U61 (v0.4.1) - Introduction




U61 in a nutshell
=================


  U61 is "another block-based game". Its main features are:

  * Network play. Gameplay should be fast even with poor bandwidth. Local
    multiplayer game is also available.

  * Theme support. The graphics and sounds are fully configurable.

  * Rules customization. As it uses Lua scripts, the game rules can be changed
    by any player, without having to modify any complex C++ code.

  * Cross-platform support. Since it is based on ClanLib, U61 runs on any
    platform supported by ClanLib (Linux, Windows...).



Basic rules
===========


  The basic rules in U61 are:

  * The player has a map, and blocks fall int it. Blocks are made of colored
    squares.

  * The player may control the block as it falls, for instance rotate or
    translate it.

  * When the block lands at the "bottom" of the map, ie when it can not fall
    any more, it is merged with the map.

  * When a given pattern is matched in the map, for instance, squares of the
    same color, then these squares explode and disappear.

  * There's always a special square on the map, and when this square explodes,
    a "curse" is activated. Curses can be anything from bonus to maledictions.

  These rules are not very precise, and this is what makes U61 different from
  other block-based games: it is possible to create one's own rules and play
  with them. This is achieved by creating scripts, using the Lua language.



Hey, but this is a Tetris clone!
================================


  No! No and No!

  U61 is *not* a Tetris(c) clone. Its rules are much more general.

  It's true that when I first started the project (in 1999), its name was
  "Tetr61s" and it was supposed to look much like "EITTris" with network
  support. Since then, I've had to deal with the so-called "Tetris Company",
  and realized that cloning Tetris(c) is not possible anymore. So I decided to
  start a more general project, which name is U61. Of course it's possible to
  configure U61 so that it looks exaclty like the genuine Tetris(c). But such a
  configuration is not provided in the standard distribution (inded the
  "classic" set of rules includes many enhancements).

  So Tetris(c) can in a way be considered as a subset of U61, but this does not
  mean at all that U61 is a Tetris(c) clone.

  But if you liked Tetris(c), Columns(c), or Puyo-Puyo(c), then you should like
  U61, so try it!



License
=======


  U61 is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).

  This means U61 is free software. Free as in speech. You can use it, modify
  it, and distribute it freely as long as your modified product still respects
  the GPL. For more information about the GPL, see:

  * The "COPYING" file which should be present in every distribution of U61. It
    contains the GPL.

  * "http://www.gnu.org". The GNU (Gnu's Not Unix) is the result of the work of
    the FSF (Free Software Fundation). It is an attempt to make a complete and
    free UNIX like OS.

  Please note that even if U61 can be considered as Open Source
  ("http://www.opensource.org"), I consider it as Free Software. So if you ever
  mention U61, please refer to it as being Free Software, and not plain Open
  Source.



Author
======


  As of today, I (Christian Mauduit) have written almost everything in U61. My
  coordinates are:

  Christian Mauduit
  
  http://www.ufoot.org
  ufoot@ufoot.org
  
  8 Allee de la Fresnaie
  95120 Ermont
  FRANCE

  Feel free to contact me, I always appreciate feedback.

  An important contributer is Ursula Adler (U-Woman), who gracefully prepared
  the "default" theme for me. Please keep in mind that the graphics she
  prepared for me can be (and they are) released under the GPL, but her
  graphics are usually protected by other license agreements. Check her web
  site ("http://absorbed.org") for more information. Please do not rip her
  graphics without asking.

