Copyright: BloX Software, May 2000, BloX@hotmail.com
Citation: (Help was generated using Unregistered Version S2.0 of WhizNotes(TM))


About BloX Software

www.albania.demon.nl/blox/index.html

LogiBlocks is BloX Software's first released program. BloX Software has no current projects, but we thinking about creating another puzzle game, if LogiBlocks is played by enough people.

If you are interested in joining BloX Software and you are good at either artwork or programming, email BloX Software at this address:

Blox@albania.demon.nl*

or

write to:

Hilko Blok

KP 11

Durrës

Albania

*Note that the address might not work, check out the BloX Software website at www.albania.demon.nl/blox/index.html for out current address.


About LogiBlocks

LogiBlocks is a puzzle game very much like the game minesweeper that comes with Windows.

Even though there are similarities with Minesweeper, LogiBlocks is a totally different game. Personally, I think logiBlocks is a lot harder, more complicated and more fun than Minesweeper, but you'll have to decide for yourself.

I created LogiBlocks after playing a game called "Japanese Puzzles" in a puzzle magazine. The object of the game was to find out which squares had to be colored. If done correctly, the result would be a picture.

To make the game more interesting for the computer, I added the Minesweeper 'element'; If a player uncovers the wrong square he loses etc.

I added many extra elements in the computer version, but unfortunately I had to remove one element from the game. As I said, finishing the paper version resulted in a picture formed by the colored squares. In the computer version the squares are placed randomly on the screen and so do not form a picture. This is only a minor thing and doesn't alter the game much.

I hope you will enjoy playing the game as much as I enjoyed creating and testing it!

Hilko Blok

BloX Software


Contents

BlokLogiBlocks 1.0	RELEASE VERSION

Welcome to LogiBlocks' online Help.

Please choose a topic:

Introduction

About LogiBlocks

About BloX Software

The Game

How to play

Mouse controls

Tips & Tricks

BloX Software © May 2000

Hilko Blok


How to play

The object of LogiBlocks is to find all the mines, which are scattered around the main grid. Of course you shouldn't just guess where the mines are placed. Using numbers, LogiBlocks can help you find out where the mines are.

You will use three grids in the game. The biggest grid is where the main action is and thus is called the Main grid. The other two grids are there you give you hint about the locations of the mines and thus are called Hint grids.

The easiest way to learn the game is with an example an example:

A row in a LogiBlocks game may look like this:

The 10 to the left means that there is a cluster of ten mines in that row. With cluster I mean a row of mines without empty spaces in between.

I this case it's easy. There are only ten squares so all ten of them should be colored.

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If we add another row, this is what it looks like:

To the left there are two numbers. 7 and 2. This means there are two clusters in this row. The FIRST cluster is a cluster of 7 squares. The second cluster is a cluster of 2 squares.

There should be at least ONE empty square in between two clusters, but there can be more.

In this case it is also easy, because there is only one way to fit the two clusters in this row.

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Let's add yet another row:

This time it's a lot harder. Now there are 3 possible ways to do 'solve' this row..

1. one empty, one filled, one empty, seven filled.

2. one filled, two empty, seven filled.

3. one filled, one empty, seven filled, one empty.

What should you do then? To start, there are SIX squares that are colored, no matter how you solve the row. Which squares? See for yourself:

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Try to figure out why these squares are always colored!

I hope you now know how to 'interpret' the hint grids.

There are many tricks, which are hard to explain, but as you play you will discover them.

For extra information and some of the tricks, please go to the Tips & Tricks section.


Mouse controls

In LogiBlocks you will use the mouse for many purposes.

Main grid

On the main grid you can use both the left and right mouse buttons.

By left-clicking you uncover a mine. If there wasn't a mine at that square, you lose.

By right-clicking you place a Dot. The Dot can be placed anywhere and it's main purpose is to mark squares that DON'T have a mine underneath. Use this function a lot! It can save you time and it can protect you from mistakes.

By right- or left-clicking on square with a dot, the dot will disappear.

Hint grids

By clicking on a square in one of the hint grids, you place a checkmark. Use this when you have uncovered an associated cluster of squares. That way you can remember which clusters you have found and which you still have to find.

By clicking on a square with a checkmark you will erase it.


Tips & Tricks

•	 The Dot isn't just useful to mark empty spaces. It can also be used if you're counting something or if you just want to 'mark' something. Use it for many purposes!

•	 Remember that you can save the game if you are playing on professional difficulty.

•	 If you want to delete the high score tables, go to LogiBlocks' main folder. There are four different files, one for each difficulty.

•	 Sometimes you can fill in an entire row, because there is only one way for the clusters to fit.

•	 Never forget to mark the numbers in the hint grids whenever you uncover a cluster. It can save you a lot of counting

•	 It happens that a game cannot be solved without guessing at the end. This is especially annoying if you are at the end of a Profesional difficulty game. A way so you don't have to guess: Save the game. Click on the solve button. Remember the position of the mines, reload the game, and fill in the missing squares.

•	 In 256 color mode the game looks really ugly. You can avoid this by turning the background texture off. You can do this from the File menu.