\i\cw{NETGAME.EXE} to avoid clashing with Windows's own \cw{NET.EXE}.)
I originally saw this in the form of a Flash game called \i{FreeNet}
-\k{FreeNet}, written by Pavils Jurjans. The computer prepares a
+\k{FreeNet}, written by Pavils Jurjans; there are several other
+implementations under the name \i{NetWalk}. The computer prepares a
network by connecting up the centres of squares in a grid, and then
shuffles the network by rotating every tile randomly. Your job is to
rotate it all back into place. The successful solution will be an
-entirely connected network, with no closed loops. \#{Is it also true
-that a correct solution will not contain any cycles?} As a visual aid,
+entirely connected network, with no closed loops. \#{The latter
+clause means that there are no closed paths within the network.
+Could this be clearer? "No closed paths"?} As a visual aid,
all tiles which are connected to the one in the middle are
highlighted.
higher number gives more barriers). Since barriers are immovable, they
act as constraints on the solution (i.e., hints).
-\dt \e{Ensure unique solution}
-
-\dd Normally, Net will make sure that the puzzles it presents have
-only one solution. Puzzles with ambiguous sections can be more
-difficult and more subtle, so if you like you can turn off this
-feature and risk having ambiguous puzzles. (Also, finding \e{all}
-the possible solutions can be an additional challenge for an
-advanced player.)
-
\lcont{
The grid generation in Net has been carefully arranged so that the
}
+\dt \e{Ensure unique solution}
+
+\dd Normally, Net will make sure that the puzzles it presents have
+only one solution. Puzzles with ambiguous sections can be more
+difficult and more subtle, so if you like you can turn off this
+feature and risk having ambiguous puzzles. (Also, finding \e{all}
+the possible solutions can be an additional challenge for an
+advanced player.)
+
\C{cube} \i{Cube}
\cfg{winhelp-topic}{games.cube}
\H{rectangles-params} \I{parameters, for Rectangles}Rectangles parameters
-The \q{Custom...} option on the \q{Type} menu offers you \e{Width}
-and \e{Height} parameters, which are self-explanatory.
+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.
-\q{Expansion factor} is a mechanism for changing the type of grids
-generated by the program. Some people prefer a grid containing a few
-large rectangles to one containing many small ones. So you can ask
+\dt \e{Expansion factor}
+
+\dd This is a mechanism for changing the type of grids generated by
+the program. Some people prefer a grid containing a few large
+rectangles to one containing many small ones. So you can ask
Rectangles to essentially generate a \e{smaller} grid than the size
you specified, and then to expand it by adding rows and columns.
+\lcont{
+
The default expansion factor of zero means that Rectangles will
simply generate a grid of the size you ask for, and do nothing
further. If you set an expansion factor of (say) 0.5, it means that
though, the game simply cannot generate more than a few rectangles
to cover the entire grid, and the game becomes trivial.
+}
+
+\dt \e{Ensure unique solution}
+
+\dd Normally, Rectangles will make sure that the puzzles it presents
+have only one solution. Puzzles with ambiguous sections can be more
+difficult and more subtle, so if you like you can turn off this
+feature and risk having ambiguous puzzles. Also, finding \e{all} the
+possible solutions can be an additional challenge for an advanced
+player. Turning off this option can also speed up puzzle generation.
+
\C{netslide} \i{Netslide}
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.
+
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
\H{solo-parameters} \I{parameters, for Solo}Solo parameters
~mdw / sgt / puzzles / blobdiff