Under rating threshold (hideshow)
This is a good game and it should be interesting to a lot of people who use computers every day but don't have the faintest clue how they work, but you really need to playtest it and tweak it to make it more user friendly, that isn't to say you haven't achieved a lot in this department already, there are already a lot of suggestions here, my suggestion is that you make it so you can switch signal gates and off whenever you want so that you can quickly see all the wires and silicons are connected to it and how they interact, so you don't have to go through a verification test over and over when checking things.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
2. Tutorial - The movie concept is awful, how about a darn click to continue step by step, along with a try it yourself portion. I understand the first level is a tutorial level, but come on, just a single tiny level for each gate type, with a good explanation of the concept of that gate. Or at least an auto-pause in the movie so you can read the text without having to pause it yourself!
2a. Optimization Tutorial - This would be a nicety that would solve a lot of frustration. It could just be a brief page on using the least amount of switches, and maybe another page on how to use delay to your advantage to even out the verification graphs.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Perhaps in a future remake of this game, you could give complete beginners some helpful tips on how to create things beyond "if" and "if not" gates. I can't imagine how you're supposed to create a power-on reset generator using only those two components, but I'd be willing to learn if the game would only teach me.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
When I first started playing this game, the initial levels were extremely tough to navigate. This was of course due to the lack of good instructions on how to play the darn game.
Now, a few weeks later, I finally finished up a (rather messy, but functional) 8-bit adressable SRAM, and I'm loving this game. You get used to the controls, and when you figure out what the parts DO (by experimenting, or looking at other people's solutions) you will find that this game offers alot of fun and complex puzzles. I even found this game to be somewhat educational towards understanding electronics around you (maybe even somewhat how computers work).
I would love to see this kind of game implemented as a feature on the smaller scale where you have to combine smaller parts of electronics on a larger piece of machinery.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
I know there's a pause button for the tutorial video, but really, the tutorial really ought to be a 'click to continue' affair.
And really, even then, the tutorial ought to be hands on.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
it is possible to cheat, I'm admitting it so everyone knows some of the high scores are cheats, for example level 2
eNrt2UkOgkAQBVCh2HAGr+Des3j/i5g0UQy0A4NE2lfI6uWHjjE/ZWhOzbG9VO25
ag5zrgKCVbpmPbEu/ssRFBQUFBQU3EcwrXP180kaEdl7uXYT3Yyee5/Iner1mSml
pehDO2zSSLlTfVSVlFL63/orVWlvpJSqyncaw65UpJRSVakMKaWqcvpWqSoppXuv
yhXecd8+tkpK6dQ34HWs3Ehfq8r8vVz7nXKwV/p5UErH/zo3aaTMXAHttcZG
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
doing good till lvl 5.. build a dual fixed frequency oscillator?? the game really makes it hard on you when you dont even know what it is your are trying to build..
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
This right here is why i wasnt a Russian Engineer during WW2... the Russians wouldve lost the battle before it had started >.<
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
For new players, putting red silicon on yellow makes it flow unless any of the red is powered, yellow on red makes it only flow if all the yellow is. That's basically all you really need to get started.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Adding info about the two kinds of gates in the "Instruction" field would be super handy. As another commenter mentioned: Red = N silicon. Yellow = P silicon. If you draw Yellow P over Red N, you create a "NPN" gate, which will allow current through the Red N section ONLY IF there is current applied to the Yellow P section. If you draw Red N over Yellow P, you create a "PNP" gate, which will always allow current through the Yellow P section UNLESS current is applied to the Red N section.
As you can see in the tutorial, a PNP gate (red over yellow) acts as a logical NOT operator if you pass VCC through the P and apply an input to the N. Not illustrated is that an NPN gate acts as a logical AND operator if you pass one input through the P and apply another to the N. The simplest OR gate has two NPN gates in parallel, with VCC passed through the N part, and a different input applied to each P. From there, you should be able to work out the others.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Hold shift to delete metal or draw P silicon. I too wish this had a better tutorial, because this is something I want to learn about and this would be a good way to get rudimentary knowledge as a starting point. Refer to NotJack's top rated comment for very important information. And refer to wikipedia's articles on boolean operators and logic gates to find out more clearly what your objective is.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
This game is unituitive, not aestheticaly pleasing and slow. However the sheer challenge of it is unbelievable. the moment when you suddenly get it... is one of the most amsing feelings.
5/5
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
This game badly needs the feature to rotate the selection (which also enables you to rotate snippets). Flipping would also be nice. In fact, the controls in general are not very good. But i guess that by far the most cost/time effective feature to implement would be a key to rotate the selection (while you have it under your mouse holding LMB)
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Good concept and fun to play...once you understand it. Current Tutorial Replay Count: //Runtime Error: Value too large to be stored as a long variable. (Yay programming humor :])
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
For those who desperatly want a diode here it is :
eNrt2csNgCAURFHgsaEGW3BvLfbfiIa1Ih8fBHIlrk5Go5AJRr/7LZw2HNabmkGQ
IMFlg+4elUHbOWjqgywAggQJLhKM2zn3fkQVkcezXdP3Rf9Wb5IsaurUrvzxSMz/
mjqik7LKEkXbVHgb6ORKVaIoilKVaJ+dod4XOLOAUpXoPCpp1StSFKUq0VWqUi+L
ovNUJX+5+cTW3Bmy50TLdEQjZVbl89muLAAURcursnsjXfOfxkQ=
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Screw it. I do not understand how electronics works. This is Soviet Russia, anyways, the circuits will build themselves if I simply leave them on a table.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
I've finally figured out more intuitive controls. The current controls have never suited me and so this is my idea: the silicons and metal would all have sepertae keys (1,2 and 3) then the vias and select tool (4 and 5). The shift functions should be delete (for keys 1-4). This means when making a mistake, you can correct it with the shift key immediately, and it makes deleting silicon more controlled.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
A one useful thing to have would be the ability to slow down the current. That way it would be easier to analyze the individual gates.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
ONE day, when i got no job and no girlfriend and i cant move anything but my right hand, i will return to this game and beat it! im the meantime i got IMPORTANT things to do. yay.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
While really high percentages are what you want, if you somehow get a really low percentage, that means you'd be doing it right if you outputted the opposite signal.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Wow, just remembered this game -- I loved playing it back when it was new.
If anyone still plays, I'd be happy to answer questions and give hints.