(from ZX Computing Aug/Sep'84)



Cipher Breaker

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The classic logic game programmed by M Hives from Derbyshire.

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The devious computer will set up a secret code which consists

of four colours - your task is to decipher the code and beat the

machine.



  After you have entered all four colour codes one at a time,

the computer will give you an indication of how well you have

done. For a correct colour in the correct position the computer

will award you a black peg, and for a correct colour but in the

wrong place you are given a white peg.



  Unfortunately you do not know which peg relates to

which colour, so you will have to try various combinations using

your superior human logic to find the combination.



  On the far left of the screen is displayed a column in which the

computer prints any black or white pegs. NExt to this is a column

filled with the numbers 1 to 10: this is the number of tries

you have had and the number left!



  The remainder of the screen is taken up with the four columns

in which your colour codes are displayed.



  This is a good game which features good use of sound and

colour and a large, clear screen display. We enjoyed playing this

game in the office but wondered why we hadn't yet seen a version

of this game which lets the computer attempt to decode a

human secret code.



  If anyone out there has a program which uses a logical

system of computer decoding then how about letting us see it?





Program lines

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1-6         Sets up UDGs and gives instructions

11-25       Sets up the board giving ten attempts

            (also lines 199 to 203)

100-115     Sets up the code in numerical form

500-950     Asks the player for colours, changes it to

            a number and checks against the code.

1005-1035   Checks for any white pegs

1455-1470   Checks for any black pegs

1480        Checks for a correct answer

1500        Gives you another attempt using a

            FOR/NEXT loop

2000-2020   Part of the winning routine

2500-2660   Turns the computers code from numbers

            into colours and prints the correct answer

            at the top of the screen



