MindBuster! is a computerized version of the game of Mastermind. Although there are variations in (a) the number of holes per row, (b) the number of available colors, and (c) the number of players, the basic idea is the same: Guess a secret Hidden Code or Pattern.
A turn or guess in MindBuster! consists in entering a pattern of colors and then having that pattern scored. The score gives the guesser some feedback on how close (or far) the pattern was from the hidden pattern.
(more...)
>
Thus, the game is a struggle between the one who MAKES a code and the one who tries to BREAK that code. The object of the game is to guess the hidden pattern (a) before your opponent guesses yours (if two are playing), or (b) before you have used up your allotted 10 guesses (if you are playing alone).
Obviously the fewer guesses the better.
A number of variations to the standard game are possible. Unless stated otherwise, the following description will assume you are playing a game with the standard settings of 4 Holes per row and 6 possible colors.
>2,0,Number of Players
This game can be played in three versions.
Solo: You try to guess a code generated by the computer.
Duel: You try to guess the computer's code, and the computer tries to guess yours.
Two-Players: Two (human) players each generate a hidden code and try to guess the other player's code.
>3,0,Sequence of Play
Solo version: The PC generates a code and you then have 10 turns in which to guess it.
Duel version: You create a hidden code for the computer to guess. Behind the scenes the PC generates a code for you to guess. Thereafter turns alternate between you and the computer as you each try to guess the other's code.
Two-Player version: Same as the Duel version except that another human takes the role of the computer.
>4,0,Scoring a Guess
One of the more unusual aspects of MindBuster! is its scoring mechanism. Each pattern of colors played is compared to the hidden pattern and awarded a "score". This "score" is reported by means of black and white pegs. On the computer, these pegs are represented by small black and white circles or dots to the right of the pattern played.
The key to winning is to understand the meaning and import of the black / white pegs. One can think of the black pegs as meaning Direct Hits and the white pegs as Near Misses.
(more...)
>
When scoring a pattern, the first thing that is looked for are the Direct Hits -- when a color in the guess corresponds both in COLOR and in LOCATION to one in the hidden pattern. Thus if the hidden code has green in position 3 and the guess also has Green in position 3, this will merit a Black peg or dot.
After the Direct Hits are noted then any Near Misses are recorded. A Near Miss occurs when there is a color in the guess which also appears in the hidden pattern, BUT IN A DIFFERENT POSITION.
There is nothing in the scoring to indicate which positions are being referred to. That is the challenge. A score of TWO BLACK pegs would simply mean that the guess and the hidden code share two colors in the exact same positions -- which positions are up to you to figure out.
(more...)
>
Perhaps the easiest way to think about the scoring is that (1) we check if there are any Direct Hits -- right colors in the right slots. If there are, we award a Black Peg for each such hit. Once that is done, we look at the OTHER (non-matched colors) in the guess and the pattern. If any of them is a Near Miss -- i.e. the colors match but are in different slots, then we aware one White peg for each such Near Miss.
If a given color would merit both a Direct Hit and also a Near Miss, it is awarded a Black Peg only, since the Direct Hits are scored before the Near Misses.
>5,0,Scoring -- Examples
The scoring method of MindBuster! can seem a bit strange. Here are a few examples.
WH YE BL BK <== Guess
RD WH BL GR <== Hidden
Score: (B) (W) [1 Black, 1 White peg]
The reason for that score: There was 1 color [Blue] which was the right color in the right place, and another [White] which was correct but in the wrong position.
(more...)
>
Some more examples. If you understand them you understand how the scoring works.
RD BL GR BK <== Guess
WH YE GR GR <== Hidden
Score: (B)
YE BL YE BK <== Guess
RE BK YE BL <== Hidden
Score: (B) (W) (W)
RE WH GR GR <== Guess
GR WH RD GR <== Hidden
Score: (B) (B) (W) (W)
>6,0,Some Basic Strategy
After several guesses you can usually begin to deduce what colors might be in the pattern, even if you don't know exactly what slots they are in. You can also sometimes deduce that certain colors are NOT in the hidden pattern.
4 Black pegs (in the standard game) means that you have hit them all right on the head. The game is over. No more thinking is required.
4 White pegs would mean that you have all the correct colors, but none of them is in the right position.
NO pegs would mean that the colors in your guess do not appear anywhere in the hidden pattern.
Further examples and strategy can be found by using the HELP command or [F1].
>7,0,Miscellaneous
In the Duel form of play, you can actually have the computer show you how it arrived at the guesses the PC made as it attempted to guess your score. This is valuable for getting a feeling of the scoring. For further information see HELP.
If you are playing a 5-hole version of the game with a 7 or 8 color pool, the meaning of the Black and White pegs is the same, but their interpretation is more complex, given the number of possible patterns. In a 5-hole, 8-color version, there are actually 32,768 possible patterns possible.
In general, these Rules cover the basics of playing. For further information on how to enter colors, etc. see HELP.
