It's a nice, simple game, but I am finding some of the levels more tedious than puzzling. e.g. I spend 5% of my time thinking about what I want to do and then 95% of the time either slowly inputting it into the game or waiting for it to execute.

I like the music, and I actually really like the minimalistic interface.

Weird at first, but got the hang of it.

I'm enjoying this quite a lot, despite the fact that I pretty much suck at it. I find figuring out where to place things is harder than programming the sequences.

I played a few levels of this game and it wore me out. It's nothing I can't handle, it's just mentally tiring.

I remember playing a game on Kongregate a long time ago that involved placing steam pipes inside a fighting robot to reroute steam and "program" it to fight. I think it was made by the same people who made this game; the graphical and musical resemblances are uncanny.

I like how you can save your programs and share it. Simple yet fun.

This game is really fun!!

Trying to get a four-step process is a challenge. (for maximum efficiency!) But it makes programming much easier, just the placement is tough =P.

Here is my creation for Level 5 - Oil of Vitriol.. I suppose you can't load it until you reach the level though =(

Full Codes for working mechanisms for the first 5 levels below:
Copy them, click on 'Load' ingame and then paste in the code of the corresponding level.

Hopefully more to follow

I must be dense, or just very slow today, but how do you change which direction and how far extended the arms are, before you start the sequence?

Here is the code for Brimstone (level 8 (VIII))

I didn't save the other levels.

@Dom

the code for the first mechanism goes to the second level, and in the code for IV...

Here is the solution for level 8 (VII) Brimstone.

I didn't save the others.

My design for Level 1:

This game obviously applies to Engineers, as they are the only ones who could enjoy it.

Ah sorry. I didn't actually check any of them, just saved after. They all worked for me and I saved after they said. (I have c+ping issues on this computer)

My level 8:

@Dom

When the codes are too long we can't see them. At least in my computer. If you could paste them as I did it would be better.

Thanks.

Music is wonderful! Does anyone know, if it is composed by the game creators, or by someone else?

The other game SonicLover is talking about is Bureau of Steam Engineering.

You just click at the end as you would normally highlight it, but drag to the line below.

I like the game in spite of some initial frustrations having to figure out what to do. A tutorial would have taken that edge off and launched me into the game quicker. The music is a terrific and a soothing accompaniment.

Here's my version of the first level "Aqua Vitae":
m,7,9,90,2,crwrwuodlwlw;

There are a multitude of ways to achieve success, so this isn't a spoiler and might be useful to those having trouble figuring out what to do.

@JohnB - An excellent review of a game that I would not have found very easy to articulate! (no pun intended)

Washuu: The music is Evan's album, "Rever... Peut-etre...", which you can find here:

http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/4383

If you liked this music, I recommend also listening to his album, "Alice", which you can find on jamendo through the link above.

@Washuu - You can find a link to the music on the game designers page:

http://www.zachtronicsindustries.com/pivot/entry.php?id=68

Zeke, I would agree with you about it not being a spoiler, but for different reasons. Although it technically is a spoiler, it means nothing until you put it into the load prompt, so it cannot inadvertently spoil someone's gameplay.

Now, regarding the game.

This is excellent. I can't remember the last time I found a game of this style that I enjoyed so much. (Flash platform only, of course. For non-flash, there's always the Incredible Machine series.)

However, I do think that the animations could be a bit faster...

Impossible to play on a mac. No rotate with the control key.

Aqua Regia, 9, IX

@Dom
I already tried that. is just the software I'm using and other might be using it as well.

Here's my VIII:

Kelo, try triple-clicking on the code.

Also, what software are you using?

Sorry that should be VII (7) not VIII (8)

@will

I'm just on ubuntu, using firefox. But it has some bugs lately. Just restarted firefox and it works fine with the triple click now. thanks.

Well. I'm doing the last levels tomorrow. :)

Fantastic, I'm hooked and would like to keep playing but have to sleep as it's 1:30am. I hope it will remember my progress if I shut down...

How do you rotate the manipulators before starting your program? So far i can only place them facing to the right...

Ahh, nice. Ubuntu. Good times.

Here's a machine I built.

V. Oil of Vitriol

Its complicated, and it looks like some atoms might collide, but it runs like a well-oiled machine. 9-beat measures. (I see the repeated code as a measure of music. It helps me to keep them all in time.)

Here's my VII:

Does anybody have a nice solution for the Philosopher's Stone? Mine works, but is a bit bulky.

I wish there was a level editor for the game. The possibilities for the end 'molecules' are endless, including funny infinite things like

b,6,10;b,10,7;
m,6,12,180,1,crolwwww;
m,7,12,0,2,cdloruww;
m,7,7,0,2,wwcuodww;
m,10,10,270,2,uodlcrdoluwwc11r;

(load into level 2 for it to work)

@sijapu17

I think you mean VIII :P

@myself:

I take back my previous comment (about it being tedious). Well, it is still a little redious, actually, but I am deriving quite a bit of satisfaction by trying to minimize the number of components and trying to keep things really elegant.

e.g. I spent some time solving level 7 with only 5 arms, 2 glyphs, and a cycle of 12, and it was super, super satisfying when it ran like clockwork.

I think it will be quite fun to minimize the cycles instead (I think I could maybe get it down to a cycle of 8, but I'd definitely need more arms and maybe more glyphs.)

I agree with their assessment that is a game for engineers. I am having the most fun from the game by optimizing my solutions, not solving them.

Great game, reminds me of LightBot. I love building and programming contraptions (remember The Incredible Machine?)!

Thank you JIG for featuring this suggestion. Sorry I have not even been trying to write a review in the suggestion. Altough since I am an engineer and (hopefully) an emerging scientist I would have not been able to write it in a "normal gamers view" eitherway, like you did.

BTW: I try to optimize the levels on speed, many levels are possible on 4 tick clocks (with a hell lot of manipulators) only the later levels I often run out of space, since you need an arm for every tiny operation with a 4 clock tact. But I imagine without the space limitation it might be possible as well... Maybe I yet manage the phil. stone with 4 clocks ;-)

Does anyone have a nice, efficient solution for VI, Aqua Fortis?

Right. Edited for your highlighting pleasure, this time I've checked to see if they all work.

Full Codes for working mechanisms below:

Considering how long it took me to do level 10 I'm giving up on the rest. If you do look at my level 10, if you see the green atom that ends up on the side of the screen by itself. You do not know how much trouble I had moving it out the way. I also forgot to double up the Mercury moving arm, so I thought the finished molecule wasn't fitting on the end glyph because I didn't realise it had an iron instead of the gold metalic atom. (Sorry for rambling :P)

If I have made any mistakes please point them out as this is like my second walkthrough ever, and it's barely a walkthrough its just posting my levels.

Code letter meanings (as I was very bored)

Overall, I think it was a great game to excercise my mind over the school holidays and I don't think I did too badly considering my friend said I'd found the most boring game ever. (He was just upset that he couldn't do it)

I loved this game, only did the first 4 levels for now, but I will go back to it soon. I'm an engineer and love automation, so this was a really great way to stretch my brain muscles.

Sometimes I think these people who make "games for engineers" should get a graphic artist on their team, because the look is always kind of barren. Still, nice music, and nice game.

Level 1

Level 2

Here is a level X: less cycles, less arms, less glyphs, less everything :-)

BTW: Also why don't I mind the missing tutorial? Because well actually figuring out a game is one of things I enjoy most. I'm not that type that can play months over months the same game, as brilliant it may be, it gets boring to some point. Thats why I enjoy playing "casual" web applets, none of these you play for long (honestly, really anybody any?), but you have a constant stream of new things, and everytime something new to figure out... And the more you puzzle, how can it work? the more joy for me... (in contrary I have no joy doing anyhting arcade thing, doing it again and again, until I press that button exactly at right second at the right pixel... boooring).

level 11 this a design I'm rather proud of.

level 12 is rather easy again...

Dude, this game is awesome! I was on a lego robotics team and I had to do a lot of programming. the programming is similar but this is harder.

Well here is my level 10, X. With only 5 arms and 3 glyphs.

If anyone has a better/cleaner solution. Please post :P

Tazzmann, here's an efficient level 6 (VI):

very cool game. could definitely use a tutorial though, and maybe a fast-forward button.

Here is my solution for level 1. It's probably nowhere near as simple as it could have been, but then again I tend to complicate things.

this game is so awesome it hurts.
:D

I didn't see a solution to 6, so I ended up with a very messy, inefficient solution. Does anyone have a more elegant design?

Very inefficient solution to 6:
c,11,11;t,13,9;t,13,7;c,1,9;b,8,7;b,4,9;m,8,5,90,1,crr11orr;m,13,11,90,1,crruuoddrrwwwwwww;m,11,7,0,1,wwwwwcllollwwwwww;m,5,11,90,1,wwwwwcllollwwwwww;m,3,13,180,1,wwcllollwwwwwwwww;m,4,7,90,3,wwwwwcddw1luolllu;m,1,11,90,1,crrruodrwwwwwwwww;

Wow, I am... not smart. I didn't realize that you could drop the molecules anywhere within the large circle. I thought they had to be dropped right on the dimmed picture within the cirlce. Heh...

Sorry for the double post, I just thought I would share my lack of observational skills with you all :P

@Redy -

You should be able to rotate the manipulators by clicking the ctrl button while the mouse button is held down on the manipulator you want.

It's likely you've got a bug, though, as I can't adjust the starting length at all :(

What? I didn't know we could rotate the manipulators at the beginning!

Wow, I feel stupid now. lol If you see my solution, thay all begin with the default positions. even. Level 10.

But anyways. even tho I didn't know that I still challenge any of you to give a better solution for level 10 :P.

Can anyone explain how the "script" programming function is used?

@Type O'Graph - Your infinite level is a hoot!

Here's my Oil of Vitrol.

t,6,10;
c,1,7;
t,4,10;
b,8,8;
m,8,6,90,1,wwwwwwwwcrroll;
m,1,10,90,2,crrrorwwwwwwww;
m,11,8,90,1,wwwcrolwwwwwww;
m,13,10,90,2,cdroldududuwlr;
m,8,10,180,3,wwwwcddroluduu;

Why make the arms wait if you can make them dance lol?

@Zeke

You mean how the program uses the text file to load the game?

It just reads the file.
Each ';' marks the end of an object.
The first letter indicate the type of object.
The next two numbers are the coordinates.
If the initial position can be configured you'll find extra numbers. Indicating, obviously, the default position.
Then follow some letters. those are the insctructions for the object. as expleained by Dom.

So... I juste realized. In game. there is a limit of symbols per object. Maybe, by creating our own text file we can add more movements to the objects. This will only work if the game doesn't verify the quantity of movements of each object when loading a saved game. Well.. is not about hacking the game anyways. :)

Here is my solution for level 5. It takes a while, but I'm proud of myself for even being able to figure it out, since I'm really no good at these types of games :D I wish I could come up with sollutions even half as efficient as some of the others I've seen posted so far.

Litharge with three arms:

Oil of Vitriol with only two arms:

Some more solutions:

Level XI:

Level XII:

Level XIII:

another solution for IX aqua regia

b,8,13;b,9,9;c,10,7;c,6,13;t,6,6;t,3,9;
m,6,9,90,3,cldllolu;
m,11,13,0,1,wjclluodrr;
m,13,9,180,3,wwwwwwlcrowwwwww;
m,4,13,180,2,crruodllwwwwwwww;
m,3,7,90,1,cllorrww;m,3,0,90,2,clorwwww;

enjoy

VI. Aqua Fortis with three arms:

a fun pattern for level 2
b,4,10;b,3,8;
m,12,12,180,1,cuuodd;
m,6,12,270,1,wwrclo;
m,8,10,180,1,wwuodc;
m,4,14,270,1,uuoddc;
m,4,6,90,1,ouucdd;
m,7,8,180,1,cuuodd;

@Keio - What I was referring to is the last icon in the list of "programming" icons. It says "When this script repeats, it will start after this symbol instead of at the beginning." when you mouse over it.

I have some ideas about what it might be used for but I can't figure out a way to make it useful if I'm trying for the least number of steps.

I'll play with it later when I get bored :-)

Thanks for your reply.

I SWEAR that I had started developing this exact game myself. I dreamed it up in november- literally, in my sleep. It even LOOKS like what I wanted. Unreal.

Here's a pretty elegant solution for X (Vertigris). It finishes the level in only 71 cycles:

Here's my version of level 7
using 6 arms

the most time efficient solution to brimstone I was able to fine

keith here is one for 54 cycles.

And I didn't yet try that hard to optimize speed :-)

nooo. Im terrible at the delays. I manage to make a nice brimstone with 25 peices but it jammed halfway

level 8 brimstone
once again 6 arms

@Zeke:

The "script-repeats-after-this-symbol" command is not necessary, but it is useful to use if you want to have your manipulator arm in a short loop (like a 4 cycle loop), but want to start it on cycle 3,7,11,... instead of cycle 1,5,9,....

Instead of doing something like:
* closeclaw,right,openclaw,left
you could do
* wait,repeat,closeclaw,right,openclaw,left

which would have it start the loop on the 3rd cycle of the program but then loop every 4 cycles.

The easier way to avoid jams is to try and make sure all the arms have the same number of cycles. that way they're always meeting at the same time.

XIV. Philosophers Stone

Credit goes to Worldedit on kongregate.

http://www.kongregate.com/accounts/Worldedit

Level 8 (VIII Brimstone), with only 3 glyphs and 3 arms, with 15-cycle loops.

Would be easy to trim it to a 14-cycle loop but I liked the elegance of having 2 of the 3 arms only doing multiple 5 cycle-loops for each 15 cycle-loop per "molecule"

@Ribs - Thanks Ribs. I appreciate your input.

I had left a comment on Zach's site and he explained it as follows:
The wording for that symbol was ambiguous; by "script", I meant the series of symbols that is "executed" by the manipulator. The symbol in question acts as a "jump point"; when the manipulator's set of symbols is finished running, it will restart after the jump point instead of restarting at the beginning. If you experiment with it you'll quickly see how it works…

You all helped to clear up my confusion. Gotta love the JIG community!

Here is X brimstome really speed optimized.

35 cycles! I think there still room for a few cycles, since altough my line is fast (4 beats per cycle) it a bit longer than maybe possible...

X is Vertigris.

Brimstone in 33:

And a pretty neat climbing effect in Litharge for 29:

Can anybody else here prove that Gold can't be done in loops of four?

level 11 (XI, Black Powder) in 49 steps:

Level VI- Aqua Fortis
Took forever, but I'm doing it in loops of 12. Half of them actually do their resetting at the beginning of the loop to make everything fit in line... o_O

Augh... anyone have any idea why spoiler tags dont open for me? I click them in the comments and nothing happens. I tried it in both IE and Firefox.

[Edit: Spoilers require Javascript to be enabled. -Jay]

Here's my version of level 2 (25 cycles):

AFAIK, mine is the fastest solution (but not the shortest)

Same level, also in 25, but with one fewer manipulator:

I don't normally post here, but I'm kind of proud of finishing this thing. Here's my Philosopher's Stone solution:

It's clunky as hell but it gets the job done.

This was a great game. Here is my solution for the final level:

gold can't be done in groups of four because it takes five mercuries to make it into gold, I did in groups of four squared.

@Fromage: Use Apple key instead of ctrl

Wow, after a long time at last a game that keeps me interested... I started trying to do 2 processing chains in parallel when space allows, it just looks great when it runs.
My Sal Ammoniac generator:

a Solution for XI black powder

5 arms and only 3 glyps

and coincidently i got it delivered in the centre lol

b,3,9;t,10,6;t,8,6;m,4,6,90,2,c1wo;
m,4,13,180,2,wcruodlwwwwwwwww;
m,7,9,90,3,crol;
m,8,10,270,3,wwjwwolcrrl;
m,6,5,0,2,clorwwww;

enjoy

Level One:
Using the least symbols = 3

Slow but simple...

Can anyone play this game on a Mac? I press Ctrl over and over, to no avail...no rotation. :( And yes, the Shift key works.

haha, wow, I missed the tutorial thing at the beginning which tells you how to change initial positions of the arms, this is what I ended up doing for four because of my various limitations

You don't even want to see the craziness I tried for five, eventually I ran out of space to complete my movements.

Use the apple/command key instead of control on a Mac. Have fun!

Code for 3rd Cinnabar level for anyone interested.

t,4,7;b,9,7;m,4,10,90,2,crrorrwww;
m,10,10,90,2,cllorrwww;m,6,7,180,1,
wwjwcrruodll;m,10,3,90,3,wwwwjwwwwcr2ol;

Level XII - Gold
50 Symbols, 62 Cycles

A slightly speedier solution for the Philosopher's stone (using cycles of 12 instead of 16).

Jess- Try using command instead of ctrl.

@Jess

You don't really need that to play the game.

Look at my solutions. they are all at the default positions.

I just thought the game was designed that way to be a little more challenging and didn't realize we could change the default positions.

This game was absolutely divine. I've always dreamed of this kind of stuff in real life(turning lead into gold, making compounds and such ETC.) now I can fulfill it out in this game!

5/5 for the game.

I do have one question though: where did they get the symbols inscribed on the atoms?

Low Symbol Useage Walkthrough

Video Guide of Low Symbol Useage

Wow, this is one of the best games I've played in a while! After working my way through, I've been redoing previous levels to see how low I can get the cycle count.

Here's what I've managed so far:

Level 1: Aqua Vitae: 13 cycles - this solution is pretty obvious.

Level 2: Sal Ammoniac: 17 cycles. Again, fairly simple.

Level 3: Cinnibar: 19 Cycles. I've heard that 17 was possible, but I'm fairly proud of this.

Level 4: Litharge: 21 cycles. Has anyone done it faster than this? Sometimes there's a bad collision detection; if that happens, just run it again, and it'll work.

Also, I managed to rework Gafada's gold solution down to 18 symbols.

Anyway, thanks to the makers of the game, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Here are levels 1-6.

I'm quite proud of 5 & 6, even though they are nothing spectaculat in terms of symbols or count, they just look really elegant :-)

This is my solution for black powder. Be warned, as I found that I could show off a little. So I did.

Yeah, Cinnabar in 17 is possible:

And I've managed to do Litharge in 19. I'm pretty sure that's the minimum.

I've been looking at Brimstone (VIII) a bit. The best that's been done so far is one every four cycles. But the way the atoms are set up, it would be possible to make one every three cycles (two parallel construction lines in loops of six symbols).

Well, here it is. Brimstone in 28 with one molecule every 3 cycles:

I'm sure it's possible to cut down the number of symbols, and it's probably possible to cut down the number of cycles, but I've demonstrated the concept, so I'm happy.

That's neat Poker, great idea. Based upon that idea I made a faster version for Aqua Fortis.

Lvl VI - Aqua Fortis - DLS : 3 (28c)

does it slowly, but gets the job done!

level 1

A few minor alterations can improve on that time:

Lvl VI - Aqua Fortis - DLS: 3 (26c)

Slightly more asymmetric than yours, but still a good solution.

As a little food for thought, here's an interesting one.

Lvl VII - Haematite - DLS: 4 (27c)

You might wonder why I decided to use two glyphs of projection. I was trying to minimize cycles as well as DLS, and I couldn't get it down to 27 cycles without using two different glyphs of projection like that!

Philosopher's Stone, anyone? And again, yeah, I'm showing off by putting it exactly on the diagram in the circle.

great game! Made a 'Gold'-machine with only 1 glyph! (i think it looks nice :))

@Poker: you've got an extra arm in your Cinnabar solution that you don't need.

Funny, I didn't know you could change the default positions either. All of the levels are possible that way, with a little tweaking.

Here's my solution to the final level, using the default positions.

improved version.

Oh, for a second I though you could change the positions of the element generators. Bummer, got all excited.

Here is my Sal Ammoniac maker:

b,9,8;m,11,4,90,3,crol;m,10,10,0,1,orcl;m,8,12,180,3,crol;m,6,8,0,1,cuod;m,12,8,90,1,crol;m,9,6,0,1,orcl;m,11,2,90,2,crol;m,2,13,270,1,orcl;m,12,9,180,1,crol;m,14,7,180,2,odcu;m,2,9,90,1,clor;m,5,7,180,1,olcr;m,10,4,90,2,cd1roulw;m,10,3,180,3,oulwcd1r;m,12,13,180,1,rolc;m,12,12,180,1,odwc;

The Philosopher's Stone was a killer, It took me about 3 days to come up with the following solution (I had a few days break in the middle due to frustration too)

In the end I'm not too unhappy and it's the third fastest to finish of all the solutions I can find both here and on Zachtronics...

More importantly for me is that It's really easy to see what's going on (simple solution for a simple mind ;-) )

I'm almost dreading clicking on the ????? level :-(

After tweaking and optimising a couple of bottlenecks, I managed to get the above down to 136/56, from 187/69.

She will nae' go any faster Jim...

Oh, I forgot to mention before, Baron Topper, your solution to Philosopher's Stone was Bonkers (In a good way :-) )

What do you do for a job when you aren't playing with this ?

I just spent way too much time on this. It builds an infinitely long thick chain. It starts slowly, but just wait. Load it on level 1.

@Ian: Liked your solution to Philosopher's Stone, but it seemed like you were wasting two cycles. So I got the delivery loop down to 6 cycles, total time 46 cycles with 126 symbols.

@ Dweasel:

THAT'S BEAUTIFUL :-)

I knew there was more speed in it, but I couldn't get it out. I like the way you finished putting the element in the exit too though it really annoyed me. I designed it backwards just so I could do exactly that. Then I ran into the problem of the brown blob getting too close.

@Zephirius:

While holding onto the manipulator with your mouse (Should be orange i.e. selected), press SHIFT to toggle between the 3 different lengths and CTRL to toggle between the 4 different orientations.

Sorry for the previous post, my browser decided to show me page 1 of the comments instead of what I thought was the last, so I answered a question from about the beginning of December.

If anyone wants to delete this and the post before I would be most grateful.:-)

Man I had a blast with this little game, thanks! I AM an engineer, though, and we are simple.

Music rocks...sometimes I just go to the play page to start the music and leave it running.

New Magnum Opus Challenge version with 15 new compounds to build has been posted: http://www.zachtronicsindustries.com/pivot/entry.php?id=71

I got the first one!

MO Lvl I - Elixir of Youth - DLS : 6 (39c)

I found this one independent of any solutions posted on the comments of the official site. I haven't checked to see if I could do a DLS of 5 (via calcination) or not.

Also, according to the link, it's possible that some of these problems has no solution. There are solutions for I-IV and VI (with somebody saying that V is possible) in the comments on the link.

Excellent game! A pleasingly simple concept, paired with a fittingly clean graphical interface, but still deeply challenging. Each level brings a subtle twist on how things have to be approached, and there's a real sense of achievement in finally getting things up and running smoothly after a lengthy process of careful planning.

Here are some of my solutions - I don't think any are particularly efficient, but they get the job done, and I feel some are quite elegant (Black Powder and Elixir of Life, especially...but yeah, ???????? is a mess ^^'):

VII. Haematite (78 Symbols; 48 Cycles)

IX. Aqua Regia (110 Symbols; 74 Cycles)

X. Vertigris (56 Symbols; 81 Cycles)

XI. Black Powder (120 Symbols; 91 Cycles)

XII. Gold(87 Symbols; 71 Cycles)

XIII. Elixir of Life (100 Symbols; 65 Cycles)

XIV. Philosopher Stone (130 Symbols; 124 Cycles)

XV. ???????? (144 Symbols; 202 Cycles)

I was going to try out some other solutions posted, and add some ideas for improving the game, but to my delight, I spy a sequel!
- ^_^

Level 3

Wow is right. It took me a while to figure out the code, and I needed to run a couple of sample codes to get some ideas (I'm an English grad student, not an engineer!), but I love the logic of this one. I don't know why I waited so long to try it! Must finish...I want to go on to the next one!

OK, I know I'm late to the party, but I think this is a really beautiful arrangement for Aqua Fortis Level V:

c,13,5;b,8,9;c,3,11;t,1,9;t,4,6;
m,8,6,90,2,wwwwwwwwwwclloll;
m,1,11,90,1,cllorrwwwwwwwww;
m,4,9,0,3,wdllcrruwdouwwww;
m,13,9,90,3,crolcdllulolwwww;

I've been working on the longest level design, the complete opposite to the records being attempted by other people. Here's my current Level 1

Snowspider, I took your challenge and this is what I've devised for Level 2--168 symbols, but still only 61 cycles:

Can you add more to it?

Everyone is so concerned about cycles. How about minimum use of parts?

Beat level 7 with 5 manipulators. Can you beat that?

Does anyone know how to make the arms move at all?

I've clicked the icons, dragged them and even tried using the arrow keys, but nothing happens.

Final Level XV ??????????
144 symbols, 192 cycles

p,10,11;
b,7,9;
t,4,11;
b,3,7;
t,2,5;
p,12,5;
m,10,9,180,1,owwlcr;
m,7,11,90,1,cluodr;
m,4,13,180,2,cdrolu;
m,4,9,0,2,odrclu;
m,5,9,270,1,wwwwwwwwwwwwwwcuod;
m,1,7,0,3,cddouu;
m,11,13,0,1,clorww;
m,13,11,90,1,wwcrol;
m,1,9,270,1,uoddcu;
m,7,7,90,1,crolww;
m,11,2,180,1,uoddcu;
m,6,5,0,3,llcrro;
m,12,2,90,2,cr22ol;
m,13,10,270,2,wwwwwwwwllcllowwww;
m,13,9,270,1,wwwwwwwwwcuuoddwww;
m,8,5,0,1,ddc1uuowwwwwwwwwww;

Little late to the game, but I've been mucking about a bit. This is a 4-wide chain grower, one row every 10 turns, on level 1. no useful purpose, and my design goal was elegance and not having empty arms flailing at the start of the level :)

b,1,8;b,4,9;b,5,7;b,2,6;b,9,10;m,9,12,180,1,crolcrol;m,9,6,180,1,wwwwwwwwwjwwcuuodd;m,7,10,90,1,wjclorclor;m,12,10,180,2,wjcdoucdou;m,13,10,180,2,wjoucdowww;m,10,7,180,2,wwwjowwlclll;

My approach to level XV/15 is kind of unorthodox, and doesn't do as well as the other approaches presented so far. However, I think it has a certain obtuse charm to it, mainly due to the the creation of a silver-sulfur polymerase towards the left and the way a single mercury is silly-walked all the way across the board to the gold-generating projection glyph near the end while avoiding collisions with the swing arm used to transport the nearly-finished molecules. Subgroups of 6 cycles, 18 cycles to a full molecule generation. 258 symbols, 24 components, 119 cycles to completion.

Here's my solution to XIV. Philosopher's Stone. I'm kind of proud of it since everything is crowded together, without an inch to spare.

b,10,11;
b,12,8;
b,3,11;
b,6,10;
c,8,8;
b,2,5;
c,1,7;
c,11,4;
m,11,13,0,1,clor;
m,13,11,180,2,odcuodcuowww;
m,3,13,180,1,crol;
m,1,11,0,2,odcuodcuowww;
m,10,9,0,1,rrolwwwwwwcl;
m,4,9,0,1,orwwwwwwwwcl;
m,6,7,0,3,lldwwwwcurro;
m,13,4,270,2,wwwwcrruodll;
m,11,6,90,2,rdroullwwwwc;
m,7,5,0,3,wwwcl1dourww;
m,2,9,0,3,wwc1ldourwww;
m,3,1,90,1,wwwwcuuoddww;
m,1,3,270,1,wwwwwjwwwwwwwwcrol;

What are you guys saying about?Like "b,3,9"?

harrisonbeaker does have the longest level 1 as it is infinitely long. Pretty amazing by the way.

Aqua Vitae
1 manipulator with 7 symbols and 34 cycles:

m,7,8,0,2,urcrror;

Cinnabar

Has anyone tried the magnum opus challenge yet?

It's on his blog:

http://www.zachtronicsindustries.com/?p=702

My solution for Level XV: (????????)
(150 symbols, 113 cycles)

Lv 2 on Magnus Opus... my design is very crowded, but does the job with 8 step cycles 252/71

I wrote a Philosopher's Stone solution which served to illustrate some principles of parallel computing in a lecture I gave. It has a certain aesthetic quality that I like, too.

It looks like word-wrap is disabled for spoilers. Here it is again:

[Just because the level code doesn't word wrap doesn't mean it's unselectable. Just position your cursor to the left of the first character in the line, then click and drag down to select the entire line. Then just copy and paste into the game. -Jay]

Cool game, pretty hard though

really great game :D

got stuck on lvl 10

it's sure the crasiest machine ever :D and i stops 3 cycles before it is finished.

Hey guys! this isn't the answer to level one...but its a fun water storer...throws one away and the other two into storage

enjoY!

They really should make a Level Editor for this game...

Friggin nice music and Awesome Game altogether :D

I'm working on (sorta stupid really) making my own lil machines to make some molecules unrelated to the game...

once in a while ill post something...check it out XD

I realize I'm 2 years late to this party, but I had to respond to sa's comment "Here's my solution to XIV. Philosopher's Stone. I'm kind of proud of it since everything is crowded together, without an inch to spare." Here's hoping he's even still around to read it:

You think that was crowded, THIS is a design without an inch to spare. 84 cycles.

Cinnibar: Five parts, dare you to complete it with less.

Here you go. :)

I wish someone would take a look at this. I'm replaying trying some different things and I can't figure out why this doesn't work--either with or without the extra "wait" program. It looks exactly right when it enters the final space, but it's not disappearing. What am I missing?

Well, it's done it again--although this time I'll give more info:

Aqua Fortis. Everything works, and it looks EXACTLY like the example, but just sits in the big circle until the next one comes along and crashes into it. I can't for the life of me figure out why.

Last time, I don't remember what level I was on, but was using Camino browser. Today, Google Chrome. Is this a bug?

c,3,11;c,11,11;t,9,9;b,2,9;b,5,6;m,1,11,90,1,crroll;
m,11,13,270,1,wwrclo;m,5,9,180,2,wwucdo;m,3,13,270,1,wlcrow;
m,3,7,90,2,douucd;m,2,6,90,2,wc2lor;m,9,11,0,1,cllror;
m,9,6,180,2,olwwcr;m,6,8,270,1,cuuodd;m,3,4,0,3,oddcuu;
m,8,6,270,1,cuuodd;

I found a better way to do a few of the levels:

Litharge: 30 symbols

Haematite: 54 symbols

Brimstone: 40 symbols

Aqua Regia: 60 symbols

Vertigris: 84 symbols

This game does not work for me.
The arms do not respond to the rotate command in the program mode.
Just try doing the game without using the rotate command!!! I am at level 2 now and will see if I can get by that level without the rotate working.

I'm particularly proud of my recent Elixir of Life. I've replayed this game so often, it's crazy!

ingenarius, are you clicking and holding the arm as you hit the Ctrl button? It doesn't work otherwise, at least not for me.

Level XII Gold using 17 manipulators and 2 glyphs of projection, taking 39 cycles. The mercury transport is on a 4 cycle, the lead transport is on a 10 cycle, and the gold transport is on a 5 cycle:

This is my 49 turn solution for Aqua Fortis. I feel like it's a bit over-complicated... What do you guys think?

X. Vertigris

Beautiful 46 cycle solution. I try to work in "super-cycles" of 6 (I avoid long pauses in my 'code' unless it's preceding a repeat-from-here glyph).

Black Powder: 29 cycles for the first + 12 for subsequent = 77 cycles. Not bad, I'd say...

Made some fun salt/mercury wings for Aqua Vitae (perpetual motion machine, entirely useless)

Vertigris, 37 cycles:

Black Powder, 43 cycles:

Gold, 36 cycles:

I thought my solution to Philosopher's Stone came out fairly elegant, so figured I'd share it. I liked the symmetry.

I would enjoy this game a lot more if it came in a higher image quality, but maybe that's just me.