****************************************************************************** ÒÄ¿ Ò ÂÄÒÄ· · Ä· ÒÄ¿ · º ³ º ³ Ð º ÇÄ¿ Â Ò º Ö¿ Ö¿ Ä· Ç\³ Ö¿ ÚÄ· º ÂÄÒÄ· Ð À Ð Á Ð v8.2 ÓÄÙ ÀĶ ÓÄ ÓÄÙ ÓÄÙ ÓÄ Ð À ÓÄÙ ÀÄÐÙ ÓÄ Á РРĽ ********** Copyright (C) 1996 by Ken Zeltner. All rights reserved. *********** Nim is a simple game of logic which computers are very good at. The object is to take sticks (! marks that is) from a pile in alternating turns so the opponent must take the last one. Since you go first it is possible to win every game. Well not exactly, there is a .22 probability that the random starting point is a winning position. If you make mistakes the CPU will gain the advantage. If your Timer runs out, the computer (Central Processing Unit) gets an extra turn option. The Timer is reset after each round depending on who won. If you win the Timer is decremented and the CPU makes fewer dumb moves. It takes an expert to keep the Timer score below 5 when the CPU resorts to trickery. Each round in the game is initialized by the CPU selecting a random number of starting marks from at least 11 (so you can't win with a single move) to a maximum of 75 (so they fit on the screen). Then the maximum number of marks that can be taken each turn is randomized from 2 to 9 and displayed as Max. You go first to start the game by pressing the number of marks you want to take (don't press ENTER after each turn). The CPU takes its turn and you go back and forth till there is one mark which the loser must take. Press F1 for not much help or ESCape to quit. Press ESC then any key twice if you want a different starting setup (the round is forfeited however). Once you figure out the winning formula the game is still fun to play as a mental exercise. This friendly program actually tricks students into practicing multiplication tables. I've seen versions on programmable calculators but couldn't find a decent PC version so I keyed one in quick. -Legal Ease- 1) Parties shall not use this program to build a personal fortune. 2) Advertised words belong to their owners. 3) Any hackers attempting to hex-edit the executable code shall be relentlessly pursued and whacked by the software police. 4) If you suspect running this program fried said monitor or melted said microprocessor there maybe grounds for a multi-million dollar law suit. Consider using your life savings to hire a lawyer posthumously. 5) Maybe may be invoked whereas disingenuos unconscionable egregious misconduct heretofore unilateral supersedes retroactively. 6) Actually, this program is Freeware and is released unconditionally into the great tangle of cyberspace. 7) Except, of course, that it is automatically copyrighted or something. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Advertisement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check online for FUZION, the amazing puzzle game also distributed by ZeezRealm. Fuzion challenges geniuses to fit together polyomino shapes in a variety of colorful puzzle games. Play with either the 12 familiar pentominoes or 35 new astonishing hexominoes. The automatic rapid solve mode features an amazing "visual algorithm" which locates solutions exhaustively (for all of us who are not quite geniuses). Fuzion brings the power of PC computers to this fascinating diversion which has intrigued puzzle enthusiasts for years. Look online for the FUZION26 version or greater. Also look online for PALPAL the best easiest VGA color palette adjuster. For the latest full-featured Shareware version of FUZION along with a disk full of other ZeezRealm products, send $3 US to the permanent address below which is guaranteed valid through the year 2002. If you haven't figured out the winning formula for NIM yet, include a note and we will share the secret. * ZeezRealm * * 19786 Hildebrand St * * South Bend, IN 46614 * !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Advertisement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU got the last!