Contents
Table of Contents

How to play CrossWords

Menu Commands

File Menu

Players Menu

Guess Puzzle

Registering the Product

Submitting Puzzles

Puzzle file format

Clue file format


How To Play CrossWords

The object of CrossWords is to guess the theme to the crossword puzzle.

There are three stages to CrossWords:

1. Guessing the hidden word.

2. Guessing words in the puzzle.

3. Guessing the puzzle's theme.


Guessing the hidden word

To help you solve the puzzle, you are given letters from the puzzle in the form of hidden words.

Each hidden word has a clue to aid you in guessing the word.

To reveal a clue, click the left mouse button on the box marked Click Here to Reveal Clue. The clue will then appear below in the Clue Window.

Once the clock has been started, letters will randomly appear in the hidden word. Players will then ring in to guess the hidden word.

To start the clock, click the left mouse button in the box marked Click Here To Start Clock. You will then have three seconds to move your hand to your buzzer.

Once a player has rung in, they will be asked to type the hidden word.

If the player is incorrect, they will be locked out for the remainer of the hidden word and the clock will restart. This allows the other players to guess the hidden word.

If the player is correct, the letters in the hidden word will be put into the puzzle. The player can then guess at words in the crossword puzzle.

Other Topics

Guessing words in the puzzle

Scoring


In a one player game, the player uses the spacebar.

In a two player game, player 1 uses the A key and player 2 uses the L key.

In the three player game, player 1 uses the A key, player 2 uses the spacebar, and player 3 uses the L key.


Guessing words in the puzzle

The player who successfully guessed the hidden word is in control of the puzzle. The player in control of the puzzle scores points for guessing words in the puzzle.

To guess at a word in the puzzle, click on the number of the word you wish to guess. If the number indicates words across and down, you will be asked which word you would like to guess.

If the player correctly guesses a word in the puzzle, the word is revealed and the player may continue to guess puzzle words.

If the player guesses a puzzle word incorrectly, the next clue and hidden word are made available for all players.

Other Topics

Guessing the puzzle's theme

Scoring


Scoring

Guessing the hidden word = +10 points per hidden letter

Incorrect guess = -5 points per revealed letter

Guessing a puzzle word = +25 points

Incorrect guess = No penalty, but turn ends

Correct theme guess = +Jackpot

Incorrect guess = -100 points


Registering the Product
How To Register CrossWords

This product is distributed as Shareware. It may be freely copied and distributed provided that the original files remain unmodified and no fee is accepted for distribution.

If you enjoy this product and wish to receive additional puzzles, you must register it. To register, send a check or money order in U.S. funds for either:

1. Ten dollars ($10) or

2. Five Dollars ($5) and two puzzles

to the address below:

Glen DeBiasa

CrossWords

R.R. 1 Box 410 Apt 1M

Hamburg, NJ 07416

If you choose to send five dollars and two puzzles, please be sure to read the information about submitting puzzles.

Registered owners will be eligible to receive new puzzles as they become available. Be sure to indicate which disk size you prefer.

Comments and suggestions on improving this product are always welcome and can be sent to the address above. I can also be contacted on America Online (GlenDB) or on CompuServe (UserID 70602,3257).

Other Topics

Submitting Puzzles


How To Send Puzzles

The best way to send puzzles is in the correct file format on any size 5 1/4" or 3 1/2" disk. This will speed the arrival of new puzzles to you, as I can send these disks right back to you.

You may also submit a paper copy of puzzles and their clues. Make sure you clearly mark which puzzles and clues belong together.

If you do send a paper copy, it MUST be clean and legible or it will be rejected immediately.

Each paper puzzle must be typed in and tested. This will reduce my enjoyment, since I will not be able to play your puzzle.

I look forward to your innovative contributions to CrossWords. Don't forget to inclue you name in the puzzle file so you may receive the credit you deserve.

Other Topics

Guidelines for Submitting Puzzles


Guidelines for Submitting Puzzles

In order to make this game more enjoyable for all parties involved, I am seeking puzzle submissions for inclusion into this game. Lewd, suggestive, or obscene puzzles will NOT be accepted under any circumstances and will not be considered as part of registration payment.

All puzzles must be designed on a grid no larger than 12 rows by 12 columns. No word should be less than 2 letters.

All puzzles must have a connecting theme, since the purpose of the game is to guess the theme. Remember that the letters in the puzzle and the theme must be used to make up the clues.

You may submit as many puzzles as you like, but only 2 will be considered toward you registration payment. Remember, only registered users will receive puzzle files created by other users.

Other Topics

Puzzle File Format

Clue File Format

Registering the product


Puzzle File Format

The puzzle file defines the structure of the actual crossword puzzle.

The first line should contain your name as you would like it to appear during the game. You name will appear at the end of the "Puzzle created by" line at the top of the puzzle.

The second line in the file should contain the puzzle's theme. You should use no punctuation marks in the puzzle theme or in any of the puzzle words.

The remaining lines define the shape of the puzzle. The line format for a word definition is listed below:

[Puzzle number] [Row number] [Column number] [Direction] [Puzzle word]

The puzzle number is a sequential numbering of the puzzle starting in the upper left corner of the puzzle, moving right first and then down.

The row number is the starting row of the word.

The column number is the starting column of the word.

The direction is 0 (zero) for across and 1 (one) for down.

The puzzle word should be typed in all capital letters.

Other Topics

Clue File Format


Clue File Format

The clue file contains the clues and words that fill in the puzzle letter by letter.

The first line of the clue file should contain the leftover letters of the puzzle. These letters are randomly displayed at the beginning of the game.

Every set of two lines defines one hidden word.

The first line defines the word, which should be typed in all capital letters.

The second line defines the clue, which can be typed in either upper or lower case.

This sequence of lines can be repeated as many times as necessary.

You must make absolutely sure that all the letters of the puzzle and theme are included somewhere in the clue file. Otherwise, the game will not work properly.

Other Topics

Puzzle File Format


A hidden word is a word whose letters belong somewhere in the crossword puzzle. Each hidden word contains a clue to help players guess the word. The letters in the hidden word belong somewhere in the crossword puzzle.


The theme is the ultimate goal of the game. The theme "links" the words in the puzzle. Whoever correctly guesses the theme wins the round.


File Menu Commands

New allows you to play a new puzzle.

Load puzzle allows you to load and play a specific puzzle.

About gives you information about CrossWords.

Quit allows you to exit the program.


Players Menu Commands

1 Player, 2 Player, & 3 Player change the number of players in the game.

Change Names lets you set the names of each of the players.

Reset Scores will clear the high score table.


Guess The Puzzle

When a player has control of the puzzle, he or she may attempt to guess the puzzle's theme.

If the player is correct, the player will win the points in the Jackpot. The player with the most points at the end of the puzzle will win the round.

If the player is incorrect, the player will lose 100 points and control of the puzzle.

Other topics

Scoring