Pixit v1.1

Pixit v1.1

The wildly popular puzzle game from the Orient.

Pixit V1.1

----------

Copyright 1998

By Timothy Lipetz

[email protected]

Pixit is two programs in one. Pixit is...

PicCross - the wildly popular puzzle game from Asia.

Bitmap editor.

Pixit is a version of the game, PicCross, in which you try to discover a picture based on hints about the pixels in its rows and columns.

Pixit is also a bitmap editor which makes icons suitable for use with the PocketC bitmap() routine.

Pixit requires PocketC, available from http://www.seashellinc.com/orbworks/.

Send Pixit puzzle files to: [email protected]

****************************************************************************

** PLEASE, DON'T SLACK OFF - IF NOBODY SENDS FILES, NOBODY GETS THEM!!! **

** **

** I WROTE THE FIRST 80 PUZZLES, BUT NOW WE NEED YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS **

****************************************************************************

Legal Stuff

-----------

Pixit is EXCHANGE WARE. Which means you may copy, distribute, and use Pixit for NON-COMMERCIAL purposes provided you have done one of the following two things:

1) Complete at least ten pictures using the Pixit editor, and send me the .pdb file you generate. (see note below about how to send your pictures.)

2) If you are a shareware software developer producing programs for the Palm Pilot and/or PocketC, send me a fully licensed copy of one of your programs. (I trust you to pick equivalent value, or send me email with some options.)

Pixit may not be used for commercial purposes. Anyone wishing to include Pixit in a collection of shareware/freeware, please contact me with the particulars.

I reserve all rights to Pixit and allow its distribution and use only under the above conditions. I make no warrantees about suitability of the program for any use, nor do I assume any responsibility for any consequences of its use.

Sending in your Picture files

-----------------------------

For Pixit to be fun, we need picture files as puzzles. That is why I include a bitmap editor in the game (not to mention the side benefit of building icons for use in other PocketC programs.) I will produce some picture files, but really need your contributions.

We will all benefit if we all contribute here.

So instead of offering freeware, I am asking each user to send me some picture files. I will collect, combine, (and maybe edit) the contributions and include them as picture file collections in the future releases of Pixit. If you send me information, I will try to give proper credit for all contributors. (If you would rather remain anonymous, be sure to make that clear in your email.)

Actually, I have found making pictures to be almost as fun as solving them. Give it a try. It helps to turn around and try to solve them. Some pictures are solvable with logic and are more "fair" than pictures which can only be solved with a lot of guess work. (Generally, the more solid cells, the easier the puzzle.)

When you create a new Pixit picture data base, it creates a .pdb file which will be backed up at your next HotSync. The file will be on your PC (or workstation) in the backup directory. For example, when I made Pix1, it was in C:\pilot\LipetzT\Backup\Pix1.PDB.

Send the files as email attachments (preferably as .zip files) to:

[email protected]

****************************************************************************

** PLEASE, DON'T SLACK OFF - IF NOBODY SENDS FILES, NOBODY GETS THEM!!! **

****************************************************************************

Version 1.0

-----------

Released 2/19/98.

Basic feature set for Pixit game and editor.

Manifest:

Pixit.PDB - the PocketC program

Pix1.PDB - the first set of 30 puzzles for the game

Pixit.txt - this file

Version 1.1

-----------

Released 3/1/98.

Lots of little clean-ups on the user interface.

Reduced image flashing.

Better handling of incorrect user input.

NewDB - if DB exists it gets loaded, otherwise a new one is started

CopyDB - if DB exists asks if you want to merge DBs

At startup in edit mode, you can begin a new DB and/or pix.

Two new Pixit DBs, Pix0 (all 8x8 easy ones), and Pix2.

Manifest:

Pixit.PDB - the PocketC program

Pix1.PDB - the first set of 30 puzzles for the game - by T. Lipetz

Pix2.PDB - the second set of 30 puzzles for the game - by T. Lipetz

Pix0.PDB - a set of 20 easy puzzles (all 8 x 8) - by T. Lipetz

Pixit.txt - this file

Installing

----------

Load PocketC as instructed (Pixit does not need the Mathlib.pdb)

Load Pixit.PDB in the usual manner.

Load Pix0.PDB (or other pix DB files) in the usual manner.

Starting

--------

At startup, you are given the option of Play Mode(tap Yes) or Edit Mode(tap No). You are then asked for a pix data base name. For your first time enter Pix0 (you do not need to enter the .PDB). You then enter a pix number.

Pixit Play Mode

---------------

The object of Pixit is to discover a hidden picture on a grid of black or white cells. You are given hints about the contents of each row and column, and must fill in cells until you have the completed picture. When you have entered the exact picture, a popup will announce your win, report elapsed time and number of penalties, and give you the option of tapping the picture to reveal the name of the picture. Part of the fun is guessing what the image is as you work towards completion.

The hints indicate the number of cells in each group of solid (black) cells in a given row or column. The groups are reported in order. No information is given about the empty cells. However, by implication, you know that each row/column starts and ends with zero or more blanks, and that each group of solids is separated by one or more blanks.

It helps to mark the cells which you know must be blank, this is done with the X drawing mode (see below). It also helps, to work back and forth between row and column hints.

In Pixit, the puzzles will be 8x8, 12x12, or 16x16 cells.

Some examples:

Make sure you understand these examples. It will help your play.

(These are on a row of 8 cells, '-' means unknown; 'x' means known blank; '#' means known solid.)

Given: You Know:

0 xxxxxxxx

8 ########

4 3 ####x###

2 2 2 ##x##x##

6 --####--

3 3 -##--##-

2 2 1 -#--#--- (this one may take some thinking to understand)

Pixit Play Mode Controls

------------------------

Pixit # - The number next to the Pixit label is the puzzle number in the current Pix DB.

? - Help (gives copyright info and a short summary of rules and controls.)

Pix - Choose a new pix by number

E - When pressed-in (default), Pixit will report any errors. An error occurs when you mark a cell as solid when it should be blank. (Incorrect 'X' cells are not considered errors.) Each reported error results in an increasingly large elapsed time penalty. Note: errors do give you information, so it is actually easier to solve a pix with errors turned on.

DrawMode - Choose draw mode as either solid or 'X' cells. Current mode is pressed in.

LineMode - (The square with two arrows) Simplifies drawing lines. Works in both solid or 'X' drawing modes. To use it: tap a cell, then tap the LineMode symbol, then tap another cell on the same row or column. Works for one tap only.

Grid - Tap cells in the grid to enter solid (or 'X'). Tap again to change cell to blank. After solving pix, tap to reveal name.

Little Icon - The pix is shown in real size (one pixel per cell) as you solve it.

Pixit Editor Mode

-----------------

Editing is similar to play mode. No hints are given and you only draw in solid mode. You can choose any pix in the current data base to edit, or you can start a new pix. The new pix can start out empty or as a copy of an existing pix. The current data base is saved as a whole. You can also start a new data base.

You can also save the text representation of the current pix to a Palm Pilot Memo. This writes the pix in a form suitable for use as an argument to the bitmap() routine in PocketC. Such as:

string Square;

Square = "08007e7e7e7e7e7e00";

Pixit Editor Mode Controls

--------------------------

Pixit # - The number next to the Pixit label is the puzzle number in the current Pix DB.

? - Help (gives a legal info and a short summary of rules and controls.)

Pix - Choose a new pix by number OR enter 0 for a new pix. With a new pix, you will be given the option of copying the current pix, or starting with a grid of 8x8, 12x12, or 16x16 cells.

Ren. Pix - Rename current pix

Del. Pix - Delete current pix

Save All - Convert current grid to DB form and save entire data base.

Bitmap - Append string form of current grid to a Memo. You are asked for a new or existing Memo name.

New DB - Start a new data base with one blank pix. If DB already exists, it will be loaded.

Copy DB - Start a new data base with a copy of the current data base. If DB already exists, you will have the option of merging the two DBs.

LineMode - (The square with two arrows) Simplifies drawing lines. To use it: tap a cell, then tap the LineMode symbol, then tap another cell on the same row or column. Works for one tap only.

C - Clear the entire grid

I - Invert the entire grid

Pix DB: - The name of the current pix data base

- The name of the current pix

Grid - Tap cells in the grid to enter solid cells. Tap again to change cell to blank.

Little Icon - The pix is shown in real size (one pixel per cell) as you create it.

Issues with Tapping Cells

-------------------------

Tapping the correct cell on a 16x16 grid can be tricky (they are only 7 pixels wide). I found I got used it it fairly quickly. If you are having troubles, the following may help.

- Calibrating your digitizer helps a lot.

- Avoid weak batteries. The digitizer seems to be one of the first things to go flakey.

- Since the first release I got a better stylus (from PilotGearHQ) that helps alot.

- Pixit gives XOR highlighting when you do a pen-down, but only records the action if you do a pen-up over the same object. You can watch for the highlighting and if it is in the wrong cell, slide off before raising the pen.

- Optionally, try calibrating your digitizer by tapping two or three millimeters off. Then as you tap the grid, tap off by the same amount and it will be easier to see the highlighting with the pen to the side.

Known Bugs

----------

PocketC (or maybe the Palm Pilot) fails to report pen-up if you do a pen-down in the display area, slide to the Grafiti area, and then do a pen-up. This will temporarily leave inappropriate highlighting on an object. I have added extra code to Pixit, which cleans up the highlighting on the next tap.

Future Enhancements

-------------------

I am considering the following enhancements. No guarantees when or if I will do them.

Option to clip height and width of bitmap before writing to Memo.

A permanent pixstate.pdb that records the name of the current pix db, puzzle number, state of attempted solution, elapsed time, number of errors, which puzzles have been solved, etc. At startup, offer option to restore to the condition when you last quit.

Optional Mode (or a separate utility) for pasting bitmaps together.

Timothy Lipetz

2/19/98

[email protected]