TETRICS v.2.0 readme file
(C) Copyright 1994 Serge N. Fokin
TETRICS is a tetris game. It combines the classical 4-square tetris
with (more interesting) 5-, 6-square and MIX variants. There is quite
some number of Tetris games on the net; however none of these (at least
none of those I found) offers those advanced variants.
TETRICS is distributed as shareware. That means that you are free to use
it for a 10 days evaluation period; after that, if you continue to use
TETRICS, you are expected to register. You will then receive registered
version (with colored pieces option and a few other extras).
Currently VGA, SVGA, EGA, CGA, Hercules and several other graphic
adaptors are supported.
TETRICS has a built-in screensaver (You can disable it if you prefer
some other screensaver or none at all).
This is the DOS version of TETRICS. Windows version is in the works and
probably will be ready by late summer-1994. Check your favorite
FTP-site.
The rest of this file contains:
1. Installation information
2. Rules & keys & scores
3. Registration information
4. Customization & troubleshooting
5. Legal things
1. To install, create a directory (for example C:\TETRICS or
D:\IMPORTNT\BUSINESS or smth) and copy all the files in this package
into it. After that,
A. If you are not familiar with batch files and
have no intention to become familiar with them
- just run TETRICS from that directory
or
B. Edit the included TTR.BAT by typing in the
name of directory you created and place it
(TTR.BAT) into the root directory or some
directory which is in your search PATH - this
way TETRICS can be run from anywhere.
Notice that TETRICS looks for configuration file and records table in
the current directory; so there is some point in running it from the
same directory each time. Three hurrahs to batch files.
If you use graphics adaptor other than EGA, VGA or SVGA, it's
necessary to specify it on the command line, i.e.
TETRICS /CGA for CGA adaptor
TETRICS /HGA for Hercules adaptor
TETRICS /O for adaptor other than VGA, SVGA, EGA, CGA or
Hercules (supports some older AT&T and Olivetti
computers)
If you use EGA, VGA or SVGA adaptor with a monochrome display, try
running TETRICS either with or without /MONOVGA option. Both variants
should work, choose whichever looks better on your system.
2. Blocks fall from the sky. You can move them right and left, rotate
them, and, if invertkey is ON, invert them. When a full row is
formed, it disappears. Aim is to get as many rows as possible and/or
as high score as possible.
List of keys:
During the game:
Left-arrow or 4 Moves left
Right-arrow or 6 Moves right
Up-arrow or 8 or 5 Rotates
Home or 7 Inverts
Down-arrow or 2 or Space Drops fast
ESC Quits to DOS
- (minus sign) Pauses game
T Toggles grid on/off
On the "set options" screen:
Arrow-keys Move between windows
Enter Acts on the current window
(Changes the displayed value
or calls new screen)
ESC Quits to DOS
Space Starts game
List of options:
Game - can be 4, 5, 6 or MIX
Mixtoughness - from 1 to 5, matters only if MIX is the current
game
Speed - from 1 to 10
Invert key ON/OFF - when it's ON, you can invert figures.
There's quite some penalty in score, though.
Records Table by Score/Rows - the table of greatest hits is kept
according to either scores or rows.
Screensaver OFF/blanker/stars - chooses whether screensaver is
on and if yes then what is it's style.
Delay time - time without a keypress after which screensaver (if
it's not OFF) is activated.
Registered version only:
Colors ON/OFF - with colors OFF, all pieces are green. With
colors ON they are different colors. Looks
really nice.
Keyboard customization - keyboard customization.
Hints: - When figure drops onto something, it still can be moved
for a short time.
- 5 with invert key OFF
and
- MIX with invertkey ON, mixtoughness 3, 4 or 5
are said to be the most interesting games.
A newcomer might start with 4, though.
Scores: Score is proportional to speed and difficulty of the game.
If invertkey is ON and it's used at least once during a
game, then score is divided by 5.
3. To register, send check for US$ 10 drawn on an U.S. bank or US$ 10 (or
equivalent in other currency) in cash to (if you send cash, do wrap it
into some paper so that it will get through.. Thanks!):
Serge Fokin
P.O.Box 906
Rochester, NY, 14603
U.S.A.
You can print out and enclose the TTRORDER.FRM file or just mention
your system type (IBM-PC, Mac, etc.) and diskette size (5 or 3
inches). I will send you a diskette with newest release of TETRICS
registered version.
If you do not really care for registered version (colored pieces,
keyboard customization.. Are you sure? #:-) ), send just $ 8 for
registration itself.
I can also be reached by e-mail at lckh@troi.cc.rochester.edu. Bug
reports & comments are welcome. Notice that even if that e-mail
address will change some day, I intend to maintain the P.O.Box -
so it still will be possible to reach me by usual mail. Anyway, if
your copy of TETRICS is fairly old and the e-mail bounces you might
check some FTP site for newer version of the game..
4. Customization & troubleshooting.
Customization:
/S option. Normally when TETRICS is run it shows the "set options"
screen. If the /S option is specified it goes directly to start of
the game with the current default settings. Nothing else is changed.
You still can get to the set options screen by pressing after
end of a game. (Default settings are stored in the INI file and
updated each time when you modify options).
Advanced customization:
/FF0 and /FF1 options.
There are two algorithms to display fastdropped figure in TETRICS.
Algorithm 0 is very smooth but too slow on slow machines. Algorithm 1
is rough and quick. TETRICS chooses 0 or 1 depending on the speed of
your machine; however for mid-range machines (fast 386's and slow
486's) it is really question of taste. You can force algorithm 0 or 1
respectively by specifying /FF0 or /FF1 option.
/RF option.
When a figure is fastdropped (with Space or Down-arrow or 2 key)
player normally loses control of it. If the /RF (ReversibleFastdown)
option is specified, that is changed: if a figure is fastdropped and
then any key is pressed before it have hit the ground, it slows
down to normal speed & all direction keys work again. Pro & cons:
With (default) irreversible fastdrop one can fastdrop a figure and
start pressing keys that will control the next one. Reversible
fastdrop is mainly good for situations when one needs to move figure
in the last moment and does not want to wait while it crawls down
with the usual speed.
Files in the package
Normally, the following files comprise TETRICS package:
TETRICS.EXE TTR.BAT README.TTR and TTRORDER.FRM
Please distribute these files only together, as a complete package.
Files TTR.INI and TTR_HITS.DAT are automatically generated during
normal operation.
Troubleshooting:
MS-Windows.
TETRICS is primarily a DOS application. On most systems it will not
work properly under Windows. Solution is to exit Windows and run
TETRICS from DOS or get the Windows-version of TETRICS. It is
currently in the works and probably will be finished sometime around
late summer 1994. Check your favorite FTP-site.
Write-protect or disk full errors.
TETRICS writes record hits file and INI file on disk. If disk is
write-protected or full, it will generate an error message. You can
remove write-protection or free up some space on disk; however if
it's not done, it's still OK to run TETRICS as long as you do not
mind error messages.
Corrupt files.
If (because of whatever reason) files TTR.INI and TTR_HITS.DAT become
corrupt that might cause TETRICS to behave strangely (because of
strange things it found in those files) or even crash. If that
happens, remove TTR.INI and TTR_HITS.DAT, TETRICS will automatically
generate new ones.
Running from the same directory.
TETRICS looks for TTR.INI and TTR_HITS.DAT files in the current
directory. If it does not find these files it will generate new ones;
It's not an error; however there is some point in using the same set
of INI & DAT files, right? So TETRICS is supposed to be run from the
same directory - the simplest way to achieve that is to run it using
the TTR.BAT file. Less typing, too.
Runs abnormally slow.
If that happens on a newer machine (386+) then it's the (very
unlikely) situation of a conflict with some other program - try
unloading TSR's (programs resident in memory); if you run TETRICS
from some operating environment other than DOS (Windows, Deskview)
try quitting that environment.
If the machine is an XT or a very slow 286, then it can be a problem
of the processor speed. If you tried unloading TSR's, etc and
that did not help, try running TETRICS in CGA mode (TETRICS /CGA). It
is a (comparatively) low resolution mode and on a slow machine it
will run faster.
NumLock key.
Normally TETRICS sets the NumLock key on during the game (and
restores it's status upon exit). If you do not want it do that, you
can add the /NONUM switch to the command line (TETRICS /NONUM).
Notice that if NumLock is off then <5> (on numeric keypad) key no
longer works for rotating a figure; all other keys work as usual.
/B0 option
Depending on the exact kind of the graphics adaptor TETRICS use one
of two different algorithms of dealing with screen blanking. If you
experience any problems with the screensaver, try /B0 option (it will
force algorithm 0 on a system where normally algorithm 1 would be
used).
5. Acknowledgement: I understand that the original idea of TETRIS game
belongs to Alexei Pazhitnov and Vadim Gerasimov. Copyright on this
software is claimed on this particular implementation of the game.
This software is provided on the "as is" basis. In no event should
the author be liable for any damages resulting from use or misuse of
this software.
Anyone is free to distribute TETRICS as long as no more than a nominal
fee is charged in the process and files TETRICS.EXE, TTR.BAT, README.TTR
and TTRORDER.FRM are distributed together and not changed in any way
(other than being stored by an archiver program).
Everyone is free to use this program for 10 days evaluation period.
After that, you are expected to register or stop using it.
May 1994
Serge Fokin