XOMines 1.1
The ergonomic minesweeper
|
XOMines 1.1 The ergonomic minesweeper |
Copyright© 2003-2005 XOTeam Software SARL. All rights reserved.
Congratulations! You have purchased the latest version of XOMines by XOTeam Software. We put the greatest care in building this software and we hope it will fulfill your expectations.
This document is the user's guide for XOMines, a superb minesweeper game for Palm Powered™ handhelds. This guide covers installation and usage as well as licensing conditions. It specifically addresses the standard edition of the software (as opposed to the Lite edition).
XOMines implements an ergonomic minesweeper game on Palm Powered™ handhelds. The user's guide found in XOMines.html covers purchase, installation and usage (also available in XOMines.txt) as well as licensing conditions (also available in License.txt).
Please make sure that you read and understand the license before installing XOMines.
We made our very best to provide you with a robust software. Should you encounter undetected problems, please send a note to support@xoteam.com. Mentioning any error code raised by the software or else the PRC ID displayed in the About XOMines information dialog would be appreciated.
Should you have further queries, please send a note to enquiries@xoteam.com.
Palm OS, Graffiti, HotSync, Palm, the Palm logo, and Palm Powered are trademarks of PalmSource, Inc. or its affiliates.
XOMines is a super ergonomic minesweeper game for Palm OS®.
An exclusive feature of XOMines breaks undecidable situations for you. This is especially enjoyable at the start of a new game and when you face two equivalent options at the end of a large one. This also brings much interest back into the game for those who prefer brain power over mere luck.
The mistake recovery feature of XOMines allows you to continue the current game after you have hit a mine, at the price of a score penalty.
XOMines allows you to choose your preferred way of marking mines (button tap, long tap or pen drag). You can stick to the classical game (mark all mines and uncover other cells to win) or go for the easier auto flag mode (uncover or flag the cells that surround a 'complete' one). Remaining mines and time are tracked, keeping you aware of your progress at all times.
Four game sizes, three cell sizes and five difficulty levels are provided. XOMines stores the fifty highest scores along with the player name, the game duration, date and options.
XOMines provides very readable game boards on both color and grayscale devices.
XOMines runs on Palm OS® versions 3.0 and higher. Only non japaneese character sets are supported. A memory footprint of 114 Kb is necessary. You should not install XOMines on handhelds that do not match these requirements.
XOMines is provided in English only. It operates on handhelds that use other languages as their primary language, but its labels and messages are still displayed in English.
Registration codes for XOMines are each tailored for a given user. Using XOMines on a handheld which user name does not match the user name that you provided when ordering the software results into degraded operation, as described below.
Install XOMines on your handheld (see details below).
In the Application Launcher, tap the Mines labeled icon to launch XOMines.
Your goal is to mark all the cells containing a mine with flags and to uncover all the other cells.
Tap the smiley to start a new game.
Tap a cell to uncover it. If this cell contains a mine, it displays it and the game is lost. Else, it displays the number of mines laying in adjacent cells. Note that if there are no mines around the uncovered cell, it becomes gray and adjacent cells are uncovered.
Hold one of the leftmost or rightmost buttons while tapping a cell to mark it.
The numbers displayed by uncovered cells help you to decide which cell to play next.
The mines counter in the upper left corner of the screen displays the number of remaining mines and is decremented each time you mark a cell.
The clock in the upper right corner of the screen keeps track of the time (the lower the better).
If you face a situation that you believe is undecidable, tap the smiley to ask for a draw. XOMines plays once for you. If the situation is really undecidable, this draw is for free, else your score will suffer from a penalty.
As soon as all mines are marked and all other cells are uncovered, you've won the game!
To install XOMines:
Please note that:
To initialize a new game, you can use the Game/New menu at any time. You are presented with a new game, ready to go. At your first tap on a cell or on the smiley, the game starts.
Note that:
To pause a game, just exit XOMines. The next time you will launch XOMines, it will resume the game exactly where you left it.
To unlock your copy of XOMines, please proceed to www.PalmGear.com where it is available at a price of $ 10 each. Once your purchase is complete, you are provided with a code that unlocks XOMines using the following procedure.
Launch XOMines. Open the Help/Register menu. Enter the registration code exactly as provided, then tap the OK button.
 Help/Register menu |
 Registration dialog |
You should now be able to play all game levels.
If the code you enter is not appropriate, an error dialog shows up. In such case, double-check that you made no mistake and retry. Note that some characters are especially confusing, for example 'O' letters look very like '0' digits. The Paste menu can save you typing mistakes if you copy the registration key from another application (a mail reader or Memo Pad). If you cannot get the code right, tap the Cancel button and send a note to support@xoteam.com. We will make our best to get you up and running as soon as possible.
The Options/Preferences menu yields a panel in which you can tune the behavior of XOMines.
Preferences panel
Minefield size offers a range of four minefield sizes, from 8x8 cells to 20x20 cells.
Cell size offers a range of three cell sizes, from 10x10 to 16x16 pixels. The Auto value gets the cell size adjusted according to the minefield size.
Difficulty offers a range of five levels, along which the density of mines raises. Note that the penalty associated to a non undecidable draw raises with difficulty as well.
Flag action allows you to choose between three marking styles which are described in further detail below. Essentially, the Button tap option commands that mines be marked by tapping a cell while pressing one of the leftmost or rightmost buttons (default), the Long tap option commands that mines be marked by leaving the pen steady on a cell, and the Pen drag option commands that mines be marked by dragging the pen on a cell.
Check Auto flag if you want that tapping an uncovered cell which is surrounded by exactly the right number of uncovered cells automatically marks those cells (without your marking them explicitly).
Check Sound if you want XOMines to beep when key game events occur.
Tapping the OK button saves your preferences and exits from the panel. Tapping the Cancel button dismisses the panel without changing your preferences. Note that evaluation versions discard any difficulty level change once the evaluation period is expired. Note also that changing game options starts a new game afresh (except when only sound and cell size options are affected).
Depending on the game options, user actions have different meanings for XOMines and lead to different consequences. The following table contrasts the effects of user actions when using the Button tap, Long tap or Pen drag options.
| Option\Action | Uncover a cell | Mark a cell (flag) | Mark a cell (question mark) | Erase a mark | Uncover surrounding cells |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Button tap | tap or drag | button tap | button tap on a flag | button tap on a question mark | tap or drag |
| Long tap | tap or drag | long tap | long tap on a flag | long tap on a question mark | tap or drag |
| Pen drag | tap | drag (at least a few pixels) | drag on a flag | drag on a question mark | tap or drag |
These options are largely a matter of personal taste. While the button tap option can be faster, players who do not like using both hands will most often prefer the other options.
When the Auto flag option is off, XOMines uncovers the unmarked adjacent cells of an uncovered cell when you tap it, provided that you have already marked the appropriate number of cells around it. When the option is set, not only does the game behave the same in similar situations, but it suffices that the total number of uncovered cells (marked and unmarked) matches the number of expected mines for XOMines to complete the marks as needed. While this option is fun (try it!), we must conceed that it changes a lot the way players use the game, and that it gives fair chances to pure speed against reflection. Accordingly, we made it an optional feature.
There are many situations in minesweeper games when you have little other choice but pure chance to decide your next move. Obviously, the start of the game is one of those. Quite a few other products offer a 'safe corner' option that aleviates the stress of launching many games before getting a good start.
XOMines goes far beyond by offering an exclusive undecidability breaking feature.
Basically, you can ask XOMines a draw at any time during the game by launching the Game/Draw menu. XOMines then selects a covered cell and uncovers it if it contains no mine, or flags it else. The selected cell flashes for a little while to help you identify it. This is the easy part.
However, minesweeper games are not supposed to be played by the machine alone, and it would be boring to simply ask draws until XOMines solves the minefield by itself. Here comes the smart part: if the situation was actually undecidable, the draw is for free. Else, your score is applied a penalty which raises with the game difficulty. As a consequence, you should use the draw either in obvious situations, or only after spending some time thinking how you could choose the next move by yourself.
To illustrate the value of this, the following screenshot gives an example of an undecidable situation close to the end of the game. Without the undecidability breaker feature of XOMines, the player would face a pure random choice, with a 50% chance of success.
Undecidable end of game
Note: if you have flagged at least one cell that contains no mine, the penalty is applied, then XOMines draws one of the cells that bear a faulty flag.
Asking for a draw is quite a frequent action. To make it easy, once a game is started, the following actions behave like the Game/Draw menu:
When you hit a mine by mistake, the Continue button of the Game lost dialog allows you to continue with the current game. The mistakenly uncovered cell is flagged, then flashes for a little while, and you may proceed as if you had flagged it by yourself.
For the sake of fairness, each time you decide to continue a lost game, your score is applied a penalty that amounts to twice the penalty applied in case of a decidable draw.
The OK and New game buttons allow you to end the current game and, respectively display the minefield with all remaining cells uncovered, or start a new game afresh.
When a given combination of cell and minefield sizes prevents all cells to be visible at a time, a window is drawn that shows only part of the minefield.
Navigation window
Thick arrows on each side of the navigation window shift it in the arrow direction. Simple arrows shift it by a half of its width, double arrows shift it by its width minus two.
Thin arrows on each corner of the navigation window shift it in the arrow direction until the navigation window reaches the corresponding corner.
The minefield borders are drawn as thick black lines. Thin black lines have cells on both sides, although only the ones situated into the navigation window show up. When touching a minefield border, the navigation window cannot be shifted further in the corresponding direction.
The address book, page up, to do list and page down hard buttons have the same effect as the simple arrows.
Half star shaped buttons on each side of the navigation window have a special effect. Taping one of the star branches searches for uncovered, unflagged cells that are not visible, starting in the direction of the branch, and exploring the whole minefield if needed. If no uncovered unflagged cell can be found outside of the navigation window, the navigation window is unchanged and the game beeps (subject to the Sound preference setting). Else, the navigation window shifts so as to show the said cell. This navigation mode is meant to help the player to locate cells that still need to be played. It is especially helpful close to the end of a game in a huge minefield, when searching the remaining playable cells by means of the arrows alone can prove cumbersome.
When playing 'what if' scenarios, you can use uncertain marks to remember hypothesis that still need to be verified. Marking a cell twice in a rank displays a question mark on it instead of a flag. Marking it once more clears the mark.
When you tap an uncovered cell to affect its adjacent cells, adjacent uncertain marks interact with the current flag action option as follows:
XOMines keeps track of the fifty highest scores. The Game/Scores menu displays them with the player name, the score, the game duration, the date of the game and the game options (each option is represented by its initial, in the same order as they are presented in the preferences panel).
Scores table
Scores take into account the number of mines flagged. They are further elaborated from game duration and options so as to recognize that harder games demand more thinking, and larger games involve more risk (hence should get an extra reward when completed). We also have experienced that some other options impact results by a significant measure. This is reflected by extra corrective factors that we elaborated from statistics on past games.
All scores are stored into the XOMinesSHS database, which is backed up on your desktop. If you install XOMines on a different handheld and you want to carry the scores over, just install XOMinesSHS.pdb on the target handheld. Conversely, if you want to start afresh and discard previous scores, delete XOMines from your handheld, then install XOMines.prc back. A new scores database will be created the first time you launch XOMines.
XOMines is distributed as a fairware, a specific type of shareware that matches the added value of your copy of the software with the level of your investment.
In partnership with PalmGear, XOTeam Software achieves this objective by distributing complimentary locked copies of XOMines, that can be unlocked by purchased registration codes only. Moreover, each registration code specifically matches the handheld user name you provide to PalmGear when ordering the software. XOMines registration dialog fails on handhelds that carry a mismatching user name.
An unlocked copy of XOMines behaves as described in the remainder of this document.
Within three days of its first execution, a locked copy of XOMines behaves like an unlocked copy, except that a registration form pops up when starting the application or changing preferences. After three days, a locked copy of XOMines switches to degraded operation mode.
When in degraded operation mode, XOMines only provides the lowest difficulty level (Obvious). The associated mines density is very low, which allows to get a feel of the application but seriously limits the interest of the game. All other features are fully implemented and can be experienced on a locked copy of XOMines.
Note that scores are kept unchanged when unlocking XOMines.
The following XOMines 1.1 features are not provided in the Lite edition:
The two applications can be installed successively on the same handheld in any order. Only the most recently installed one is available at any time. Moreover, the first time it is installed, XOMines 1.1 imports XOMines Lite 1.2 high scores without disturbing them. The opposite is not true (the Lite edition will not import scores from higher editions).
A user who, after trying both editions, would not want to switch back to the Lite edition should remove the XOMinesHS and XOMines02 databases from her handheld. A user who would want to switch back to the Lite edition should remove the XOMinesSHS and XOMines03 databases from her handheld.
XOMines Lite customers are entitled a significant discount on XOMines 1.1. Please contact us at XOMines@xoteam.com for details.
Please read this Agreement carefully before using the software which accompanies this license (the "Software"). XOTeam Software SARL ("XOTeam Software") will license the Software to you only if you first accept the terms of this Agreement. By using the Software you agree to these terms. If you do not agree to the terms of this Agreement, then XOTeam Software is unwilling to license the Software to you, in which event you should neither install nor use the Software.
The Software is protected by international copyright law.
The Software is owned by XOTeam Software and is copyrighted and licensed, not sold. The term "Software" means the executable program(s) and all attached executable libraries and documentation.
XOTeam Software grants you a nonexclusive right to use the Software.
You may:
You may not:
Further conditions described below apply to diverse copies of the Software depending on the way you acquired them.
Purchased copies
Within the limits described in the 'No Warranty' and 'Limitation of Liability' sections below:
Evaluation copies
You may ask XOTeam Software an evaluation copy of the Software in order to decide whether you want to purchase it or not.
Within the limits described in the 'No Warranty' and 'Limitation of Liability' sections below:
Note: by design, the degraded operation mode of the Software allows you to figure out the Software added value, but it does not deliver that added value.
Unregistered copies
Any copy of the Software executing on a handheld which user name does not match the user name provided to XOTeam Software when ordering the Software is considered as an unregistered copy, regardless of how it was acquired.
Within the limits described in the 'No Warranty' and 'Limitation of Liability' sections below:
Note: by design, the degraded operation mode of the Software allows you to figure out the Software added value, but it does not deliver that added value.
Test copies
XOTeam Software engages with selected end users into test programmes for the newest versions of the Software.
Participation to the test programmes is restricted and specific Software use conditions are issued on a version basis. Moreover, all test versions bear the following restrictions:
Test copies of the Software are identified by a 'T' letter in the version name. Such a copy should never be used outside of the unique test programme for which it was delivered.
XOTeam Software makes no warranties or conditions either express or implied, including without limitation, the warranty of non-infringement and the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, regarding the Software or technical support, if any.
XOTeam Software will not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings, or any incidental, special, or other economic consequential damages, even if XOTeam Software is informed of their possibility.
French laws govern this Agreement. The place of proceeding will be Saint-Nazaire, Loire Atlantique, France.
Would a juridiction that applies to you rule out any part of this Agreement, XOTeam Software would consider that you cannot agree to the terms of this Agreement and then would be unwilling to license the Software to you, in which event you should neither install nor use the Software.