Workshop › Tetris-style Blocks › Step 20 of 32

When the pile reaches the top

What we are doing

If a new piece does not even fit where it appears, the pile has reached the top: the game is over. A state variable remembers it, and the loop stops dropping.

```js
let state // 'playing' or 'over'

  state = 'playing'

  if (!fits(piece.shape, piece.x, piece.y)) state = 'over'

  if (state === 'playing' && time - lastDrop >= 800) {
```

What it means

• newGame sets state to 'playing'.
• spawn checks the new piece: if it does not fit where it appears, the game is 'over'.
• The loop only drops the piece while playing.

Your turn

1. Above let lastDrop = 0 write let state.
2. In newGame, under the board = ... line, write state = 'playing'.
3. In spawn, at the end, write the fits check.
4. In loop, add state === 'playing' && to the if.

Skills: Game states

← One function starts a game Game Over on screen →

All steps

1. The well
2. The board as rows of numbers
3. Draw one cell
4. Draw the whole board
5. The number is the color
6. A piece is a small grid
7. A list of shapes
8. All seven pieces
9. Does it fit inside the well?
10. Blocks are in the way
11. Try, then move
12. Move with the arrows
13. Turn a matrix
14. Turn with Up
15. Wall kicks
16. Falling by itself
17. A random piece at the top
18. Land and lock
19. One function starts a game
20. When the pile reaches the top
21. Game Over on screen
22. Play again
23. Clear full rows
24. Points for lines
25. The side panel
26. Levels
27. Faster every level
28. A fair bag of pieces
29. The next piece
30. Drop it
31. The ghost piece
32. Build it yourself: hold a piece