This is a collection of small one-player puzzle games.
-\copyright This manual is copyright 2004-5 Simon Tatham. All rights
+\copyright This manual is copyright 2004-2008 Simon Tatham. All rights
reserved. You may distribute this documentation under the MIT licence.
See \k{licence} for the licence text in full.
a good game on (say) \i{Unix}, it wasn't available the next time I
was sitting at a \i{Windows} machine, or vice versa; so I arranged
that everything in my personal puzzle collection will happily run on
-both, and have more recently done a port to Mac OS X as well. When I
+both, and have more recently done a port to \i{Mac OS X} as well. When I
find (or perhaps invent) further puzzle games that I like, they'll
be added to this collection and will immediately be available on
both platforms. And if anyone feels like writing any other front
and via \I{keys}keyboard shortcuts, in addition to any game-specific
actions.
-(On Mac OS X, to conform with local user interface standards, these
+(On \i{Mac OS X}, to conform with local user interface standards, these
actions are situated on the \I{File menu}\q{File} and \I{Edit
menu}\q{Edit} menus instead.)
\lcont{
-The Load and Save operations should preserve your entire game
+The Load and Save operations preserve your entire game
history (so you can save, reload, and still Undo and Redo things you
had done before saving).
}
-\dt \ii\e{Print}
+\dt \I{printing, on Windows}\e{Print}
\dd Where supported (currently only on Windows), brings up a dialog
allowing you to print an arbitrary number of puzzles randomly
generated from the current parameters, optionally including the
-current puzzle.
+current puzzle. (Only for puzzles which make sense to print, of
+course - it's hard to think of a sensible printable representation
+of Fifteen!)
\dt \ii\e{Undo} (\q{U}, Ctrl+\q{Z}, Ctrl+\q{_})
same puzzle.
The \q{\i{Specific}} and \q{\i{Random Seed}} options from the
-\I{Game menu}\q{Game} menu (or the \q{File} menu, on Mac OS X) each
+\I{Game menu}\q{Game} menu (or the \q{File} menu, on \i{Mac OS X}) each
show a piece of text (a \q{game ID}) which is sufficient to
reconstruct precisely the same game at a later date.
\H{common-cmdline} Specifying game parameters on the \i{command line}
-(This section does not apply to the Mac OS X version.)
+(This section does not apply to the \i{Mac OS X} version.)
The games in this collection deliberately do not ever save
information on to the computer they run on: they have no high score
some people to play them at work, and those people will probably
appreciate leaving as little evidence as possible!)
-However, if you do want to arrange for one of these games to default
-to a particular set of parameters, you can specify them on the
-command line.
+However, if you do want to arrange for one of these games to
+\I{default parameters, specifying}default to a particular set of
+parameters, you can specify them on the command line.
The easiest way to do this is to set up the parameters you want
using the \q{Type} menu (see \k{common-type}), and then to select
then some options, such as the difficulty level in Solo, will be
missing. See \k{common-id} for more details on this.)
+\H{common-unix-cmdline} \i{Unix} \i{command-line} options
+
+(This section only applies to the Unix port.)
+
+In addition to being able to specify game parameters on the command
+line (see \k{common-cmdline}), there are various other options:
+
+\dt \cw{--game}
+
+\dt \cw{--load}
+
+\dd These options respectively determine whether the command-line
+argument is treated as specifying game parameters or a \i{save} file
+to \i{load}. Only one should be specified. If neither of these options
+is specified, a guess is made based on the format of the argument.
+
+\dt \cw{--generate }\e{n}
+
+\dd If this option is specified, instead of a puzzle being displayed,
+a number of descriptive game IDs will be \I{generating game IDs}invented
+and printed on standard output. This is useful for gaining access to
+the game generation algorithms without necessarily using the frontend.
+
+\lcont{
+
+If game parameters are specified on the command-line, they will be
+used to generate the game IDs; otherwise a default set of parameters
+will be used.
+
+The most common use of this option is in conjunction with \c{--print},
+in which case its behaviour is slightly different; see below.
+
+}
+
+\dt \I{printing, on Unix}\cw{--print }\e{w}\cw{x}\e{h}
+
+\dd If this option is specified, instead of a puzzle being displayed,
+a printed representation of one or more unsolved puzzles is sent to
+standard output, in \i{PostScript} format.
+
+\lcont{
+
+On each page of puzzles, there will be \e{w} across and \e{h} down. If
+there are more puzzles than \e{w}\by\e{h}, more than one page will be
+printed.
+
+If \c{--generate} has also been specified, the invented game IDs will
+be used to generate the printed output. Otherwise, a list of game IDs
+is expected on standard input (which can be descriptive or random
+seeds; see \k{common-id}), in the same format produced by
+\c{--generate}.
+
+For example:
+
+\c net --generate 12 --print 2x3 7x7w | lpr
+
+will generate two pages of printed Net puzzles (each of which will
+have a 7\by\.7 wrapping grid), and pipe the output to the \c{lpr}
+command, which on many systems will send them to an actual printer.
+
+There are various other options which affect printing; see below.
+
+}
+
+\dt \cw{--save }\e{file-prefix} [ \cw{--save-suffix }\e{file-suffix} ]
+
+\dd If this option is specified, instead of a puzzle being
+displayed, saved-game files for one or more unsolved puzzles are
+written to files constructed from the supplied prefix and/or suffix.
+
+\lcont{
+
+If \c{--generate} has also been specified, the invented game IDs will
+be used to generate the printed output. Otherwise, a list of game IDs
+is expected on standard input (which can be descriptive or random
+seeds; see \k{common-id}), in the same format produced by
+\c{--generate}.
+
+For example:
+
+\c net --generate 12 --save game --save-suffix .sav
+
+will generate twelve Net saved-game files with the names
+\cw{game0.sav} to \cw{game11.sav}.
+
+}
+
+\dt \cw{--version}
+
+\dd Prints version information about the game, and then quits.
+
+The following options are only meaningful if \c{--print} is also
+specified:
+
+\dt \cw{--with-solutions}
+
+\dd The set of pages filled with unsolved puzzles will be followed by
+the solutions to those puzzles.
+
+\dt \cw{--scale }\e{n}
+
+\dd Adjusts how big each puzzle is when printed. Larger numbers make
+puzzles bigger; the default is 1.0.
+
+\dt \cw{--colour}
+
+\dd Puzzles will be printed in colour, rather than in black and white
+(if supported by the puzzle).
+
\C{net} \i{Net}
\H{rectangles-controls} \I{controls, for Rectangles}Rectangles controls
-This game is played with the mouse.
+This game is played with the mouse or cursor keys.
+
+Left-click any edge to toggle it on or off, or left-click and drag to draw
+an entire rectangle (or line) on the grid in one go (removing any existing
+edges within that rectangle). Right-clicking and dragging will allow you
+to erase the contents of a rectangle without affecting its edges.
-Left-click any edge to toggle it on or off, or click and drag to draw
-an entire rectangle (or line) on the grid in one go (removing any
-existing edges within that rectangle).
+Alternatively, use the cursor keys to move the position indicator
+around the board. Pressing the return key then allows you to use the
+cursor keys to drag a rectangle out from that position, and pressing
+the return key again completes the rectangle. Using the space bar
+instead of the return key allows you to erase the contents of a
+rectangle without affecting its edges, as above.
When a rectangle of the correct size is completed, it will be shaded.
\cfg{winhelp-topic}{games.solo}
-You have a square grid, which is divided into square or rectangular
-blocks. Each square must be filled in with a digit from 1 to the
-size of the grid, in such a way that
+You have a square grid, which is divided into as many equally sized
+sub-blocks as the grid has rows. Each square must be filled in with
+a digit from 1 to the size of the grid, in such a way that
\b every row contains only one occurrence of each digit
\b every block contains only one occurrence of each digit.
+\b (optionally, by default off) each of the square's two main
+diagonals contains only one occurrence of each digit.
+
You are given some of the numbers as clues; your aim is to place the
rest of the numbers correctly.
-The default puzzle size is 3\by\.3 (a 9\by\.9 actual grid, divided
-into nine 3\by\.3 blocks). You can also select sizes with
-rectangular blocks instead of square ones, such as 2\by\.3 (a
-6\by\.6 grid divided into six 3\by\.2 blocks).
+Under the default settings, the sub-blocks are square or
+rectangular. The default puzzle size is 3\by\.3 (a 9\by\.9 actual
+grid, divided into nine 3\by\.3 blocks). You can also select sizes
+with rectangular blocks instead of square ones, such as 2\by\.3 (a
+6\by\.6 grid divided into six 3\by\.2 blocks). Alternatively, you
+can select \q{jigsaw} mode, in which the sub-blocks are arbitrary
+shapes which differ between individual puzzles.
If you select a puzzle size which requires more than 9 digits, the
additional digits will be letters of the alphabet. For example, if
you select 3\by\.4 then the digits which go in your grid will be 1
to 9, plus \cq{a}, \cq{b} and \cq{c}.
-I first saw this puzzle in \i{Nikoli} \k{nikoli-solo}, although it's also
-been popularised by various newspapers under the name \q{Sudoku} or
-\q{Su Doku}.
+I first saw this puzzle in \i{Nikoli} \k{nikoli-solo}, although it's
+also been popularised by various newspapers under the name
+\q{Sudoku} or \q{Su Doku}. Howard Garns is considered the inventor
+of the modern form of the puzzle, and it was first published in
+\e{Dell Pencil Puzzles and Word Games}. A more elaborate treatment
+of the history of the puzzle can be found on Wikipedia
+\k{wikipedia-solo}.
\B{nikoli-solo} \W{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/puzzles/1/index_text-e.htm}\cw{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/puzzles/1/index_text-e.htm}
+\B{wikipedia-solo} \W{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku}\cw{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku}
+
\H{solo-controls} \I{controls, for Solo}Solo controls
To play Solo, simply click the mouse in any empty square and then
the inverse of this: for example, if you select 2 columns and 3 rows,
each actual block will have 3 columns and 2 rows.)
+If you tick the \q{X} checkbox, Solo will apply the optional extra
+constraint that the two main diagonals of the grid also contain one
+of every digit. (This is sometimes known as \q{Sudoku-X} in
+newspapers.) In this mode, the squares on the two main diagonals
+will be shaded slightly so that you know it's enabled.
+
+If you tick the \q{Jigsaw} checkbox, Solo will generate randomly
+shaped sub-blocks. In this mode, the actual grid size will be taken
+to be the product of the numbers entered in the \q{Columns} and
+\q{Rows} boxes. There is no reason why you have to enter a number
+greater than 1 in both boxes; Jigsaw mode has no constraint on the
+grid size, and it can even be a prime number if you feel like it.
+
You can also configure the type of symmetry shown in the generated
puzzles. More symmetry makes the puzzles look prettier but may also
make them easier, since the symmetry constraints can force more
will be done for you automatically; so sometimes when you uncover a
square, a whole new area will open up to be explored.
+You can also use the cursor keys to move around the minefield.
+Pressing the return key in a covered square uncovers it, and in an
+uncovered square will clear around it (so it acts as the left button),
+pressing the space bar in a covered square will place a flag
+(similarly, it acts as the right button).
+
All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.
Even Undo is available, although you might consider it cheating to
correctly-coloured pegs in the wrong places (in white).
This game is also known (and marketed, by Hasbro, mainly) as
-a board game \q{Mastermind}, with 6 colours, 4 pegs per row, and 10 guesses.
-However, this version allows custom settings of number of colours
-(up to 10), number of pegs per row, and number of guesses.
+a board game \q{\i{Mastermind}}, with 6 colours, 4 pegs per row,
+and 10 guesses. However, this version allows custom settings of number
+of colours (up to 10), number of pegs per row, and number of guesses.
Guess was contributed to this collection by James Harvey.
(i.e. are diagonally separated) may be the same colour.
I believe this puzzle is original; I've never seen an implementation
-of it anywhere else. The concept of a four-colouring puzzle was
+of it anywhere else. The concept of a \i{four-colouring} puzzle was
suggested by Owen Dunn; credit must also go to Nikoli and to Verity
Allan for inspiring the train of thought that led to me realising
Owen's suggestion was a viable puzzle. Thanks also to Gareth Taylor
\cfg{winhelp-topic}{games.loopy}
-You are given a grid of dots. Your aim is to draw a single unbroken
+You are given a grid of dots, marked with yellow lines to indicate
+which dots you are allowed to connect directly together. Your aim is
+to use some subset of those yellow lines to draw a single unbroken
loop from dot to dot within the grid.
-Some of the square spaces between the dots contain numbers. These
-numbers indicate how many of the four edges of that square are part
-of the loop. The loop you draw must correctly satisfy all of these
-clues to be considered a correct solution.
+Some of the spaces between the lines contain numbers. These numbers
+indicate how many of the lines around that space form part of the
+loop. The loop you draw must correctly satisfy all of these clues to
+be considered a correct solution.
-Credit for this puzzle goes to \i{Nikoli} \k{nikoli-loopy}.
+In the default mode, the dots are arranged in a grid of squares;
+however, you can also play on triangular or hexagonal grids, or even
+more exotic ones.
-Loopy was contributed to this collection by Mike Pinna.
+Credit for the basic puzzle idea goes to \i{Nikoli}
+\k{nikoli-loopy}.
+
+Loopy was originally contributed to this collection by Mike Pinna,
+and subsequently enhanced to handle various types of non-square grid
+by Lambros Lambrou.
\B{nikoli-loopy}
\W{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/puzzles/3/index-e.htm}\cw{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/puzzles/3/index-e.htm}
\IM{Loopy controls} controls, for Loopy
-Click the left mouse button between two dots to add a line segment
-connecting them. Click again to remove that line segment.
+Click the left mouse button on a yellow line to turn it black,
+indicating that you think it is part of the loop. Click again to
+turn the line yellow again (meaning you aren't sure yet).
If you are sure that a particular line segment is \e{not} part of
-the loop, you can click the right mouse button to add a small cross
-indicating this. Click again to remove the cross.
+the loop, you can click the right mouse button to remove it
+completely. Again, clicking a second time will turn the line back to
+yellow.
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
\dt \e{Width}, \e{Height}
-\dd Size of grid in squares.
+\dd Size of grid, measured in number of regions across and down. For
+square grids, it's clear how this is counted; for other types of
+grid you may have to think a bit to see how the dimensions are
+measured.
-\dt \e{Recursion depth}
+\dt \e{Grid type}
-\dd Determines how much guesswork and backtracking you will need to
-do to solve the puzzle. When this is set to zero (as it is for all
-of the \q{Easy} options in the menu), you should always be able to
-deduce the state of an edge without having to guess. If you increase
-it, you will have to guess more and more.
+\dd Allows you to choose between a selection of types of tiling.
+Some have all the faces the same but may have multiple different
+types of vertex (e.g. the \e{Cairo} or \e{Kites} mode); others have
+all the vertices the same but may have differnt types of face (e.g.
+the \e{Great Hexagonal}). The square, triangular and honeycomb grids
+are fully regular, and have all their vertices \e{and} faces the
+same; this makes them the least confusing to play.
-\lcont{
-
-Setting a high value for this option is liable to consume a lot of
-CPU time and memory. Be warned!
+\dt \e{Difficulty}
-}
+\dd Controls the difficulty of the generated puzzle.
+\#{FIXME: what distinguishes Easy, Medium, and Hard? In particular,
+when are backtracking/guesswork required, if ever?}
\C{inertia} \i{Inertia}
tightly-packed islands.
+\C{unequal} \i{Unequal}
+
+\cfg{winhelp-topic}{games.unequal}
+
+You have a square grid; each square may contain a digit from 1 to
+the size of the grid, and some squares have greater-than signs between
+them. Your aim is to fully populate the grid with numbers such that:
+
+\b Each row contains only one occurrence of each digit
+
+\b Each column contains only one occurrence of each digit
+
+\b All the greater-than signs are satisfied.
+
+In \q{Trivial} mode (available via the \q{Custom} game type
+selector), there are no greater-than signs; the puzzle is to solve
+the \i{Latin square} only.
+
+At the time of writing, this puzzle is appearing in the Guardian
+weekly under the name \q{\i{Futoshiki}}.
+
+Unequal was contributed to this collection by James Harvey.
+
+\H{unequal-controls} \i{Unequal controls}
+
+\IM{Unequal controls} controls, for Unequal
+
+Unequal shares much of its control system with Solo.
+
+To play Unequal, simply click the mouse in any empty square and then
+type a digit or letter on the keyboard to fill that square. If you
+make a mistake, click the mouse in the incorrect square and press
+Space to clear it again (or use the Undo feature).
+
+If you \e{right}-click in a square and then type a number, that
+number will be entered in the square as a \q{pencil mark}. You can
+have pencil marks for multiple numbers in the same square.
+
+The game pays no attention to pencil marks, so exactly what you use
+them for is up to you: you can use them as reminders that a
+particular square needs to be re-examined once you know more about a
+particular number, or you can use them as lists of the possible
+numbers in a given square, or anything else you feel like.
+
+To erase a single pencil mark, right-click in the square and type
+the same number again.
+
+All pencil marks in a square are erased when you left-click and type
+a number, or when you left-click and press space. Right-clicking and
+pressing space will also erase pencil marks.
+
+As for Solo, the cursor keys can be used in conjunction with the digit
+keys to set numbers or pencil marks. You can also use the 'M' key to
+auto-fill every numeric hint, ready for removal as required.
+
+(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
+
+\H{unequal-parameters} \I{parameters, for Unequal}Unequal parameters
+
+These parameters are available from the \q{Custom...} option on the
+\q{Type} menu.
+
+\dt \e{Size (s*s)}
+
+\dd Size of grid.
+
+\dt \e{Difficulty}
+
+\dd Controls the difficulty of the generated puzzle. At Trivial
+level, there are no greater-than signs; the puzzle is to solve the
+Latin square only. At Recursive level (only available via the
+\q{Custom} game type selector) backtracking will be required, but
+the solution should still be unique. The levels in between require
+increasingly complex reasoning to avoid having to backtrack.
+
+
+
+\C{galaxies} \i{Galaxies}
+
+\cfg{winhelp-topic}{games.galaxies}
+
+You have a rectangular grid containing a number of dots. Your aim is
+to draw edges along the grid lines which divide the rectangle into
+regions in such a way that every region is 180\u00b0{-degree}
+rotationally symmetric, and contains exactly one dot which is
+located at its centre of symmetry.
+
+This puzzle was invented by \i{Nikoli} \k{nikoli-galaxies}, under
+the name \q{Tentai Show}; its name is commonly translated into
+English as \q{Spiral Galaxies}.
+
+Galaxies was contributed to this collection by James Harvey.
+
+\B{nikoli-galaxies} \W{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/astronomical_show/}\cw{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/astronomical_show/}
+
+\H{galaxies-controls} \i{Galaxies controls}
+
+\IM{Galaxies controls} controls, for Galaxies
+
+Left-click on any grid line to draw an edge if there isn't one
+already, or to remove one if there is. When you create a valid
+region (one which is closed, contains exactly one dot, is
+180\u00b0{-degree} symmetric about that dot, and contains no
+extraneous edges inside it) it will be highlighted automatically; so
+your aim is to have the whole grid highlighted in that way.
+
+During solving, you might know that a particular grid square belongs
+to a specific dot, but not be sure of where the edges go and which
+other squares are connected to the dot. In order to mark this so you
+don't forget, you can right-click on the dot and drag, which will
+create an arrow marker pointing at the dot. Drop that in a square of
+your choice and it will remind you which dot it's associated with.
+You can also right-click on existing arrows to pick them up and move
+them, or destroy them by dropping them off the edge of the grid.
+(Also, if you're not sure which dot an arrow is pointing at, you can
+pick it up and move it around to make it clearer. It will swivel
+constantly as you drag it, to stay pointed at its parent dot.)
+
+You can also use the cursor keys to move around the grid squares and
+lines. Pressing the return key when over a grid line will draw or
+clear its edge, as above. Pressing the return key when over a dot will
+pick up an arrow, to be dropped the nest time the return key is
+pressed; this can also be used to move existing arrows around, removing
+them by dropping them on a dot or another arrow.
+
+(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
+
+\H{galaxies-parameters} \I{parameters, for Galaxies}Galaxies parameters
+
+These parameters are available from the \q{Custom...} option on the
+\q{Type} menu.
+
+\dt \e{Width}, \e{Height}
+
+\dd Size of grid in squares.
+
+\dt \e{Difficulty}
+
+\dd Controls the difficulty of the generated puzzle. More difficult
+puzzles require more complex deductions, and the \q{Unreasonable}
+difficulty level may require backtracking.
+
+
+
+\C{filling} \i{Filling}
+
+\cfg{winhelp-topic}{games.filling}
+
+You have a grid of squares, some of which contain digits, and the
+rest of which are empty. Your job is to fill in digits in the empty
+squares, in such a way that each connected region of squares all
+containing the same digit has an area equal to that digit.
+
+(\q{Connected region}, for the purposes of this game, does not count
+diagonally separated squares as adjacent.)
+
+For example, it follows that no square can contain a zero, and that
+two adjacent squares can not both contain a one. No region has an
+area greater than 9 (because then its area would not be a single
+digit).
+
+Credit for this puzzle goes to \i{Nikoli} \k{nikoli-fillomino}.
+
+Filling was contributed to this collection by Jonas K\u00F6{oe}lker.
+
+\B{nikoli-fillomino}
+\W{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/fillomino/}\cw{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/fillomino/}
+
+\H{filling-controls} \I{controls, for Filling}Filling controls
+
+To play Filling, simply click the mouse in any empty square and then
+type a digit on the keyboard to fill that square. By dragging the
+mouse, you can select multiple squares to fill with a single keypress.
+If you make a mistake, click the mouse in the incorrect square and
+press 0, Space, Backspace or Enter to clear it again (or use the Undo
+feature).
+
+You can also move around the grid with the cursor keys; typing a digit will
+fill the square containing the cursor with that number, or typing 0, Space,
+or Enter will clear it. You can also select multiple squares for numbering
+or clearing by using the return key, before typing a digit to fill in the
+highlighted squares (as above).
+
+(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
+
+\H{filling-parameters} \I{parameters, for Filling}Filling parameters
+
+Filling allows you to configure the number of rows and columns of the
+grid, through the \q{Type} menu.
+
+
+
\A{licence} \I{MIT licence}\ii{Licence}
-This software is \i{copyright} 2004-2005 Simon Tatham.
+This software is \i{copyright} 2004-2008 Simon Tatham.
-Portions copyright Richard Boulton, James Harvey and Mike Pinna.
+Portions copyright Richard Boulton, James Harvey, Mike Pinna, Jonas
+K\u00F6{oe}lker, Dariusz Olszewski, Michael Schierl and Lambros
+Lambrou.
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files
-(the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction,
+(the \q{Software}), to deal in the Software without restriction,
including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge,
publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software,
and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED \q{AS IS}, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS
CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.
+\IM{command-line}{command line} command line
+
+\IM{default parameters, specifying} default parameters, specifying
+\IM{default parameters, specifying} preferences, specifying default
+
+\IM{Unix} Unix
+\IM{Unix} Linux
+
+\IM{generating game IDs} generating game IDs
+\IM{generating game IDs} game ID, generating
+
\IM{specific} \q{Specific}, menu option
\IM{custom} \q{Custom}, menu option
~ian / sgt-puzzles.git / blobdiff