PocketGamer - Sudoku: take 2

Devices: Dell Axim X51v
Fav. game: Solitaire ;)
Location: Leeds, UK
Posts: 3271

Another Sudoku game is gracing our Pocket PCs - Sudoku Challenge is described as a "set of challenging, mind numbing puzzles, not for the faint hearted."



Unfortunately, that's all the Handango product page has to say on the subject, and there's no demo available. It's unknown whether it generates the puzzles on the fly or just reads from a pre-defined stack. If you feel like taking risks, Sudoku Challenge is available to buy for $7.00.

Would anyone be interested in a free Sudoku game for the Pocket PC? I have a half-finished one in Java which I've been planning to port to C++. It does generate a unique puzzle for each game, though.

__________________
David Horn
PocketGamer.org - For Gamers on the Go...

Pocket PC games news (latest releases), reviews (newest), downloads, discussion, giveaways & special offers, and plenty more besides!

.: Report this post :: IP: Logged :.

Fav. game:
Location: uk
Posts: 21

I would like a freeware version - am too tight to buy as I get em free in the paper anyway !

Theo

.: Report this post :: IP: Logged :.

Devices: Axim x50v
Fav. game:
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 21

I'd be glad to lend a hand if you need it making a free version. I should have a couple hours here and there to work on it. I would have started myself, except there seems no standard, free format for the games as there is with crosswords.

Were you going to just make them all by hand/computer generated, or is there an unknown to me repository of sudoku puzzles.

email me at jmisurda [AT] cs . pitt . NOSPAM . edu

Jon

.: Report this post :: IP: Logged :.

Devices: Dell Axim X51v
Fav. game: Solitaire ;)
Location: Leeds, UK
Posts: 3271

Hi John,

A Sudoku solver is fairly easy to make (there are a lot of algorithms on the internet which are easily implemented, if not time efficient).

There is a highly mathematical way of generating puzzles, which I don't have the skills to program. However, I generate puzzles by plonking five numbers randomly on the board, and attempting to solve from there. Seems to work OK, and that's how a lot of the internet Sudokus work.

Don't know about a repository though. I do know there's a GPL'd Sudoku on SourceForge, but it looks unpleasantly complicated to understand.

__________________
David Horn
PocketGamer.org - For Gamers on the Go...

Pocket PC games news (latest releases), reviews (newest), downloads, discussion, giveaways & special offers, and plenty more besides!

.: Report this post :: IP: Logged :.

Fav. game:
Location: uk
Posts: 21

Gents,

Lots of info at this site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku) trust it helps.

Ps - I'm happy to alpha test if you want.

Theo

.: Report this post :: IP: Logged :.

Devices: Axim x50v
Fav. game:
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 21

Yeah, I recognized it as a constraint satisfaction problem the first time I ever saw sudoku (my grad AI professor would be so proud ) There are 3 primary techniques used to solve them but all are exponential in complexity.

I'm just offering some implementation help if you need any.

Jon

.: Report this post :: IP: Logged :.

Location:
Posts: N/A

I don't know how or where to post a review of this software, but here's a short review. Incidentally, Handango now filter out poor software reviews in order to promote sales.

Pro's..... The game has great graphics, and the game concept is a splendid one. There is no sudoku game presently on the market that does justice to the puzzles and the ability of today's mobile PC's. Every other piece of software I have seen is let down by very poor graphics.

Con's..... Having identified a gap in the market, this is probably the worst piece of software I have ever seen written.
The game is limited to the buit in 20 puzzles. That's it. You don't get any more.
The game has no save option. You have to complete your puzzle in a single sitting or start over again.
The puzzle has no way of clearing a number once you've entered it. If you want to clear a cell, you have to clear the entire board.
On the HP hx4700 the game closes down after 30 minutes. Every time. If you can't complete the puzzle in 30 minutes you have to start again.

Given the opportunity here, I am amazed at how poorly thought out and written this game is. I would be surprised if this company succeeds in the handheld PC game market.

.: Report this post :: IP: Logged :.

Location:
Posts: N/A

I purchased this game, and i agree that it could have more options, and be a little better thought out.

You do get a solver and puzzles that kept me occupied for a couple of hours, and for the price and that it carries a solver then i found this not too bad

.: Report this post :: IP: Logged :.

Devices:
Fav. game: Bunnygrams
Location: Canada
Posts: 2

You could also give Bunnydoku a try ( http://www.bunnyhug.net/bunnydoku/ ). It's only $3 for the full version.

.: Report this post :: IP: Logged :.