gtkballs(6)
A simple logic game
SYNOPSIS
gtkballs
[options]
DESCRIPTION
This manual page documents
GtkBalls.
GtkBalls
is a simple logic game. The goal of this game is to make the highest score
by matching a number of balls of the same color in a horizontal, vertical or
diagonal line. For further information on how to play this game refer to the
rules section in this manual page.
OPTIONS
- --display [hostname:dpy]
-
Specify what display GtkBalls should use. See
X
(1x) for more information on the syntax of hostname and display.
RULES
The standard play area of GtkBalls is a 9x9 grid (it can be changed through
"Rules" option in ingame menu). When GtkBalls is first started a number of
balls are placed in a random manner on the grid. Balls are in different colors
(and/or shape). You may move balls on the grid by selecting them and selecting
an empty square on the grid as destination for the ball you selected. Balls
will only move if they are not blocked by other balls. Each time you move a
ball, unless you score some points, new balls appear in a random manner on the
grid. If the grid is full then the game is lost. However this is bound to
happen, your goal is to make the highest score. In order to do this you must
make lines in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal way with balls of the same
color. By default a line must have at least five balls of the same color (it
can also be changed through "Rules" option in ingame menu). Making a line of
minimum amount of the balls, specifed in rules, will earn you twice the points
for your score. If you make lines over minimum amount of the balls it will earn
you even more points. In order to help you decide which ball you are going to
move, there is an indicator on top of the grid that shows what colors the next
balls that will appear on the grid will be.
USING THE INTERFACE
GtkBalls is a graphical program using the Gtk+ windowing toolkit. This section
describes it's user interface.
THE GAME MENU
- New
-
Selecting this menu entry will abandon the current game and start a new one or
start another game if you just finished one. You may use the keyboard shortcut
CTRL-N
to do this also.
- Rules
-
Selecting this menu entry will open "Rules" dialog box, where you can set board
width and height, number of different objects to appear on the board, number
of objects that will appear on the board after each turn and number of
objects that must form the line to eliminate it. You may use the keyboard
shortcut
CTRL-R
to do this also.
- Save
-
Selecting this menu entry will open "Save game" dialog box, where you can save
current game to play it later. You may use the keyboard shortcut
CTRL-S
to do this also.
- Load
-
Selecting this menu entry will open "Load game" dialog box, where you can load
previously saved game. You may use the keyboard shortcut
CTRL-L
to do this also.
- Hall Of Fame
-
Selecting this menu entry will open a dialog box showing the high scores. Only
the ten best scores are shown. This dialog also displays the name of the person
who achieved a high score and it's date. You may use the keyboard shortcut
CTRL-H
to do this also.
- Quit
-
Selecting this menu entry will quit GtkBalls. You may use the keyboard shortcut
CTRL-Q
to do the same thing.
THE EDIT MENU
- Undo
-
Selecting this menu entry will undo your last move. You may use the keyboard
shortcut
CTRL-U
to do this also.
THE SETTINGS MENU
- Preferences
-
Selecting this menu entry will open the "Preferences" dialog box. You may use
the keyboard shortcut
CTRL-P
to open it also.
This dialog box allows you to set some options. Click on a check box to
activate or deactivate them. Click on the theme name to select it.
Then click on the
Apply
button to save your settings or click on
Ok
button to save your settings and close this dialog box.
You can disable the showing of footprints,
path of the ball, color of the next balls indicator, animation of disappearing
of the ball and set time limit per move from this dialog box.
THE HELP MENU
- Rules
-
Selecting this menu entry will display a dialog box describing rules of the
game. You may use the keyboard shortcut
F1
to open it also.
- About
-
Selecting this menu entry will display a dialog with the logo and the
copyright information of GtkBalls. You may use the keyboard shortcut
CTRL-A
to open it also. For more details on the license, click
on the
Show license
button. This will open another dialog box where you can read the GNU General
Public License.
COPYRIGHT
GtkBalls
is copyright 1998, 1999 Eugene V. Morozov under the terms of the GNU
General Public License.
GtkBalls
is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms
of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
Foundation; either version 2 of the license, or (at your option) any
later version.
