Welcome to my first shareware game, Cryptix. Cryptix is $5 shareware. See registration information below.
Cryptix is a computer version of the “Crypto-Quotes” puzzles found in newspapers. A game consists of you being presented with a phrase, but each letter is encrypted to another. For example “Hello, how are you today?” may be shown as “MQVVA, MAX SNQ EAP LABSE?” It is your job to figure out which each letter means.
How does one play Cryptix?
You can play Cryptix with your mouse, keyboard, or both. To start a new game select New… from the File menu or press Command-N.
If you play with the mouse:
• Simply click on a letter to select it. You can also click on one of the letters in the alphabet at the bottom of the window to select it.
• Once you have a letter selected, click on one of the letters in the alphabet at the bottom of the window to replace the selected letter. Your new letter will be displayed above the encrypted letter.
• If you select a letter and decide you want to select another one, simply click on another letter in the puzzle.
• To deselect a letter, simply click elsewhere in the window.
• To clear a guessed letter, select it and choose Clear Guess from the Cryptix menu.
If you play with a keyboard:
• Simply type the letter to select it.
• To replace the selected letter, type your guess. The replaced letter will be displayed above the encrypted letter.
• To deselect a letter, press a key that is not a letter or the space bar.
• To clear a guessed letter, select it and press the space bar or Command-G.
Features of Cryptix
File Menu:
• You can open and save your Cryptix in case the boss is coming.
Edit:
• This is there for aesthetic purposes, features may be implemented at later versions.
Preferences:
• When Allow Same Codes is turned on when a puzzle is generated, a B might really be a B, or a Q might really be a Q, etc. This is typically turned off.
• Sound turns the sound on and off.
• Text Style allows you to set the Font, Style, and Sizes of the puzzles and your guesses.
Cryptix:
• Reset Guesses will take you back to the start with the same puzzle.
• Hint gives you a hint! Very important at times.
• New Encryption will take the same puzzle and re-encrypt each letter. Don’t worry, your guesses won’t be erased.
• Clear Guess will set the selected letter to a blank guess. This is used if you choose a wrong letter by mistake.
Add Your Own Phrases!
It’s easy to add your own phrase to Cryptix! Simple open the “Cryptix Puzzles” file with a text editor and type in new phrases. The only thing I ask is you place @ in front of each phrase. The next time you play Cryptix, a puzzle may not appear the first time you select New…. Select New… again should work just fine. This should be corrected in the next version.
Registering Cryptix
Cryptix is shareware. For my programming effort put into Cryptix I ask only $5 - a real bargain in today’s software industry! This will help me produce future Mac software. It will also help me add requested features to Cryptix and inform you of updates. I also plan to set up a WWW page where users can share puzzle files with more puzzles.
If you use Cryptix, please send $5 to:
Kevin Hayes
5285 Kent Street Apt. 9
Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
B3H 1P7
Please provide the following information as well so I can inform you of updates, bug fixes, etc. and better suit your needs in future products:
