xtrojka - a game of skill. xtrojka [-scores] [-help] [-debug] [X11 options] Display high-scores. Show a short help text. Show a bunch of debug messages. Specifies the display on which xtrojka will be run. See X(1) for further details. 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.

The TROJKA Menu

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

Abort game finish a game by selecting this menu option.

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.

Slick With this option you can choose between slick shadowed blocks, or unicolored blocks.

Quit Well, this item quits the program.

The 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.

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

20 Left arrow,h left

Right arrow,l right

Insert, Down arrow ,j,<SPACE> drop

Up arrow, k increase speed

15 __SCOREDIR__ The xtrojka highscore file

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

In 1989 the very first version was written for MS-Dog. In 1990 the game was ported to PRIMOS, running on the local Prime system at the Eindhoven Polytechnic. In 1991 versions were written for Windows and the Commodore Amiga. In 1992 the Unix terminal-version became available The Apple Macintosh version was released in 1993. In 1994 the X-version 1.0 was written and released in 1995 after minor bugfixes. An OS/2 version was written in 1996. See also the README file for a more complete version history of the X-version. The MS-DOS, UNIX, Macintosh and this version as well as the whole game-concept is copyrighted by Maarten Los. Prime version (c) Jac Goudsmit, Joran Jessurun, Richard Moeskops and me. Amiga version (c) Joran Jessurun and Richard Moeskops. MS Windows version (c) Jac Goudsmit. OS/2 version (c) Edwin Groothuis

Send all comments and bug-reports to:

maarten@djoe.iaf.nl

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.

Some strings are compiled-in, especially the ones shown when the game isn't initialized for X yet. This prevents setting them all from a the application resource file.

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