List of games: The Tic Tac Files has five game modes.
Tic Tac Files Mode Menu 1
Up: Game chosen Hidden
Tic Tac FilesTM v. 2.2.
Release Date: December 21, 2008
Developed by Impresa
Distributed web-wide
www.cmean.com
Thanks for downloading. We hope you enjoy the game!
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System Requirements
OS*: Windows Vista /XP
Processor: 1.7GHz (min. recommended)
Memory (RAM): 256MB (minimum); 256+MB (recommended)
Free Hard Drive Space: 20+MB
DirectX Version: 7 (minimum);
Sound: DirectX-compatible
Video: DirectX-compatible; 16MB (minimum), 32+MB (recommended)
Color Quality: 16-bit or 32-bit color mode
Controls: Mouse
Internet: Internet connection is required to register/unlock game trials
- including those delivered via CD-ROM
Bug Reporting
However, even we done our best to fix all the bugs…
If you experience any technical problems, contact us at report it. Please describe a problem and include minimum the next data:
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· Game Summary
· Main Menu Options
We modernized an ancient game for you – relax… click and drag
Magical power of squares, circles, and prime numbers has known for a thousand years. To find a new game mechanics at the most basic game board of 3x3 fields was an extraordinary brain exercise.
The Tic Tac Files matrix is magic square of its kind. Tokens are rolling around the virtual cylinder. Moreover, the end sides of the cylinder are firmly linking in the geometrical shape TORUS. The intro animation of the CMean game shows how to make a torus from an ordinary plane square.
As Quigfu Chuzhen said: The magic square is the hammer that shatters the ice of our unconscious…
For different purposes, we made several compact versions of the game with same rules and game mechanics.
Aim of the game – click and drag token, so that all equal tokens will match single background color.
The Game Board has composed of colored squares in background and token-layer in foreground of the board.
The pattern is a 3x3 array of small distinctly colored squares so that every two of them have colored by single color. Colored squares arranged in a unique CMean-pattern and five game modes make this game distinguished. Center square is grey.
Tokens have randomly placed in a front-layer of the game board. Tokens have divided in four sets of two equal members each.
The Yin Yang is a token with unique mission in this game. Yin Yang token is firmed to the background grey square.
Any direct click and dragging of YY-token will accordingly move both the background board and the upper layer with tokens. Such a move will not count.
New Game mechanics is the best surprise in this game:
Hints are straight available by clicking the Hint
button available on the game board, or by setting up the Auto-Hint
option in Setup Menu:
*Menu
** Setup
***Auto-Hint=>On
List of games: The Tic Tac Files has five game modes.
Tic Tac Files Mode Menu 1
Up: Game chosen Hidden
In Casual game mode, all options are open and free.
In Hide play mode, some parts of the game board are covered.
If the background is unmovable then the game is in Fixo game mode.
In Zen mode, you are playing the solved paths rather than the single tokens. The goal is to rearrange paths in particular positions. You make the Zen-Equilibrium when all paths match predefined arrangement.
If you like to play all game modes - you will play a Tic Tac Files Tour game.
The first time ever in any video game, the background game board is free movable in any direction. The Fixo game mode is an exception.
Troubleshooting [back to Content]
This product has tested during the development process and after it. From different sources, we have many reports that there is no any known bug until now. However, if you experience any problems such as system crashes, any graphics issues or error messages, please try one of the following:
1) Update your computer's video or sound card drivers. The easiest way to do so is by identifying the type of sound card and video card your computer is using and finding the manufacturer's web site where new drivers may be available for download.
2) Upgrade DirectX. This is a Microsoft component and can improve the graphics, security, and performance of your Windows operating system.
3) If 1 and 2 do not fix graphic problems please turn on Windows Hardware Acceleration by sliding marker to the Full position (it is recommended by default setting of any PC). The detailed procedure you will find at the end chapter of this README document.
If you change the "Hardware Acceleration”, you need to close the game and launch it again for the new setting to begin.
4) If you are having general issues with the game or your PC is running slow, it is always a good idea to restart your PC.
Customer Support [back to Content]
If you have any questions about the purchase or registering of your game, please contact customer support at www.cmean.com/contact or send an e-mail at help@cmean.com
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REGISTRATION [back to Content]
Any of our games gives you chance to buy full registered game. Our freeware games are not limited in any way and the registration is not necessary.
Benefits of Registering
When you register, you will have an unlimited and full content game. At the same time, your purchase will support us to create more games in the future!
Click the Buy link that appears when you exit the game. You will redirect to the REGNOW site, which is valuable worldwide e-commerce company. All transactions and your data are highly secured.
Follow the onscreen prompts to complete your purchase. You can:
- buy a game for yourself, or
- buy a game as a gift for someone else
You will be offer for Extended Download Service, which may be useful. EDS means that with the purchase of your digital product, DR will keep a copy of your file for ONE FULL YEAR. However, EDS is not compulsive - you may mark the EDS field and update your order to avoid this service.
Game for yourself: after purchasing, you will get a link to download unlocked version. Exception is possible if you had downloaded your trial version from Digital River already. In this case, the program itself will insert key-code in your existing program during your purchase procedure. Be cool, this is happening every day many thousand times.
After purchasing the game, you will receive an email receipt. Save this information in case that you need to reinstall the game later.
When the recipient picks up the gift, you will get e-mail notice promptly.
Problems: I hope that this will answer all your questions, but if you are still having difficulties, feel free to contact us at help@cmean.com. Include as much information as you can about the problem you are having, and we will get back to you as quickly as we can!
GAME INSTRUCTIONS [back to Content]
Introduction
You can skip intro animation by clicking SPACE key.
Create Your Profile
When you launch game, it will ask for your name. Your wins, loses, average and high scores will be saved when you quit. If there are several people playing on one computer, everyone will have separate profile.
After entering your name, you can choose new game or continue the last unfinished game session.
Game Selection
Move by mouse over the upper left area of the game window and the Matrix-Menu appears.
Tic Tac Files Mode Menu 2
Until you become familiar with the game, we recommend you to play casual game mode – click the left square as on the image above.
Main Menu Options
In CMeanGame Series, you can change the game options whenever you like. The Options are accessible by clicking the Menu button while playing the game. They include:
HOW TO PLAY [back to Content]
Click and drag
Click and drag any token. Tokens are movable inside belonging row or column. When moving token is over the aimed place - just release it.
Mouse Over
When you put mouse over the particular token, the white frames indicate positions of all reminding equal tokens on the board.
Mouse Click
If you click on particular token, the white frames will indicate all equal tokens inside the chosen background path
Yin Yang double-click
This will exchange the content between accompanying YY-row and YY-column. Very useful, especially in Zen game mode. This move will not count.
Entire path dragging
If you click and drag the token that is member of the solved path, it will drag the entire path.
Correct your recent moves
Click on the Backward and Forward arrows at the bottom of the game board to correct and review your recent moves. Such a move will not count. It will not decrease number of spent moves as well.
Side-displays
Follow changes at the side displays. When any token-set matches the single background color, its symbol will replace from the left display to the right display. It is monitoring your progress in the game.
In the Zen game mode, the left display shows the Aimed arrangement that is static, while the right display follows the actual arrangement of the paths. You win when both displays are identical.
Progress Bar
It is monitoring overall chances rather than full paths, i.e. counts at least every two same tokens on the single path and sums up to the progress bar. As more as game is near to the perfect status, the progress bar is more fulfilling, regardless of solving particular token sets.
When the Progress bar has filled, the Squaricon has achieved.
Hint Button
Click on the Hint-button to get help for the next move only.
Actually, it will start a Follow Me hint-session to show you how to place the most hopeful token at the proper place while preserving already finished paths. You can stop it simply, if you move any non-suggested move.
If you are beginner, you will probably turn on the Auto-Hint option in the Main Menu à Setup à Auto-Hint=On
Basic score: You get points for entirely solved paths only. For every token inside the solved set, you get 10 points. In higher game modes the basic score is rising:
|
Casual |
Hide |
Fixo |
Zen |
Tour |
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|
path |
30 |
36 |
45 |
10 |
||
|
game |
120 |
144 |
180 |
40 |
484 |
|
Yin Yang token is, by definition, the part of every one solved token set. It means that if the path has solved, it gets the Yin Yang as a new member. E.g. in cm_3 every unsolved path has 2 members (20 points), while the solved path has 3 members (30 points).
Consequently, the solved cm_3 game has 4 sets x 3, which results in 12 members on 3x3 game board. It is the synergistic effect of the CMean game.
Bonus Points: save a time, moves and get bonus points. Note that in tour-games, the bonus is recalculating at the end of the Tour session.
GAMEPLAY TIPS [back to Content]
The best strategy when first playing any of Squaricon games is the slow and steady approach. The key to success at the game are patience and relaxing atmosphere.
Start the new game session from the last solved game. Include your mind as well as your feelings.
Watch what happens each time you move token. Knowing the basic principles and game mechanics are just as important as your skill and talent. Such a game, for sure, will fit up your brain memory and logic.
The basic strategy should be to practice a game on 3x3 size game board. Keep in mind that you can solve every cm_3_Zen position in two moves only.
Finally, this is just another one logic puzzle, different by its pattern logic and game mechanics. If you are fan of brainteaser games, its novelties are a wonderful challenge for your intellect.
Squaricon team wishes you a good fun.
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