The computer game is based on the version of the Mastermind game that can be played with the following rules: Someone begins the game coming up with a colour sequence (puzzle) of 4 consecutive (8 different or even identical) colours. The player, without knowing the puzzle, makes trials to guess it in such a way that he give a colour sequence (guess) as above. All colours of the guess are evaluated. With black, if it is the same colour and same position in the puzzle. With white, if the puzzle contains the same colour(s) but in a different position. In the case of white hits, the smaller number of pieces can be considered for the same colours in the puzzle and the guess. Thus, if there is 1 green in the puzzle, a maximum of +1 white hit can be given in case there are 2 greens in the guess. The position of the hits is displayed independently, so it is not possible to deduce from its order (only from the given hit colours) which guess colour has given a hit. If the rating is 4 blacks, the game is over (solution), otherwise a new guess can be tried based on the previous hits.
In the current stage of a given game mode, only the available colours are displayed in the window, and the empty colour can also be found. By clicking on the appropriate colour, you can select the current colour that can be used to colour the appropiate part of the board. Eight colours (+ empty) are displayed during guessing the puzzle. Only black and white (+ empty) are displayed for evaluation.
At the end of each game, the original puzzle appears here (in each mode of the game).
In "Solved by player" game mode, you have to guess the puzzle here. There is no obligation to use the rows one after the other, hence you can add a guess in any row, while you can store additional guesses in the other rows or delete them with the empty colour. To make a guess, it is necessary that all four circles in the given row are filled with colours. After that you can use the button marked with "=>" effectively. The guess in the row is sent to evaluate by pressing the button, then the button will be checked and the evaluation will be displayed. After that, the items in the given row cannot longer be modified (except after a restart). In "Solved by computer" game mode, the computer provides guesses in this section of the window. The computer always starts on the first line and continues the game on the next lines.
In "Solved by player" game mode, the computer puts the results of evaluations here. In "Solved by computer" game mode, the player has to evaluate the computer guesses with black, white and blank circles here. The order of the evaluation colours does not matter. After setting the appropriate number of black, white and empty circles, the completion of the evaluation shall be indicated by the button in front of the evaluation and in the row. The button will be checked and a new guess from the computer will appear on the next row. In the event that a black-and-white combination evaluated by the programm as an impossible guess, the program will alert you and the evaluation in the last row may be re-edited or clicking on an earlier row the evaluation can be started again from that row.
This computer program provides 2 game modes. You can choose between them by clicking on the corresponding row in the window, which also means starting a new game in that new game mode.
It’s actually the basic game with the computer creates a puzzle at the beginning of the game and that’s what you have to figure out.
In this mode, the roles is reversed considering in 2.5.2. game mode. We can figure out a puzzle, the computer guesses and we shall evaluate it. The puzzle does not need to be specified in advance, so there is also the option to modify the puzzle on the fly. This game mode requires a solving algorithm to be loaded. By default, the 6-step algorithm for the program is loaded.
In case you do not want to finish the game, or you have not been able to guess the puzzle in the available 10 rows, you should use the button "Restart".
The menu bar above the playing area provides various options.
It includes this tutorial.
It provides the history of the program.
The available languages can be selected based on country flags. After selecting a new language the texts in the selection window will change, but the new titles and texts in the main window will appear only after the acceptance.
In the window that appears, you can set the appearance of the game area and can change the appearance of "colours" used in the game (their colours and/or patterns). Hopefully, both the visually impaired and the colour-blind will find the ideal colour and size settings for the game.