XTROJKA(6)

NAME
xtrojka - a game of skill.

USAGE
xtrojka [-s] [-h] [-display display_name]

OPTIONS

-s  Display high-scores.

-h  Show a short help text.

-display display_name
    Specifies the display on which xtrojka will be run. See X11(7) for further details.

DESCRIPTION
xtrojka is the X version of an old game called Trojka. It finally packs the thrills of Tetris and the combinations of Columns into one (I hope) attractive game.

The name Trojka is derived from the Russian word "Trojka", which means "three", or "triple". The aim of this game is to control and to place the falling blocks, so that at least three blocks horizontally or diagonally, or both, have matching patterns or colors. This sequence is then removed, and the above blocks will collapse. The latter sequence is repeated as long as there are matching patterns after each collapsion. A sequence of three immediate collapsions results in a socalled "Trojka", which is rewarded with bonus points. If you reach the top of the screen, the game is finished.

xtrojka is menu-controlled, so here comes a short description of the menu's.

TROJKA Menu

New game
    start a new game. Your game must be finished.

Abort game
    finish a game by selecting this menu option.

About
    This option puts a little about box in the top-left corner of the screen.

Quit
    Indeed, this item quits the program.

OPTIONS Menu

Score status
    When this options is tagged, you permanently see the highscores in a window. If the highscore file is installed in a shared directory, you can see the new scores of other players appear. When you are not playing, the scorewindow is always displayed.

Auto position
    When checked, the score status window will be automatically positioned in the neighbourhood of the main window. This may be annoying on some small resolutions so turn this option off then.

Wizard
    When this option is checked, you play in a socalled wizard mode. This means that combinations of blocks appear at the bottom of the screen. Only real Trojka wizards know how to cope with this. If you played in wizard mode, an asterisk will appear in the highscore list.

SPEED Menu

With this menu you can select your favorite game speed. Beware, the speed will slowly increase, the longer you play. Once playing, you cannot switch back to a slower speed, that wouldn't be cool.

PREFERENCES
The speed and preferences are automatically stored in your homedir under the name .xtrojka.prefs.bin This is a binary file, it cannot be edited.

KEYS
The falling blocks are controlled using the arrows, but of course you can also use the keys of your alltime favorite Vi-editor:

Left arrow,h
    left

Right arrow,l
    right

Insert, Down arrow ,j,<SPACE>
    drop

Up arrow, k
    increase speed

FILES

/usr/local/share/xtrojka/xtrojka.scores
    The xtrojka highscore file

.xtrojka.prefs.bin
    The file in your homedir where the preferences are stored. This is a binaryfile which you cannot edit. The preferences have to be set from the menu.

HISTORY
The first version was written in 1989 for MS-Dog. Not long thereafter (in 1990) it was ported to the local Prime system at the Eindhoven Polytechnic. The Unix terminal-version became available in 1992 together with the MS Windows- version. The Macintosh version became available in 1992. In 1994, the X-version was written and released in 1995 after minor bugfixes.

AUTHORS
The MS-DOS, UNIX, Macintosh and this version as well as the whole game-concept is (c) copyrighted by Maarten Los. Prime version (c) Jac Goudsmit, Joran Jessurun, Richard Moeskops and me. MS Windows version (c) Jac Goudsmit.

Send all comments and bug-reports to:

maarten@djoe.iaf.nl

BUGS
The argument parsing is poor. Arguments have to be given one by one each starting with a '-' sign. The preferences are stored in a very Unix-unlike way, a not editable binary file. The locking system of the multiuser scorefile watcher is poor. The sound is also poor. In fact, there isn't any sound at all.

DISCLAIMER
All brandnames listed are trademarks of their respective owners. See also the Copyright notice that comes with the source code.