradient(circle at 50% 34%, rgba(34,16,20,0.92), rgba(8,10,16,0.96)); }
+  #intro .card { font: 13px monospace; color: #dfe6f2; text-align: center; line-height: 1.9;
+                 padding: 18px 26px; max-width: 92vw; animation: drop 0.5s ease-out; }
+  @keyframes drop { from { transform: translateY(-14px); opacity: 0; } }
+  #intro .logo { line-height: 0.9; margin-bottom: 8px; }
+  #intro .logo span { display: block; font-weight: 900; }
+  #intro .l1 { font-size: 46px; letter-spacing: 3px; color: #e0231a;
+               text-shadow: 0 2px 0 #7a0f0a, 0 4px 0 #550906, 0 6px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.4), 0 0 20px rgba(224,35,26,0.35); }
+  #intro .l2 { font-size: 30px; letter-spacing: 9px; color: #eef23a; margin-top: 2px;
+               text-shadow: 0 2px 0 #59610f, 0 0 14px rgba(238,242,58,0.3); }
+  #intro .slogan { margin: 8px 0 16px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; color: #b6a0a4; letter-spacing: 0.5px; }
+  #intro .slogan b { color: #e0231a; font-style: normal; }
+  #intro .how { display: inline-block; text-align: left; color: #cbd4e2; line-height: 2; }
+  #intro .how p { margin: 0; }
+  #intro .how span { display: inline-block; width: 30px; }
+  #intro em { color: #8a96ab; font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; }
+  #intro .start { margin-top: 18px; color: #f8e048; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 1px; animation: blink 1.1s step-end infinite; }
   @keyframes blink { 50% { opacity: 0.25; } }
 </style>
 </head>
@@ -27,14 +36,17 @@
 <div id="hint">move: WASD/arrows &nbsp;·&nbsp; serve/swing: SPACE &nbsp;·&nbsp; aim: hold a direction while swinging &nbsp;·&nbsp; T: tuning panel</div>
 <div id="intro">
   <div class="card">
-    <h1>🎾 SPLATTER TENNIS</h1>
-    <p><span>👆</span> tap — serve &amp; swing</p>
-    <p><span>👉</span> flick — aimed shot</p>
-    <p><span>✋</span> drag — run <em>(auto-run is on)</em></p>
-    <p class="kb"><span>⌨️</span> WASD / arrows + SPACE</p>
+    <div class="logo"><span class="l1">SPLATTER</span><span class="l2">TENNIS</span></div>
+    <p class="slogan">Fifteen. Thirty. Forty. <b>Dead.</b></p>
+    <div class="how">
+      <p><span>👆</span> tap — serve &amp; swing</p>
+      <p><span>👉</span> flick — aimed shot</p>
+      <p><span>✋</span> drag — run <em>(auto-run is on)</em></p>
+      <p class="kb"><span>⌨️</span> WASD / arrows + SPACE</p>
+    </div>
     <p class="start">TAP TO START</p>
   </div>
 </div>
-<script type="module" src="main.js?v=9"></script>
+<script type="module" src="main.js?v=10"></script>
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/render.js b/render.js
index d9d5945..6581704 100644
--- a/render.js
+++ b/render.js
@@ -385,46 +385,62 @@ export function render() {
   ctx.setTransform(RES, 0, 0, RES, 0, 0); // un-shake: the HUD and overlays stay rock steady
   if (G.boomFlash > 0) { ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(255,255,255,${Math.min(1, G.boomFlash / 0.08) * 0.85})`; ctx.fillRect(0, 0, W, H); }
 
-  // HUD — scoreboard
-  ctx.fillStyle = 'rgba(12,16,24,0.82)'; ctx.fillRect(6, 6, 132, 30);
-  ctx.strokeStyle = '#5a6a85'; ctx.strokeRect(6.5, 6.5, 131, 29);
-  ctx.font = 'bold 9px monospace'; ctx.textBaseline = 'top';
-  const ptTxt = i => score.pts[i] >= 3 && score.pts[0] >= 3 && score.pts[1] >= 3
-    ? (score.pts[i] === score.pts[1 - i] ? '40' : (score.pts[i] > score.pts[1 - i] ? 'AD' : '40'))
+  // HUD — broadcast scoreboard: two player rows (server ball · name · sets · games · points),
+  // then a splatter status strip (kills-to-next-point pips + weapon stock).
+  const splat = G.mode !== 'tennis';
+  const sbW = 132, sbH = splat ? 37 : 25;
+  ctx.fillStyle = 'rgba(10,14,22,0.85)'; ctx.fillRect(6, 6, sbW, sbH);
+  ctx.strokeStyle = '#42506e'; ctx.strokeRect(6.5, 6.5, sbW - 1, sbH - 1);
+  const ptTxt = i => score.pts[0] >= 3 && score.pts[1] >= 3
+    ? (score.pts[i] === score.pts[1 - i] ? '40' : score.pts[i] > score.pts[1 - i] ? 'AD' : '40')
     : ['0', '15', '30', '40'][Math.min(score.pts[i], 3)];
-  const setsTxt = i => G.mode === 'tennis' ? '' : G.sets[i] + '·'; // splatter scoreboard: SETS·GAMES PTS
-  ctx.fillStyle = score.server === 'P' ? '#f8e048' : '#c8d0dc';
-  ctx.fillText('YOU ' + setsTxt(0) + score.games[0] + '  ' + ptTxt(0), 12, 10);
-  for (let b = 0; b < G.bombs; b++) { // stocked bomb balls: black pips with an orange fuse rim
-    ctx.fillStyle = '#111'; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(96 + b * 8, 14, 2.6, 0, 7); ctx.fill();
-    ctx.strokeStyle = '#ff8010'; ctx.lineWidth = 0.75; ctx.stroke();
+  ctx.textBaseline = 'middle';
+  const names = splat ? ['YOU', 'THEM'] : ['YOU', 'CPU'];
+  for (let i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
+    const rowY = 12 + i * 11, serving = (score.server === 'P') === (i === 0);
+    ctx.textAlign = 'left';
+    if (serving) { ctx.fillStyle = '#f8e048'; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(15, rowY, 2.3, 0, 7); ctx.fill(); } // the server holds the ball
+    ctx.font = 'bold 9px monospace'; ctx.fillStyle = serving ? '#ffffff' : '#9aa6ba';
+    ctx.fillText(names[i], 21, rowY + 0.5);
+    ctx.textAlign = 'center';
+    if (splat) { ctx.fillStyle = '#78849a'; ctx.font = 'bold 8px monospace'; ctx.fillText(String(G.sets[i]), 56, rowY + 0.5); } // sets column
+    ctx.fillStyle = '#c2ccda'; ctx.font = 'bold 9px monospace'; ctx.fillText(String(score.games[i]), 72, rowY + 0.5); // games column
+    ctx.fillStyle = serving ? 'rgba(248,224,72,0.15)' : 'rgba(255,255,255,0.05)'; ctx.fillRect(84, rowY - 6, 30, 12); // points cell
+    ctx.fillStyle = serving ? '#f8e048' : '#dfe6f2'; ctx.font = 'bold 9px monospace'; ctx.fillText(ptTxt(i), 99, rowY + 0.5);
   }
-  for (let b = 0; b < G.triples; b++) { // triple serves: a yellow pip flanked by two dots
-    ctx.fillStyle = '#e8f03a'; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(96 + b * 8, 14, 2.6, 0, 7); ctx.fill();
-    ctx.fillRect(96 + b * 8 - 4, 13, 1.5, 1.5); ctx.fillRect(96 + b * 8 + 3, 13, 1.5, 1.5);
+  if (splat) { // status strip under the two rows
+    const sy = 34;
+    ctx.textAlign = 'left';
+    if (TUNE.killPips && TUNE.killsPerPoint > 1) { // "how many zombies to the next point" — empty pips are kills to go
+      ctx.fillStyle = '#6b768a'; ctx.font = 'bold 6px monospace'; ctx.fillText('NEXT', 12, sy + 0.5);
+      for (let k = 0; k < TUNE.killsPerPoint; k++) {
+        ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(35 + k * 7, sy, 2.2, 0, 7);
+        if (k < G.killCount) { ctx.fillStyle = '#e8f03a'; ctx.fill(); }
+        else { ctx.strokeStyle = '#54607a'; ctx.lineWidth = 1; ctx.stroke(); }
+      }
+    }
+    const wx = 66; // weapon stock, moved off the player rows so the board reads clean
+    for (let b = 0; b < G.bombs; b++) { ctx.fillStyle = '#111'; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(wx + b * 8, sy, 2.6, 0, 7); ctx.fill(); ctx.strokeStyle = '#ff8010'; ctx.lineWidth = 0.75; ctx.stroke(); }
+    for (let b = 0; b < G.triples; b++) { ctx.fillStyle = '#e8f03a'; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(wx + b * 8, sy, 2.6, 0, 7); ctx.fill(); ctx.fillRect(wx + b * 8 - 4, sy - 1, 1.5, 1.5); ctx.fillRect(wx + b * 8 + 3, sy - 1, 1.5, 1.5); }
+    for (let b = 0; b < G.flames; b++) { ctx.fillStyle = '#ff8010'; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(wx + b * 8, sy, 2.6, 0, 7); ctx.fill(); ctx.fillStyle = '#ffe8a0'; ctx.fillRect(wx + b * 8 - 1, sy - 1, 2, 2); }
+    if (G.mgT > 0) { ctx.fillStyle = '#333'; ctx.fillRect(wx, sy - 2.5, 40, 5); ctx.fillStyle = '#f8e048'; ctx.fillRect(wx, sy - 2.5, 40 * Math.min(1, G.mgT / TUNE.mgPickupLen), 5); }
   }
-  for (let b = 0; b < G.flames; b++) { // flame balls: orange pip, hot core
-    ctx.fillStyle = '#ff8010'; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(96 + b * 8, 14, 2.6, 0, 7); ctx.fill();
-    ctx.fillStyle = '#ffe8a0'; ctx.fillRect(96 + b * 8 - 1, 13, 2, 2);
-  }
-  if (G.mgT > 0) { // machine-gun time: a draining ammo bar
-    ctx.fillStyle = '#333'; ctx.fillRect(96, 11, 34, 5);
-    ctx.fillStyle = '#f8e048'; ctx.fillRect(96, 11, 34 * Math.min(1, G.mgT / TUNE.mgPickupLen), 5);
-  }
-  ctx.fillStyle = score.server === 'O' ? '#f8e048' : '#c8d0dc';
-  ctx.fillText((G.mode === 'tennis' ? 'CPU ' : 'THEM ') + setsTxt(1) + score.games[1] + '  ' + ptTxt(1), 12, 22);
-  ctx.textAlign = 'center';
+  ctx.textBaseline = 'top'; ctx.textAlign = 'center';
   if (G.mode === 'eaten') { // the run summary — permadeath makes this scoreboard the whole game
     ctx.fillStyle = 'rgba(10,4,6,0.72)'; ctx.fillRect(0, 0, W, H);
     ctx.fillStyle = '#c02020'; ctx.font = 'bold 16px monospace';
-    ctx.fillText('GAME, SET, MASSACRE.', W / 2, H / 2 - 32);
+    ctx.fillText('GAME, SET, MASSACRE.', W / 2, H / 2 - 40);
     ctx.fillStyle = '#c8d0dc'; ctx.font = 'bold 10px monospace';
-    ctx.fillText('SURVIVED ' + G.runGames + ' GAMES · ' + G.sets[0] + ' SETS', W / 2, H / 2 - 6);
-    if (G.best) {
+    ctx.fillText('SURVIVED ' + G.runGames + ' GAMES · ' + G.sets[0] + ' SETS', W / 2, H / 2 - 14);
+    if (G.newBest) { // a fresh record crows; otherwise show the mark to beat
+      const pulse = 0.55 + 0.45 * Math.abs(Math.sin(G.eatenT * 4));
+      ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(248,224,72,${pulse})`; ctx.font = 'bold 11px monospace';
+      ctx.fillText('★ NEW BEST ★', W / 2, H / 2 + 4);
+    } else if (G.best && G.best.games > 0) {
       ctx.fillStyle = '#8fa0b8'; ctx.font = 'bold 8px monospace';
-      ctx.fillText('BEST  ' + G.best.games + ' GAMES · ' + G.best.sets + ' SETS', W / 2, H / 2 + 10);
+      ctx.fillText('BEST  ' + G.best.games + ' GAMES · ' + G.best.sets + ' SETS', W / 2, H / 2 + 4);
     }
-    if (G.eatenT > 0.7) { ctx.fillStyle = '#f8e048'; ctx.font = 'bold 8px monospace'; ctx.fillText('TAP TO PLAY AGAIN', W / 2, H / 2 + 28); }
+    if (G.eatenT > 0.7) { ctx.fillStyle = '#f8e048'; ctx.font = 'bold 8px monospace'; ctx.fillText('TAP TO PLAY AGAIN', W / 2, H / 2 + 26); }
   }
   if (G.phase === 'pretoss' && score.server === 'P' && G.mode !== 'eaten' && !G.horde && !(G.mgT > 0)) {
     ctx.fillStyle = '#f8e048'; ctx.font = 'bold 8px monospace';
diff --git a/state.js b/state.js
index bafdd81..d8dccf3 100644
--- a/state.js
+++ b/state.js
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ export const G = {
   changeover: false,  // the odd-game breather: no spawns, no serving, the boys mop
   shameGame: false,   // they took a game — the next new-balls delivery is withheld
   best: null,         // best run {games, sets}, loaded from localStorage when you get eaten
+  newBest: false,     // this run beat the stored best — the eaten summary celebrates it
   lastScoreT: -9,     // idleT of the last score voice — rate-limits umpire during a horde
   eatenT: 0,          // time since you were eaten — gates the restart tap
   missLog: [],        // swing diagnostics ring buffer (tennis mode) — inspect via T.G.missLog
diff --git a/zombies.js b/zombies.js
index d849b51..9260897 100644
--- a/zombies.js
+++ b/zombies.js
@@ -200,7 +200,8 @@ export function updateZombies(dt) {
       G.horde = null; pellets.length = 0; extras.length = 0; G.mgT = 0; // everything stops; the eaten screen takes over
       try { // the run is over — settle it against the best (games survived, sets as tiebreak)
         const b = JSON.parse(localStorage.splatterBest || 'null') || { games: 0, sets: 0 };
-        if (G.runGames > b.games) { b.games = G.runGames; b.sets = G.sets[0]; localStorage.splatterBest = JSON.stringify(b); }
+        G.newBest = G.runGames > b.games; // beat it → the summary crows about it
+        if (G.newBest) { b.games = G.runGames; b.sets = G.sets[0]; localStorage.splatterBest = JSON.stringify(b); }
         G.best = b;
       } catch (e) { G.best = null; } // private mode etc. — the summary just skips the best line
     }