How to play

Highlight the "Tetris® BLOCKOUT" icon in the games menu on your phone, and press "OK." An EA Mobile screen appears followed by the Tetris® BLOCKOUT splash screen. You will be given the option to play with sound on or off. Select "Yes" or "No". The Tetris® BLOCKOUT Main Menu then appears. Select "New Game" to start playing instantly with default settings.

Menu

• Resume - Continue the last game in progress
• New Game - Start a brand new game
• Help - Display detailed instructions about how to play the game
• About - Display legal info, customer service and copyright information
• High Scores - Records of the top scores
• Settings - Access a number of settings including Game Modes and Difficulties
• More Games - Find more EA Mobile games for your phone
• Exit - Return to the game's Main Menu

Settings

Within Settings, you have multiple choices to determine game mode, difficulty level and more:

• Modes: Marathon/20 Planes/Ultra
• Marathon: Score as many points as you can as the game gets faster and faster
• 20 Planes: Clear twenty planes as fast as possible
• Ultra: Achieve the highest score that you can within 3 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy/Normal
• Easy: Blocks are comprised of 1-3 Minos. Classic Tetriminos are gradually introduced to gameplay
• Normal: Classic Tetriminos
• Level: 1-15
• Select starting level
• Starting Blocks
• Blocks that are automatically generated at the bottom of the Matrix with more appearing per level
• Sound: Music/SFX/Off
• Select music or sound effects to play while in-game, or turn sounds off completely
• Vibration: On/Off
• Turn handset vibration on or off
• Controls: Layout 1/Layout 2/Custom
• Select between 2 predefined control layouts (see below) or map your own
• Tutorial: Walk through the tutorial (only available on Verizon and Sprint).
• Next Queue: Yes/No
• Turn the Next Queue display on or off
• Ghost: On/Off
• Turn the ghost piece display on or off. The ghost piece displays where a Tetrimino will land in the grid. 
• Reset High Scores
• Delete the recorded high scores

How To Play

The default game mode is the classic Marathon variation of Tetris®. In Marathon, in order to advance you must clear the required number of planes per level. As you progress through the levels, the drop-speed of the Blocks will increase, and the speed of the game will grow increasingly fast. To clear a plane, Blocks must be placed in the correct formation to fully complete a layer. Higher point bonuses will be awarded when more planes are cleared at once. For example, if you clear four planes simultaneously, also known as a "Tetris®," you will be awarded 800 points multiplied by your current level. If two Tetrises are executed in succession without any plane clears in between, an additional Back-to-Back bonus is added to your cumulative point total. You can also earn bonus points by completing a level as fast as possible.

The game will end with a "Blockout" if a Block is prevented from entering the matrix. In Marathon, the game will end when you successfully complete level 1. Ultra Mode ends after the preset 3 minutes of gameplay and 20 Planes ends when all 20 planes are cleared.

Tips and Hints

• Think strategically to determine the most effective way to complete your goals.
• Complete levels as quickly as possible, and clear as many multiple planes as you can to maximize your points.
• As the levels increase in speed, it will become increasingly important to learn how to rotate around all of the axes. Take time to familiarize yourself with the controls in order to be able to easily rotate around the axes.
• Customize your own controls in the Settings Menu to perfect your game.
• The depth indicator on the right side of the screen will let you know what plane(s) your Block is on and the level of the highest Mino.
• Experiment with the Super Rotation System (see below for details) to obtain T-Spin points.
• Try ramping up the starting level in the Settings Menu to obtain higher scores in Ultra Mode and 20 Planes.
• Try turning the Starting Blocks setting to "On" for an increased challenge.

FAQ

Q. How do I use the Super Rotation System?

A. Blocks can rotate clockwise and counter-clockwise on all axes using the Super Rotation System. This allows the Block to be rotated around the x, y, and z-axes in situations the Classic Rotation System does not allow, such as rotating against walls.

You do not need to execute any special moves or press any buttons to perform a Super Rotation. If a rotation is available, the Block will automatically perform a Super Rotation. Be aware of the possible rotations a Block is capable of making under tight conditions.

Q. How do I perform a T-Spin?

A. A T-Spin is a special rotation of the T-Tetrimino around its center (visual rotation point) into a T-Slot. A T-slot is an empty T-Tetrimino Block formation. Specifically, 3 out of 4 Blocks diagonally adjacent to its center must be occupied. A T-Spin is accomplished by spinning a T-Tetrimino clockwise or counter-clockwise into a T-Slot. When accomplished, a T-Spin awards a point bonus. T-Spins and T-Spin plane clears will award you with a substantial amount of points.

Q. What are Back-to-Backs?

A. Back-to-Back sequences occur when you execute consecutive Tetrises, T-Spin Singles, or T-Spin Doubles without intervening Single, Double, or Triple Plane Clears. You will score bonus points for this action. Locking down a Tetrimino or performing a T-Spin without clearing a plane does not break the Back-to-Back sequence.

Q. How do I beat the game?

A. This version of Tetris can be beaten by completing level 15 in Marathon mode. However, your cumulative score is determined by how many big bonuses were achieved and how fast each level was completed. Ultra Mode ends after the allotted 3 minutes of gameplay and 20 Planes ends if all 20 planes are cleared. Don't just try to beat the game on the various Game Modes; try to obtain the very highest score!