Most computer games require nothing except a quick finger on the cursor key. Most of the rest, those which require a bit of brain power, are adaptations of games when the word computer meant a person with an abacus.
London Bridge is one of the few routines we have seen which is original, was written for the computer, and which calls for nerve, thought and luck.
The display consists of a graphic representation of the bridge, seen from above, with the roadway made up of a random mix of the quire nothing except a quick finger on the cursor key. Most of the rest, those which require a bit of brain power, are adaptations of games when the word computer meant a person with an abacus.
London Bridge is one of the few routines we have seen which is original, was written for the computer, and which calls for nerve, thought and luck.
The display consists of a graphic representation of the bridge, seen from above, with the roadway made up of a random mix of the
numbers 1 to 5, representing five types of flagstone. You are required to cross to the other bank but, as you would expect, London Bridge is falling down.
The computer will give you a number, perhaps 4. That tells you that one of the type 4 stones is about to fall into the river. In selecting your next move, therefore, you can gamble by moving onto a 4 or play safe by selecting a different number.
The player enters his move by following the nine-number grid displayed under “INPUT” in the bottom left of the screen; 7, for example, will move you left and down and 2 will send you backwards.
Invalid moves are ignored. You score 10, 20 or 50 points respectively for each move forwards, sideways or backwards, but taking risks trebles those scores and a high score is necessary to beat the world record of 1,700. Beware — don’t dally too long at the start of the bridge — you may be cut off by successive collapses, and don’t shillyshally near the south bank because that is where the bridge is weakest.
We were impressed by the program and scored 1,900 after 12 attempts.