MORRA by Equinox

 

MORRA for ZX Spectrum 48K by Equinox

Game theory is a branch of mathematics that studies strategic interactions between rational decision-makers. It provides a framework for analyzing situations where the outcome depends on the actions of multiple participants, each with their own preferences and strategies. Key concepts include:

Players: The decision-makers in the game.

Strategies: The possible actions each player can take.

Payoffs: The outcomes or rewards resulting from the combination of players' strategies.

Nash Equilibrium: A situation where no player can improve their payoff by unilaterally changing their strategy.

   This game by Equinox is a serious dive into the mathematics of Game Theory.

   And all that in 1,77 K ?

   Well, not exactly, I passed on the humorous claim the author made in his email. Or... was he serious?

   I tried to write a description of the game, but I think the best one is Equinox's own: "an old traditional game based around guessing how many fingers the other player will hold up" - This, together with the comment on Game Theory, has already put me in a good mood. Scrambled points emerge.

   In his e-mail, he also tells me that this is an old game of his that he has brought back to life for the competition, and this kind of archaeology is very nice indeed.

   So here's the opening screen, where the (opposite of complex) game mechanics are presented to you in lovely, bright Speccy colours:

   You may have noticed the bold font... Equinox's short BASIC code is full of programming tricks and obsessive use of VAL to reduce size, a complete expert in the deep-frying of a bit of ice cream. All accompanied by nice, simple beeper sounds.

   

   Choose the number of rounds you wish to play and off you go. No skill from the player needed, no concentration required, no flash reflexes necessary. This game is all about randomness, wich is quite crappy and lies deep in the realms of our beloved Squid & Broccoli Yoghourt. It's not boring at all, but it's certainly not fun.

   Sometimes you win:

   Sometimes (most of the time) Mr ZX wins:

   Mysteries of the human mind, even though I'm aware that the outcome of this game is completely independent of my actions, there is a strange feeling of pride when I win.

   Putting the pieces together: Simple and somewhat primitive game. Uncomplicated gameplay in the extreme. But well presented with good use of colour and nice sounds. Good coding. 

Scrambled Smile: 7/10

Broccoli and Squid Yoghourt: 8/10

Deep Fried Ice Cream: 7/10

Strawberry Monosodium Glutamate: 1/10

Affable Hot Chocolate Sauce: 7/10