Biniax

Biniax is a free and open-source puzzle video game which was first released in 2005. A sequel, Biniax-2, was released in 2007, with a more polished look and feel, and different game modes: arcade, tactic and multiplayer. The most recent release was in 2012.[1]

Biniax
Developer(s)Jordan Tuzsuzov
Initial release2005, 2007
PlatformMobile phone, Dreamcast, Windows, Linux, Amiga, BeOS, GP2X, PSP, Mac OS X
TypePuzzle video games
Licensezlib
Websitebiniax.com
Screenshot in-game.

Gameplay

The gaming field is a 5x7 grid consisting of empty spaces and pairs of coloured elements, each of them being blue, green, red, or yellow; no pair contains two elements of the same colour. A single element is assigned to the player, which can be moved on empty places. Pairs containing an element of the same colour with the player's element can be selected and removed from the field. Then, the score is increased and the player's element is swapped with the other element of the pair. The field is scrolling down on time event or after certain moves are spend (depending on the game mode). The game is over when there is no move available for the player.

Examples

In example below, the player's element [U] takes the pair with moving up and becomes [X].

  • Row init:

Every new row consists of four pairs with one pair left empty in random.

.....................   .....................
.H-O     X-U U-X O-U.    .O-X H-X     O-U U-X.
.                   . -> .H-O     X-U U-X O-U.
.        [U]        .    .        [U]        .
.....................   .....................
  • Taking:

The player's element [U] takes the pair with moving up and becomes [X].

.....................   .....................
.O-X H-X     O-U U-X.    .O-X H-X     O-U U-X.
.H-O     X-U U-X O-U. -> .H-O     [X] U-X O-U.
.        [U]        .    .                   .
.....................   .....................
  • Scrolling:

When the field in front of the player is empty, the scrolling doesn't move the player's block.

.....................   .....................
.H-O     X-U U-X O-U.    .O-X H-X     O-U U-X.
.    [U]            . -> .H-O [U] X-U U-X O-U.
.                   .    .                   .
.....................   .....................

When the pair in front of the player cannot be taken, it pushes down the player's block.

.....................   .....................
.H-O     X-U U-X O-U.    .O-X H-X     O-U U-X.
.        [O]        . -> .H-O     X-U U-X O-U.
.                   .    .        [O]        .
.....................   .....................

When the pair in front of the player can be taken, the player stays at same position, automatically taking the pair.

.....................   .....................
.H-O     X-U U-X O-U.    .O-X H-X     O-U U-X.
.        [U]        . -> .H-O     [X] U-X O-U.
.                   .    .                   .
.....................   .....................

Ports and remakes

There are 3 Biniax games – Biniax, Biniax-2 and BiniaxMobile. All the versions are open-source under the zlib license,[2] first two are coded in C, and mobile version is in Java ME. The source code is available as zip from the website of the programmer.[1] Latest version is from 2012.

The game is usually ported (Biniax-2 mainly), but some remakes exist (like Mojon Twin's version for 8 bit Sinclair ZX Spectrum).

Reception

In 2008 Biniax-2 was awarded the 3rd place at the Bulgarian Computer Space 2008 festival in "Offline multimedia" category.[3]

In 2008 a short feature of Biniax-2 in GameTunnel stated:"...it is definitely the kind of game you'll want to have around for anytime you have a free minute because it is absolutely fun!".[4]

In 2007 a Bytten review of Biniax-2 rated the game with 70% overall score.[5] Biniax-2 was review in 2007 by the Polish VictoryGames website and was awarded a silver medal.[6]

FreeGameArchive described in 2007 Biniax mobile as: "Biniax Mobile is one of the best logical-express I've ever played on mobile phone!".[7]

A review of Biniax-2 at PlneHry.cz in Czech in 2007 rated it 7/10.[8]

An extensive review on AllAboutSymbian in 2005 for Biniax Mobile rated it 75/100.[9]

Biniax was also included on several video game magazines' cover disks with freeware game compilations, and was part of the Open Source Software CD.[10]

Biniax was selected in March 2016 as a "HotPick" by Linux Format.[11]

See also

References
  1. download2 on tuzsuzov.com "Latest update - Android port, Sept.2012"
  2. zlib license on tuzsuzov.com
  3. Press Release: “Computer Space 2008” awarded the winners in the XX edition "Offline multimedia: There is no first place in this category 2. Attentive displays Ltd. – "Advertising Attentive Displays" 3. Jordan Tuzsuzov – "Biniax 2 – computer game" (31 October 2008)
  4. Biniax-2 on gametunnel.com (archived, 2008)
  5. Biniax-2 on bytten.com (archived, 2007)
  6. Biniax-2 on victorygames.pl (in Polish, 2007)
  7. biniax-mobile on freegamearchive.com (2007)
  8. biniax-2 (2007, in Czech)
  9. Biniax by Ewan Spence on allaboutsymbian.com (October 7th 2005, archived)
  10. biniax on opensource-dvd.de
  11. Linux Format March 2016 on Linux Format page 55 (March 2016)
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