On to the end of HRM, but I can't
actually speak to the ending of the game, not having finished it yet.
But I really dug in and managed to make some progress on the end
third of the game.
Today, in addition to talking about
some of these puzzles, I'm introducing a new feature: in-game video.
As I work to incorporate it, the first feel times are going to be a
bit rough, but it will improve. Incorporating video will always be
helpful, but especially with a puzzle game that requires a bit of
explanation.
In HRM we'll start with level 25,
Cumulative Countdown. In this puzzle, the player needs to take each
number from the inbox and place the sum of it, plus all numbers down
to zero, in the outbox. If the number were ten, the answer would be
10+9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1 = 55.
My though process for creating the
program was the following.
Start by taking X from the inbox. Place
X in space 0. Place X-1 in spot 1. Add X and X-1 and place in spot 2.
Create X-2, and add to spot 2. Repeat until X-Y is 0. Then place
whatever is in spot 2 in the outbox. There are caveats, like what if
the original block is 0.
Here is the resulting transcript, and
after it is the video.
A
|
Inbox
|
Jump
if Zero to D
|
Copy
To 0
|
Copy
to 1
|
-Bump
1
|
Jump
if Zero to F
|
Add
0
|
Copy
To 3
|
B
|
-Bump
1
|
Jump
if Zero to C
|
Add
3
|
Copy
To 3
|
Jump
to B
|
C
|
Copy
from 3
|
D
|
E
|
Outbox
|
Jump
to A
|
F
|
Copy
From 0
|
Jump
to E
|
As a note, before you start watching
the video: I downloaded the free version of Fraps.
If it seems effective, I plan to buy the full version. The free
version only allows 30 second videos, but that's not a problem for
HRM. So here is where I would like to compliment the designer on
including a dial to adjust the speed. It is invaluable for me,
creating thirty second videos where the entire level needs to be
seen, but also for those eternal puzzles with over two hundred steps.
One couldn't finish the longer puzzles if they had to be viewed at
normal speed.
Ok, you've seen
the video. The player builds their program on the right, from the
commands that game provides. Looking back at my program for level 25,
it seems crazily constructed: way too many Jump commands. It fails
the size challenge (number of commands) by six, but beats the speed
challenge (number of steps on average). Could I fix it? Hopefully,
some other time.
Let's look at one more puzzle today.
For level 31 I have two videos, mine and Mark Brown's from Pocket
Gamer. I took his program and pasted it into the game
without the creative labels.
Before I type the two programs, I need
to introduce a new command. As you might have noticed, the later
puzzles include a grid on the floor with numbered spaces.
Previously, commands like CopyTo, CopyFrom, Bump, Subtract, Add, and
so on, needed to be aimed at a particular numbered spot. In level
31, the player now aim indirectly. Meaning, if I tell the program to
CopyTo 10, the worker will place the block he is holding in space 10.
But, if I tell the program to CopyTo [10], the worker will look at
the number in space 10, and if it is a 3, he will place the block in
space 3.
Watch the video I made, which may help
explain it. Not that there is any audio (haven't quite got it down
yet, but it will come some day).
Back to level 31, String Reverse. As the name implies, one has to take the letters provided and at every zero, place in the outbox in reverse order. Thought process. Pick up block. If zero move on, if not place block in spot 1. Pick up next block and place in space 2. Repeat, placing the next block in space 3, and so on until reaching a zero. Then pick up in reverse order and place in outbox.
Here are the two programs.
Mine's size is 14 and speed is 129. The other only uses 11 commands
and 122 steps.
| My Program | Better Program |
| A | A |
| B | B |
| Inbox | +Bump 14 |
| Jump if Zero to C | Inbox |
| CopyTo [14] | Jump if Zero to C |
| +Bump 14 | CopyTo [14] |
| Jump to A | Jump to A |
| C | C |
| CopyTo 13 | -Bump 14 |
| D | D |
| -Bump 14 | CopyFrom [14] |
| Jump if Negative to E | Outbox |
| CopyFrom [14] | -Bump 14 |
| Outbox | Jump if Zero to A |
| Jump to D | Jump to D |
| E | |
| CopyFrom 13 | |
| CopyTo 14 | |
| Jump to B |
Now, I have my program first.
My program fails
both challenges. But it works and that's something. I read on a
steam forum, though I can't find it anymore, there is a limit on the
number of steps the game allows. Now watch the better solution.
What differences are there?
The most noticeable is I (for some reason) use two spaces for number
blocks. At the time it made sense. It doesn't now. Also, and maybe
this doesn't seem like too much of a difference, but mine takes about
four more seconds on the highest speed.
I would like to finish today by 1) Thanking you for accepting my new found enthusiasm for video, 2) Apologizing for my new found inability to create enjoyable video, and 3) Hoping you'll join us next Monday for the final article on Human Resource Machine.
As final note, how is the size of the embedded video? Are they too large, too small, or something else entirely?
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