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Beat up on Black Box docs, after Debian bug #548472.

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[originally from svn r8735]
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Jacob Nevins
2009-11-04 13:19:39 +00:00
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@ -1502,40 +1502,41 @@ points in the generated graph.
\cfg{winhelp-topic}{games.blackbox} \cfg{winhelp-topic}{games.blackbox}
A number of balls are hidden in a rectangular arena. You have to A number of balls are hidden in a rectangular arena. You have to
deduce the positions of the balls by firing lasers from positions deduce the positions of the balls by firing from lasers positioned at
on the edge of the arena and observing how they are deflected. the edges of the arena and observing how their beams are deflected.
Lasers will fire straight until they hit the opposite side of the Beams will travel straight from their origin until they hit the
arena (at which point they emerge), unless affected by balls in one of opposite side of the arena (at which point they emerge), unless
the following ways: affected by balls in one of the following ways:
\b A laser that hits a ball head-on is absorbed and will never re-emerge. \b A beam that hits a ball head-on is absorbed and will never
This includes lasers that meet a ball on the first rank of the arena. re-emerge. This includes beams that meet a ball on the first rank
of the arena.
\b A laser with a ball to its front-left square gets deflected 90 degrees \b A beam with a ball to its front-left square gets deflected 90 degrees
to the right. to the right.
\b A laser with a ball to its front-right square gets similarly deflected \b A beam with a ball to its front-right square gets similarly deflected
to the left. to the left.
\b A laser that would re-emerge from the entry location is considered to be \b A beam that would re-emerge from its entry location is considered to be
\q{reflected}. \q{reflected}.
\b A laser which would get deflected before entering the arena (down the \b A beam which would get deflected before entering the arena by a
\q{firing range}) by a ball to the front-left or front-right of its ball to the front-left or front-right of its entry point is also
entry point is also considered to be \q{reflected}. considered to be \q{reflected}.
Lasers that are reflected appear as a \q{R}; lasers that hit balls Beams that are reflected appear as a \q{R}; beams that hit balls
dead-on appear as \q{H}. Otherwise, a number appears at the firing point head-on appear as \q{H}. Otherwise, a number appears at the firing
and the location where the laser emerges (this number is unique to point and the location where the beam emerges (this number is unique
that shot). to that shot).
You can place guesses as to the location of the balls, based on the You can place guesses as to the location of the balls, based on the
entry and exit patterns of the lasers; once you have placed enough entry and exit patterns of the beams; once you have placed enough
balls a button appears enabling you to have your guesses checked. balls a button appears enabling you to have your guesses checked.
Here is a diagram showing how the positions of balls can create each Here is a diagram showing how the positions of balls can create each
of the laser behaviours shown above: of the beam behaviours shown above:
\c 1RHR---- \c 1RHR----
\c |..O.O...| \c |..O.O...|
@ -1548,15 +1549,15 @@ of the laser behaviours shown above:
\c |.....O..| \c |.....O..|
\c 12-RH--- \c 12-RH---
As shown, it is possible for a ball to receive multiple reflections As shown, it is possible for a beam to receive multiple reflections
before re-emerging (see turn 3). Similarly, a ball may be reflected before re-emerging (see turn 3). Similarly, a beam may be reflected
(possibly more than once) before receiving a hit (the \q{H} on the (possibly more than once) before receiving a hit (the \q{H} on the
left side of the example). left side of the example).
Note that any layout with more that 4 balls may have a non-unique Note that any layout with more than 4 balls may have a non-unique
solution. The following diagram illustrates this; if you know the solution. The following diagram illustrates this; if you know the
board contains 5 balls, it is impossible to determine where the fifth board contains 5 balls, it is impossible to determine where the fifth
ball is (possible positions marked with an x): ball is (possible positions marked with an \cw{x}):
\c -------- \c --------
\c |........| \c |........|
@ -1569,59 +1570,62 @@ ball is (possible positions marked with an x):
\c |........| \c |........|
\c -------- \c --------
For this reason when you have your guesses checked the game will For this reason, when you have your guesses checked, the game will
check that your solution \e{produces the same results} as the check that your solution \e{produces the same results} as the
computer's, rather than that your solution is identical to the computer's, rather than that your solution is identical to the
computer's. So in the above example, you could put the fifth ball at computer's. So in the above example, you could put the fifth ball at
\e{any} of the locations marked with an x, and you would still win. \e{any} of the locations marked with an \cw{x}, and you would still
win.
Black Box was contributed to this collection by James Harvey. Black Box was contributed to this collection by James Harvey.
\H{blackbox-controls} \i{Black Box controls} \H{blackbox-controls} \i{Black Box controls}
\IM{Black Box controls} controls, for Black Box \IM{Black Box controls} controls, for Black Box
\IM{Black Box controls} keys, for Black Box
\IM{Black Box controls} shortcuts (keyboard), for Black Box
To fire a laser, left-click in a square around the side of the arena. To fire a laser beam, left-click in a square around the edge of the
The results will be displayed immediately. Lasers may not be fired arena. The results will be displayed immediately. Clicking or holding
twice (because the results will never change). Holding down the left the left button on one of these squares will highlight the current go
button will highlight the current go (or a previous go) to confirm the (or a previous go) to confirm the exit point for that laser, if
exit point for that laser, if applicable. applicable.
To guess the location of a ball, left-click within the arena and a To guess the location of a ball, left-click within the arena and a
black circle will appear marking the guess; to remove the guessed ball black circle will appear marking the guess; click again to remove the
click again. guessed ball.
Locations in the arena may be locked against modification by Locations in the arena may be locked against modification by
right-clicking; whole rows and columns may be similarly locked by right-clicking; whole rows and columns may be similarly locked by
right-clicking in the laser firing range above/below that column, or right-clicking in the laser square above/below that column, or to the
to the left/right of that row. left/right of that row.
The cursor keys may also be used to move around the grid. Pressing the The cursor keys may also be used to move around the grid. Pressing the
Enter key will add a new ball-location guess, and pressing Space will Enter key will fire a laser or add a new ball-location guess, and
lock a cell or a row/column. pressing Space will lock a cell, row, or column.
When an appropriate number of balls have been guessed a button will When an appropriate number of balls have been guessed, a button will
appear at the top-left corner of the grid; clicking that (with mouse or appear at the top-left corner of the grid; clicking that (with mouse
cursor) will mark your guesses. or cursor) will check your guesses.
If you click the \q{mark} button and your guesses are not correct, If you click the \q{check} button and your guesses are not correct,
the game will show you as little information as possible to the game will show you the minimum information necessary to
demonstrate this to you, so you can try again. If your ball demonstrate this to you, so you can try again. If your ball
positions are not consistent with the laser paths you already know positions are not consistent with the beam paths you already know
about, one laser path will be circled to indicate that it proves you about, one beam path will be circled to indicate that it proves you
wrong. If your positions match all the existing laser paths but are wrong. If your positions match all the existing beam paths but are
still wrong, one new laser path will be revealed (written in red) still wrong, one new beam path will be revealed (written in red)
which is not consistent with your current guesses. which is not consistent with your current guesses.
If you decide to give up completely, you can select Solve to reveal If you decide to give up completely, you can select Solve to reveal
the actual ball positions. At this point, correctly-placed balls the actual ball positions. At this point, correctly-placed balls
will be displayed as filled black circles; incorrectly-placed balls will be displayed as filled black circles, incorrectly-placed balls
are displayed as filled black circles with red crosses, and missing as filled black circles with red crosses, and missing balls as filled
balls are filled red circles. In addition, a red circle marks any red circles. In addition, a red circle marks any laser you had already
laser you had already fired which is not consistent with your ball fired which is not consistent with your ball layout (just as when you
layout (just as when you press the mark button), and red text marks press the \q{check} button), and red text marks any laser you
any laser you \e{could} have fired in order to distinguish your ball \e{could} have fired in order to distinguish your ball layout from the
layout from the right one. correct one.
(All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.) (All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
@ -1642,7 +1646,7 @@ or a range (separated with a hyphen, like \q{2-6}), and determines the
number of balls to place on the grid. The \q{reveal} button is only number of balls to place on the grid. The \q{reveal} button is only
enabled if you have guessed an appropriate number of balls; a guess enabled if you have guessed an appropriate number of balls; a guess
using a different number to the original solution is still acceptable, using a different number to the original solution is still acceptable,
if all the laser inputs and outputs match. if all the beam inputs and outputs match.
\C{slant} \i{Slant} \C{slant} \i{Slant}