9 TO 5 POOPS by Briefer

 

9 TO 5 POOPS by Briefer for ZX Spectrum 48K

   Great creators are often capable of mastering several fields. In this case, Briefer has gone from a frenetic arcade game to a decidedly brain-teasing puzzle. Briefer clarifies in his email that ‘This game is inspired by the Brain Teaser game programmed by Wim Nijland for OS2,’ but if we dig a little deeper and put our retro archaeology department under pressure, we found that a similar game appeared on the Merlin console (also known as Merlin The Electronic Wizard), which is a handheld electronic game made by Parker Brothers in 1978.

   Merlin's Magic Square Game

   Magic Square was one of the six games included in the original 1978 Merlin Electronic Wizard handheld device by Parker Brothers.

   The objective is to light up buttons 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and turn off button 5 (the center button) by pressing buttons and figuring out the patterns of what buttons turn on and off other buttons 

   The game is essentially a pattern puzzle similar to the later game "Lights Out"(*).

   The challenge lies in discovering how each button affects the others, then using that knowledge to solve the puzzle. Once you figure out the solution, the replay value comes from trying to solve it in as few moves as possible 

   Perhaps this could become an idea for a future puzzle game for the CGC 2026...?

   After the funny loading screen, the game provides clear instructions, which are also available in a fantastic PDF document prepared by Briefer to explain his game.

   Nice font (also mentioned in the attached instructions).

   The game (always) begins with the square containing 9 custard creams activated. Pressing 9 turns it off and turns on the adjacent ones:

   We must continue in this way until only the centre and its five little cream mountains are visible.

   No, it's not easy. At one point, in desperation, I thought it was a joke by Briefer and sent him a message, but he insisted that the game could be solved.

   I asked for help.

   Nothing, impossible.

   I asked for more help.

   Unsuccessful.

   So, our enormous IT team set to work using their gigantic clusters of state-of-the-art servers (QLs with overclocked 68030 CPUs), cutting off the electricity supply to three large cities in an attempt to solve the puzzle by applying powerful numerical algorithms, reaching the following highly scientific conclusion:

"Final conclusion

Given:

Start: only 9 lit.

Goal: only 5 lit.

Moves: pressing only lit cells, each press toggling the cell and its orthogonal neighbors.

There is no sequence of legal moves that leads from the starting configuration to the goal configuration.

The puzzle, with the rules exactly as you confirmed, is unsolvable."

(Actual output from AI)

   While the team behind the powerful calculators hung their heads in disappointment, a child who had never solved a puzzle in his life exclaimed from the room where the Spectrum lives, showing no sign of excitement: "I've solved it."

   I rushed to the chamber and saw this (in amazement):

   Hmmm... Could you repeat that, please?

(It took less than a minute.)

   This experiment yields powerful conclusions: Firstly, I am not good at solving puzzles, and secondly, AI is even worse.

   If we put all the whipped cream in a bowl: A beautifully presented game that allows us to rack our brains (some of us, at least) to solve this entertaining puzzle. The only crappy part is the custard cream because, otherwise, it's an excellent game.

Scrambled Smile: 6/10

Broccoli and Squid Yoghourt: 2/10

Deep Fried Ice Cream: 7/10

Strawberry Monosodium Glutamate: 9/10

Affable Hot Chocolate Sauce: 10/10

(*) Sorry, I can't resist:

"Lights out, lights out in London

Hold 'em tight 'til the end

Better now you know we'll never

Wait till tomorrow

Lights out, lights out in London

Hold 'em tight 'til the end

God knows when I'm comin' on my run"

- Phil Mogg, Michael Schenker, Pete Way, Andy Parker (UFO)