3-D - PITFALL Copyright (C) 1994 by J. Shramko All Rights Reserved This shareware version of 3-D - PITFALL is identical to the registered version in all regards except that it contains a limited set of 14 different geometric shapes. The registered version contains over 80 different shapes, including special "melter" and "bomber" objects, as described below. You may obtain the registered version as well as a hint sheet by sending $12 to: John Shramko P.O. Box 20480 Newark, NJ 07101 USA INTRODUCTION: As the game starts, an "active" block appears at the top of the pit. It will gradually fall to the bottom, and "freeze" into fixed cubes when it hits bottom, or if it lands on top of a previously fixed cube. When an entire layer of 25 cubes is filled, it disappears and the fixed cubes above fall down one layer. The game is over when an active block can no longer enter the pit due to the high level of fixed cubes. The goal is to "plug up the holes" on each layer so that they will disappear and there is then room for more active blocks to enter the pit. GETTING STARTED: At the Main Menu screen, you can press Enter to start the game, or you may want to change some options. Pressing "p" for Speed Level will change the amount of time the active block remains at each level before falling one level closer to the bottom of the pit. Higher speed level settings give shorter times, but also score more points. Pressing "k", for Skill Level, varies the number of randomly placed, fixed blocks present at the start of the game, from none at skill level 1, to 16 blocks on the lower layers at level 5. Higher skill level settings are more challenging and give higher scores. Other options can be changed by pressing the "c" key for the Customize Menu. Colors can be changed pressing the appropriate keys, from "a" to "u". The number of possible combinations available can make every game unique! You can change the pit depth to either 9, 12 or 16 layers, using the "v" key. Also on the Customize Menu is the Quick Moves option, the "w" key. Set at Normal, the blocks will smoothly shift from one position to another. In Faster mode, the block jumps from one position to another. In Fastest mode, the block is seen only as a wire frame, which also jumps from one position to another. The Normal setting is the most aesthetically pleasing, but runs slower than the other modes. If you have a slower machine, or have developed greater skill, try one of the fast modes. The "x" key chooses the Block Set to be used. The Small set consists of 12 kinds of blocks, each made from 1, 2, 3, or 4 cubes. The Medium set consists of the small set plus 29 different blocks, each made from 5 cubes. The medium set also has exploding Black Bombers and liquefying White Melters. The Large set includes a percentage of 6-cube blocks, selected from a total of about 40 types. Only the Small set is included in the Shareware version. Please register for the full version. PLAYING THE GAME: The active block appears at the top of the pit, in the upper left corner. You can shift its position using the arrow keys or the numeric keypad (with the "num lock" light off). Rotate the block using the "q", "w", and "e" keys or the "a", "s", and "d" keys. (Technically, the rotations will be around the x, y, and z axes, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.) This may seem tricky at first, but with a bit of patience, you'll get the hang of it. Try the arrow keys with the right hand, and the letter keys with the left hand. The left thumb is also useful for hitting the space bar, which drops the block from its current height. This makes the game quicker and also affects scoring, as you will see below. The "Backspace" key pauses the game until a key is pressed, and the "Esc" key exits the game. The number of fixed blocks in each layer is listed in the column of numbers on the left. For instance, 24 means that only one space in that layer remains to be filled, at which time the layer will disappear and the fixed cubes above it fall down one layer. ACTIVE BLOCKS: An active block consists of up to 6 cubes. It is the only block that you can move with the keys. It freezes upon hitting the pit floor or landing on a previously frozen block. If possible, another active block then enters the top of the pit. There are two special blocks: White Melters, and Black Bombers. Melters burn a hole through to the bottom of the pit. This may make the game tougher, because then there are more holes to fill. On the other hand, it may open up a passage that may be helpful when "tunneling" (more on that later). Bombers dissolve all fixed blocks just under whatever level they hit. This is a help, because it gives you more "breathing room" in the pit to work with. Register today for the latest version of 3-D - PITFALL!!!