Xonix

This section is dedicated to a separate game Xonix that I have created for my own fun. If you want to find out what Xonix is, go below. If you want to download the game immediately, you can do so from the following link: (Installing file has only cca 6 MB.)

Xonix2.0Setup.exe

Version that is here available to download is 2.0 – it differs from the first one in the increased difficulty, especially in the advanced levels (the amount of black squares increases faster) and I have also fixed some bugs in the algorithms for dots rebounding that were contained in the original version etc. The description of all the changes in the version 2.0:

  • Fixed algorithms of dots rebounding nearby the corners.
  • The amount of black squares now increases by one in every fourth level.
  • New object "slowdown of white enemies" appearing in every third level.
  • The amount of all music tracks has been increased to 20! That’s 11 more (mainly thematic chiptunes) than in the version 1!
  • When increasing or decreasing the volume in the game, a volume indicator is shown in the right-hand bottom corner.
  • An option to increase and decrease the volume of sound effects using the keys [Home] and [End].
  • The game remembers the settings of the volume and the last played track after it’s closed.
  • And one surprise that I am not going to reveal (and that significantly increases the difficulty in advanced levels) – I’ll let the players themselves find out. ;-)




Best players of version 2.0:

Top ten 2.0

1012598807 - DALIBOR   
0082261647 - JASNA     
0035625937 - JANA      
0010836672 - BENJAMIN  
0000000000 - ..........
0000000000 - ..........
0000000000 - ..........
0000000000 - ..........
0000000000 - ..........
0000000000 - ..........


Best players of version 1.0:

Top ten 1.0

0383799504 - DALIBOR   
0249716710 - JANA      
0180555962 - FERIMAN   
0173582236 - JASNA     
0016428496 - BENKO     
0013598046 - MILENA    
0011772550 - ISAEVALE  
0000000000 - ..........
0000000000 - ..........
0000000000 - ..........


The Xonix game was first created in 1984 - therefore, it is along with Tetris (which was created the same year) one of the first games to have established the world of logical games. Unfortunately, unlike Tetris, it didn't gain as much popularity as it deserved and it almost became forgotten. Although, miscellaneous varieties of Xonix can be found on the Internet, it isn't mocked up as much as Tetris. What is, in my opinion, a great shame so I've decided to fix this.

Original version of the Xonix game for MS-DOS

Firstly, it's needed to say that I made this game primarily for myself - after disappointment at some new games at Steam I simply longed for the true essence of clear playability and retro visualizations. And what's the best way to gain such a game where you can have some time to have fun and relax? Well, by programming it yourself! When making this remake, I had a great advantage. Not only do I know Xonix very well, but many (truly many) years ago I myself wrote my own variety of the game for the computer Sinclair ZX Spectrum. So the basics to build on were laid, and 48 hours later this work was finished! Really, I programmed the entire game in mere two days, on the weekend. I didn't sleep much during that time, but it was worth the effort! New, completely fluid Xonix in its classic style was created.

Just like at mentioned and well-known Tetris, Xonix looks the best with "no graphics". Many 3D remakes cannot offer the same classic purity of logic and action where the player is no interrupted or distracted by graphics, so he or she can fully concentrate on the quick solution of the situation on the screen. That's why I chose when making this classic the imitation of the visual look of MS-DOS, including the fonts. Also I searched for the accompanying songs (there are ten of them!) in the depths of the Internet and from dusty sectors of my old hard drives, so that they would provide the best retro game experience. Anyway, you can see for yourself how I did - just download the miniature installation from the link at the beginning of the page and start playing.

Even though, it may not seem so at first glance, the game requires apart from quick reactions good logic and tactical thinking! Particularly, in more advanced levels it is convenient to plan each new path, create "traps" for the white dots, divide their groups for easier elimination etc. If a player gets engrossed in the game well enough, he or she will find out that it isn't as primitive as it might seem from the first swift glance. ;-) It's rather the other way around!

The description of the controls and the game principles can be found inside it, under the menu item Instructions.

And that's it! Nothing more, nothing less! After all, you'll see for yourself if you do decide to try out the game. It is catchy ;-).

Xonix 2.0 (picture is resized to 50%)

Those of you paying attention have surely noticed the tiny table at the beginning of this webpage. That's because the game counts the best score the player has reached (according to the amount of the finished levels, percent of the captured surface and other data). This score is, certainly, shown in the game too as "Top ten". And you want your best result (i.e. the first place in your personal chart Top ten) to appear on this webpage, there's nothing easier to do than to send me a file "tt.xnx" located in the folder "data" which is where you have installed the game.

A note for the end - after a little consideration I've added new functionalities to the game enhancing the comfort of its usage. Firstly, you can, just like in Quadrax X, take screenshots anywhere in the game using the combination [Ctrl]+[P]. These screenshots are saved to the folder "screenshots" just like in QX. The fast abortion of the game at any time works as well using [Pause]. And lastly, you can increase/decrease the volume of the music using the keys [Page Up] and [Page Down], and sound effects using the keys [Home] and [End].

Despite the fact I originally didn't intend to publish the game at all and wanted to keep it "for myself", I eventually decided that other players may succumb to the charm of this classic game and get to like it just like me. If you like the game, I'll be only glad, and if you send your game results I'll be even gladder! ;-) I'm really curious to see who beats at least twenty levels! Good luck (and logically-tactic thinking) in the game!



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