Blue Orange Brix - User Manual

Brix is a two-player strategy game designed for ages 7 and up, where players build a wall of bricks to achieve a winning alignment. The game is published by Blue Orange Games and was created by Thierry Denoual and Charles Chevallier.

Function Description:

Brix is a modern take on the classic Tic-Tac-Toe concept, expanding it into a three-dimensional stacking game. The primary objective is for players to align four of their designated symbols or colors in a row, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, within the constructed brick wall. The game introduces a strategic layer by having each brick contain symbols/colors for both players, meaning every move can potentially benefit the opponent.

Important Technical Specifications:

• Components: The game includes 22 unique bricks and illustrated rules.
• Brick Design: Each brick features four squares, with two squares displaying an 'X' and two displaying an 'O'. Additionally, two squares are colored orange and two are colored blue. This dual characteristic (symbol and color) is central to the game's multiple play modes.
• Wall Dimensions: The game specifies that the wall can never be more than 8 symbols wide. This constraint is crucial for gameplay and strategic placement.

Usage Features:

Brix offers three distinct game modes, catering to different skill levels:

1. Game 1: Connecting Symbols (Beginner):

   • Objective: One player plays as the 'X's, and the other plays as the 'O's. The goal is to be the first to connect 4 squares of your symbol in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line.
   • Gameplay: Players take turns adding new bricks to the wall. Since each brick contains both 'X's and 'O's, players must carefully consider how their placement might inadvertently help their opponent achieve a winning line.

2. Game 2: Connecting Colors (Beginner):

   • Objective: One player plays orange, and the other plays blue. The goal is to be the first to connect 4 squares of your color in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line.
   • Gameplay: Similar to Game 1, players stack bricks, but their focus shifts from symbols to colors. Each brick contains both orange and blue squares, requiring strategic placement to form a line of four of one's own color while avoiding setting up the opponent.

3. Game 3: Connecting Symbols vs. Connecting Colors (Advanced):

   • Objective: This advanced mode introduces a unique twist. One player plays both colors (orange and blue), and the other player plays both symbols ('X' and 'O'). The goal is to be the first to connect 4 squares of one of your own characteristics (either a color or a symbol, depending on which player you are) in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line.
   • Gameplay: This mode significantly increases the strategic complexity. The "color player" must focus on creating lines of four orange or four blue squares, while the "symbol player" must focus on creating lines of four 'X's or four 'O's. This creates a dynamic where players are pursuing different types of alignments simultaneously, making every move critical.

General Gameplay Mechanics (Applicable to all games):

• Setup: All 22 bricks are placed in the center of the table, forming a draw pile accessible to both players.
• Starting the Wall: The first player initiates the wall by taking one brick from the draw pile and placing it between both players. This initial brick can be placed either horizontally or vertically.
• Adding Bricks: Players take turns adding one new brick to the wall. Bricks must be placed flat and in line with any previously played bricks. A new brick cannot be placed at an angle or extend past other bricks in a way that causes part of it to hover in the air, ensuring structural stability.
• Winning Condition: The game ends immediately when a player places a brick that causes 4 (or more) of their designated colors and/or symbols to line up on the wall. That player is declared the winner.
• Simultaneous Win Condition: A specific rule addresses scenarios where placing a brick might create a winning line for both players simultaneously. In such cases, the player who placed the brick is the one who wins the game.
• No Winner After All Bricks: If all 22 bricks have been placed and no player has achieved a winning line, the game continues. Players then take turns removing bricks from the wall and returning them to a new location on the wall. This introduces a new layer of strategy, as players must now consider how removing and replacing bricks affects existing alignments and potential future wins.
• Structural Integrity: Players must be careful to maintain the structural integrity of the wall. If the wall collapses on a player's turn, that player loses the game. This adds a physical dexterity element to the strategic placement.
• Movement Restriction: A player cannot move a brick that their opponent moved on their immediately preceding turn. This prevents repetitive or stalling moves and encourages forward progression of the game.

Maintenance Features:

• The game components are durable bricks designed for repeated handling and stacking. No specific maintenance instructions are provided beyond general care for game pieces. The game is manufactured in China and distributed by Blue Orange USA.