This is a collection of small one-player puzzle games.
-\copyright This manual is copyright 2004-2008 Simon Tatham. All rights
+\copyright This manual is copyright 2004-2009 Simon Tatham. All rights
reserved. You may distribute this documentation under the MIT licence.
See \k{licence} for the licence text in full.
allowing you to print an arbitrary number of puzzles randomly
generated from the current parameters, optionally including the
current puzzle. (Only for puzzles which make sense to print, of
-course - it's hard to think of a sensible printable representation
+course \dash it's hard to think of a sensible printable representation
of Fifteen!)
\dt \ii\e{Undo} (\q{U}, Ctrl+\q{Z}, Ctrl+\q{_})
\H{sixteen-controls} \I{controls, for Sixteen}Sixteen controls
-This game is played with the mouse. Left-clicking on an arrow will
-move the appropriate row or column in the direction indicated.
-Right-clicking will move it in the opposite direction.
+Left-clicking on an arrow will move the appropriate row or column in
+the direction indicated. Right-clicking will move it in the opposite
+direction.
+
+Alternatively, use the cursor keys to move the position indicator
+around the edge of the grid, and use the return key to move the
+row/column in the direction indicated.
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
Clicking with the left mouse button rotates the group anticlockwise.
Clicking with the right button rotates it clockwise.
+You can also move an outline square around the grid with the cursor
+keys; the square is the size above (2\by\.2 by default, or larger).
+Pressing the return key or space bar will rotate the current square
+anticlockwise or clockwise respectively.
+
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
\H{twiddle-parameters} \I{parameters, for Twiddle}Twiddle parameters
\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 click and drag to draw
-an entire rectangle (or line) on the grid in one go (removing any
-existing edges within that rectangle).
+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.
+
+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.
instead of rotating tiles back into place you have to slide them
into place by moving a whole row at a time.
-As in Sixteen, \I{controls, for Netslide}control is with the mouse.
-See \k{sixteen-controls}.
+As in Sixteen, \I{controls, for Netslide}control is with the mouse or
+cursor keys. See \k{sixteen-controls}.
\I{parameters, for Netslide}The available game parameters have similar
meanings to those in Net (see \k{net-params}) and Sixteen (see
with Shift held down, you can colour a whole rectangle of squares
grey.
+You can also move around the grid with the cursor keys. Pressing the
+return key will cycle the current cell through empty, then black, then
+white, then empty, and the space bar does the same cycle in reverse.
+
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
\H{pattern-parameters} \I{parameters, for Pattern}Pattern parameters
can select \q{jigsaw} mode, in which the sub-blocks are arbitrary
shapes which differ between individual puzzles.
+Another available mode is \q{killer}. In this mode, clues are not
+given in the form of filled-in squares; instead, the grid is divided
+into \q{cages} by coloured lines, and for each cage the game tells
+you what the sum of all the digits in that cage should be. Also, no
+digit may appear more than once within a cage, even if the cage
+crosses the boundaries of existing regions.
+
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}.
+to 9, plus \cq{a}, \cq{b} and \cq{c}. This cannot be selected for
+killer puzzles.
I first saw this puzzle in \i{Nikoli} \k{nikoli-solo}, although it's
also been popularised by various newspapers under the name
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.
+have pencil marks for multiple numbers in the same square. Squares
+containing filled-in numbers cannot also contain pencil marks.
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
a number, or when you left-click and press space. Right-clicking and
pressing space will also erase pencil marks.
+Alternatively, use the cursor keys to move the mark around the grid.
+Pressing the return key toggles the mark (from a normal mark to a
+pencil mark), and typing a number in is entered in the square in the
+appropriate way; typing in a 0 or using the space bar will clear a
+filled square.
+
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
\H{solo-parameters} \I{parameters, for Solo}Solo parameters
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.
+If you tick the \q{Killer} checkbox, Solo will generate a set of
+of cages, which are randomly shaped and drawn in an outline of a
+different colour. Each of these regions contains a smaller clue
+which shows the digit sum of all the squares in this region.
+
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
space with no peg and no hole is not available for moving at all: it
is an obstacle which you must work around.
+You can also use the cursor keys to move a position indicator around
+the board. Pressing the return key while over a peg, followed by a
+cursor key, will jump the peg in that direction (if that is a legal
+move).
+
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
\H{pegs-parameters} \I{parameters, for Pegs}Pegs parameters
\cfg{winhelp-topic}{games.blackbox}
-A number of balls are hidden in a rectangular arena. You have to
-deduce the positions of the balls by firing lasers from positions
-on the edge of the arena and observing how they are deflected.
+A number of balls are hidden in a rectangular arena. You have to
+deduce the positions of the balls by firing lasers positioned at
+the edges of the arena and observing how their beams are deflected.
-Lasers will fire straight until they hit the opposite side of the
-arena (at which point they emerge), unless affected by balls in one of
-the following ways:
+Beams will travel straight from their origin until they hit the
+opposite side of the arena (at which point they emerge), unless
+affected by balls in one of the following ways:
-\b A laser that hits a ball head-on is absorbed and will never re-emerge.
- This includes lasers that meet a ball on the first rank of the arena.
+\b A beam that hits a ball head-on is absorbed and will never
+ re-emerge. This includes beams that meet a ball on the first rank
+ of the arena.
-\b A laser with a ball to its front-left square gets deflected 90 degrees
+\b A beam with a ball to its front-left square gets deflected 90 degrees
to the right.
-\b A laser with a ball to its front-right square gets similarly deflected
+\b A beam with a ball to its front-right square gets similarly deflected
to the left.
-\b A laser that would re-emerge from the entry location is considered to be
+\b A beam that would re-emerge from its entry location is considered to be
\q{reflected}.
-\b A laser which would get deflected before entering the arena (down the
- \q{firing range}) by a ball to the front-left or front-right of its
- entry point is also considered to be \q{reflected}.
+\b A beam which would get deflected before entering the arena by a
+ ball to the front-left or front-right of its entry point is also
+ considered to be \q{reflected}.
-Lasers that are reflected appear as a \q{R}; lasers that hit balls
-dead-on appear as \q{H}. Otherwise, a number appears at the firing point
-and the location where the laser emerges (this number is unique to
-that shot).
+Beams that are reflected appear as a \q{R}; beams that hit balls
+head-on appear as \q{H}. Otherwise, a number appears at the firing
+point and the location where the beam emerges (this number is unique
+to that shot).
You can place guesses as to the location of the balls, based on the
-entry and exit patterns of the lasers; once you have placed enough
+entry and exit patterns of the beams; once you have placed enough
balls a button appears enabling you to have your guesses checked.
Here is a diagram showing how the positions of balls can create each
-of the laser behaviours shown above:
+of the beam behaviours shown above:
\c 1RHR----
\c |..O.O...|
\c |.....O..|
\c 12-RH---
-As shown, it is possible for a ball to receive multiple reflections
-before re-emerging (see turn 3). Similarly, a ball may be reflected
+As shown, it is possible for a beam to receive multiple reflections
+before re-emerging (see turn 3). Similarly, a beam may be reflected
(possibly more than once) before receiving a hit (the \q{H} on the
left side of the example).
-Note that any layout with more that 4 balls may have a non-unique
+Note that any layout with more than 4 balls may have a non-unique
solution. The following diagram illustrates this; if you know the
board contains 5 balls, it is impossible to determine where the fifth
-ball is (possible positions marked with an x):
+ball is (possible positions marked with an \cw{x}):
\c --------
\c |........|
\c |........|
\c --------
-For this reason when you have your guesses checked the game will
+For this reason, when you have your guesses checked, the game will
check that your solution \e{produces the same results} as the
computer's, rather than that your solution is identical to the
computer's. So in the above example, you could put the fifth ball at
-\e{any} of the locations marked with an x, and you would still win.
+\e{any} of the locations marked with an \cw{x}, and you would still
+win.
Black Box was contributed to this collection by James Harvey.
\H{blackbox-controls} \i{Black Box controls}
-\IM{Black Box controls}controls, for Black Box
+\IM{Black Box controls} controls, for Black Box
+\IM{Black Box controls} keys, for Black Box
+\IM{Black Box controls} shortcuts (keyboard), for Black Box
-To fire a laser, left-click in a square around the side of the arena.
-The results will be displayed immediately. Lasers may not be fired
-twice (because the results will never change). Holding down the left
-button will highlight the current go (or a previous go) to confirm the
-exit point for that laser, if applicable.
+To fire a laser beam, left-click in a square around the edge of the
+arena. The results will be displayed immediately. Clicking or holding
+the left button on one of these squares will highlight the current go
+(or a previous go) to confirm the exit point for that laser, if
+applicable.
To guess the location of a ball, left-click within the arena and a
-black circle will appear marking the guess; to remove the guessed ball
-click again.
+black circle will appear marking the guess; click again to remove the
+guessed ball.
Locations in the arena may be locked against modification by
right-clicking; whole rows and columns may be similarly locked by
-right-clicking in the laser firing range above/below that column, or
-to the left/right of that row.
+right-clicking in the laser square above/below that column, or to the
+left/right of that row.
-When an appropriate number of balls have been guessed a button will
-appear at the top-left corner of the grid; clicking that will mark
-your guesses.
+The cursor keys may also be used to move around the grid. Pressing the
+Enter key will fire a laser or add a new ball-location guess, and
+pressing Space will lock a cell, row, or column.
-If you click the \q{mark} button and your guesses are not correct,
-the game will show you as little information as possible to
+When an appropriate number of balls have been guessed, a button will
+appear at the top-left corner of the grid; clicking that (with mouse
+or cursor) will check your guesses.
+
+If you click the \q{check} button and your guesses are not correct,
+the game will show you the minimum information necessary to
demonstrate this to you, so you can try again. If your ball
-positions are not consistent with the laser paths you already know
-about, one laser path will be circled to indicate that it proves you
-wrong. If your positions match all the existing laser paths but are
-still wrong, one new laser path will be revealed (written in red)
+positions are not consistent with the beam paths you already know
+about, one beam path will be circled to indicate that it proves you
+wrong. If your positions match all the existing beam paths but are
+still wrong, one new beam path will be revealed (written in red)
which is not consistent with your current guesses.
If you decide to give up completely, you can select Solve to reveal
the actual ball positions. At this point, correctly-placed balls
-will be displayed as filled black circles; incorrectly-placed balls
-are displayed as filled black circles with red crosses, and missing
-balls are filled red circles. In addition, a red circle marks any
-laser you had already fired which is not consistent with your ball
-layout (just as when you press the mark button), and red text marks
-any laser you \e{could} have fired in order to distinguish your ball
-layout from the right one.
+will be displayed as filled black circles, incorrectly-placed balls
+as filled black circles with red crosses, and missing balls as filled
+red circles. In addition, a red circle marks any laser you had already
+fired which is not consistent with your ball layout (just as when you
+press the \q{check} button), and red text marks any laser you
+\e{could} have fired in order to distinguish your ball layout from the
+correct one.
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
number of balls to place on the grid. The \q{reveal} button is only
enabled if you have guessed an appropriate number of balls; a guess
using a different number to the original solution is still acceptable,
-if all the laser inputs and outputs match.
+if all the beam inputs and outputs match.
\C{slant} \i{Slant}
blank to \cw{/} to \cw{\\} back to blank. (Therefore, you can play
the game entirely with one button if you need to.)
+You can also use the cursor keys to move around the grid. Pressing the
+return or space keys will place a \cw{\\} or a \cw{/}, respectively,
+and will then cycle them as above.
+
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
\H{slant-parameters} \I{parameters, for Slant}Slant parameters
stipples in multiple colours at once. (This is often useful at the
harder difficulty levels.)
+You can also use the cursor keys to move around the map: the colour of
+the cursor indicates the position of the colour you would drag (which
+is not obvious if you're on a region's boundary, since it depends on the
+direction from which you approached the boundary). Pressing the return
+key starts a drag of that colour, as above, which you control with the
+cursor keys; pressing the return key again finishes the drag. The
+space bar can be used similarly to create a stippled region.
+Double-pressing the return key (without moving the cursor) will clear
+the region, as a drag from an empty region does: this is useful with
+the cursor mode if you have filled the entire map in but need to
+correct the layout.
+
If you press L during play, the game will toggle display of a number
in each region of the map. This is useful if you want to discuss a
particular puzzle instance with a friend \dash having an unambiguous
other squares will be affected. (This is useful for clearing the
remainder of a row once you have placed all its tents.)
+You can also use the cursor keys to move around the grid. Pressing the
+return key over an empty square will place a tent, and pressing the
+space bar over an empty square will colour it green; either key will
+clear an occupied square.
+
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
\H{tents-parameters} \I{parameters, for Tents}Tents parameters
in future. Left-clicking again on a highlighted island will unmark
it and restore your ability to modify it.
+You can also use the cursor keys to move around the grid: if possible
+the cursor will always move orthogonally, otherwise it will move
+towards the nearest island to the indicated direction. Pressing the
+return key followed by a cursor key will lay a bridge in that direction
+(if available); pressing the space bar followed by a cursor key will
+lay a \q{non-bridge} marker.
+
+You can mark an island as finished by pressing the return key twice.
+
Violations of the puzzle rules will be marked in red:
\b An island with too many bridges will be highlighted in red.
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.
+have pencil marks for multiple numbers in the same square. Squares
+containing filled-in numbers cannot also contain pencil marks.
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
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.
+auto-fill every numeric hint, ready for removal as required, or the 'H'
+key to do the same but also to remove all obvious hints.
+
+Alternatively, use the cursor keys to move the mark around the grid.
+Pressing the return key toggles the mark (from a normal mark to a
+pencil mark), and typing a number in is entered in the square in the
+appropriate way; typing in a 0 or using the space bar will clear a
+filled square.
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
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 next 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
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
\A{licence} \I{MIT licence}\ii{Licence}
-This software is \i{copyright} 2004-2008 Simon Tatham.
+This software is \i{copyright} 2004-2009 Simon Tatham.
Portions copyright Richard Boulton, James Harvey, Mike Pinna, Jonas
-K\u00F6{oe}lker, Dariusz Olszewski, Michael Schierl and Lambros
-Lambrou.
+K\u00F6{oe}lker, Dariusz Olszewski, Michael Schierl, Lambros
+Lambrou and Bernd Schmidt.
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files
~mdw / sgt / puzzles / blobdiff