XTETRIS(1) XTETRIS(1)
NAME
xtetris - X Window block dropping game
SYNOPSIS
xtetris [ X options ]
DESCRIPTION
Xtetris is a game involving dropping blocks. As they drop
you can move them to the left or to the right by clicking
the left or right mouse buttons respectively. Pressing the
shift key while clicking the button causes the falling
shape to rotate anti-clockwise (left mouse button) or
clockwise (right mouse button). Pressing the middle mouse
button causes the shape to quickly drop. Note that the
mouse must be in the window in which the shapes are drop-
ping for these actions to work correctly.
You can also use the keyboard: h for moving to the left, l
for moving to the right, j to rotate clockwise, k to
rotate counter-clockwise and space for dropping quickly..
You can also use the direction pad, if your keyboard has
one: (Left) to move left, (Down) to rotate clockwise, (Up)
to rotate counter clockwise, and (Right) to move right.
Points are scored for each block that comes to rest on the
gradually building up pile of blocks. Different blocks in
different orientations have different point values. When
the pile reaches the top of the screen and no further
blocks can be dropped the game ends. When a row of blocks
across the screen is completely filled, that row is
removed and all the blocks above it drop down. As more
rows are deleted the blocks drop faster.
A high score table is kept which is retained between sepa-
rate executions of the game. You can avoid recording your
score, by using the -noscore option.
Xtetris requires the installation of an application
defaults file, probably in the file /usr/lib/X11/app-
defaults/Xtetris. If that file does not exist, xtetris
cannot run. (It will probably print out something like
"Width zero. Terminating.") Almost everything about
xtetris can be configured in your .X11defaults file. You
can use the application defaults file as a guide.
OPTIONS
Xtetris takes standard X options (see X(1)). It adds the
following:
-boxsize boxsize
Specifies the width of the square blocks that com-
pose the falling objects. The overall size of the
game board adjusts to boxsize.
15 Sept 1991 1
XTETRIS(1) XTETRIS(1)
-noscore
Runs xtetris without recording your score, or
showing you the score file when you have finished
the game.
-score Runs xtetris using the scorefile, if it exists.
-speed speed
Sets the game's speed. By default speed is 10.
20 causes the game to be 2 times faster, 5 makes
it 2 times slower. "-speed 50" makes for an
extremely fast game, however you will need a fast
processor to support it. Keep in mind that as you
knock out rows, the game's speed increases. If
you set your speed below the standard of 10, your
score will not be recorded in the score file.
-color
-bw Determines whether to use the color or black-and-
white application-defaults file. This sets the
new X11R5 "customization" resource to ".c" or
".bw", depending on your choice.
FILES
/usr/lib/X11/tetris_scores
/usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/Xtetris
/usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/Xtetris.c
/usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/Xtetris.bw
Top 10 high scores.
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
XTETRIS
If set, your desired name for the high score table.
BUGS
A bug in X11R5 makes the /usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/Xtetris
necessary: the pop-up score-box and about-box do not get a
propagated "customization" resource.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 1991, Daniel R. Greening, Didier Tallot, Phill
Everson, and Martyn Shortley.
AUTHORS
Dan Greening, Didier Tallot, Phill Everson, Martyn Short-
ley, and Adam Marguilies.
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