NANY 2013 Release - ClueMeIn, a logic / math puzzle game

[timns]

Application Name	ClueMeIn
Version	0.1
Short Description	A simple Sudoku-like logic puzzle game with some math
Supported OSes	Anything that runs Java and has 640x480 or greater screen
Setup File	ClueMeIn!
System Requirements	Very little
Author Info	timns
Description	Sharpen your brain by using both deductive skills, logic and simple mental arithmetic to solve the puzzle from the clues presented. All puzzles can be solved without guesswork.
Features	Small game area, simple to learn, ideal for a coffee break
Screenshots
Installation	No installation required
Using the application	Mouse only. Left or Right click to remove tiles according to the rules shown, until the grid is filled with each of the numbers 1 through 9, exactly once. Rules: x < y means that the number represented by x is in a column to the LEFT of the number represented by y x ^ y means that the number represented by x is in a row ABOVE the number represented by y The numbers in at the end of each row and the bottom of each column are the SUM of the three correct numbers across or down respectively.
Uninstalling	Delete the shortcut
Known Issues	Does not respond to every mouse click

[mouser]

Tim with a new logic puzzle game!!!!!!!!

YES!!!!!!!!!

For those of you who weren't around for past NANY's, Tim has made some very cool puzzle games for us before, like:

• CluGrid
• Deductoid

[timns]

Thank you very much!

You knew I couldn't resist another NANY - it's lured me out of the woodwork at last.

[cranioscopical]

it's lured me out of the woodwork at last

Trying to worm your way back into our affections?


Looking forward to your entry.
(I can count to 21!)

[kunkel321]

[timns]

Looking forward to your entry.
(I can count to 21!)

...except when you're in public?  

[Deozaan]

Looking forward to your entry.
(I can count to 21!)

...except when you're in public?  

ves·tig·i·al
Forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable

How embarrassing. . .

[timns]

Ok I finally filled in the template. I'll have a runnable version for DC quite soon I hope. It's working but you can only play one puzzle then you have to re-start.

[mouser]

Looks great, as always.
Still, wouldn't hurt to put a pic of twiggles or cobbe down in the lower right hand corner...

[timns]

Folks, I have uploaded a link for the game. I did sign the jar file but it comes up as unknown publisher, which I'll sort out later. For now, please only run from my site at head-in-the-clouds.com.

To play, you need to keep removing numbers from each cell until only one remains. To infer which numbers to remove, use the rules down the side, and also the totals shown at the right and bottom. This information is everything you need to solve whcih numbers belong in which cell, without guesswork.

[mouser]

First, this is quite cool.

But sometimes (often) i click on a cell and it doesn't dissapear until i click it a couple more times.. and then sometimes some cells will simply never clear for me.  I assume thats because i'm trying to remove a cell that would make the solution impossible, but sometimes its happening and i cant see how its coming to that conclusion, and i wonder if it really should be showing me when i try to remove something that invalidates the puzzle, without any punishment.  the combo of these two things is quite confusing.

Some audio feedback might help to at least tell me the difference between a bug of it not registering a click vs it refusing to clear a cell because of some reason...

[mouser]

sure would be nice to be able to unclick a square, to help experiment and think.

[mouser]

And do i take it that your algorithm tells you that we should have enough info to solve each puzzle uniquely?

[mouser]

Tim is so good at making these games!!

I finally beat one:


My solution:



It would be nice if we could copy a code+paste codes to the clipboard to let us try puzzles that each other has solved, if you get my meaning.

[mouser]

So to sum up my requests:

1. fix click-not-registering-sometimes bug. audio feedback on click.
2. always let user remove any cell, don't prevent illegal removals. (if you want to be nice, show what clues or sums are violated at any given time).
3. give a nice sound or graphic when a puzzle is solved properly.
4. import+export of clue games for sharing.
5. when you click NEW it should reset the clock.

Very nice work timns.

Since this is java, have you considered porting your puzzles to Android?

[mouser]

Just solved my second puzzle.  I like this game. Like most of timns's games, it takes me a couple tries to figure out how to play it, but they are exceedingly clever.

Timns, I'm assuming that you aren't inventing this actually game idea (i mean the nature of the clues, the size, the summing, the algorithm).. Where is it from?

[timns]

Just solved my second puzzle.  I like this game. Like most of timns's games, it takes me a couple tries to figure out how to play it, but they are exceedingly clever.

Timns, I'm assuming that you aren't inventing this actually game idea (i mean the nature of the clues, the size, the summing, the algorithm).. Where is it from?

Thank you for the kind comments, as ever! Like most of my software, documentation and help is a bit light on the ground

This idea is lifted from a really old puzzle book I have where they're called "magic squares".

They sure do lend themselves to being ported to a computer version of course. Once I figured out how to remove every piece of information except the bare minimum that is!

But the algorithm IS mine: it was quite pleasing to figure out and code - about 600 lines of java, which  could be generalised easily enough to provide an "engine" for many variants.

I have no doubt at all that there are other versions of this puzzle to play on the PC, although I have not seen one.

I've made a note of your comments, and I'll do an update accordingly 

[timns]

Here's a tip, based off mouser's puzzle screenshot:

See the top row adds up to 9? To make 9, one possibility is that 8 and 1 and 0 are in the top row.

BUT! We know that "0" cannot be on the top line, because of the clue "4^0" (4 is in a row above the row where 0 is)

So we can safely remove "0" from all three cells across the top. Which means that we cannot make a "9" any more using the 8, because it would need 1 and 0. So the 8 too can be removed from the top line.

Likewise, the 7 can be removed, since it would need 2 and 0. And the 0 is not in the top row.

Work your way through the clues in this fashion and the puzzle slowly solves itself.

[mouser]

The way I attack is, i go through each clue.

If it says X<Y then I know that X cannot be in any of the 3 rightmost grids, and Y cannot be in any of the 3 leftmost grids.
Similarly, whenever A^B I know that B cannot be in any of the 3 top grids, and A cannot be in any of the 3 bottom grids.

Then I iteratively look for grids with small number of live cells, and look for numbers that cannot be part of a solution.  For example if a row sum adds to 6 then I know i can eliminate any 7s and 8s, etc.

[timns]

The perfect approach!

In fact, if it adds to 6, then you can remove 8,7,6 and very quickly after that the solution appears. Puzzles with very low (<9) or very high (>19) totals are much easier 

[JoTo]

Hi timns,

as always i <3 your games. Everyone with a whistle or bell. Never saw that gameplay before. GREAT WORK!

And best is, its visually impaired friendly. 100% accessible for me when it comes to seeing the tiles (very big what is good). Even with the white background it works for me.

I recommend to follow mousers recommendations. A "let the user do mistakes" would be great and will make the game more difficult (maybe let this be an option to satisfy novice and expert users). Some sound feedback would be nice too and will make the gameplay less "boring". Not much sound though to not disturb concentration, but a click sound for removing a tile and a kind of tadaa at completion would be really nice.

Thank you
JoTo