Note: This program was converted to Click & Create the information on Klik & Play may not apply now.
0. Registration Information:
You must register after 14 days.
Please send a check for $4.95 to
Christopher Jay Craft
815 West Evans Street Apartment D
Florence, South Carolina, 29501-3439
United States of America
If you do nothing else, please send me an email telling me what you think good and bad.
1. Introduction:
This is the second Windows puzzle game I have made using Maxis' Klik & Play. The first, Cubix, was quite a disappointment. The 25 Number Game is my effort to make up for it. This edition was intended to be a beta release but seeing as I've manage to fix all major bugs I've decided to go ahead and release it as a finished product. I hope you will enjoy it.
2. Rules of the Game:
The 25 Number Game is a simple, yet surprisingly difficult, puzzle game to master. The object of the game is to fill a 5 by 5 grid with the numbers 1 through 25 in the least amount of time possible. There are only a few rules. The first is in order to move either horizontally or vertically there must be 2 spaces between the current square and the desired square. The second is in order to move in any diagonal direction there must be 1 space between the current sqaure and the desired square. Finally, if a player tries to move to an already filled square then the current move number will be changed to the move number of the square landed on and all moves numbered greater than that value will be erased. In other words, if a player should fill 24 of the 25 squares and then land on the square he started from then the current move number would be changed to 1, instead of 25, and all of the other moves would be erased.
3. How to Play the Game:
Here is a list of the main control keys and their functions:
Use For
F8 Showing and hiding the menu
F1 Viewing this help file
F2 Starting a new game (resets all timers and scores)
Ctrl + P Pausing the game
Ctrl + Y Changing movement keys (not available in this game)
Alt + F4 Quitting the Game
Ctrl + S Turning samples (wave files) on or off
Ctrl + M Turning music (midi files) on or off
Number Keypad Selecting starting square and movement
Y Starting a new game (without resetting timer and score)
N or Q or Esc Quitting the game
Detailed info. on Number Keypad functions:
Use Number Keypad's For
1 moving 2 spaces down and 2 spaces left
2 moving 3 spaces down
3 moving 2 spaces down and 2 spaces right
4 moving 3 spaces left
6 moving 3 spaces right
7 moving 2 spaces up and 2 spaces left
8 moving 3 spaces up
9 moving 2 spaces up and 2 space right
At beginning of games, use the Number Keypad to select starting position and then hit Enter.
Note: Be sure Num Lock is enabled.
4. License:
This license entitles the Licensee to:
(a) unlimited usage of The 25 Number Game.
(b) distribute unmodified copies of The 25 Number Game.
(c) modify your copy of The 25 Number Game for your own personal use. Under no circumstances may a modified, in any way, version of The 25 Number Game be distributed, in any fashion, without my written permission.
5. Copyright:
All Contents Copyrighted 1995 by Christopher Jay Craft
6. Cheats and Easter Eggs:
You did not think I would just list them for you did you?
7. Future Plans:
New Versions of The 25 Number Game:
Although Klik & Play has potential to make great games there are just some things it cannot do. That is why I would like to convert it over to other formats. This way I could save the Top Scores to a file, allow a player to input his name, have larger grids, and a whole lot more. I have the original (unfinished) Qbasic version (if you are interested let me know and I will send it to you). In addition, I plan to convert it to Visual Basic someday. That is about all I can do. If you are interested in converting it to a different format, contact me. I currently own the rights to The 25 Number Game so you will have to get my permission first. I would appreciate any suggestions on ways to improve The 25 Number Game. If you have any then please let me know.
More Klik & Play Games:
Well, I have basically had my fill of puzzle games and I am now planning to finish my role-playing, space/fantasy game The Xarconian Coming. I may have to scrap this one. It is already over 1 megabyte and that is just to run the navigational computer and some of the cockpit. I got carried away with the original graphics.
8. About Klik & Play:
There is real potential for this product to allow you to achieve great things. It is meant to be a "no programming experience required" Windows game programming language. However I believe that some programming experience is necessary in order to get the most out of it. Its greatest potential lies in making arcade games. But it is possible, here is where the programming experience comes in handy, to make good puzzle and adventure games.
9. Miscellaneous:
The Current 25 Number Game Wanted Features Dream List:
1. mouse driven (would increase interactivity)
2. more levels (4 by 4 and up)
3. save game data
4. better background music
5. true Windows help file
6. to be able to select movement keys
7. to be able to enter name
8. have "Move to Occupied Square is Illegal" and "Lowering Current Move Number" as options.
9. some real cheats and easter eggs
10. auto-detect when no moves are left and then stop game
11. to be able to delete/change the value about to be entered for starting position
12. highlight current square
13. Table of Ranking: would show skill level and corresponding score range
14. to be able to set movement distances (i.e. 1 space left, 2 spaces down, etc.)
15. ? - let me know what you want
Tips and Strategy:
One of the easiest things you can do to improve your game performance is practice! In order to achieve record-breaking scores it takes an almost subconscious understanding of the game's mechanics. Find your strong point. Do you do better from the center square, a corner square, or somewhere else? If your having a hard time getting high scores then focus on either speed or getting more squares, not both. If this does not help then forget about the timer and score. Take your time and fill in as much as possible. If you find yourself in a dead end then keep moving back to your previous position until you can make a new move.
The second most influential thing is your hand placement. Place your 3 center fingers across the Number Keypad's 4, 5, 6 keys. From this position, your hand has easy access to all of the movement keys. You will do your best if you do not have to look at the keys in order to make your move. After a few practice games you will have this method down and it will show in your score.
Variations on the Game:
Even though The 25 Number Game bases your score on speed and how many squares you've captured, it's still has some flexibility in the ways it can be played.
Various Squares: You do not have to start in square 1. You could try other positions like square 13, the middle square. Alternatively, you can start at one of the corner squares and so on. Each square has it's own advantages and disadvantages. Try them all.
Competition: Two or more players take turns trying to outdo their opponents in various categories, like best score and who captures the most squares.
The Perfectionist's Delight: Just try to fill all 25 squares.
The Dunce's Dilemma: Try to fill as few squares as possible that will leave you with no further moves. If you have a move left, you have to take it.
Handicap Mode: Limit your moves. For example you could use only 5 of the 8 directions, and so on. On the other hand, maybe you could just use even then odd numbered directions. This can be used in combination with the other variations. Be creative.
Hot Potato: Each player takes turns moving. The player who makes the last move either wins or loses (your choice). Both players try to force bad moves on the other player.
Dueling: One player tries to fill as many squares as possible while the other player tries to hinder his success. Each player takes turns moving. Moving to a filled square is illegal and costs the match. If they make it to square 18 then it is a tie. If they make it past square 18 then player 1 wins the match. If they do not make it to 18 then player 2 wins the match. Players can change roles to increase fairness. Best two out three wins game. (18 should be used instead of 13 because it is the middle number between 11 and 25, which is the range of square numbers that can be end moves.)
Information about the Author:
Name: Christopher Jay Craft
If you would like to get in touch with me, please do.
e-mail - acesoftware@geocities.com
snail mail - 815 West Evans Street Apartment D
Florence, South Carolina 29501-3439
Tell me what you think about The 25 Number Game (suggestions, opinions, errors, etc.) and I will send you the complete list of cheats and easter eggs. I will also include a few surprises for those who tell me they have Klik & Play.
Information about the Game:
The 25 Number Game version 1.0c finished 6/16/95
Special thanks to Donny Craft and Shawn Allen Morris without whose help this game would have still been possible.
Sorry it has been so long since I have released a new game but I never have enough time to work on K&P. If you will look at the program, you will see it is two most impressive features. One is the input feature that can accept values from 0 to 99 in either 03 or 3 form. The other is the timer feature that display the elapsed time in 01:23:45 form. The hardest part of this was getting the counters to show 09 instead of 9 as they normally do. Otherwise, the timer would show 1: 2: 3 instead of 01:02:03. Good luck figuring out the code. It is a mess.
Limited Time Offer:
There was a mention of some top secret "game" I was considering making in the Cubix help file. If you are interested in it then you must include "Klik & Play" or "K&P" in your AOL Member's Profile. Eventually you will receive an information package. Sorry but this is the only way to receive the information. There will be no exceptions.
