#
-# Netris -- A free networked version of Tetris
-# Copyright (C) 1994,1995 Mark Weaver <Mark_Weaver@brown.edu>
+# Netris -- A free networked version of T*tris
+# Copyright (C) 1994-1996,1999 Mark H. Weaver <mhw@netris.org>
#
# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
# modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
# Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
#
-# $Id: README,v 1.19 1995/07/11 07:50:45 mhw Exp $
+# $Id: README,v 1.21 1999/05/16 06:56:22 mhw Exp $
#
This is an unfinished developmental version of Netris, a free
-networked version of Tetris. It is distributed under the terms
+networked version of T*tris. It is distributed under the terms
of the GNU General Public License, which is described in the
-file "COPYING" included with this distribution.
+file "COPYING" included with this distribution. For more
+information about GNU and the Free Software Foundation,
+check out <http://www.gnu.org/>.
In order to compile Netris you will need gcc. You may be able to
compile it with another ANSI C compiler, but if you attempt this
It's been built and tested on at least the following systems:
- NetBSD-1.0
- NetBSD-current July 9, 1995
- Linux
- SunOS 4.1.1, 4.1.3, 5.3
+ GNU/Linux
+ FreeBSD 2.1.5, 2.1.6, 2.2
+ NetBSD 1.0, 1.1
+ SunOS 4.1.1, 4.1.3
+ Solaris 2.3, 2.4
HP-UX
If Netris doesn't build on your favorite system "out-of-the-box",
I encourage you to mail me context diffs to fix the problem so I
can fold it into the next version.
+Netris should build cleanly on 64-bit systems such as the Alpha,
+although you might need to edit the definitions for netint{2,4},
+hton{2,4}, and ntoh{2,4} in netris.h. Alpha users, please let me know
+how it goes, and send me diffs if needed!
+
See the FAQ in this directory if you have any problems.
+
+NEW IN VERSION 0.5
+==================
+Netris now specifically looks for ncurses and uses color if it's
+available, unless the -C option is given. Thanks to A.P.J. van Loo
+<cobra@multiweb.nl> for providing code which these changes are
+based on.
+
+
INSTALLATION
============
1. Run "./Configure" to create a Makefile and config.h appropriate
Try "./Configure -h" for more options
+
RUNNING
=======
To start a two-player game, do the following:
1. Player 1 types "netris -w". This means "wait for challenge".
2. Player 2 types "netris -c <host>" where <host> is the hostname
- of Player 1. This means "challenge". Player 1 must be waiting
- when this command is typed.
+ of Player 1. This means "challenge".
To start a one-player game, run netris with no parameters.
One-player mode is a tad boring at the moment, because it never
gets any faster, and there's no scoring. This will be rectified
-at some point.
-
-To get usage, type "netris -h".
-To use a port number other than the default, use the -p option.
-To provide compatibility with the older protocol version, use
- the -o option.
+at some point. For now, use the "f" key (by default) to make the
+game go faster. Speedups cannot be reversed for the remainder of
+the game.
-I plan on implementing a server that Netris players can connect to
-to find other players with similar skill across the globe.
+Unlike standard T*tris, Netris gives you a little extra time after
+dropping a piece before it solidifies. This allows you to slide the
+piece into a notch without waiting for it to fall the whole way down.
+In fact, if you can even slide it off a cliff and it'll start falling
+again. If you think it should automatically drop again in this case,
+use the -D option.
The keys are:
'j' left
'm' down faster
's' toggle spying on the other player
'p' pause
- 'f' make game faster
+ 'f' make game faster (irreversible)
+ Ctrl-L redraw the screen
-You can remap the keys using the -k option. The default is:
- netris -k "jkl mspf"
+To see usage information, type "netris -h".
+To see distribution/warranty information, type "netris -H".
+To see the rules, type "netris -R".
+To use a port number other than the default, use the -p option.
-This version now at least partially supports robots. A rough description
+You can remap the keys with "-k <keys>", where <keys> is a string
+containing the keys in the order listed above. The default is:
+ netris -k "jkl mspf^l"
+
+You needn't specify all of the keys, for example -k "asd" will only
+change the main three keys. "^x" notation can be used for control
+characters.
+
+The "m" key moves the falling piece down one block, in addition to the
+usual step-down timer. Use this in repetition when "drop" would go
+too far but you don't want to wait for the piece of fall.
+
+
+RUMORS
+======
+At some point I may implement a server that Netris players can connect
+to to find other players with similar skill across the globe.
+
+This version at least partially supports robots. A rough description
of the protocol is in "robot_desc", and a sample robot is in sr.c.
+
+The source code should be viewed with tab stops set every 4 columns,
+eg, "less -x4 game.c".
+
+# vi: tw=70 ai