Hi MathsIsFun,

Easy, intuitive operation. Nice beginners' puzzle.

Like with Bobby's computer, my number pad types letters into the grid.

Suggestion:

1) Have two levels of difficulty, and for the harder level don't change the font colour for solved clues.

2) Maybe include a calculator window (probably not really necessary, but some players may find it handy).

3) Include a list of definitions for clues where there may be some doubt or ambiguity, and to explain tricky terms or terminology (shouldn't be needed for easy puzzles).

In the draft puzzle that I played:
a) "Ascending digits" looked for an answer containing ascending consecutive digits (eg, 2345 but not 1235: both answers satisfy "Ascending digits", but only the first answer satisfies "Ascending consecutive digits");

b) 4 across had two solutions (512 and 152). I can't access that particular puzzle anymore, but I think the clue read "Rearrange digits of 8 down". 4 down's third digit was already solved and the other two came from 8 down's "5" & "2"...but there was no constraint for a unique solution.

Last edited by phrontister (2011-02-15 23:20:23)

It would be far more challenging if I didn't provide the first answer.

What first answer? You mean one was given to me...

Not for phrontister! This one took me over nine minutes!

Thanks phrontister. You won a contest in this kind of puzzle? My Goodness Gracious!

I haven't looked at XFigure, but it sounds really good.

I have just posted v0.66, which allows for 5 "hints", and different size grids.

Good point. I will look at that.

Latest Update (0.662):

* use delete or space to clear an input.
* up, down, left, right work ... but don't move into "black" territory.

(Phew .. you guys make me sweat, hope I am not adding bugs!)

Hi MathsIsFun,

There a problem with the clue numbering in the large grid, which I noticed when I started this puzzle (below).

I think the other two grid sizes are ok.

Uploaded Images

Last edited by phrontister (2011-02-18 19:53:08)

Hi MathsIsFun,

I did a Medium one tonight (see uncompleted version below). Doing it without using any hints or a first-clue answer certainly made it much more challenging than before!

I solved it on paper and then checked five of my answers against the hints...all ok.

Btw, I had expected that one of the hints - probably the first - would have given the first-clue answer you provided before, but 11 Across "Two digits" missed out. That's probably good for maintaining the higher difficulty, as giving the answer to that clue probably provides an easier solution path than the other hints would.

Also, as far as I can tell, the solution is unique.

Uploaded Images

Last edited by phrontister (2011-02-19 03:15:25)

Hi MathsIsFun,

I just completed a game from the Hard level (see starting grid below). No hints were used.

The solution is unique.

All the fixes are good! I didn't come across any bugs so far, and the game plays well.

Uploaded Images

Last edited by phrontister (2011-02-21 01:19:37)

MathsIsFun wrote:

I would like to...add more clue types. Such as "3 across squared", "2 down divided by 4".

Here's a sample from some crossnumber puzzles I've got:
A factor of 11A
Two more than a factor of 17A
Multiple of 26D
Square
Cube
Quadruple
Palindrome
Palindrome composed of odd digits
Prime number
Anagram of a cube
Number followed by its square
Number followed by its double
Number preceded by its cube
Number preceded by an anagram of its square
Reverse of a square
Equally descending digits
Ascending digits
Consecutive squares
Consecutive prime numbers
Product of its digits is 24
Product of 23A and 26D
Contains only even digits
Square composed of squares
Contains just the unique digits of 37A
Composed of distinct even digits
One less than a prime number
Sum of the digits is twice the first digit
Difference between adjacent digits increases
Sum of the digits is a factor of their product
Less than 15D
Middle digit is the product of the other two
Difference between adjacent digits is, in some order or other, 1, 2, 3 and 4
Unique digits, each divisible by 3
A quarter of this gives the first two digits of 9A

As you can see from some of the clues, the puzzles they're from are hand-crafted rather than computer generated.

There is an underlying answer, but the program does not check for uniqueness. So I validate your answers against the clues, in case you find an alternate correct answer. I think most of those alternate answers are a result of "loose" clues like "ascending digits".

Thanks for the list, it may come in handy!