Radica Games 16019 Instruction Manual

WARNING: EPILEPSY AND SEIZURES

READ BEFORE OPERATING YOUR PLAY TV

A few people may experience epileptic seizures when viewing flashing 

lights or patterns in our daily environment. These persons may experi-

ence seizures while watching TV pictures or playing video games. Play-

ers who have not had any seizures may nonetheless have an undetec-

ted epileptic condition.

Consult your physician before playing video games if you have an 

epileptic condition or experience any of the following symptoms while 

playing video games: altered vision, eye or muscle twitching, other 

involuntary movements, loss of awareness of your surroundings, mental 

confusion and/or convulsions.

Family Tetris is a unique game that allows both children and adults to 

play cooperatively, at any skill level. The object is to position the falling 

Tetriminos across the bottom of the Matrix in order to create a solid 

line with no empty spaces.  Tetriminos are the 7 shapes created from 

4 blocks (Minos) joined together, and can be rotated or moved as they 

fall. When an entire horizontal line fills with Minos, the line clears from 

the Matrix.  If lines are not completely filled with Minos, they will not 

clear from the Matrix, and the Tetriminos will continue to stack up higher 

and higher.  If the stack of Tetriminos reaches the top of the Matrix, the 

game is over!

SETTING UP

BATTERY INSTALLATION

On the back of the controller, remove the battery compartment door 

and insert four (4) “AA” (LR6) batteries as indicated inside the compart-

ment (alkaline batteries recommended).  Replace the battery compart-

ment door. Do not over-tighten.

NOTE: Batteries in the controller should give you about 10 hours of 

game play (if alkaline batteries are used).  The game will not oper-

ate normally when the batteries begin to run low.  The screen may be 

blurred and resetting the game may not work.  Be sure to install fresh 

batteries.  There is also no memory function.  All game data will be 

erased when the power is turned off or batteries are replaced.

ADULT SUPERVISION IS RECOMMENDED WHEN INSTALLING 

BATTERIES.

CONNECTING TO YOUR TV

To connect Family Tetris directly to a TV, the TV must be equipped with 

audio and video input jacks. They are commonly found on the front of 

the TV near the contrast, color, and picture adjustment controls; or on 

the back of the TV near the antenna and cable/satellite jacks.  

Insert the yellow video plug from the game into the Video-In (yellow) 

jack on the TV.

Insert the white audio plug from the game into the left Audio-In (white) 

jack on the TV.

Set your TV to the appropriate video input mode. (See your TV’s operat-

ing manual for details.)

CONNECTING TO YOUR VCR

If your TV doesn’t have audio and video input jacks, you can connect 

Family Tetris to your VCR.

Insert the yellow video plug from the game into the Video-In (yellow) 

jack on the VCR.

Insert the white audio plug from the game into the left Audio-In (white) 

jack on the VCR.

Set your TV and VCR to the appropriate video input mode. (See your TV 

and VCR operating manuals for details.)

NOTE: If your TV or VCR does not have AV inputs, a “Y” adapter may be 

purchased separately at any electronics store.

ADULT SUPERVISION IS RECOMMENDED WHEN CONNECTING 

CABLES TO A TV AND VCR.

I6019  

For 1 or 2 players / Ages 3 and up

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

P/N 823A3000   Rev.D

BUTTON FUNCTIONS

Up: Hard (Fast) Drop the Tetrimino (on 3- and 4-Block Tetriminos only) 

Down: Soft (Slow) Drop the Tetrimino

Left: Move Tetrimino one cell left

Right: Move Tetrimino one cell right 

Left Rotate: Rotates Tetrimino counterclockwise / Select a menu 

option 

Right Rotate: Rotates Tetrimino clockwise / Select a menu option 

Hold Trigger: Hold Tetrimino (works using 4-Block Tetriminos only)  

Start Button: Pauses gameplay / Selects a menu option

PLAYING FAMILY TETRIS

If your Family Tetris is connected to your TV, turn on the TV, then set 

the TV to the appropriate video input mode (see set-up section of this 

manual).  If your Family Tetris is connected to your TV through a VCR, 

turn on the TV and VCR, then set both the TV and VCR to the appropri-

ate video input modes (see set-up section of this manual).  Next, turn on 

the power to your Family Tetris by sliding the POWER BUTTON on the 

controller.  After a brief start-up animation, the Main Menu will appear 

on the TV screen.

Using the directional buttons on the Main Unit, you will be able to scroll 

through the different game modes you can choose from.  Once the 

game mode you wish to play is highlighted press the Start button.  

MAIN MENU 

Family Tetris features five Tetris variants: 

1) Family: Cooperate to clear each level!

Summary: 

One or two players (each in their own Matrix) contribute Line Clears 

toward the Goal throughout 15 levels, in the fastest overall time.  

Goal per level = 10 lines. (5 lines if both players using 1 block)

2) Race: How fast can you clear 40 lines? 

Summary: 

One or two players (each in their own Matrix) contribute Line Clears 

toward the Goal of 40, in the fastest overall time.     

3) Marathon: Go for a great score!

Summary: 

The goal is to complete all 15 levels (150 lines in total) to get the most 

points possible. There is no time limit.   

Goal per level = 10 lines.

4) Dig: Clear the bottom line! 

Summary:  

The goal is for one or two players, at either 3 or 4-Block Tetrimino sizes, 

to complete 15 “Digs” either alone or by cooperatively “digging” to the 

bottom through a progressively deeper broken line pile, and then clear-

ing the bottom line. Each bottom line clear by either person contributes 

one dig, until at 15 digs, the game is over.  

2P mode has both players trying to reach the bottom and clear the 

bottom line, however each grid is played independently and when one 

person clears they contribute a “dig” toward the 15 dig total, and only 

their broken line pile increases, while the other player continues. This al-

lows both players to play at their own pace while trying to complete the 

game in the fastest time and maintain an increasing challenge.  

5) Versus: Compete against another player!

Summary: 

For two players only using 4-Block Tetriminos, both players attempt to 

clear lines in order to send new lines into their opponent’s matrix. The 

player to outlast or cause the other player to reach the top of the Matrix 

wins! The winner of the match is the first player to win two of three games.     

Simultaneous Lines Cleared      New Lines Sent to Opposing Player

2   

1

         3   

2

         4   

4

PRACTICE MODE

In all variants except “Versus”, when two players are playing and one 

of them reaches the top, their game is only temporarily over. They enter 

into practice mode and are able to play (without contributing toward 

the goal) until the opposite player reaches the goal, at which point both 

E