yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
Hi guys,

I just uploaded 1.0.4 version which saves the state after completing each level. Also if you choose new game it saves the generated levels. The game now requires WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission in order to save the state.

I have the following idea about score:

Completing each level will give materials for tools. For a 4 moves solution the reward will be 4+3+2+1 units - that is for every move that lead to the solution. So gradually player will gain more and more units which will count as score at the end of the game. In order to use the 'Key' system player will have to spend units to create a pick lock tool. Imagine a hard level with 7 moves solution. Player will spend 7 units to reveal the first move of the solution, 6 units for the second and so on. So player will have to think more if he/she wants to have more units at the end. I guess I need to add some bonus for solution that has equal or less moves than the AI solution. Also not sure if time must be a factor.

Please post here if you encounter any problems with 1.0.4.
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
If so, i'll have to solve them with pencil and paper next to me, in order not to get penalized for spending 7-8-10 minutes on a 5-6 key solution :)

Probably time factor should only bring a reward if the solution is provided faster than expexted for a certain level, but not the penalizing as well.

Bout the keys unlock system, i dont really know what to say. I barely NEED a key. Only use it to check the provided solution after im done with that level. So this would only mean i wont spend my score poits doing it anymore :)

von meinem Sammy G. S2 gesendet

---------- Post added at 02:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:13 PM ----------

Oh.. great improvement on the saving side, and happy to see a score system too :)

It's growing bigger and bigger each day. Too bad the forum aint as well :(

von meinem Sammy G. S2 gesendet
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
thanks CataVlad,

I must admit that after I did the code that generates the levels (i know some have weird solutions;)) I met great difficulties solving the locks. And I am very happy that there are ppl like you who actually pick locks with a 6 key solution. I am not prepared to present greater challenge right now.
[Android Apps and Games] Hotfingers:
Thanks for the save game. Makes a huge difference to me.

I don't know about the time limit though - I'm a little slow, and love to puzzle things out at my own pace.

This is why save game is so good for me. I can come back to it later on.

My children are really fast though, so they will enjoy a time challenge.

So my vote is to make the time challenge optional - but I know different people will want different things here.

I hope you're enjoying making this game as much as we're enjoying playing it. :good:

Sincerely,

Hotfingers :)
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
thanks Hotfingers,

i think i will think a bit more about the generating levels algo now - prior to scoring... i want to get rid of the weird solutions. also there is one feature that i have not described. the idea of the colors is that it is possible to erase a crystal. it needs to be in the center and player must use an opposite crystal with an "opposite" color. that option presents more levels but as i said my code has flaws and cannot generate such levels. for example this task:

\/ - crystal pointing down in 12 o'clock

/\ - crystal pointing up in 6 o'clock

has 8 moves solutions i think which uses the erase rule. the solution is: up, up, down, cyan, down (here the rule fires), red, down, cyan. i very much want to add such locks so the users have more fun.

best regards

dotstudio
[Android Apps and Games] Hotfingers:
Holy smoke @dotstudio, that sounds complicated (and fun, yes :cyclops: ).

looking forward to hearing how that one goes. :)
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
My modest FB page - http://www.facebook.com/picklock2012
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
Revision 1.0.5 contains:

:good: bug fix with yellow and magenta rotation;

:good: new code for level generation, which gets rid of many weird solutions;

:good: five levels with 8 moves solution.
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
Wow! 7 diamonds lock!! Freaked the hell out of me when i saw that :) but you guys should try them and you will be amazed how easilly you will solve them as well.

After playing this game like a 2h average daily for like 5 days, this 7diamonds lock proved to me as hard as a 6 diamonds lock proved until yesterday. Then i tried a 6D one and it felt as hard as a 5D felt until yesterday. And so on. The 2D lock are nothing but a piece of cake as those single ones were.

Really guys, dont let Dot scare ya here :P its not as hard as it seems.

Even if you dont make it in the least possible moves, at least u have the satisfaction of finishing such a mind challanging task ;)

von meinem Sammy G. S2 gesendet
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
hi catavlad,

Try the 8 moves locks :). But since you are able to solve 7 moves, I guess 8 will not be a problem. I can officially call you the best Pick Lock player. I smile everytime when I solve a 4 moves lock - that is my record so far :D.
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
lol, ur joking, right?? :)

i havent seen any 8 diamonds locks yet. that if by moves u refer to diamonds. we might be having different measure units here :P

what i solved yesterday was a full pad locker, a diamond on every space from the 7 that are coloured in dark grey.

but after i checked the key (and i was expecting this), that was an 8 moves solution, while the one i provided was a 12-13 one. but i provided a correct hey as well, a match to the lock.

its very very hard to see the quickest (in the least number of moves) solution to a full pad (7 diamonds) locker!

u just gotta have a great memory and orientation. and follow the pattern. i was pretty sure u were solving a ful pad locker way before you released the game :) :P

i havent played today, but i'll look for another full board locker and try solve it right now. u get a huge satisfaction in the end, but its pretty damn borring playing such a long lasting level and failing sometimes, if u do fail first attempt and have to rethink it all.

thank u kindly for the nice words ;)
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
Tried another one now. Gave the 8 moves solution, right as the key, but it took me 17 minutes and 3 attempts. Its a lil bit harder to always do those 6 and 7 diamonds locks from first attempt since u have pretty much to keep in mind there :)
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
hi guys,

finally reached 3000 installs. at some point 5000 looked an easy task, but not now. so i decided to add scoring. it will work like this: for every lock solved a reward will be granted equal to number of moves. for example a 3 move solution will give 3+2+1 points. to use the help, points will be removed. for a 4 move solution first help will remove 4 points to reveal one move, second help will remove 3 points and so on. i will also keep track of time and will give bonus for faster solutions - sometimes it will worth it to spend points for faster solution in order to get bonus. user will have to type a name that will be used for the score board. the game will save the score in online database and will show top 10 ingame. i plan to have a link that can open a browser to show more results. the game will save score after each completed level, or after clicking a button in the quit screen. i am not sure if i want to display each user with his top score or display top scores no matter how many come from one user (this way one user can occupy the whole board).

best regards

d.
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
Looking forward to it. Too bad it didnt grow in popularity as expected. I guess modern man doesnt have that much time to waste on solving abstract problems anymore :)
[Android Apps and Games] Hotfingers:
I'm still enjoying the game, but I'm quite a bit slower than you @CataVlad.

I'm getting stuck a bit on 4 level locks...

But that's OK because it means I've got something to keep me busy whenever I have spare time :D
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
Try find a pattern and reduce each level to that. Mine is simple. I always choose a 3 diamonds "line" that i keep AS FIXED and get rid of the extra diamonds around. Its like splitting each level into 2 sublevels of 3 and 3 or 4 and 3 diamonds.

I would have given this hint earlier, but i didnt really know if you guys wanted any :) still dont, but since you're both finding it that difficult to pass 4 diamonds locks, i took the liberty to share this with you and whoever else wants to try it.

Good luck on the new paths! :)

von meinem Sammy G. S2 gesendet
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
hi guys and happy new year :),

long time no see. i found some time during the holidays to add score to the game. it is not yet uploaded though. i did not tested it much so far, but want to show you how it looks and works and ask a question or two. so basically player can score points now. each level gives a reward according to its difficulty. a level with one move solution gives 1 pt. a level with 2 movies solution gives 2+1 = 3 pts. a level with 5 moves solution gives 5+4+3+2+1 = 15pts. in the first screenshot you can see the score (top center) for one game i played. now if you want to use the help system you will need to spend points. the "Key" button now opens the panel in the second screenshot. it offers 4 options cause this particular game has a solution in 4 moves. for each option you have to spend points. to reveal one move you have to spend 4 pts. to reveal the second move you have to spend 4+3 = 7 pts. to reveal all moves you have to spend 4+3+2+1=10pts. if you dont have enough points scored some or all options will be greyed out and inactive (last screenshot). if you select the option to reveal one move, points will be extracted from your score, the panel will close and the help animation will play. when you open again the "Key" panel the first option will now be available for free cause you already have spent points to reveal it. all other options will be cheaper now - for example in the third screenshot to reveal two moves the cost is not 4+3 but only 3, because you already spent 4 points to reveal the first move. in the fourth screenshot you can see that you have less score now after you spent points to reveal a key move.

when a level is cleared you can return to it and see the help moves for free. keys spent and score are saved now.

i decided to give 1 point for a new game, so a beginner can reveal the first 5 levels easily and score some points to have help in the next levels.

now i want to upload the best results so people can compete. i was thinking about asking for an email in the quit panel screen which will serve as identifier for the result. it will be unique and also player can receive a verification email when a high score is send to the online database. if that works i also plan to have a link "high scores" in the quit screen which will open a page in a browser showing the rankings. what do you think?

best regards

d.

p.s. i found a bug in current version - when you complete last level (last difficulty) it does not show you correctly the first level. i fixed it but will upload with scores version.
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
Hi :) and a very happy new year to everyone still visiting the thread!

Aaaaand... that means we gotta find some time to start playing it again :p scoring will make it much more motivating to play, i guess.

And now allow me to read the rest of the message :)

Oh, btw.. did my advise help in any way? Did u guys improve even a little?

P.S. after i read it all, only thing i can say is BRILLIANT! Cand hardly wait to play it again and compete :) hopefully not with myself, seeing the interest people show around here for a while :(

von meinem Sammy G. S2 gesendet
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
hi catavlad,

thanks for the reply. i was thinking about adding the time factor in the scoring, but not sure how exactly to implement it. one idea is to save the moment a new game is started and count the time from there. but lets say one person has 1000 pts with time of 200 mintes and other person has 1001 pts with time of 10000 minutes. whose result is better? how to judge that? or i should leave the timing idea behind and keep the whole "sit back and relax" idea of the game.

and dont worry - i will compete with you for sure ;).

d.
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
:) great!

About the time factor, i think one idea could be making a paralel standings only considering time. But for a begginer, a 20s limit for solving a 2 move puzzle might not be enough, while for us who played lots of games even 3s might be more than we really need. Time can only make a difference between experienced players who see the moves a lot easyer in perspective.

2nd option i can think of is to give a bonus for time if puzzle is solved in less than a limit set for each type of level (number of correct moves least requiered/ provided by the player).

I mean, if u solve a 1 move puzzle in less than 2s u get 1 extra point. For a 2 moves puzzle u get 2p if solved in less than 5s. 3 moves - 3p - less than 15s. And so on. I could think of the other limits until 8 moves if u want. And even provide the exact times i needed in let's say.. 5-10 different tries for each level. Then u can compare with yours and others's who might wanna help and establish the limits u need to set.

In this 2 d case, with a single score and not 2 as in the first suggestion, i suggest the score should look like

1. Dotstudio 1000p (750p + 250p time bonus)

2. CataVlad 999p (750p + 249p time bonu)

And i could think more about a solution if u finds this unappropiate. These are just what crossed my mind as a brainstorm :) hoping you would find one correct and i won't have to think that much about it :))

von meinem Sammy G. S2 gesendet
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
hei catavlad,

thanks for the quick responce. i would love to know your average play time for different levels. i can send you apk file with the new version - you can give me an email in pm.

these are the number of moves to solve each level currently:

1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8

i really want to use your idea for the bonus, because i want to encourage people to use their points to achieve faster solution. at the end lock picking must be done in a timely manner in real live :).

first thought i have is not to give reward for moves that were revealed by spending points. this way if you have reward enough to reveal a 8 move game you will not replenish the points and solve the next one the same way. for a 5 move game for example if two moves are revealed the reward will not be 5+4+3+2+1 but only 3+2+1. so using help will spend points and buy time. the question is how to evaluate time with points and that really depends on the skill of the player as you said. maybe we just need to set high expectations and tune it using your times.

i was thinking about giving bonus for solving whole set of one difficulty. also giving bonus at end game when all difficulties are solved.

i will think more after you give me your times, cause i feel that a good scroing system can give much more life to the game and encourage people to come back and play it - maybe like the minesweeper game.

best

d.
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
Well, i haven't played this in a while now, i have to accomodate to the game first in order to get my best times here. I've been playing catan and canasta in the spare time lately :p

I will come back with some times probably in 30h time. And some more advices too. Cause there are even some details about the game i'm not sure i remember well after so much time of not playing it. That's why scoring could turn this game back to life ;)

von meinem Sammy G. S2 gesendet
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
if i am going to use timing in the score formula i will have to hide the games from the "easy, moderate and hard" panels. maybe just show the number of moves required to solve each level. this way i will know how much time it really took for each level from the moment player saw it till the moment it is solved.
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
Sorry for the late answer. Was a lil bit busyer than expected.

Well.. i played for a few hours and i came to these values u could use for start if u decide to implement time bonuses. If i may, i'd suggest u make a test version of the app using these values, we play a lil and see how it goes and u can change them afterwards if needed. I get lower times then these, but not that much lower and at 6-7-8 moves levels i can't say i'm that constant either. I can finish an 8 moves one in 5 min or in 15, depending on various factors, mostly my concentration :)) not once have i found myself thinking bout god knows what in the middle of mentaly rearanging the diamonds :)

1 move solution lock -> time bonus if solved in under 2 s

2 -> 5 s

3 -> 10 s

4 -> 20 s

5 -> 40 s

6 -> 2 min

7 -> 5 min

8 -> 10 min

Good luck with getting them all in the app!!! :)

von meinem Sammy G. S2 gesendet
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
Now, here's an example of why time needs to be included into thr scoring formula.

I got this lock patern (screenshot 1), that i managed to finish in 4.51 min. But it seemed to me my solution had more than 8 moves so i decided to play it again and count then while i was introducing them. Guess what!?! I povided a 10 moves solution. So obviously that shouldn't have been the recommended one. I decided to try solve it starting from another ending point. It proved to be the one offerd by the key lately. But i played it for ten minutes (my countdown alarm rang at 10min from start) and i still didnt get to an end. It's hard to get outta your patterns, u know :p checked the key aaaaandd....guess again. It even had 7 moves, not 8.

So, i think i should at least get some points for reaching the finishline so fast, even if my car had no hood and all my wheels fell under the car right after the line plus smoke coming outta the engine and so. Probably even at least 1 more point than one who finished 1s behind the time limit of 5 min for 7 moves locks who did it the shortsest way.

If u do it 7 moves and under 5 min, u get them both ;)

http://db.tt/zXKblHKF

http://db.tt/c3bAypFr

http://db.tt/AaIy6EvS

PS... Got some problems with my xda account, i think. Probably that's why i can't attach files or see/download attached files :( so i put my dropbox links of the 3 screens i took.

von meinem Sammy G. S2 gesendet
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
man,

that is great. i will use those times you provided to award bonuses. i was thinking that if one uses the help then i will calculate the score based on the difficulty minus the number of moves revealed using help. and will use the time limits the same manner. so for example a 6 moves level which 1st move is revealed using help will award points as a 5 moves level - the time bonus will be not for 2mins but under 40 secs. will write my thoughts again soon. thanks again for your tremendous help.
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
So glad i can help! :)

And yeah, if one uses help, he should lose the bonus for as many moves as he used it. Both time bonus and moves bonus.

I mean, e.g. a 7 moves lock... if i use help to get firsf move, then i should only receive points for the other 6 moves (-7p from the maximum possible IF I MANAGE TO SOLVE IT IN 7 MOVES) and a time bonus score of a 6 moves lock IF I SOLVE IT IN A 7 MOVES LOCK'S TIME.

On one other hand, i would like to ask you to pay attention when you put it all under codes that u wont limit the player to provide that exact same 7 moves solution offered by the key to get the maximum score for number of moves. Any 7 moves which get to the correct solutions should be just as good in case more are available.

On some other, 3rd, hand, if i solve a 7 moves lock in a time under the 6 moves time, i mean in under 2 min instead of under 5 min, should i recieve an extra bonus? Of 8p or even just 1p, i dunno. Cant make up my mind if this should count or not. But as u've seen, i solved a 7 moves solution yesterday in 4.51 min providing 10 moves, not 7. So if that were actualy an 8 moves lock, i'd have finished it in under a 7's time. Since it was a 7 moves one and i've used no help, i think i should get the entire time bonus (i did solve it in under 5 min) and i have no clue how u should calculate some points for the moves, if i deserve any. I didnt provide the shortest one, but, what would happen of i gave the exact 10 moves CORRECT SOLUTION in 5.01 min? 0 points? No time bonus and no score for moves?

Obviously the shortest solution should score more than a longer one, but how to differenciate them?

Same thing if there's a mistake in the solution's calculating algorithm and i solve it in 5/6 moves instead of the required 7. As i said long ago, it happened once that i provided a more simple solution than the one the key gave me. The lock was a very very simple one, having a 6 o'clock diamond right in the middle of the board. The key involved 2,4,6 an 10 o'clock diamonds, i think, canceling one another, but i did it only with 12 and 6 o'clock ones. In like 3-4 moves and not 5-6 or 7 as key suggested.

Good luck and a clear mind! :)

von meinem Sammy G. S2 gesendet
[Android Apps and Games] dotstudio:
ok here is the plan:

i will make all levels in the browser invisible. when one opens a new level a timer for that level will start. that timer will stop when the level is completed. so i will know the completion times for all levels. i will grant time bonus points according to the times catavlad provided (thanks man). for example if an 8 moves level is completed for 5-10mins i will give 8 more points. if it is completed between the 2nd and 5th minute i will reward 8+7 points. if it took between 1 minute and 2 minutes the bonus will be 8+7+6, etc. so i will check in what "time zone" the level was completed and if the zone is below the needed, points will be rewarded.

when user uses help, for example if 1 move is revealed for an 8 moves level then i will not give reward for the time zone 5 to 10 mins. i will reward the player if the completion time is below 5 mins according to the above rules (7pts).

another example: 5 moves level completed in 18 secs. i will reward 5+4+3+2+1 points for the completion of the level. i will also reward 5 points because the time is below 40 secs (limit for 5 moves difficulty) and also another 4 points because the time is even below 20 secs (limit for 4 moves difficulty). total reward: 5+4+3+2+1+5+4=24pts.

catavlad, the above strategy does not take into account the actual number of moves the user used. do you think i need to give more or less if user used more or the exact number of moves. i think the goal is important and the time needed. what do you think?

best

d.
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
I'll try to give an answer tomorrow, when i'll be at the pc again. i've a problem with my charger these days and i have to save battery as much as possible until my new one arrives :))

Have to think about it a lil more :)

A pleasant day to you all!
[Android Apps and Games] CataVlad:
Ok. Here goes:

1. You'd have to decide whether the timer should be available during game play or not. I personally would find it a lil bit stressfull running on the screen so i'd wish you made it ran in the background.

2. For the situations when u finish a N moves puzzle in less than the respective time for that dificulty level, i think it might be a better solution to award points in an ascending manner. I mean, N moves puzzle - less than it's given time - 1p

- in less than N-1 moves puzzle's time - 2p

- and so on.

3. Yeah, probably the number of moves ain't that important after all. It would only complicate things. The goal should be solving it as fast as possible.

Von meinem Sammy G. S2 gesendet