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-
- TETRIS How To Play
-
- Randomly shaped pieces drop from the top of the screen. Your job is
- to arrange them as they fall so that you can drop the greatest number of
- pieces into the available volume. You maneuver the pieces by rotating them
- and moving them horizontally. If you have arranged the pieces so that a solid
- row of squares is formed horizontally, that row will be eliminated, giving you
- some breathing room.
-
- Your score is a function of three factors: the current level, how
- quickly you place the pieces, and whether you are peeking at the next piece.
-
- You choose your starting level at the beginning of the game. After
- that, your level increases every time you eliminate 10 rows, except that if,
- for example, you start at level 3, you will stay at that level until you have
- eliminated 30 rows.
-
- You can improve your score by instantaneously dropping pieces as soon
- as you have them properly aligned.
-
- If you are peeking at the next piece, your award for getting a piece down
- will be decreased by about one-third. You may find this is worth the price.
-
- About The Game
-
- I claim no credit for inventing the game TETRIS; that was apparently
- done by A. Pajitnov and V. Gerasimov in the Soviet Union. I did write this
- implementation from scratch in Turbo Pascal Version 4.0. I did it mainly for
- the hell of it, but I improved on the original where I thought it needed it.
- The two main improvements are the ability to run on monochrome screens
- (although it looks better in color) and a more responsive feel. I also used
- the movement keys that are used in the commercial version of the game,
- although I personally prefer the original movement keys. (In fact, you can
- use the original movement keys as well; i.e., to move left, 7 or J; to rotate,
- 8 or K; to move right, 9 or L; to peek ahead, 1 or M; to drop, 4 or Space
- Bar.) Finally, my version should work at the same speed no matter how fast
- your processor is; I have heard that that is a problem with the commercial
- version.
-
- My program is freeware, subject only to the restriction that it is not
- to be sold commercially. I would, however, appreciate comments, bug reports,
- and suggested improvements for future versions. My CompuServe ID is
- 71600,521.
-
- David Howorth
-