German rules can be found in the file mami_de.txt. Because of my poor English, here's just a small introduction: mami.pl is a computer implementation of the game MasterMind. There are lots of computer master minds. but this one differs in some things: 1.) It's programmed in PERL. PERL is an interpreted language, therefore you will need a PERL interpreter on your machine. Most UNIX flavours have PERL installed. But for Windoze you must install one (see http://use.perl.org) 2.) It has a character based user inteface. This meens that numbers are used instead of colours. 3.) It can be played in two directions. The player enters a code which must be found by the computer and the computer generates a secret code which must be found by the player. A) usage If you start the program, you must give the parameters to define the rules: >mami.pl <-chl (de|en)> p1 p2 p3 p4 This is a description of the parameters: -c computer doesn't take part -h display help text -l language - optional parameter. You can choose en (english) or de (german) p1 The range of numbers is 0 up to p1 p2 the game is played with p2 positions p3 every number can exist p3 times p4 ammount of attempts Here an example of a simple and a more sophisticated game: mami.pl 5 4 1 8 (numbers 0 up to 5, 4 positions, every number can exist 1 times, 8 attempts) mami.pl 7 5 4 12 (numbers 0 up to 7, 5 positions, every number can exist 4 times, 12 attempts) B) Play process If the game starts, the player will be prompted to enter his secret code which the computer must crack. The computer will generate his secret code also, this must be found by the player. The player begins the search with a coincidental selection. This selection is evaluated by the computer. A 1 for each number is displayed, which occurs in the code at the appropriate position, 0 is for a correct number, which is in the code however in another place. This corresponds to the black and white pins in the real MasterMind. The player has basically the possibility to set in any place a komma, a period or a minus sign instead of a digit. This place is not evaluated. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ! M a s t e r m i n d 66472 0-7 5 4 12 ! ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ! ! 1: -1-2- 00... : 30602 10... 2000/12/21 17:50:16 ! ! 2: 12345 0000. : 65542 110.. 2000/12/21 17:50:24 ! ! 3: 34612 1000. : 25162 10... 2000/12/21 17:50:36 ! ! 4: 23417 1111. : 35243 00... 2000/12/21 17:50:57 ! ! 5: 23410 11111 : 07552 10... 2000/12/21 17:51:11 ! ! 6: : 60564 100.. 2000/12/21 17:52:00 ! ! 7: : 66472 11111 2000/12/21 17:52:51 ! ! ! +---------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ In line 1 again the code of the player and the conditions of the play are located. The left column shows the play process of the player, the right column the play process of the computer. Apart from digits and ,.- the player has the following possibilities: Q = Quit - the play terminates G = Give UP - player gives up. The secret code of the computer is displayed. T = tip - makes a suggestion for the player C) Others Suggestions and criticism (or a better translation of the rules) are always welcome under: reinhold@living-wreck.de I would also be appreciated if someone else will translate the messages into other languages.