QUADRA FAQ/Guide File
Version: 1.0.1 (First Public Release)
Author: DAC (aka ComDAC)
Email: comdac@hotmail.com
Web: www.quadraplayers.cjb.net
Last Changed: 11/10/99 - 18:44:54
This document is (C) 1999 DAC.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
|__ __| __| |__ |__ __ | | __ __| | |__| |__|
| |__|__ __|__ __ __|__ __| |__|__ __|__|__ __ __|__ __|__ __ __|
|__ | | | CONTENTS | |__|__ |__ |
| |__|__ __| |__Q__U__A__D__R__A__ __F__A__Q__|__ __ __|__ __| |
|__ __ __|__ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__|
[1] Introduction
[1-1] Copyright
[1-2] Disclaimer
[2] Quadra Basics
[2-1] What is Quadra?
[2-2] Controls
[2-3] The Pieces
[2-4] What to do with the pieces.
[3] Single Player
[3-1] The aim of the game
[3-2] How the scoring works
[3-3] Eh? How do you clear so many lines at once?
[3-4] How do you get really good high scores?
[4] Multiplayer
[4-1] The different Multiplayer Games
[4-2] How multiplayer games work
[4-3] Create Game options
[4-4] The user interface and its options
[4-5] Pausing Multiplayer Games
[4-6] Multiplayer Game Recordings
[4-7] Multiplayer Tips
[4-8] Frag - How is it defined?
[5] Options Menu
[6] Player Setup Menu
[7] Demo Central
[8] Highscores
[9] QUADRA PLAYING TIPS!!!
[10] Closing FAQ info
[10-1] Document History/Updates
[10-2] Credits
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
|__ __| __| |__ |__ __ | | __ __| | |__| |__|
| |__|__ __|__ __ __|__ __| |__|__ __|__|__ __ __|__ __|__ __ __|
|__ | | | [1] Introduction | |__|__ |__ |
| |__|__ __| |__Q__U__A__D__R__A__ __F__A__Q__|__ __ __|__ __| |
|__ __ __|__ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__|
This document is intented to help people play Quadra.
This is my first FAQ file and I made it to inform the public about
the game 'Quadra' by LudusDesign. Send all comments, questions,
suggestions, complaints, praises, and anything else to:
comdac@hotmail.cjb.net
And don't forget to check out the number 1 place on the net for
Quadra Players:
http://www.quadraplayers.cjb.net
Quadra Players - "We do great Quadra Stuff for you!"
Oh, If you want to show off how much you like Quadra and the
quadraplayers web site, you can have a totally free email mask.
Thats right get "yournamehere@quadraplayers.cjb.net" which will
redirect all email sent to that address to your normal email
address. Its totally free so just email me (comdac@hotmail.com)
and I will make it for you!
---------------
[1-1] Copyright
---------------
This document is (C) 1999 DAC
You may distribute this Document as long as the following conditions
are met:
1. You do not sell it
2. You do not edit anypart of it
3. You contact the author (DAC) and ask for permission
4. You distribute the latest version of this Document
5. The file are in electronics format only and not on CD
Quadra is a trade mark of Ludus Design, (C) 1998-1999 Ludus Design.
Ludus Design's Web Site is http://www.ludusdesign.com
----------------
[1-2] Disclaimer
----------------
Although care has been taken in writing this Document, the author
(DAC) can not be help response for anything which arises from using
the information contained in this document. The information in this
document is at this time unofficiail, and all questions/replies
reguarding this FAQ shoud be sent to: dac@quadraplayers.cjb.net.
The information in this document may not be correct and may contain
errors and/or omissions, though I did try my best =)
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
|__ __| __| |__ |__ __ | | __ __| | |__| |__|
| |__|__ __|__ __ __|__ __| |__|__ __|__|__ __ __|__ __|__ __ __|
|__ | | | [2] Quadra Basics | |__|__ |__ |
| |__|__ __| |__Q__U__A__D__R__A__ __F__A__Q__|__ __ __|__ __| |
|__ __ __|__ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__|
---------------------
[2-1] What is Quadra?
---------------------
Quadra is a great puzzle game by. Quadra is like Tetris but features
a kind of "gravity" so loose blocks fall down until they get stuck.
This enables you to clear massive amouts of lines at once, infact if
you built up the blocks correctly, you could use 1 piece to take out
15 or even more lines! Quadra is a fast, fun and very addictive game
which comes with full internet support! You can download Quadra for a
totally free 1 month trial from. And after you try it for a whole
month you can register your version for just $10, what a bargain!
Quadra Features:
Windows and Linux versions.
Totally Free multiplayer internet play that is very lag free!
TCP/IP Support for LAN games.
Excellent user interface.
Multiplayer Chat.
Multiplayer Watch modes.
CD music player.
10 different sound and graphic schemes for the different levels.
Shadows of blocks to help you place the blocks easily.
Slow, Normal, Fast and Faster modes to control the blocks at your
speed.
Smooth clean graphics.
Local multiplayer game of upto 3 players!
Internet game supports 8 players and many watching players, as well
as up to 3 players per computer.
A very cheap price tag of just $10 =)
Recording games, allowing you to record and later play back you best
single player and multiplayer games.
A top 100 internet listing which you can add you name to
automatically if you get a top score! (this is really cool!)
Fully customisable multiplayer modes with teams and different winning
conditions.
Fully customisable controls with rotate left AND rotate right
buttons.
Extra Qsnoop taskbar program which lists current internet games.
And it also features really fast levels that'll have those blocks
flying down on you and driving you crazy!
--------------
[2-2] Controls
--------------
The default controls are as follows:
Left arrow Move block peice left
Right arrow Move block peice right
Down arrow Force block peice down
Ctrl button Rotate block left
Alt button Rotate block right
----------------
[2-3] The Pieces
----------------
The blocks are formed from the 7 different ways of arranging 4
squares together:
__
|__|
|__| The Straigt piece. Green in color.
|__|
|__|
__
|__|
|__|__ The 'L' piece. Purple in color.
|__|__|
__
|__|
__|__| The 'J' piece. Yellow in color.
|__|__|
__ __ __
|__|__|__| The 'T' piece. Blue in color.
|__|
__ __
__|__|__| The 'S' piece. Cyan in color.
|__|__|
__ __
|__|__|__ The 'Z' piece. Red in color.
|__|__|
__ __
|__|__| The Square piece. Orange in color.
|__|__|
---------------------------------
[2-4] What to do with the pieces.
---------------------------------
Each piece will fall from the top of the screen into a section
sometimes called the 'well' or build area. Here as the peice falls
down you can move it into varios positions and spin it around. Once
the peice hits the bottom is gets stuck.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
|__ __| __| |__ |__ __ | | __ __| | |__| |__|
| |__|__ __|__ __ __|__ __| |__|__ __|__|__ __ __|__ __|__ __ __|
|__ | | | [3] Single Player Game | |__|__ |__ |
| |__|__ __| |__Q__U__A__D__R__A__ __F__A__Q__|__ __ __|__ __| |
|__ __ __|__ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__|
-------------------------
[3-1] The aim of the game
-------------------------
The aim of the game is to achieve the most points. The number of
points given out depends on a number of factors including:
1)number of lines cleared with your last block
2)how many recursions were needed until everything settled into place
3)level number you have reached
How do you clear lines you ask? Well assume a setup like below
consisting of 4 straight peices:
# #
# #
# __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ #
#|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ #
# |__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __| #
#################################
Now the player drops a J piece into the positions shown:
# __ #
# | |#
# __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __| |#
#|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ __|#
# |__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __| #
#################################
This will cause the whole 2nd line to vanish:
# __ #
# | |#
# |__|#
# __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ #
# |__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __| #
#################################
The rest of the J block will now fall down:
# #
# #
# __ #
# __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __| |#
# |__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__|#
#################################
See how the rest of the J blocked fell down 2 rows? That is because
it was free to do so. In Tetris the remaining section of the J block
would have only fell down 1 row.
---------------------------
[3-2] How the scoring works
---------------------------
Here is the coding from the game itself (thanks to Dada for sending
me it!) :
switch(depth) {
case 0: return; case 1: score_add = 250; break;
case 2: score_add = 500; break; case 3: score_add = 1000;
break;
case 4: score_add = 2000; break;
default: score_add = 200 * depth * depth; break; }
score_add += 1000*(complexity-1); score_add += (score_add/10)*level;
stats[SCORE].add(score_add);
where depth =(number of lines cleared with your last block)
complexity =(how many recursions were needed until everything
settled into place)
level =(level number you have reached) (note that Quadra always give
bonus points for the level, even at level 1 so you will never see
250 points for a single, the minimum is 275)
So if you can follow that good! If not here is a list of scores for
level 1 going up to a depth of 10 with all different complexity
levels:
SCORE DEPTH LEVEL COMPLEXITY
275 1 1 1
550 2 1 1
1550 2 1 2
1100 3 1 1
2100 3 1 2
3100 3 1 3
2200 4 1 1
3200 4 1 2
4200 4 1 3
5200 4 1 4
5500 5 1 1
6500 5 1 2
7500 5 1 3
8500 5 1 4
9500 5 1 5
7920 6 1 1
8920 6 1 2
9920 6 1 3
10920 6 1 4
11920 6 1 5
12920 6 1 6
10780 7 1 1
11780 7 1 2
12780 7 1 3
13780 7 1 4
14780 7 1 5
15780 7 1 6
16780 7 1 7
14080 8 1 1
15080 8 1 2
16080 8 1 3
17080 8 1 4
18080 8 1 5
19080 8 1 6
20080 8 1 7
21080 8 1 8
17820 9 1 1
18820 9 1 2
19820 9 1 3
20820 9 1 4
21820 9 1 5
22820 9 1 6
23820 9 1 7
24820 9 1 8
25820 9 1 9
22000 10 1 1
23000 10 1 2
24000 10 1 3
25000 10 1 4
26000 10 1 5
27000 10 1 6
28000 10 1 7
29000 10 1 8
30000 10 1 9
31000 10 1 10
-------------------------------------------------
[3-3] Eh? How do you clear so many lines at once?
-------------------------------------------------
The best why to learn how to play single player games well is to
watch the world top score replays. See the replay section for how
to do this. But I will dmonstrate how to clear 11 lines at once:
You could build up the blocks like so:
# __ #
#| | #
#| | #
#| | #
#|__| #
#| | #
#| | #
#| | #
#|__| #
#| | #
#| |__ __ __ __ __ __ __ #
#|__ __| | #
# | |__ __ #
# | |#
# | |#
# | |#
# | |#
# | |#
# | (lots of blocks |#
# | arranged in this |#
# | section) |#
# | |#
# |__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __|#
#################################
Now a Square peice is added which completes a line.
# __ #
#| | #
#| | #
#| | #
#|__| #
#| | #
#| | #
#| | #
#|__| #
#| | #
#| |__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ #
#|__ __| | |#
# | |__ __|#
# | |#
# | |#
# | |#
# | |#
# | |#
# | (lots of blocks |#
# | arranged in this |#
# | section) |#
# | |#
# |__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __|#
#################################
The line is cleared and the stacked straigt pieces fall into the
'Hole'
# __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ #
# __| |#
#| | |#
#|__| |#
#| | |#
#| | |#
#| | |#
#|__| (lots of blocks |#
#| | arranged in this |#
#| | section) |#
#| | |#
#|__|__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __|#
#################################
Now another 10 lines are completed, making a total of 11 lines
completed by droping just 1 peice in! This leaves:
# __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ #
# |__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __|#
#################################
Doing this kind of move is usually called a 'Build up' as you build
up all the blocks then remove heaps of 'em at once.
---------------------------------------------
[3-4] How do you get really good high scores?
---------------------------------------------
As a beginner you should try to do build ups on the early levels, and
then concentrate on staying alive once you get to the higher levels.
But once you get more experienced you should find that you will be
able to do big build ups on higher levels where the blocks fall
faster. Learning how to use the left rotate and the right rotate
buttons is also very important and will help you place the blocks in
the right positions on the faster levels.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
|__ __| __| |__ |__ __ | | __ __| | |__| |__|
| |__|__ __|__ __ __|__ __| |__|__ __|__|__ __ __|__ __|__ __ __|
|__ | | | [4] Multiplayer | |__|__ |__ |
| |__|__ __| |__Q__U__A__D__R__A__ __F__A__Q__|__ __ __|__ __| |
|__ __ __|__ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__ __ __ __|__|
-------------------------------------
[4-1] The different Multiplayer Games
-------------------------------------
There are 3 different multiplayer games which you can play.
1 - Local Game (no network) - All players are using just your 1
computer allowing a maxiumum of 3 players.
2 - TCP/IP Local Network (lan) - This is for multiplayer games over
networked computers which are using TCP/IP
3 - TCP/IP Internet - This is for playing internet games against
people from all over the world!
--------------------------------
[4-2] How multiplayer games work
--------------------------------
In multiplayer games players join 1 of 7 different teams. The teams
are:
Red, Blue, Green, Cyan, Orange, Yellow and Purple.
When a member of a team clears multiple lines at once lets say 4
lines, then 3 lines are 'dumped' onto all of the players in all of
the other teams. 'Dumped' lines are lines which are missing one
piece and they stack up from the bottom of the other players screens.
Some times the host of the multiplayer game sets what is called a
smallest offensive line combo. This is a preset number set by the
host of the multiplayer such that you can only send lines if you
equal of exceed that number. For example if it is set to 5, then the
minamum number of lines you can dump on your opponent is 4 by
clearing 5 lines.
When you dump (or send as it is also called) lines on other players,
sometimes you will get a frag when the other player dies. Getting
a frag is a good thing, being fragged is not. See section 4-8 for
more information about frags.
-------------------------
[4-3] Create Game options
-------------------------
When you create a new multiplayer game you can pick a number of
options. These are:
Game Type:
Free for All
- Frag your opponents and respawn when you die.
Survivor Mode
- The last team alive wins them everybody respawn.
Level Up:
After 15 lines
- Players will goto the next level after every 15 lines
that they clear.
Disabled
- No possible way to change the level.
Start game at level:
Start on which even level you want (1 to 9 only), starting on
level 9 can be fun =)
Smallest Offensive Line Combo:
Smallest amount of lines players can send.
The game ends when:
Frags
- Game ends when any player reaches the set amount of
frags.
Time
- Game ends after the set amount of time.
Never
- Never ending game (most internet game are like this)
Record game:
Allows you to record the multiplayer game to a .rec file.
See the recording section for more info.
Note: You can NOT record local player no network games.
----------------------------------------
[4-4] The user interface and its options
----------------------------------------
At first you may find the user interface a bit wierd. But actually
its really good. Just aviod pressing esc when you make the wrong
selection as this exits the whole multiplayer game, instead click on
the 'close' button. The interface is made up of 3 windows.
Each window has these options available:
Start
A blonde by the name of Julie was getting pretty desperate for money. So she decided to go to the richer part of town and try to get a job as a handywoman. She rang the doorbell at the first house she came to, and a man answered the door. She asked if there were any odd jobs she could do, and he replied, "Well, actually, we need the porch painted-how much do you want?" Julie said she felt $50 was fair. He replied, "OK, the ladders, paint, and other tools you need are in the garage." When the man closed the door, his wife, who had overheard the conversation asked him, "$50?!? Does she realize that the porch goes all the way around the house?" The man replied, "She must have, she was standing right on it." About 45 minutes later, the doorbell rings again, and the man is surprised to find Julie there. She tells him that she's done, and states that she even had enough paint to do two coats. As the man is reaching into his wallet to pay her, Julie says, "Oh, and by the way, that isn't a Porsche-it's a Ferrari." |
|
||||||||