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#51 2013-02-26 01:58:48
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Ready! 
That devious thought of mine didn't quite work out as I'd hoped, but I was able to use some of it to make a few alterations that I think add more variety and difficulty.
I've checked the puzzle from scratch and it seems to be ok.
Please check it too, and let me know what you think.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#52 2013-02-26 22:14:11
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Oops!! Looks like that last version has a loophole that leads to an early solution! 
I discovered the shortcut while trying to see how far I could go without a certain clue in case I could alter it to improve the puzzle.
I'll check the version in post #44 to see if the problem occurs there too.
Making changes is fraught with danger!
EDIT: I think I've just found a fix for that loophole, and also a superfluous clue related to the fix. I'll check it all out, but I'm busy with something else until tomorrow.
Last edited by phrontister (2013-02-26 22:53:29)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#53 2013-02-27 01:34:03
- Shivamcoder3013
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Great puzzle. Finally managed to solve it.
Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.
-Archimedes
My maturity level depends on the people I am around.
#54 2013-02-27 02:41:08
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it!
Just out of curiosity, which version did you use? ie, from which of the posts on this thread.
You've probably noticed from all the posts here that the puzzle is still in a state of refinement, and we haven't quite got there yet with a final version. Hopefully the version you solved was one from which pRo9aMeR (the OP and composer) and I had ironed out most of the problems.
Did you notice any problems (eg, ambiguities) with the one you did?
Thanks for your feedback...it's nice nice to actually hear that someone has tried the puzzle!
Btw, would you like to post your solution? If so, please use the 'hide' box.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#55 2013-02-27 15:10:11
- pRo9aMeR
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Shivamcoder, I'm glad you enjoyed the puzzle! Like phronister said, the puzzle is not yet perfected to our liking but the second most recent version (post 44) is the best one we've come up with.
Phronister, yes, the most recent version does allow for a slightly premature solution. I'm gonna stick with the one before that for now. I'm updating the OP so that it shows that one (from post 44)
Last edited by pRo9aMeR (2013-02-27 15:10:46)
#56 2013-02-28 00:54:43
- Shivamcoder3013
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Re: Who has the purple door?
I used the one in the post 28, which I believe was the refined version.
Last edited by Shivamcoder3013 (2013-02-28 00:55:38)
Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.
-Archimedes
My maturity level depends on the people I am around.
#57 2013-03-05 04:33:40
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Hi pRo9aMeR,
I've finished, and checked, my latest revision, which contains several major alterations that I think you'll find has increased the difficulty level significantly.
I was able to include several changes that I had attempted, unsuccessfully, with previous revisions...and found a couple more too.
pRo9aMeR wrote:
I guess I'm fine with this version. I've solved this so many times, it doesn't seem that hard anymore!
I'm hoping that this latest version will change that thought! 
Last edited by phrontister (2013-03-07 07:50:16)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#58 2013-03-11 01:02:57
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Hi pRo9aMeR,
I'm very sorry, but I omitted an important piece of information from the puzzle in my last post.
It is needed only near the end of the puzzle, so hopefully it hasn't affected you yet if you're trying out that version.
I'd been working on my recent revisions with that info in mind but unfortunately had overlooked typing it in.
So here's the corrected version...which I've checked by copying it from this post and then solving it just to make sure that nothing was overlooked this time.
Last edited by phrontister (2013-03-11 12:54:03)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#59 2013-03-16 19:23:04
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Hi pRo9aMeR,
Just to make sure that my last version (in post #58) works ok I tried solving it using the common method (which is different from the one I use) that is found in magazines, using ticks and crosses in a grid.
I got the correct answer, but it took forever because the puzzle is so large and complex. 
Last edited by phrontister (2013-03-17 02:19:47)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#60 2013-03-17 02:35:33
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Hi pRo9aMeR,
I noticed during my last solving exercise that a few ridiculous class durations occur. Happily the silly ones get the boot somewhere along the line, leaving the solution with realistic durations.
I've made a small start and end time adjustment that eliminates situations where, when making the last choice in solving a component, it only involves realistic durations.
New version coming right up.........
Of all the versions we've posted I think this one is by far the toughest to crack, and I'm happy to stop here with the revisions...unless you can see that it could be further improved, or that it contains an error.
I've checked it twice by solving it from scratch and all seems to be ok.
Please let me know what you think of this 'final' version.
Last edited by phrontister (2013-03-20 23:21:38)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#62 2013-03-22 02:32:50
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Hi pRo9aMeR,
I haven't checked this out yet, but I've got a feeling that it may not be necessary to solve all the class numbers in order to solve the puzzle.
I intend to look into that, and, if it is true, try to come up with a fix.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#63 2013-03-22 02:44:10
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Hi digits,
Welcome to the forum!
After many revisions this puzzle has developed from something that initially was already quite challenging to one that is much more so now.
As you can see from my previous post, I'm still working on it...but when it's ready, I'd very much encourage you to try it!
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#64 2013-03-24 00:13:50
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Hi pRo9aMeR,
I've made a couple of fairly major changes in order to make solving the class numbers more difficult...which in turn affects the puzzle in other areas and increases the overall difficulty level.
The changes add some more solving variety too.
New version:
pRo9aMeR wrote:
Like phrontister said, the puzzle is not yet perfected to our liking but the second most recent version (post 44) is the best one we've come up with.
This latest revision is quite an improvement on the last one, I think.
PS: I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of posting this version on another forum just to see what another group of people would think about it. Two members solved it and said they liked it, and a third said they're stuck part way through but are enjoying it.
Last edited by phrontister (2013-04-19 15:16:25)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#65 2013-03-27 01:36:55
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Hi all,
For anyone about to start doing this puzzle I should tell you that there is another revision coming soon that corrects a minor flaw that someone has pointed out to me.
I'll have a better look at it all myself too, to try to iron out all possible flaws, but that may have to wait until after Easter.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
#66 2013-04-03 01:14:02
- phrontister
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Re: Who has the purple door?
Hi pRo9aMeR,
...there is another revision coming soon that corrects a minor flaw that someone has pointed out to me.
I've fixed that flaw, and improved the ending too.
New version:
I can't think of any more improvements, so (hopefully) this will be my last revision.
Sorry it took so long to get to this point, but I kept on thinking up new things to include and finding errors to fix...etc.
I'm very happy with it now!
Last edited by phrontister (2013-04-16 01:02:47)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson