0. Introduction
0.1 Overview
Tilerama is a tile-based puzzle game. Your objective is to slide the tiles from a given initial pattern (called IP) to an objective pattern (called OP). The game allows you to play a wide variety of puzzles; from the classic picture-slide square, to complex patterns of colored tiles.
0.2 Game Features (and some history)
The idea of this game was born with the well-known 'Sliding Puzzles' in which you must slide the tiles to their original location, to rebuild a scrambled picture. Movements in these kind of puzzles are possible because of an empty space located, generally, in the right-bottom corner of the board, and the level of difficulty is achieved by varying the dimensions of the board. A variation of this game, in which there's no empty space and the tiles slide vertically or horizontally from one side of the board to the opposite, was also an inspiration. The first attempt of Tilerama included both variations, with a few board dimensions allowed.

Then, several features were added to the original game concept:
  • Multiple shapes : Initially, only 'square pictures' of different dimensions were available (3x3, 4x4 and 5x5 tiles). A newer version of Tilerama allowed any shape formed by tiles. At this point, the 'board editor' is born to edit and manage the different boards of the game. Today's board editor is almost the same. (read 'The Board' for more details)
  • Jumps and Turns : In the variation of the 'Sliding Puzzle' described above (without empty spaces), small bars positioned outside the board indicated that a tile that came out in that side re-entered in the opposite side. This bars were called 'Jumps', and in a newer version of the game, the 'Jump In' and 'Jump Out' could be positioned anywhere, not only in opposite sides. Then 'Turns' were created as small points (also outside the board) to allow tiles to turn their direction in the corners (read 'Flow Elements' for more details).
  • Colored Tiles : Thanks to the features mentioned above, the puzzles became very hard to solve, and then colored tiles were created to make things easier. When you have to rebuild a scrambled picture, there is a specific position for every single tile, but when you have to rebuild a pattern of colored tiles, several tiles may be positioned correctly in several positions, making the same pattern. 
  • Compound Pieces : To make things harder again, newer versions included 'Compound Pieces', that is, several tiles linked together making 'poliminoes' (as the pieces in Tetris-like games).
  • Time and Moves Limits : Finally, 'Time' and 'Moves' limitations were added to make the game even harder. This feature also introduced the difference between 'board' and 'puzzle' files. (read 'Game Files' for more details).
As you can see, the game is extremely versatile; enough to become a platform for a lot of different 'Sliding Puzzles', which is its main purpose. 
0.3 Other Features
Besides the game features, Tilerama offers :
  • 3 Game Modes : 'Single Game' , 'Against Computer' (in turns) and 'Campaign' (several puzzles played successively).
  • Skin support : The graphics of the board and tiles can be customized individually, and if the puzzle includes a picture, this can be replaced with any external JPG or BMP image.
  • Customizable Sounds and Music : The user can change the WAV files used for sound effects, and the MIDI file used as ingame music.
  • Top 10 Scores : Every puzzle and every game-mode have their own 'Top 10 Scores' in two categories : 'Fewest Moves' and 'Fastest Times'.
  • Player's Log File : The game writes a 'Log File' for every player, to keep track of all their events.
  • Official Web Site : In Tilerama's web site you can find a lot of extra resources, including more puzzles, skins and sounds. There are also available the editors, as free as the game, to create your own puzzles and campaigns.
0.4 Version History (What was new in v1.3)
  • 'Target Zone' support : Since v1.3, the pieces of the board outside a specified 'Target Zone' do not matter; a puzzle will be considered solved if the pieces inside the target zone are in place, ignoring the others. By default, the entire board is considered as target zone.
  • Load and Save Game : In v1.0, the possibility to save a game was restricted to the use of cheats. Since v1.3, this feature isn't considered a cheat anymore, allowing the access to Top 10 Scores.
  • New Options : The 'general options' window has been updated with 3 new features : 'Auto-load GB+TS couples', 'Show OP when the game starts' and 'Show non-target zone during the game'.
  • Restart Game : You can restart the actual puzzle at any time, pausing the game and choosing 'Restart' or pressing the R key.
  • New shortcuts and buttons : Several shortcuts were added, according to the new features of the game. New buttons were added to some windows as well, such as a 'Refresh' button in the graphics cfg window, and a 'Play Again' button after losing a puzzle game.
  • New Puzzles : v1.3 includes 12 Puzzle Files (and a Campaign using them), named 'Blocked 1.3 xx', specially designed to demonstrate the 'Target Zone' support. 
  • New graphics : The 'Default' skin provided with v1.3 includes extended background, and the computer's white hand (shown during a game against computer) has been replaced by a cyan hand.
  • Some minor bugs have been also fixed.
0.5 What's new in Version 1.4?
  • Custom Random Moves : Version 1.4 includes a new setting for single games with random IP's : you can define the exact number of random moves that the computer will perform to scramble the board. By default, this number is defined by the game, based on the quantity of tiles of the board.
  • Pattern Support for the Editors Pack : Since v1.4, the Tilerama's Editors Pack is included in the same installation file of the game. Version 1.4 of these editors allow users to save and load single patterns; these patterns can't be used directly for the game, but makes the puzzle creation easier.
  • New Game : Tilerama v1.4 includes Tilerama MG, a memory game based on Tilerama's engine. This game also shares resources with Tilerama 'Classic', such as boards, graphics, sounds and music.