The aim of the game is to match three or more blocks of the same type. To match, the blocks must be touching each other horizontally or vertically. Diagonally touching does not count.
Whenever you get a match, you score points, and the bar at the right of the screen fills a little. When you have filled the bar, you progress to the next level!
The more blocks you match in one go, the more points you score, and the more the bar fills! Combos, which occur when a match sets off another one, score even more points and set off crazy fireworks!
Watch out! If you let the blocks reach the top or bottom of the playing area, then it's game over!
Controls
TipTop can be controlled with either stylus or keys.
The block at the very top of the playing area is under your control. Drag the stylus from left to right over the playing area to move it. Lift the stylus from the screen to drop it.
To quickly drop a block, simply tap once on a column. You can also use key controls. There are buttons at the bottom of your device that usually serve as shortcut keys to access your Calendar, To Do list and so on.
These can be used to control the position of the block. To customize the key layout, open the "Options" menu and select "Controls.."
To pause the game, just open the menu. This will display three buttons at the top right. The first looks like an arrow and unpauses the game. The second looks like an 'x' and allows you to quit your game. The third mutes and un-mutes the sound.
Regular: Have a go at this mode first! In this mode you control the block at the top of the screen. The block at the bottom of the screen is controlled by the computer.
Whenever you make a move from the top, the computer makes a move from the bottom as well.
Speed: If action is your bag, then this mode is for you! Instead of moving only when you make a move, the computer gets to move every second or so. You have to play fast to outsmart this mode!
Strategy: The most difficult mode! In this mode you control both the block at the top of the screen, and the block at the bottom of the screen. The block at the bottom of the screen moves in the opposite direction
to the one at the top.
Bonus levels: Not exactly a mode, but every three levels you get to play a bonus level. To complete bonus levels, get rid of all the blocks within the time limit.
The number of seconds left is shown to the right of the screen. When the bar is completely empty, the bonus level will end. It will also end if you run out of blocks or the blocks reach the top of the screen. Don't worry though!
You can't lose the game in a bonus level! The computer makes no moves in a bonus level.
You get bonus points for having empty rows at the top or bottom of the playing area when you complete a level!
You can see the next three blocks you will be given in the top right of the screen!
Careful use of magnet blocks can be vital! Use them right, and they can set off huge combos. They can also shift blocks up if they are getting too close to the bottom of the playing area! (and anvils can move them down if they are getting too
high!)
Special Blocks
The following special blocks sometimes pop up. When you drop them, instead of forming a match they set off a useful effect.
- Magnet: Pulls the column up.
- Anvil: Pushes the column down.
- Joker: Transforms itself into a block of the same type as the block it was dropped on.
- Dynamite: Destroys an entire column.
- Colour Bomb: Destroys all blocks of the type it is dropped on.
- Boxing Glove: Punches the column up from below.
If you empty a column, a vortex will appear. It looks like a swirling whirlpool. Any blocks dropped into a column with a vortex will stop at the vortex, and the vortex will disappear.
The Game Settings menu item (from the Options menu) includes a button to "Remove Unused Resources". This deletes the graphics and sounds that your device does not use. This can save a lot of space, but means that if you beam the
demo to someone with a Palm of different capabilities to your own, then they may have difficulty running the game.
In Demo form, you can play 5 games of TipTop for free, as you decide whether you like it or not. After these games are up, the program will display a short message reminding you to register each time you play!
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 code which will unlock the game and remain valid for future upgrades. Go to the web page at
http://www.astraware.com/games/popcap/tiptop for more details.
You'll need to know your HotSync ID which you can find by running TipTop, and going into the menu, and selecting the 'Register...' option. Your HotSync ID
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.
You can find out about Astraware and the product range we have for mobile platforms by visiting our website at www.astraware.com.
Here are our top products at time of writing:
| Astraware Palm Packs |
| GameHouse Games Pack 1 | Get shuffling with Nisqually, blast those blocks with Collapse and test your word power with TextTwist! |
| GameHouse Games Pack 2 | Make crazy chains in Glinx, match stunning gems in Gem Drop, and get them balls bouncing in Bounce Out! |
| It's A Blast! Shooting Pack | Let out your tension with some target practice with Galaxy Ranger, Police Range and Bang Bang! |
| Palm Games Pack 2001 | Zap!2000, Biplane Ace and Bzzz! together for under $25 - save over 25% |
| PopCap Games Pack | Get the web games revolution that is Bejeweled, plus Alchemy, Seven Seas, Mummy Maze and Atomica! |
| Astraware Palm Games |
| Abysma | It's a race against time as you attempt to fill in the puzzle pieces before the descending bar of doom! |
| 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 the official handheld 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 |
| BookWorm for Palm | Feed the bookworm’s loquacious appetite with words made from connected letter tiles. |
| Bounce Out | Brain bending ball matching action |
| Bzzz! for Palm | Fly-catching action for the Palm |
| Candy Cruncher for Palm | Candy Crunching Fun |
| ChromaGames | Great triple pack of classic games |
| Collapse! | Tap matching blocks in this simple but frantic GameHouse game. |
| Dynomite | Get prehistoric with this dino egg-citing game! |
| Elixir | Collect valuable elixir from a stack of capsules without upsetting the balance in this ultra addictive game from Trixiam Studios. |
| 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 |
| Glinx | Make chains of gems as long as you can! |
| GTS Racing Challenge | Bring the power of high speed car racing to the Palm of your hand! |
| Insaniquarium | Feed fish and fight aliens in the craziest aquarium ever! |
| Link Letters for Palm | Form chains of words by altering single letters in Astraware's version of a classic word linking game |
| 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! |
| Ricochet | Classic brick blasting fun comes to the Palm in this conversion of the PC favourite. |
| Rooks Revenge | Try to kill king in this real time chess game from ASAP Games. |
| Round Up | Marble Moving Madness |
| Seven Seas | Ship Ahoy! Blast pirates with a broadside and navigate through dangerous waters, in this PopCap puzzle game |
| T-Blaster | Practice your graffiti/text entry by blasting aliens! |
| 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! |
| What Word for Palm | Word finding fun on your palm |
| Zap!2000/2016 | Arcade gaming on the Palm has never looked so good! |
| Astraware Palm Applications |
| e.Guide | Your essential TV episode guide for Palm |
| Timetable Lite | Know whats when with Timetable! |
| Timetable ProPlus | The essential tool for teachers and students, with assignment tracker |
|
Release Revision History! |
Release 1.0 : 22nd August, 2003
If you've got suggestions
about how to improve Astraware
TipTop - or with reports of any problems you've had,
then please contact us!
TipTop enquiries/feedback: tiptop@astraware.com
Registration problems: registrations@astraware.com
General Astraware
enquiries: feedback@astraware.com
Programming: Janet Campbell
Game Design: Ed Zobrist
Art: Stov Thorley, Byran King
Original Programming: James Martin, Christopher White
Original Art: Mira Ross, Brian Collins
Thanks also to our many beta testers!
|
Software Licence Agreement |
This is a legal agreement between you, the end user, and Astraware Limited. Read this agreement very carefully. If you do not wish to accept this agreement, you may not use TipTop on a device or software emulator.
-
Grant Of License
This License permits you to use TipTop on any single computer, provided the software is installed on only one handheld device at any time.
-
Copyright
The software is owned by Astraware Limited. and is protected by United Kingdom copyright laws, international treaty provisions, and all other applicable national laws. You may not modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, dissasemble or otherwise attempt to discover the code and algorithms of the software.
-
Other Restrictions
You may not rent or lease the software, but you may transfer your rights under this license agreement on a permanent basis provided you transfer all copies of the software and all written materials and the recipient agrees to the terms of this license.
-
No Warranty
The software is delivered as is and Astraware Limited. makes no warranty as to its use or performance. Astraware Limited. does not, and cannot warrant the performance or results you may obtain by using the Software or its documentation. Astraware Limited. makes no warranties, express or implied, as to noninfringement of third party rights, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. In no event will Astraware Limited. be liable to you for any consequential, incidental or special damages, or for any claim by any third party.
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
TipTop.
TipTop is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as
well as other intellectual property laws and treaties.
TipTop 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) 2002 - 2003 Astraware Ltd, ASAP LLC, PopCap Inc.
Astraware and the planet logo are trademarks of
Astraware Limited. All rights reserved.