How BLOCS Works: Manhattan 3D Explorer
A comprehensive manual for navigating the virtual city, claiming billboard placements, and dominating the skyline.
1. Navigating the 3D City
Camera Navigation
Pan: Left-click and drag (or one finger drag on touch).
Orbit / Rotate: Right-click and drag (or two finger twist).
Zoom: Mouse wheel or pinch to zoom.
View Modes
Switch between Aerial Map View (high-altitude overview) and Street View (ground-level walking perspective with moving cars and pedestrians).
2. Claiming & Designing Your Billboard
- Select a Building: Click any building directly on the 3D canvas, or search the directory by name, neighborhood, or landmark status.
- Open the Branding Studio: Click “Make this spot yours” to customize your brand name, headline, color theme, and optional photo.
- Choose Facade & Illumination: Pick exterior paint finishes (Midnight Slate, Obsidian, Terracotta) and night LED lighting (Neon Glow, Radiant, Halos).
- Confirm Your Bid: Sign in before you pay. BLOCS does not offer guest checkout, so a plot is always attached to the account that completes the claim. If the building is vacant, pay the base height-tiered price. If already occupied, outbid the incumbent by at least 10%. Promotional credit and rematch apply first; any remainder is paid by card. The previous owner does not get cash or wallet credit. They get a rematch locked to that building.
3. Losing a building (rematch)
BLOCS is king-of-the-hill on a named address. If someone takes your building, you do not get money back in your wallet. You get a rematch on that same building.
- The rematch is equal to your listed stake and applies only when you claim that building again.
- It is not cash. It cannot be withdrawn, paid out, or spent on a cheaper plot elsewhere in the 20,000-building city.
- A takeover still costs the challenger at least 10% more. If you rematch, your locked stake covers part of that new price; you pay any remainder with promotional placement credit or card checkout.
- Promotional credit from supply drops is separate. It is also not withdrawable money — it only reduces a BLOCS claim.
Full legal wording is in the Terms of Service.
3b. Keep and Lifetime
If you already hold a building and want to stop takeovers, you can buy Keep or Lifetime protection from the inspector. These are not a deed and not real estate.
- Keep · 1 year: List price $199. Nobody can outbid you on that building for 12 months. When the year ends, pay again or the plot is contestable.
- Lifetime · BLOCS: List price $799. Nobody can outbid you while BLOCS operates this product. If BLOCS shuts down or retires Manhattan, Lifetime protection ends. No cash refund.
- Promotional credit can reduce the card charge. Rematch and discount vouchers cannot. You must already hold the plot.
4. City Gamification & Territory Mechanics
👑 The Skyline Crown
The tallest active billboard tower across Manhattan receives the golden Skyline Crown beacon with a vertical searchlight. District kings are recognized per neighborhood.
⚡ District Monopolies
Hold 3 or more active billboards in the same neighborhood to activate a District Monopoly. Your buildings are linked with cyan laser beams and receive a +20% shield duration bonus.
📦 Rooftop Supply Drops
Mystery supply crates drop randomly on high-rise rooftops across Manhattan. Find and click them to claim free ad credits, shield booster items, and 20% discount vouchers.
4. Content Safety & Refund Policy
All submitted headlines, imagery, and links publish instantly and undergo automated background AI classification. A confirmed customer-caused breach of the Community Decency Standards may result in removal without a discretionary refund or rematch. If BLOCS fails to provide the purchased service or charges you incorrectly, statutory rights and any remedies required by law remain available.