Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Moderator: Michael Wallace
Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=2846 (click 'Play' on the right hand side)
Seriously, what the hell? According to this thread:
http://www.stardot.org.uk/forums/viewto ... 09#p199364
on the stardot forum it's solvable but I'm stumped. People say the solution is clever, original, cruel, funny. I'll put what little I have found in a spoiler if you want to have a go blind first.
The room description always seems the same. There is a 'move' counter on the right, which counts down each time you go in any direction, and the game ends when it hits zero. It then shows you a map - the start point is green, presumably the end point is red, and your current position in white. If you count (it's basically a 4x4 grid) the number of moves you had to start with is exactly the number of moves required to reach the exit. But obviously you have no idea which way you are supposed to go. Now - I've discovered by trial and error that you can type SHOW MAP to bring the map up, BUT this also uses a move from your counter, so you can no longer reach the exit. So I'm stuck there. You occasionally see various things (Jamis Buck (?), a white rabbit, a palimpsest) but nothing seems to help much, and the HINT just cycles through 'Hindsight is 20/20', 'Don't look back in anger' and 'who says you can't rewrite history' which also doesn't seem to help....
It would be possible to play in a BBC emulator which has save states to show the map and then reload back and follow the moves, but that clearly isn't the "right" solution.
Seriously, what the hell? According to this thread:
http://www.stardot.org.uk/forums/viewto ... 09#p199364
on the stardot forum it's solvable but I'm stumped. People say the solution is clever, original, cruel, funny. I'll put what little I have found in a spoiler if you want to have a go blind first.
The room description always seems the same. There is a 'move' counter on the right, which counts down each time you go in any direction, and the game ends when it hits zero. It then shows you a map - the start point is green, presumably the end point is red, and your current position in white. If you count (it's basically a 4x4 grid) the number of moves you had to start with is exactly the number of moves required to reach the exit. But obviously you have no idea which way you are supposed to go. Now - I've discovered by trial and error that you can type SHOW MAP to bring the map up, BUT this also uses a move from your counter, so you can no longer reach the exit. So I'm stuck there. You occasionally see various things (Jamis Buck (?), a white rabbit, a palimpsest) but nothing seems to help much, and the HINT just cycles through 'Hindsight is 20/20', 'Don't look back in anger' and 'who says you can't rewrite history' which also doesn't seem to help....
It would be possible to play in a BBC emulator which has save states to show the map and then reload back and follow the moves, but that clearly isn't the "right" solution.
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13351
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Corby's back!
(I'll have a look in a bit.)
(I'll have a look in a bit.)
- Matt Morrison
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 7822
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:27 pm
- Location: London
- Contact:
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
I don't want to spend too much time working this out, but look forward to the solution. Good find on the map.
I assume you have to do something with the palimpsest at some point?
I assume you have to do something with the palimpsest at some point?
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Only because I want something (Graeme to solve this)
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13351
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
I don't understand how this is something you could get sucked into in the first place. At first glance, you just go North, South, East or West and find yourself in identical places each time, and you might find a "palimpsest" or see someone called James Buck or a white rabbit on the way. I'm sure other stuff can happen, but there's nothing to really get you motivated to even find out. (I haven't read your spoiler yet.)
Edit - just read the spoiler. Might have another look.
Edit - just read the spoiler. Might have another look.
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13351
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
It's 5x5 isn't it, rather than 4x4? Also the thing about exits in all directions is a lie. It makes it seem as if you can move anywhere but there's walls there, so often you're not moving when you think you are.Jon Corby wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 9:08 am http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=2846 (click 'Play' on the right hand side)
Seriously, what the hell? According to this thread:
http://www.stardot.org.uk/forums/viewto ... 09#p199364
on the stardot forum it's solvable but I'm stumped. People say the solution is clever, original, cruel, funny. I'll put what little I have found in a spoiler if you want to have a go blind first.
The room description always seems the same. There is a 'move' counter on the right, which counts down each time you go in any direction, and the game ends when it hits zero. It then shows you a map - the start point is green, presumably the end point is red, and your current position in white. If you count (it's basically a 4x4 grid) the number of moves you had to start with is exactly the number of moves required to reach the exit. But obviously you have no idea which way you are supposed to go. Now - I've discovered by trial and error that you can type SHOW MAP to bring the map up, BUT this also uses a move from your counter, so you can no longer reach the exit. So I'm stuck there. You occasionally see various things (Jamis Buck (?), a white rabbit, a palimpsest) but nothing seems to help much, and the HINT just cycles through 'Hindsight is 20/20', 'Don't look back in anger' and 'who says you can't rewrite history' which also doesn't seem to help....
It would be possible to play in a BBC emulator which has save states to show the map and then reload back and follow the moves, but that clearly isn't the "right" solution.
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Yes, you're right.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 4:26 pmIt's 5x5 isn't it, rather than 4x4? Also the thing about exits in all directions is a lie. It makes it seem as if you can move anywhere but there's walls there, so often you're not moving when you think you are.Jon Corby wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 9:08 am http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=2846 (click 'Play' on the right hand side)
Seriously, what the hell? According to this thread:
http://www.stardot.org.uk/forums/viewto ... 09#p199364
on the stardot forum it's solvable but I'm stumped. People say the solution is clever, original, cruel, funny. I'll put what little I have found in a spoiler if you want to have a go blind first.
The room description always seems the same. There is a 'move' counter on the right, which counts down each time you go in any direction, and the game ends when it hits zero. It then shows you a map - the start point is green, presumably the end point is red, and your current position in white. If you count (it's basically a 4x4 grid) the number of moves you had to start with is exactly the number of moves required to reach the exit. But obviously you have no idea which way you are supposed to go. Now - I've discovered by trial and error that you can type SHOW MAP to bring the map up, BUT this also uses a move from your counter, so you can no longer reach the exit. So I'm stuck there. You occasionally see various things (Jamis Buck (?), a white rabbit, a palimpsest) but nothing seems to help much, and the HINT just cycles through 'Hindsight is 20/20', 'Don't look back in anger' and 'who says you can't rewrite history' which also doesn't seem to help....
It would be possible to play in a BBC emulator which has save states to show the map and then reload back and follow the moves, but that clearly isn't the "right" solution.
What sucked me in was other people working out how to solve it and describing it as they did - made it sound like the kind of thing that would be right up my alley (or even that I would do myself). Had I just stumbled across it without that stardot thread, you're right, I would can it after a minute. (This goes for most 'puzzles' really - I always need some reassurance that the puzzle is sound, I would never stumble across a puzzle on the internet and spend hours on it because the answer might be shit.)
- Matt Morrison
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 7822
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:27 pm
- Location: London
- Contact:
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Yeah I agree Jon - the "omg it's so satisfying when you work it out, and so clever and unique" vague posts did intrigue me. But I know I'm no Graeme. I can't solve this, but I look forward to one of you explaining how it's done and I'll enjoy that twist vicariously.
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Okay, I found the answer now. It's not so great, I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.
- Matt Morrison
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 7822
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:27 pm
- Location: London
- Contact:
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Well I'm less excited about you posting it then, but post it.
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13351
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Is the solution any of clever, original, cruel or funny?
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Yeah it's okay actually. I was possibly a bit dismissive in that post (I was more just being a dick in the sense of "I know the answer and I'm not going to tell you"), it's quite cute, and once you know it, it does make you laugh and you kick yourself. What I also quite enjoyed is that the implementation on the BBC Micro makes it work especially well (I had a BBC as a kid so I get a lot of nostalgia value). That said, you don't need to know anything about the BBC Micro or anything like that to solve it, you're all - yes, even you Matt, capable of cracking this one.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon May 07, 2018 11:32 pm Is the solution any of clever, original, cruel or funny?
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13351
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
I keep forgetting about this. Anyone else had another look?
- Matt Morrison
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 7822
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:27 pm
- Location: London
- Contact:
- Ian Volante
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3972
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:15 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
- Contact:
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
I'm just glad it's led me back to playing Barrage again.
meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
What about now?
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13351
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Have another go Gev.
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13351
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
I was thinking about this the other day.
Re: Weird maze/puzzle thing on BBC Micro emulator
Just solved it. Also felt a bit 'meh' about the solution, but might also be annoyance at myself seeing what was happening quite quickly but not following it up til I'd spent a lot of time trying some methods that led nowhere.