2. How to Play
2.1 The Menu Bar
Before the topics about how to play the game, here is a brief introduction to the buttons of the 'Menu Bar' and their function:

 

Figure 10 : Menu Bar

 
  1. Control Buttons : The first two buttons of this zone doesn't need too much explanation; they have the same function of the 'Minimize' and 'Exit' buttons of any standard window.
    The 'arrow' button hides the menu bar. To restore this bar press Esc.
  2. Play Button : Pressing this button will start the game. After that, it becomes the Stop Button. The shortcut for this button (Play or Stop) is F10.
  3. Configuration Button : This button bring access to the 'Configuration Menu' described in the chapters 3 and 4. The corresponding shortcut is F11.
  4. Information Button : This button bring access to the 'Information Menu', which includes this help, the shortcut list, the records and the 'about' box. The corresponding shortcut is F12.

 
2.2 Starting a Game
As mentioned in the topic 2.1, to begin a new game you have to press the Play button, or the F10 key. Then, the 'Previous Information' window will appear. The information provided by this window will depend on the Game Mode selected. Here are the different windows and their info: 

 

Figure 11 : Information Window previous to a 'Single Game'

 
The Figure 11 shows the window that appears before a single game:
  1. Before any game, no matter which game mode has been selected, the IP (Initial Pattern) and OP (Objective Pattern) will be shown at the top of the window. This zone also indicates from where the patterns have been taken. Read the topic 3.3 for more details.
  2. Moves and Time Limitations : This zone indicates the limitations of the 'Puzzle' file selected. Read the topic 3.4 for more details.
  3. Play Button : Click here to start playing.

Figure 12 : Information Window previous to a game 'Against Computer'

 
The Figure 12 shows the window that appears before a game against computer (read the topic 3.5 for more details about this game mode):
  1. Idem last figure.
  2. This zone shows the opponent's score. In this game mode, you and the computer play in turns, so before the game of the first player (when there's no opp. score) this zone stays disabled. This is the case of the example.
  3. When is the turn to play of the computer, this zone indicates the speed and accuracy selected, otherwise it stays disabled.
  4. This zone indicates who have to play next.
  5. Press this button to watch the computer's game or start playing yourself, depending on the turn.

 

Figure 13 : Information Window previous to a 'Campaign' Game

 
The Figure 13 shows the window that appears before a campaign game.
  1. Idem last figure.
  2. This zone indicates the limitations of the campaign level that you're about to play.
  3. Here are shown the name of the current campaign and the progress to its completion.
  4. This zone indicates the next level and the total number of levels.
  5. Play Button : Click here to start playing the next level.
2.3 How to Move Tiles
In Tilerama, the only way to move the tiles is using the mouse; there's no keyboard support for this function.
You can still choose to use the 'Mouse Wheel' (where available) or not, setting the corresponding option. In this topic both methods are described.

2.3.1 Moving tiles without the mouse wheel

When the mouse wheel option is disabled, the cursor is represented by a hand (as shown in the Figure 14).

 

Figure 14 : Example of a move without using the mouse wheel

 
 Follow the next steps to make a movement:
  1. Place the cursor over the tile you want to move.
  2. Click any mouse button (the cursor changes to a 'grabbing' hand).
  3. Move the cursor in the wanted direction. If the movement is not valid, the corresponding IMI will appear, otherwise the move will be performed.
  4. Repeat the step 3 until you want to move other tile or simply stop the movement.
  5. Release the button (the cursor changes to the original hand).


2.3.2 Moving tiles using the mouse wheel

When the mouse wheel option is enabled, the cursor is represented by a couple of arrows (as shown in the Figure 15 .. the words 'up' and 'down' aren't part of the cursor).

 

Figure 15 : Examples of moves using the mouse wheel

 
 In this case, follow the next steps to make a movement:
  1. Place the cursor over the tile you want to move.
  2. If you want to move the tile UP or DOWN, move the wheel in that direction (as shown at the left of the figure 15).
    If you want to move the tile to the LEFT or RIGHT, first click any mouse button (the cursor changes to another couple of arrows, but oriented horizontally), and then move the mouse wheel up for a move to the left, or down for a move to the right (as shown at the right of the figure 15).
    If the movement is not valid, the corresponding IMI will appear, otherwise the move will be performed.
  3. If you've pressed a button in the step 2, release it (the cursor changes to the original couple of arrows, vertically oriented).
A final comment about tile's control : The use of the mouse wheel is highly recommended in boards without empty spaces, that is, boards where movements are performed only by flow elements (i.e. Classic A xx , Atom X xc, etc.), but it becomes useless in boards with empty spaces (i.e. Classic B xx).
2.4 Information During a Game
Once the game start, at the bottom of the board you'll see the next information:

 

Figure 16 : Information during the game.

 
  1. At the left is shown the player's name (defined in the options window) and the game mode selected. If you're playing a campaign game, in this zone is also indicated the current level.
  2. At the right is shown the number of moves performed and the time elapsed at the moment  (189 moves and 109 seconds in this example).
When you're not playing any game, in this zone is indicated the name of the board, puzzle or campaign and its author.

Another information that you may need during the game is the OP. To show or hide the 'Objective' window press the Space Bar. A window like this will appear in the upper-left corner of the board:

 

Figure 17 : 'Objective' Window.

 
As you can see, in this window are also indicated the moves and/or time limitations of the current game.
2.5 Pause - Abort Game
When you're playing a game, is possible to pause the action by pressing the Stop button (see topic 2.1) or the F10 key. Then, the timer will be stopped and the tiles will disappear, leaving the board completely empty (in order to avoid the possibility to 'think' a solution without time elapsing, which would be cheating). The next window will appear:

 

Figure 18 : 'Game Paused' Window

 

To go back to the game, select the option 'Back to Game' and click on the 'Ok' Button, or directly press the B key. To abort the game, select the option 'Abort Game' and click on the 'Ok' Button, or directly press the A key.
2.6 Game Results
There are three possible game endings:
  1. Abort the Game (as described in the previous topic).
  2. Reach the Moves or Time Limits.
  3. Solve the Puzzle.
When you finish a game without aborting (that is, excepting the first possibility) a 'Game Results' window will appear, and, similar to the 'Previous Information' windows described in the topic 2.2, the information provided will depend on the game mode selected.
  • If you're playing a 'single game', all the information provided will be the total moves and time used (if you solve the puzzle) or the moves or time reached (if you've lost the game because of the limitations).

  • If you're playing a 'game against computer' the information provided will be the same, but also a 'Game Results' window will appear:

Figure 19 : 'Game Results' Window after a game against computer

 

In this window is indicated both human and computer scores, their difference, and the winners in the categories 'Fewest Moves' and 'Fastest Time'.

  • If you're playing a 'campaign game' the information provided will be the same, and the next window will appear:

Figure 20 : 'Game Results' Window after a campaign game

 

In this example the campaign has not been completed. The window indicates the total progress, time and moves performed. 
Finally, after the corresponding 'Game Results' window, another window will possibly appear if some record has been made, informing about the position achieved:

 

Figure 21 : 'Records Obtained' Window

 

Click on 'See Records' to open the 'Top 10 Scores' window, or press 'OK' to close this window. Read the topic 5.1 for more details about records.