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[WendyMann]

Hello all

My sister has been stuck for ages on this game.
She says "the robot heads have to be programmed and both walkthroughs are different. I've tried all 6 programs on all 3 robot heads but nothing works. I must be doing something wrong - please help".

Can anyone help please?

Regards
Wendy

[The Fifth Horseman]

There is a walkthrough at: http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/dos...me/564673.html

Problem:
Which robot head do I use in the robot design room?

Hint:
You may wish to use Iron face since it's the honest robot head
and will follow your program exactly. If you choose the
dishonest Saucer head, it will disobey your program exactly.
Propeller head is dishonest half the time and will disobey every
second line of your program.

You might want to start checking GameFAQs when you need a walkthrough for some game. More often than not, there are several for each.

[WendyMann]

Originally Posted by The Fifth Horseman

There is a walkthrough at: http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/dos...me/564673.html

You might want to start checking GameFAQs when you need a walkthrough for some game. More often than not, there are several for each.

Thanks, Fifth Horseman, but actually that is one of the two walkthroughs my sister has been using, but she can't come right. If no-one else can offer more help, I will probably have to play the game myself to see if I can get it right for her so she can go on with the game (the trouble is, I have quite a few games I would prefer to tackle first for my own enjoyment that re high on my "to play" list!).

Yes, I agree with you about gamefaqs, I have been relying on their walkthroughs for many years, it is a wonderful site for walkthroughs of all kinds and for a wide variety of platforms.

Thanks a stack once again!!!
Best regards, Wendy

[The Fifth Horseman]

I've started the game and got to the robot programming puzzle.

First thing is obvious - use Iron Face head, so that the robot follows your commands as you entered them.
Second, whenever the program encounters an error, the number of command on which the error occurred is displayed (at the bottom right).
Third, rather than trying to get an entire program right from the beginning, build it in increments of three to five commands at a time and then test it to make sure it works as intended.
Fourth, each hand can pick up only one, specific item: Forklift is for the book, dart gun for the clue sheet and the electromagnet is for the iron plaque. If you used the wrong hand, the program will error out.

[WendyMann]

Originally Posted by The Fifth Horseman

I've started the game and got to the robot programming puzzle.......plaque. If you used the wrong hand, the program will error out.

Hello Fifth Horseman
Thanks a million, You are a STAR!!! I have copied both your posts to my sister on email, and told her to try your advice and that if she does not come right, to send me her saved-game from before the robot-heads puzzle and I will try to do it for her.
Thanks so very much for your help, you are very kind.
Best regards, Wendy

[The Fifth Horseman]

I've found that the second and third programs in that walkthrough are missing two steps each. No wonder they didn't work. Here's more about the puzzle:

* On Easy level, the heads don't malfunction so use Iron Face head always.

* On Standard level, any head you use will malfunction after you get first two items. Use Iron Fact first, then the Saucer (since it's easier to program of the two faulty ones)

* On Expert level every head will malfunction after you get an item, so you'll have to use both the Saucer and Propeller heads to finish the task.

* Remember that for the Saucer every command executed is directly opposite of what you order it to do - if you want it to go forward, order it to go backward, to turn on the arm, order the robot to turn it off and so on.

* The Propeller is the most confusing one - every command with an EVEN number (2, 4, 6 and so on) is executed correctly. Every command with an ODD number (3,5,7 and so on) is executed in reverse just like Saucer does.

The programs for IRON FACE head:

To get book, install Forklift arm and program:
Right
Forward
Left
On
Right
Backward
Left
Left
Forward
Forward
Forward
Right
Forward
Right
Forward
Off

To get clue sheet, install Dart Gun arm and program:
Left
Forward
Forward
Forward
Right
Right
Right
On
Left
Left
Forward
Right
Forward
Off

To get plaque, install Magnet arm and program:
Left
Forward
Forward
Forward
Right
Forward
Left
On
Right
Right
Forward
Off

The programs for SAUCER head:

To get book, install Forklift arm and program:
Left
Backward
Right
Off
Left
Forward
Right
Right
Backward
Backward
Backward
Left
Backward
Left
Backward
On

To get clue sheet, install Dart Gun arm and program:
Right
Backward
Backward
Backward
Left
Left
Left
Off
Right
Right
Backward
Left
Backward
On

To get plaque, install Magnet arm and program:
Right
Backward
Backward
Backward
Left
Backward
Right
Off
Left
Left
Backward
On

The programs for PROPELLER head:

To get book, install Forklift arm and program:
Right
Backward
Left
Off
Right
Forward
Left
Right
Forward
Backward
Forward
Left
Forward
Left
Forward
On

To get clue sheet, install Dart Gun arm and program:
Left
Backward
Forward
Backward
Right
Left
Right
Off
Left
Right
Forward
Left
Forward
On

To get plaque, install Magnet arm and program:
Left
Backward
Forward
Backward
Right
Backward
Left
Off
Right
Left
Forward
On

[WendyMann]

Originally Posted by The Fifth Horseman

I've found that the second and third programs in that walkthrough are missing two steps each. No wonder they didn't work. Here's more about the puzzle:.....

Hello Fifth Horseman
A million thanks for all your trouble and for the detailed info supplied. I have printed it out and will definitely resort to it myself if I get stuck on this when I eventually play it myself. (So many games, so little time!!!!). I have also sent it to my sister, in case she re-plays the game!!!

Here is some feedback I received per email today from my very grateful sister re your previous info, which enabled her to finish the robot heads puzzle:-

"Your fourth comment gave me the hint I needed. I was putting the head on the pedestal, programming it in the computer then using the data sheet on the pedestal and it always said “arm missing”. You have to also put the respective hand on the pedestal before programming – that is so logical. Also I never noticed the hands until you mentioned them!!!
I’ve finished the game and enjoyed it. Thanks again for your help".

Best wishes from my sister and from me.
Wendy

[autistic_clown]

i tried to install with DOSBox, however before it installs anything after setting it up, it says that the configuration file cannot be created. help?

[morbeo]

A swell game, I really enjoyed most of the puzzles. Funny fact - for the encrypted text near the end that instructs you how to arrange the books I didn't use the decoder ring ( I haven't found it ) and decrypted it myself :embarassed: .

[gumpy]

A different kind of game than Sierra's usual Quest fare. Intresting though.