ASTRAWARE | palm os products

Gem Drop Information

Current released version: 1.0 - 11th April, 2002
Current release expires: never
Feedback to: Ray Seys (ray@astraware.com)
Game Info: http://www.astraware.com/palm/gemdrop
Recent update headlines: First Release!

Copyright (c) 2001 Astraware Ltd, 2000,2001, GameHouse.
All rights reserved.

Introduction

Practise those Tetris reactions and keep those gems moving in this masterpiece from GameHouse

As gems pour from a magic goblet, you have to guide them into positions to make groups of three or more matches! Do this and the group will vanish, giving you more space. Too slowly, and your screen will fill up - and its game over if you let them overflow!

Gem Drop Features

- Fiendishly addictive gameplay
- Palm port of the original web version
- Intuitive tap to drop interface
- Colour and Greyscale support!
- Bonus levels allowing huge scores
- Two Difficulty settings
- Unlimited number of levels
- Separate high score tables for each difficulty setting
- Readouts for score, level and remaining gems
- Sound effects throughout the game
- Built in help and instructions to keep you going
- Exit Gem Drop and return to your game later!
- Option to beam a demo of the game to your friends!
- Internet High Score export for registered users!

How To Install

Use an extractor program such as WinZip on the PC or Stuffit Expander on the Mac to get at the Gem Drop files. Install the game by double-clicking the prc file.

Use the HotSync button as usual to install the game onto your handheld.

Now run Gem Drop and tap the screen to play the game!

If you've got any queries about Gem Drop or the registration process, first check out our frequently asked questions page on our website (you must be connected to the internet to access this). If this doesn't help, get in touch with us at support@astraware.com. If you've got any questions (or suggestions, we love those) about the game itself, please get in touch with us at the email address at the top of this page.

How To Play

### Game Objective

Gems continually pour out of your magic goblet, and out onto your screen! You have just a short time to decide where to put them to keep your screen as clear as possible. If you can survive a certain number of gems each level, you win!

### How to Play

Arrange Identical gems in groups of three or more to prevent them overflowing the screen.

Drop the blocks one at a time into the playing area. A gem can be grouped with its neighbours to the left and right, or up and down ( but not diagonally )

Once a group of three or more is formed it evaporates. Any gems that were above the group move down into the vacated spaces. If these cascading gems form matches then the score is increased for the new match.

### Controls

Tap the screen or press the (customisable) drop button in whichever column you wish the gem to be released. If you fail to release a gem within a certain amount of time then the gem will drop anyway in whichever column the gem waits. You dont have to wait for the gems to reach the bottom before dropping another.

Use the stylus to tap on the column you wish the gem to fall. You can drag the stylus to change columns, the gem is released when the stylus is lifted.

Use the customisable left and right buttons to change the column and press the drop button to release the gem

### Levels

To move onto the next level of play, you must drop the required number of gems for the level. Each blank area of the screen at the end of a level is converted into points.

### White Gems

If you match three or more white gems then the score for that match is multiplied by 10

Match a group of whites after two or three cascades for huge scores

### Black Gems

Black gems are your best friends when you are running out of room. Choose to land them on a gem of which there are many on the screen. All similar gems are removed from the screen resulting usually in several extra cascades.

Hints and Tips

Here are a few hints that should increase your score

Go For Big Bonuses! - If you have plenty of space in the screen, try to avoid just matching the gems in columns of three. This will allow you to advance through the levels but you only score 70 for each match. Try matching two gems then sandwich another different gem between those and another of the same gem. Matching the sandwiched gem with two of its own kind will result in 70 points plus 420 for the resulting match. setting up greater cascades in this manner will result in huge scores.

Use Your Black Gems Wisely - After completing 12 levels the fifth gem of each level should be a black gem. Before starting these levels decide which gem you will obliterate from the screen otherwise you may find that you have wasted it on a single gem.

Hidden Features

There's just one hidden feature built in!

If you're stuck on a level and the gems are nearly right to the top - then as an emergency you can write a graffiti 'P' and you'll get a free black gem. You can't overuse this though - you only get one every 10 levels....

Registering

If you downloaded the game straight from the internet, from Astraware's web pages, or from one of the popular Palm download sites, then your copy is in 'Demo' form. Demo means that you can play 10 games for free, and then decide whether to register it or not. After these games are up, the program will display a short message before each game.

In Demo form, you can play 10 games of Gem Drop for free, as you decide whether you like it or not. After these games are up, the program will display a short message asking you to register or purchase a full version from a shop!

If you beam a demo to someone else, and they also like the game, then they can register it either by purchasing a copy from a local store, or by purchasing online.

Registering Online:

For those that like the speed and convenience of buying of the internet, when you register for the game, you'll get a key which will unlock the game and remain valid for future 1.x upgrades. Go to the web page at http://www.astraware.com/palm/gemdrop
for more details.

You'll need to know your HotSync ID which you can find by running Gem Drop, and going into the menu, and selecting the 'register' option. Your HotSync ID (or username) will be filled in for you below.
When you register, Astraware will generate a key based on your ID, which will normally be sent out by email within 48 hours of you registering. When you receive your key, go to the same register option, and enter the key into the space provided.

Submit your High Scores!

Registered users of the game are entitled to submit their high scores to our Internet High Score table.

Just visit the Gem Drop web pages at http://www.astraware.com/palm/gemdrop and select the link to view high scores.

To submit your own score, you need to go to the menu in the game, and select 'export high score'. This will provide you with a code which you can then type into our site:

www.astraware.com/palm/gemdrop/high

You can only submit high scores once you've beaten the scores built into the game!

(Astraware reserves the right to remove this board or facility without any notice, or to remove individual names if necessary)

Astraware Products

You can find out about Astraware and the product range we have for the Palm-powered platform by visiting our website at www.astraware.com/.
Here are our top products at time of writing:

Astraware Palm Packs
It's A Blast! Shooting Pack | Let out your tension with some target practice with Astraware's collection of great screen-tapping games!
Palm Games Pack 2001 | 4 games for under $25 - save over 25%
PopCap Games Pack | PopCap Games are sweeping the web, and now Astraware brings the top games to the Palm
Astraware Palm Games
Alchemy | Turn lead into gold in Astraware's addictive PopCap puzzle game!
Astro Defence | Defend your city from the asteroid threat!
Atomica | Make Molecules in Dr. Atomica's Laboratory in Astraware's addictive PopCap puzzle game!
Bang! Bang! | Backyard blasting fun
Bejeweled | Bejeweled is a Palm version of the incredibly popular and addictive online game by PopCap
Big Money! | Coin collecting fun in another Pop Cap classic!
Biplane Ace | Dogfight against rival fighter pilots
Bounce Out | Brain bending ball matching action
Bzzz! for Palm | Fly-catching action for the Palm
Collapse! | Tap matching blocks in this simple but frantic GameHouse game.
Eye of Horus | Unleash your magical powers with this Astraware puzzle game.
Galaxy Ranger | Be a Galaxy Ranger, Save the Universe!
Gem Drop | Gem dropping, jewel matching fun
Mad Gab | ...It's not what you SAY, it's what you HEAR!
Mahjongg | Relax your mind with the most authentic Mahjongg solitaire game for Palm-powered handhelds
Mars Needs Cows | The challenging PopCap puzzle game of animal abduction!
Mummy Maze | Escape the maze and outsmart the mummy in this great PopCap game!
Nisqually | Make lines of blocks to clear the screen and complete the level
Noah's Ark | Save pairs of animals from the rising water in this great PopCap game!
Police Range | Police Range is a fast game of reactions, dexterity, accuracy and good judgment!
Round Up | Marble Moving Madness
Seven Seas | Ship Ahoy! Blast pirates with a broadside and navigate through dangerous waters, in this PopCap puzzle game
TacTic | A twist on the classic Tic-Tac-Toe game pits you against the brain
Text Twist | Juggle letters to make as many words as you can in a limited time!
Zap!2000 | Arcade gaming on the Palm has never looked so good!
Zap!2016 | The essential showcase for your 16-bit color Palm
Astraware Palm Applications
e.Guide | Your essential TV episode guide for Palm
Timetable | Know whats when with Timetable!
Timetable Plus | The essential tool for teachers and students, with assignment tracker
Timetable Pro | The essential tool for teachers and students

Release Revision History!

Release 1.0 : 11th April, 2002

- First Release Version!

Feedback

If you've got suggestions about how to improve Astraware Gem Drop - or with reports of any problems you've had, then please contact us!

Gem Drop enquiries/feedback: gemdrop@astraware.com
Registration problems: registrations@astraware.com
General Astraware enquiries: feedback@astraware.com

Contributors

Programming - Ben Exworthy, Ray Seys

Graphics - Marina Fish, Stephen Thorley

Game Design - Garr Godfrey, Ben Exworthy

Legal

Astraware Ltd takes no responsibility for any adverse effect that this software could cause to your machine or the data on it: backup important data before using Gem Drop. Gem Drop is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. Gem Drop is licensed, not sold.

You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble this software.
Astraware’s and its suppliers’ entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be, at Astraware’s option, either (a) return of the price paid, if any, or (b) replacement of the product that does not meet the warranty and which is returned to Astraware with a copy of your receipt. This warranty is void if failure of the product has resulted from accident, abuse, or misapplication. Any replacement software product will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer. These remedies are not available without proof of purchase from an authorized source.

Written permission must be obtained before distribution of this game, either in demo form or full form, through any online or offline methods.

Copyright (c) 2001 Astraware Ltd, 2000,2001, GameHouse..

Astraware and the planet logo are trademarks of Astraware Limited. All rights reserved.