Topalov - A Block Stacking Game

Topalov is a computerized block stacking game. Remove blocks from the tower and stack them on top. The player to knock the tower over loses the game. There is a tutorial on how to play available below.



Topalov uses Macromedia's Shockwave for 3D rendering with the Havok Xtra to model the physics required. The physics simulation required is quite intense to achieve a realistic effect so it may run a little slowly, especially on slower machines.

There are two versions available, one with a short tower, 18 blocks, that should run relatively quickly

Play Topalov (Short Tower)
Play Topalov in Fullscreen Window (Short Tower) (use Alt+F4 to close and Alt+TAB to switch window)

and one with a taller tower, 30 blocks that will run slowly. (Imagine you are playing on the Moon)

Play Topalov (Tall Tower)
Play Topalov in Fullscreen Window (Tall Tower) (use Alt+F4 to close and Alt+TAB to switch window)

Tutorial

Before you can start play, you need to choose whether it will be a one, two, three or four player game. Click the appropriate button on the left hand side to start the game.


Step 1

Firstly, you need to choose a block to grab - try to find one that is a little loose - loose blocks have a little bit of space around them and are easier to remove from the tower. You can examine the tower closely by using the 'W' key to zoom in close to the tower and use the 'A' and 'D' keys to rotate around the tower. You can't select any block that is on or above the highest completed story of the tower.
When you have chosen a block, click on it with the mouse to select it, it will turn orange when it is selected.


Step 2

Now you need to drag your selected block out of the tower. You can do this by zooming out while you have a block selected - the block will try to move out of the tower too. Use the 'S' key to zoom out. If the block is loose, it may slide out quite easily, but if it is not, you may need to zoom out for a while to remove the block. Be careful - you may topple the tower while removing the block. You would then lose the game.


Step 3

When the block is clear of the tower, you should move it upwards so that there is a clear, unobstructed line between the block and the transparent, whitish block on top of the tower. Use the up arrow towards the right of your keyboard to move the selected block upwards.

Step 4

Press the spacebar to 'dock' the block. Hold it down and the block will move into position. Make sure that it has room to rotate if necessary and won't hit any other blocks on the way. Once it is in place, click the mouse again to deselect the block. Then wait until the tower settles and when it does the next player should take his turn.

Tips

1. When you are dragging a block out of the tower, the amount of force is proportional to the distance you are from the tower - so if you are quite close to the tower, you will only nudge the block slightly, but if you are far away from the tower, you will exert a greater force on the block when dragging it.
2. If you need extra control over the selected block, you can use the 'Y','H','U','J','I' and 'K' keys to rotate the block about it three axes.
3. You can deselect a block and choose another one if you are having difficulty getting one block out of the tower.
4. You can use a selected block to steady the tower if it is looking shaky.
5. Gravity is not applied to a block while it is selected.
6. If a key isn't working, the game may not have focus. Click somewhere within the game to give focus back to it.