Mindtrap
Encyclopedia
Mindtrap was a computer game for the ZX Spectrum
computer. Made by Predrag Beciric and released in 1989 by Mastertronic
Ltd, it was released on other platforms such as the Commodore 64
and the Amstrad CPC
. Released for the 48k ZX Spectrum and better, at a cost of £1.99, Mindtrap was an extremely large puzzle game, with some 999,999 levels. The object of the game was to rearrange grids of coloured dice so that they all aligned, before running out of time or available moves.
and white). The player had to shuffle the dice around the play area, using a frame surrounding 4 of the dice at a time. Dice within this frame could be rotated 90° around a central axis, with the ultimate aim of lining up the dice in the correct colour before the time and move limit expired.
Later levels introduced a third dimension of the dice scattered between 2 and 5 floors. Players then had to rearrange the dice both on the floor they were on and between the floors to finish the level. The number of moves and time allowed increased with the subsequent number of floors.
To add to the difficulty of the game, some areas of the floor were blocked off to the frame, so different routes were needed to move the dice.
The game created a 32 digit alphanumeric password after a successful completion of a level, which was unique also to the player name, to allow later resumption.
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
computer. Made by Predrag Beciric and released in 1989 by Mastertronic
Mastertronic
Mastertronic was originally a publisher and distributor of low-cost computer game software founded in 1983. Their first games were distributed in mid-1984. At its peak the label was the dominant software publisher in the UK, a position achieved by selling cassette-based software at the £1.99...
Ltd, it was released on other platforms such as the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and the Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
. Released for the 48k ZX Spectrum and better, at a cost of £1.99, Mindtrap was an extremely large puzzle game, with some 999,999 levels. The object of the game was to rearrange grids of coloured dice so that they all aligned, before running out of time or available moves.
The game
Each screen (called a floor), had a set of dice of different colours (blue, red, magenta, green, cyanCyan
Cyan from , transliterated: kýanos, meaning "dark blue substance") may be used as the name of any of a number of colors in the blue/green range of the spectrum. In reference to the visible spectrum cyan is used to refer to the color obtained by mixing equal amounts of green and blue light or the...
and white). The player had to shuffle the dice around the play area, using a frame surrounding 4 of the dice at a time. Dice within this frame could be rotated 90° around a central axis, with the ultimate aim of lining up the dice in the correct colour before the time and move limit expired.
Later levels introduced a third dimension of the dice scattered between 2 and 5 floors. Players then had to rearrange the dice both on the floor they were on and between the floors to finish the level. The number of moves and time allowed increased with the subsequent number of floors.
To add to the difficulty of the game, some areas of the floor were blocked off to the frame, so different routes were needed to move the dice.
The game created a 32 digit alphanumeric password after a successful completion of a level, which was unique also to the player name, to allow later resumption.