Help Topics
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Introduction
It's all about busting blocks and building up ranks in Yahoo's classic puzzle game, JT's Blocks.
While focusing on one's puzzle-solving skills is a good thing, nothing beats having this little buddy by your side as you go on a
block-busting spree. The ever reliable Block Buddy, sits quietly on your desktop, and suggests (or plays!) great moves that guarantee you victory,
an improved ranking and a lot of envious opponents.
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The Interface (GUI)
Block Buddy offers a seemingly complex interface that is actually simple and easy to use once it's defined. The first thing one notices is
the drop-down box with 1-Super search. This is the type of solving strategy Block Buddy will use. The time per move and
think time is how much time the Buddy will spend making a move and thinking. Once these settings are selected, it's time to play!
Press the solve button and Block Buddy begins generating and storing solutions to the puzzle based on your preferences of search and time. The timer
is a visible representation of how much time has passed and the solutions keeps track of how many solutions to the puzzle have been
found. The search activity keeps users notified of the search progress. This process can be stopped at any time.
Not satisfied with the results? Readjust your puzzle-solving preferences and retry. If the best solution found is appealing
enough, then play the solution.
The lower half of Block Buddy is not only a miniaturized version of the game itself, but is also a self solve feature. This enables users to practice the
puzzle before they solve it, by pressing scan then playing the game within Block Buddy's GUI. Oops - didn't want to make that move?
No problem! Press the rewind arrow key. Decide that move really was what you wanted? Just click the fast forward arrow key. Once
the puzzle has been solved and satisfaction has been reached, it's time to play your moves. And if that's too much work for you, just use the show hint and play hint buttons for
friendly assistance. Then again, if you'd rather just watch, it's time to engage in autoplay and collapse that GUI screen!
Block Buddy also offers an arrangement of menu options: Options, Rooms and Help. You can learn more about these by reading below. |
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Menu Options
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The Options menu allows you to access Block Buddy's settings and change them to suit your needs (see below). It also offers an opportunity to refer a buddy (tell a friend) about Block Buddy and/or request a new feature. |
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The Rooms menu has one of most valuable features of Block Buddy. It contains backdoors to each of Yahoo's JT's Blocks rooms. This feature lets you enter a room even if its full. Note: If the room does not load, login to any Yahoo JT's Blocks game with your username and password first then select the desired room from the list. |
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The Help menu provides instructions on how to use Block Buddy, a link to the Play Buddy Help Center, shortcuts to buy and register your copy, and a valuable Bug Report feature to use when Block Buddy isn't working. But perhaps the most valuable feature here is the auto check at startup which automatically checks for any updates. |
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| Settings
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| Settings |
Action |
| Play sound on startup |
Turns the "Welcome to Play Buddy" greeting on and off. |
| Window always on top |
Keeps Block Buddy on top of all windows all the time. |
| Autoplay - Delay between clicks |
Adjusts how slow or fast rounds are completed during autoplay. |
| Autoplay runs |
Sets the autoplay game time for X number of hours to infinite. |
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How To Use
- Log on to Yahoo games with your username and password.
- Launch Block Buddy when your game opens and/or select a room from the Rooms list. Upon entrance it automatically recognizes it and is ready to work.
- If you prefer to play manually, adjust the search options to your preferences then press solve. If the solution offered is satisfactory, play the solution.
- Manual players can also practice the puzzle within Block Buddy's GUI and even rewind and fast forward moves using the arrow keys. Once you've solved the puzzle to your satisfaction, press the play my moves button and watch your puzzle solving skills come to life on the big screen! And don't forget about the options that let you see and play hints.
- Autoplayers need only press the autoplay button to have Block Buddy complete the rounds automatically. You also may decide to collapse the GUI - it can always be expanded later.
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Optimizing Performance
- Brain vs. Braun: To complete rounds quickly, use the autoplay feature and select "forever" under Options and set the delay to the minimum. For a more strategic, efficient play, increase the think time to a length you feel comfortable with (but longer than 1-minute).
- Do it yourself (with help!)!: Interested in achieving a high score all on your own? If so, Block Buddy is the perfect team player. Take advantage of the "practive before you play" feature by practicing the puzzles in the GUI until you solve it just the way you like it!
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HELP!
It won't recognize the game window
Double-check that you have the newest version available. Do this by using the check for update feature under the Help menu on the Buddy. Also, the "News" section at the top of this page has a link to "Updated Buddies." Here you can see if the Buddy has been recently updated and why.
Now make sure that all the system requirements for the Buddy are met. These include Windows XP or Vista, Internet Explorer, Sun Java, and appropriate display settings.
It won't work
First, go to the Help menu on the Buddy and visit the Troubleshoot page to see if your solution is there. No luck? Select the Bug Report feature under the HELP tab on the Buddy. Fill in the required fields, capture the screen, and then send it. Play Buddy Support will receive it and respond to you via e-mail.
Miscellaneous / Other
Don't see an answer to your question, or do you think something else needs to be added to this help file? If so, e-mail support@playbuddy.com with your suggestion. |
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Registering your software
Block Buddy is trialware and it cannot be used once the seven day trial period has expired. To avoid losing a great buddy, buy your copy by using the Buy Now option in the HELP menu or use the link given below. If you have already purchased and need help registering, please click here.
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Download Block Buddy
| Requirements |
| Windows XP or Vista |
| Sun Java |
| Internet Explorer 6.0+ |
Note: AOL users will need to open their games and operate their Buddies in IE Windows
| Found a bug? |
| Help us squash it! Report it using your buddy's HELP menu option |
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