About
Swing (released in the US as Marble Master) is a 1997 puzzle video game for the PlayStation and PC, developed in Germany by the now-defunct Software 2000, with a downgraded Game Boy Color version also released. XSwing Plus is an open-source Java remake of Swing Plus - Total Mind Control (Marble Master), recreating the original graphics and mechanics as closely as possible for Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android. It includes 45 levels, hot-seat multiplayer, offline and online highscores, and English/German localization.
How it differs from the original
As a fan recreation, it isn't affiliated with or licensed by Software 2000 (which went bankrupt in 2002); the developer tried and failed to contact the original team for permission to use the original theme music.
Getting started
Download the installer for your platform (Windows, Linux, or Mac) from the project's site, or use the portable zip version if you install a Java runtime yourself. Move the crane with the left/right arrow keys and drop a ball with the down arrow, aiming to place three balls of the same color in a row to clear them — five stacked in a column shrink into one heavy ball.
History
Development started in 2007, before the project made regular use of git version control; the repository was later restored from zipped code backups covering 2007 to 2013.
Additional notes
- Other clone
- Another clone of the original game exists for Android and iOS under the name Color-X-Plode.
- Modding
- Graphics and sounds can be swapped by replacing files in a resources folder, and a JSON config supports switching to an alternate HD 16:9 theme.