Tic-Tac-Logic Light Vol. 1
Some of our mobile readers may have picked up Conceptis Puzzles' Tic-Tac-Logic, a logic puzzle where you've got to fill the grid making sure rows have an equal number of Xs and Os, but never three-in-a-row, and no two rows are identical. But why should they have all the fun? In Tic-Tac-Logic Light Vol. 1, you can play a sampler of 30 puzzles right in your browser, thanks to this newest addition to the Conceptis Light series.
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Tic-Tac-Logic Tips and Tricks
Note: Many of these examples are written in terms of circumstances of X and how O can be affected by them; X and O can, of course, be reversed.
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Whenever you get stuck, remember to check the three rules:
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Are there any places where a pair of Xs next to each other, which you can surround with the Os? Don't forget to look for pairs of Xs separated by one space; you can put an O between them to prevent a three-in-a-row.
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Are there any rows half-filled with one symbol? Use the left and top edges to quickly check the current symbol totals; the numbers in the corner (in black) are the target numbers to reach. If one symbol matches that number, fill in the rest of that row with the opposite symbol.
-
Are there any potential duplicate rows that can be avoided? Look for nearly-finished rows (usually with two spaces open) and compare them to rows that have been finished.
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If you have a row that's missing only one X but a couple or more Os, try putting the X in each of the remaining spaces, and see if that forces a three-in-a-row of Os. You can usually fill in many Os with this method, if not the whole row.
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Don't forget your good pals Trial and Error! Try putting a symbol in a square and see what deductions you can make from that. If you find a contradiction, use the undo button to rewind your steps back.
Tic-Tac-Logic Light Vol. 1 Solutions
Level 1 (6x6)
Puzzle 1:
Puzzle 2:
Puzzle 3:
Puzzle 4:
Puzzle 5:
Puzzle 6:
Puzzle 7:
Puzzle 8:
Puzzle 9:
Puzzle 10:
Level 2 (8x8)
Puzzle 1:
Puzzle 2:
Puzzle 3:
Puzzle 4:
Puzzle 5:
Puzzle 6:
Puzzle 7:
Puzzle 8:
Puzzle 9:
Puzzle 10:
Level 3 (10x10)
Puzzle 1:
Puzzle 2:
Puzzle 3:
Puzzle 4:
Puzzle 5:
Puzzle 6:
Puzzle 7:
Puzzle 8:
Puzzle 9:
Puzzle 10:
Mmmmmm.... where did you hear about this one, Steve?
@Earl Grey: I visit Conceptis regularly, so I spotted the release article on their sidebar. If you're asking because you submitted this game to us, I apologize for not giving a hat tip in the review, I don't have that information when I write.
Hi Earl Grey. I was contacted by Conceptis and saw the game on multiple portals. If you submitted it, unfortunately it looks like the internet has eaten it... I can't find anything from you in the submission box! :)
I want to like Conceptis's games, I really do. They're usually a good mix of fun and challenging...but I really wish they'd update their interface. There's absolutely no reason they can't have a "next" button when you solve one of the puzzles--but they've never bothered to include one.
That said, I've got a couple of issues with this one. Steve's tips (above) mention using "the pencil tool in the top bar"...but there's no such tool available. The in-game "How to Play" indicates that you should be able to pin multiple rows, but I can only pin one at a time; it also says that the X/O counters of a completed row will turn gray when it's completed, which is true as long as I hover over the row; once I move off, they turn green or red to indicate the correctness of what I've got. Really hard not to use that as a cheat.
@David: Whoops, sorry for the slip-up on my part of the tips! I've fixed that portion now.
As for your other concerns, the Conceptis Light puzzles tend to not have certain features as puzzles featured on their website, such as the ability to turn on/off automatic checking. While the option can be switched off at will on their website, it is defaulted to on here. Also, I think I remember that when these puzzles were launched on their website, you used to be able to have two rows highlighted at once, but that feature doesn't seem to be available now (even on the website proper). My guess is they may have removed it due to some bug it caused, but subsequently forgot to update their literature.
Hrm...I seem to have found an "alternate" solution to the first 10x10 puzzle.
Rows 1, 2, 4, 5, and 10, and columns 2, 3, 5, and 6 are "wrong". I've taken a screenshot and stared at it for...quite some time now, and I can't see anything to make it an invalid solution, other than the fact that it's not what Conceptis was expecting.
XXOOXOXOOX
OOXXOXOXOX
XOOXXOXOXO
XXOOXOXOOX
OOXXOXOXXO
OXOXOXXOOX
XOXOXOOXXO
OXOXOXOOXX
XOXOXOXXOO
OXXOOXOXXO
Hopefully, I'm being blind and someone can point out what I'm missing. It's hard to find the correct solution when it's not unique.
@David: Your first and fourth rows are identical, as well as your first and fifth columns, and third and eighth columns.
Oh, I completely missed the rule about no column or row being duplicated. That...that changes things. :)
Thanks!
@Steve, I guess you don't read the comments on your own reviews! Tell you what, you keep up the writing and I won't post comments in the early hours of the morning.
@Dora, thanks for taking the time.
@ the end of the day, this is still a darn good site.
EG
@Earl Grey: OH, you mean this comment?
"It is nice to see Conceptis puzzles being available on iOS. You can also try Tic-Tac-Logic on line. Enjoy!"
Yes, I did read that. However, this Conceptis Light version wasn't released until ten days after you posted that comment. At the time, I could only assume you were referring to the purchasable puzzles available on their website.
@Steve, my "Tell you what..." gave us a nice way to save face. Then you add that? I know the difference between the link I gave and the one your reviewed. I also believe it is unfair when comments stray from constructive criticism, for example my "Mmmm..." one above. And then you add that!
You [and all] review and for that I am [and we are] grateful. Whether my "try" comment led you to the Light review or not, I feel patronized by you splitting hairs as to how you got there.
Via jayis, it is a humble and sharing site and brings joy to life's coffee breaks,
EG
*Viva jayis....
Er, I wonder if anyone else has noticed that level 3, puzzle 2 has two rows that are non-unique? Row 7 and Column 7 and identical; it was my understanding that when Conceptis said "all rows and columns are unique" they didn't mean "all rows and columns are unique when read from a specific direction".
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Tic-Tac-Logic Tips and Tricks
Note: Many of these examples are written in terms of circumstances of X and how O can be affected by them; X and O can, of course, be reversed.
Whenever you get stuck, remember to check the three rules:
Are there any places where a pair of Xs next to each other, which you can surround with the Os? Don't forget to look for pairs of Xs separated by one space; you can put an O between them to prevent a three-in-a-row.
Are there any rows half-filled with one symbol? Use the left and top edges to quickly check the current symbol totals; the numbers in the corner (in black) are the target numbers to reach. If one symbol matches that number, fill in the rest of that row with the opposite symbol.
Are there any potential duplicate rows that can be avoided? Look for nearly-finished rows (usually with two spaces open) and compare them to rows that have been finished.
If you have a row that's missing only one X but a couple or more Os, try putting the X in each of the remaining spaces, and see if that forces a three-in-a-row of Os. You can usually fill in many Os with this method, if not the whole row.
Don't forget your good pals Trial and Error! Try putting a symbol in a square and see what deductions you can make from that. If you find a contradiction, use the undo button to rewind your steps back.
Tic-Tac-Logic Light Vol. 1 Solutions
Level 1 (6x6)
Puzzle 1:
Screen shot
Puzzle 2:
Screen shot
Puzzle 3:
Screen shot
Puzzle 4:
Screen shot
Puzzle 5:
Screen shot
Puzzle 6:
Screen shot
Puzzle 7:
Screen shot
Puzzle 8:
Screen shot
Puzzle 9:
Screen shot
Puzzle 10:
Screen shot
Level 2 (8x8)
Puzzle 1:
Screen shot
Puzzle 2:
Screen shot
Puzzle 3:
Screen shot
Puzzle 4:
Screen shot
Puzzle 5:
Screen shot
Puzzle 6:
Screen shot
Puzzle 7:
Screen shot
Puzzle 8:
Screen shot
Puzzle 9:
Screen shot
Puzzle 10:
Screen shot
Level 3 (10x10)
Puzzle 1:
Screen shot
Puzzle 2:
Screen shot
Puzzle 3:
Screen shot
Puzzle 4:
Screen shot
Puzzle 5:
Screen shot
Puzzle 6:
Screen shot
Puzzle 7:
Screen shot
Puzzle 8:
Screen shot
Puzzle 9:
Screen shot
Puzzle 10:
Screen shot
Posted by: Steve
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August 17, 2013 11:10 AM