Approximately 8 years ago I would spend time on my Mom's Macintosh
playing a puzzle game.  When you started the game, you were presented
with a randomly selected grid, which would have a pattern blocking
parts of the grid.  The object of the game was to place squares on the
grid.  The trick was that each side of the square had a color on it -
I don't remember how many colors were available, four maybe?  Once you
placed the first square, subsequent squares needed to touch an
existing square whose color matched at the point of contact.  You
could skip squares, but there was a limited number of squares, so the
game would end once you ran out of squares.  Also, you got more points
for each side that touched another square.

I would like the researcher to find this game for a PC running Win2K.

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 12 Oct 2002 22:36 PDT

Hi Juliewt,

Passage 3 - a puzzle game for Windows.

Could this be the game? Check out the description on this webpage.

They also have a demo download.

http://www.gekko-software.de/passage3_e.htm

---Bobbie7-ga

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Clarification of Question by juliewt-ga on 14 Oct 2002 22:36 PDT

Bobbie7-ga,

It seems that the exact game I am looking for has probably been
modernized beyond recognition!  The Passage3 game is similar enough
for me to accept as an answer.

Thanks for searching for me!

Dear Julietwt,

I am pleased to have found a game that is similar to the one you were
searching for. I know of another game that you may like as well that
is similar to Passage 3.
It’s called Alchemy for Windows and its played by putting similar
pieces (in color or shape) next to each other.
http://www.gamingplace.com/download/preview/230481.html

Search criteria:
Old Mac games
puzzle games
puzzle game classics

Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga

Didn't find it on any of the shareware sites. Doesn't mean it's not
out there: I may not have been searching for the right things.
Meanwhile, I found an interesting place where you can play a similar
game online: http://www.tantrix.com/

Was the game called "Macao" or "FloorTiles?"

I found a website with shareware Macintosh games, and the game
"FloorTiles" is very much like what you were describing:
http://www.ironsoftware.com/FloorTiles.html

The author of the program mentions that FloorTiles is a revisit of his
old commercial game called "Macao." Unfortunately, they are only
available for the Macintosh.

I have never seen a game like this for the PC.

I would be willing to create a game like this (to your specifications)
if you wish.  I spose I could even be talked into doing it for free. 
Just provide me with the details of the game play.

I don't read the Google Answers boards very often so if you are
interrested, email me at ghostinak@yahoo.com.

-Boo

It is -DEFINITELY- not Alchemy. Sorry, nice try..... 

The game you are looking for is Ataxx, or more precisely, a clone of
Attax.
This game has it's own section in the google directory:
http://directory.google.com/Top/Games/Board_Games/Abstract/Territory_Games/Ataxx/

This is probably the best site on the web to research it's history:
http://www.pressibus.org/ataxx/indexgb.html

In sum, this game is on an 8x8 board with up to 4 players. Each peice
can be cloned when moved one position or moved by two positions, and
will capture all peices around the position it lands on. The game is
over when all spots have been filled.

It is believed that the first version of this game was an Arcade by
Leland called "Ataxx", released in 1990.
http://www.mame.dk/gameinfo/ataxx/


The most popular version of this game may happen to be "Spot", a board
game for the NES starring the 7-up mascot. It was programmed in part
by Graeme Devine, most recently seen working for ID Software, brushing
up the Mac version of Quake 3.

The most popular Mac variants are called "Mac Ataxx", "Ataxx Pro",
"Flippant", "Backstab", and "Chello". You probably played one of these
versions. More info can be found at the Macintosh link at the
following site: http://www.pressibus.org/ataxx/indexgb.html