------------------------------------------------------------ Tetris The Soviet Challenge Players' Guide Spectrum Holobyte ------------------------------------------------------------ INTRODUCTION: TETRIS was invented by a 30-year-old Soviet researcher named Alexy Paszihtnov who currently works at the Computer Centre (Academy Soft) of the USSR Academy of Scientists in Moscow. The original programmer was 18-year-old Vagim Gerasimov, a student studying Computer Informatics at Moscow University. TETRIS came into being through the joint efforts of Academy Soft (Moscow), Andromeda Software, Ltd (London), and Spectrum Holobyte (USA). TETRIS will lure even the most seasoned hand into a challenging game of speed and maneuvering. As the four-square pieces tumble from the top of the screen into an empty pit, it's up to you to rotate them into a position which leaves no gaps in the layers at the bottom. Once aligned, you can drop them into place and increase your score. The tension escalates as you close the gaps in a layer across the bottom of the pit and the line disappears. When a set number of lines disappear, the four-square pieces fall at a faster rate! There are nine levels (and additional options) to continually challenge your mastery of this preplexing game. Enjoy the many features and options while trying to close in on the solution of TETRIS, only to find it's just outside your grasp! TETRIS is different every time you play. We know you'll find it provocative, fun, and utterly addicitive! SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS The IBM PC version of TETRIS runs on all IBM/TANDY PC computers and 100% compatibles with (1) 360K disk drive and DOS 2.1 or above. (256K RAM minumum required for the PC and 128K minimum for the PCjr.) ------------------------------------------------------------ LOADING THE GAME: We feel that you won't be able to stay away from TETRIS for too long! Therefore, we've created two different IBM versions: standard and RAM-resident. You''ll find that the only differences between them is the RAM-resident version (1) doesn't display a new background picture when ascending to a higher level and (2) will not save the high score to diskette. The big advantage (or disadvantage if you need to get your work done!) in using the RAM-resident version is that you may load other programs after TETRIS. Our heavy spreadsheet and database users here at Spectrum Holobyte love this feature! IBM PC standard Version: Load DOS. Place the TETRIS disk in drive A. At the A> prompt, type: CTETRIS (if you have CGA) CTETRIS H (if you have Hercules) ETETRIS (if you have EGA) TTETRIS (if you have a TANDY) and press enter. To install the RAM resident version: You will need to tell TETRIS which display you intend to use with the program you will be loading after RAM-resident TETRIS. Also, in the following instructions, b represents a number from 0-9 for selection of a background scene. (The number in parentheses indicates the amount of RAM memory used by TETRIS after loading.) When initially loading the program (or any time at the DOS prompt), you can select your favorite picture for display as a background scene (default=5). Tere are ten pictures (0-9) to choose from. Note: RAM-resident TETRIS is CGA resolution only. ------------------------------------------------------------ At the A> prompt, type in the command which best configures your system: (Remember to press enter after the particular command.) - for CGA mode 320x200 4-color (53K): RTETRIS n - for Hercules mode (86K): RTETRIS H n - for EGA you will need to type one of the following, according to your configuration: - 320x200 (86K) RTETRIS E0 n - 640x200 (118K): RTETRIS E1 n - 640x350 (182K): RTETRIS E2 n - for any higher resolution (310K):RTETRIS E n - To exit the RAM-resident version of TETRIS, press Esc. - To remove RAM-resident TETRIS from memory, type TETRIS R. Note: You are able to remove TETRIS from memory only when all other RAM-resident porgrams have been removed. THE GAME: After loading TETRIS and the title screen comes up, you may hit any key to continue to the selection screen. Level: This board sets the speed at which four-square pieces fall from tge top of the screen. You can skip to any level of difficulty from 0-9. - to select level use cursor arrows on keypad - press enter or spacebar to confirm selection and continue to HEIGHT selection. Height You normally start the game with an empty pit or 0 on the height menu. To increase the challenge in TETRIS, you can raise the height from the bottom by selecting one of the other numbers in the hieght menu. For instance, if you select 7 you will find seven randomly filled layers when you reach the play screen. You may challenge someone else with the same configuration which you just played by selecting the << (rewind) symbol on the HEIGHT menu. This will give you the same block placement from the previous game. - to select height use cursor arrows on keypad or type number on keyboard - press enter or spacebar to confirm selection and continue to the game ------------------------------------------------------------ To play: There are two methods by which deft finger can naveuver the four-square pieces into place: The numeric keypad or use these keys 4 = move left J = move left 6 = move right L = move right 5 = rotate K = rotate 8 = speed up I = speed up 2 = drop ,(comma) = drop and also, SPACEBAR = drop If you have a joysitck: Pressing the stick handle to the right will move the piece to the right, left moves it left. Hitting the fire button rotates the piece and pulling the stick handle toward you drops it. Scoring: - The faster a four-square piece comes to rest in the pit, the more points you accrue. After aligning the pieces, you can "drop" them into place by hitting the designated key. - The higher the starting layers in the pit, the more points you get. The display on upper left portion of the screen: Score: total score of game in progress Lines: total number of lines elimintaed during game in progress. - after a set number of lines are eliminated, the speed will automatically increase as you go to the next level. Next: displays the next piece which will fall - to activate press the number 1 on the numeric keypad or the letter M. ------------------------------------------------------------ Function Keys: F1: displays Help Menu F2: displays Statistics - the frequency with which any particular configuration of squares has fallen during a game F3: displays present game level F4: background screen description of game in progress Toggles: S =Sound On/Off P =Pause On/Off ESC = "Boss Key" work simulation (spreadsheet)/ resume action (ESC also exits program from RAM-resident version) Miscellaneous commands: R = reset high scores (activated from Selection Screen only) Q = quit game We wish you the best of skill in your many games of TETRIS to come! ------------------------------------------------------------