Block Out (resurrection)

[ About ] [ Registration ] [ Basic idea ] [ Difficulty ] [ Differences ] [ Bonus system ] [ Interface ]

About the game:
Meet BlockOut (resurrection) - new version of the wellknown game of 1989 years! This game is a three-dimensional tetris - the glass into which fall figures. You think it's too simple for such a cool player as you are? Just try! Enjoy the perspective projection "from above" that provides believable three-dimensional effect. The general task is always the same: complete the levels one by one untill the glass will be filled up and then join the next level. Everything is easy with "flat" figures. But if you're eager to play Real 3D-Tetris, choose basic or extended difficulty level. Estimate the perfection of three-dimensional matrix! You can also win the championship. Turn the figures up and down, right and left, clockwise and counter clockwise - it's really exciting!

Registration:

Block Out is shareware and you must register the program to continue using it after 15 day trial period. The registration fee is only $12. Once registered, you remain a registered user for this and all future versions of 3D Blocks. Registered users will receive information about latest versions of the program via e-mail.
In order to register, you should first receive the Registration Code and then, select Help|Register menu commands, the Registration dialog will appear. Enter your Registration Code and press the Commit button.
- Offline order
- Regnow (US)
- Shareit (Europe)


Basic idea:
Game is a three-dimensional tetris, i.e. the glass into which fall figures. General task is the neat bundling of figures, at the level completion occurs his refining and downwarding of all upwarding cells. Perspective projection provides amply believable three-dimensional effect. Is used projection "from above", such projection essentially simplifies calculation visibility and is thereby private case, at which calculation the most projection essentially is simplified, that will minimize charge on processor. Game is found to have three modes complexity: Flat, Basic and Extended.

Difficulty levels:
Flat.
The all figures of this level complexity be "flat", i.e. for the description of such figures of enough plain bivariate matrix. Each figure may consist of not above 4 blocs. The multitude of figures maybe is described in the following way: all possible presumable flat figures consisting of blocks from 1 up to 4, except one figure (of four blocks composed along one direct).
Basic.
Set the figures is limited adjacently of rules, in particular figures consist of 3 or 4 blocks, while there is 3 figures which demand for its description of three-dimensional matrix.
Extended.
More unique mode, is found on arbitrary generator. Are used figures consisting from 1 up to 5 blocks. Figures are described by three-dimensional matrix. Since figures are generated automatically, that they can be not above than isomorphic friend to friend. The quantity of figures consisting of one (2,3...) of blocks approximately is equal to the quantity of figures from another count of blocks.
For everyone mode may be possible assign relevant sizable multitude glasses different dimension sizes, in this case for everyone from glasses (mode+complexity) is conducted the its own table of alltime highs. Naturally, for mode Extended and the glass has determinate limitations, in particular at glasses size less than 5x5x12 is lost playble.

Differences from original version:
This version is full-value Win32 supplement (unlike original). There is the more comfortable facility of the reviewing of the tables of alltime highs. Is maintained the location of the table of alltime highs on file server, whereat of in case collective play is provided corrected addition or the change of the records of such table. The alterable colorings of levels into the glass. There are as of users tuning, so automatic generators. Availability shadows under falling figure. This mode maybe switched off, but it is very useful in case playing with capacious bottom of glass. The load ratio of alltime highs from another file of the tables of alltime highs, whereat is produced the the association of tables and the sampled population of 10 best results for each table. This special feature allows perform exchange alltime highs (as exsamle by e-mail).

The system of the increase bonus and switching speed:
Speed switching occurs step by step, after the bundling of determinate quantity of the blocks of figures. Whereat occurs switching not on next speed, but on determinate following table:

Blocks 0 100 200 400 600 800 1200 1600 2000
Speed 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Starting speed defined by corresponding item of main menu. According to this table beginning play on 5-th speeds switching on 6 will occur after the bundling of 800 blocks (and further to table), what allows play on maximal speed how may be possible long.

Bonus charge for certain event as following system:

The figure bundling. Beyond dependence of further actions, at the bundling of figure (even if this will not lead to the refining of level) bonus increase on:

figure_block_count * sped_multiplicier

Drop down figure. In case throw figures bonus increase on:

throw_count * runed_level_count * speed_multiplicier

While in a some situations further may be is performed another throw, for which also will increased bonus. Early or late will occur also bundling of figure, for which too increased bonus.

The level refining. In case the bundling of figure led to the completion of level (may be more than one), occurs their refining. Whereat is allowed for the quantity of purified levels. In this way, for the refining of levels will increase bonus:

Area_of_glass_bottom * 10 * speed_miltiplicier * cleared_level_multiplicier

Whereat cleared_level_multiplicier is defined by following table:

Purified Levels 1 2 3 4 5 6
Value 1 3 5 8 15 20

In this way, becomes the advantageous refining of more one level, since refining of 2 levels brings to the increse of bonus, as though was step by step cleared of 3-d levels.

Refining glass. If as a result of refining of levels occured complete refining glass, that for such event likewise special increase of bonus:

glass_capacity * 10 * speed_miltiplicier

Thus, refining a glass becomes by enough attractive action.

In the system of bonus constantly is used speed_multiplicier, which is defined relative to current speed as to following table:

Speed 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Value 1.001 1.335 1.780 2.373 3.164 4.219 5.625 7.500 10.00

Significances of multiplier lotted thus, in order approximately ballance play on some level speed, where at purifying as to one level and play on previous speed, but whereat clearing as to 2-3 levels. Naturally, to begin play with maximal level for the player is very advantageous. In case using "shadow" from figure, all bonus will be decrease on 10%. Thus, use shadow does not be very advantageous moment plays.

Participation into championship. Place in champoinship is calculated as follows: for each player calculate the sum of bonus for every engaged place. Bonus chardge as to system F1 and may be presented following table:

Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 10
Bonus 10 6 4 3 2 1 0 ... 0

Naturally, in one table player can borrow anymore one position, whereat to him will chardge bonus for every engaged position. That fact, what in certain table there is only one the first position, is accidental and is not is neglible for championship, that must stimulate play into all possible glasses (different dimensions).

Interface.
For begin new play is necessary to press
F2 or to take advantage of menu item Game - New. Also you may take advantage, use corresponding button of toolbar. For the suspension of game follows to press key F3 or using corresponding menu item or button of toolbar. For the play continuing follows nextly to use this button.

Figure control:
Arrows (rightward, leftward, up and down) - the shifting of figure as along the glass parallelly his bottom.
Space - the throw of figure. Figure will be transfered to bottom a glass, while will not be come across one fillned cell of glass or bottom a glass. Next maybe is processed another pressing on keys and figure will be stow (i.e. its blocs will become filned cells of a glass).
Keys
Q, W, E - the rotation of figure counter clock wise around axes X, Y and Z correspondingly. Whereat axis Z is perpendicular bottom a glass, and X and Y are situated in the normal way.
Keys
A, S, D - the rotation of figure clock-wise around axes X, Y and Z correspondingly.
Now added customizing controls, by this feature You can tune keys as more suitable for You.

For access to tuning options follows to choose item of main menu Game - Options or corresponding button of toolbar. In options may be tune: The location of the file of the tables of alltime highs. If there is the special file of tables that follows to set flag "Special location" and to point the file name. File can be situated as locally, thus placed on file server. Accommodates the using of paths "\\server1\share1\path1\file_X". Game supports special services, allowing to realize accession to the networked table of alltime highs with different machines.
The coloring of levels of glass. For this follows to choose manual or automatic tuning and to assign generator of color or sets colors (in case user color sheme). The special feature of several automatic is that, what they self-tuning under current height of the glass and generate coloring as the the quantity of levels.
For accession to the table of alltime highs is necessary to choose item
Game - Hi Scores. The all tables of alltime highs arranged into tree as to the complexity of figures, the areas of bottom to and depth glasses. Choosing the terminal summits of tree may be gain access to corresponding relevant the table of alltime highs. For loading external alltime highs follows to take advantage of button Load Hi scores - from file and point to file, alltime highs will be selected from pointed file and bestowed into the current file of the tables of alltime highs.
Item
Game - Championship evokes calls forth calculation current situation championship and carries out corresponding special dialog window.
Menu
Settings grants access to some actions flag of systems. For assignment starting speed follows to take advantage of item Speed. The assignment of dimensions of glass is realized via menu item Dimensions (key F4 or button of toolbar). Further menu items as Sound, Shadow, Animation, Toolbar and Status Bar produce inclusion or switching off corresponding related functions.
Menu
Help grants accession to file certificates and information about the game ...