Copyright (c) 2005 Astraware Limited
All rights reserved.

Introduction

Sudoku is a logical puzzle game, originally created in puzzle books and then made available in countless newspapers worldwide. The grid is 9 cells high by 9 cells wide and within the grid are 9 boxes each featuring 9 cells. The object is to fill in the numbers 1-9 in each row, column and box, but they must only appear in each one once. Many people are put off by seeing a grid with numbers in it, but in fact the puzzle doesn't require any arithmetic at all - just deduction and logic, and with the inbuilt assistance in the game and the aid of our accompanying website, everyone can play Sudoku.

Astraware Sudoku is suitable for players of all abilities and features include 6 levels of difficulty, pencilmarks in a choice of styles, optional completion and tracking of pencilmarks, a unique and innovative notepad which enables players to make handwritten notes and sketches overlaid upon the grid, and an advanced hint system to assist you by highlighting areas where progress can be made without giving away the answer.

Astraware Sudoku includes a selection of inbuilt puzzles of varying difficulty for you to evaluate. After registration the game will allow a range of additional pre-built puzzle packs to be added. These extra packs will be available free of charge from http://www.palmsudoku.com. The unlocked version of Astraware Sudoku includes a puzzle creator which will generate literally billions of true Sudoku puzzles, all of which are solveable by logic alone. It also includes a puzzle solver, so you can input any Sudoku from a newspaper or book and Astraware Sudoku can show you the solution or give you hints to help you play along.

How To Install

Use an extractor program such as WinZip or Stuffit Expander to get at the Sudoku files.

Install the game by double-clicking the .prc file, which opens the Palm Install Tool or Quick Install program.

If music is available, users with Palm OS® 5 devices may wish to install it as well. Double click on the .pdb file (or files, if there are more than one) to install it in the same way as installing the .prc file. Please note that not all Palm OS® 5 handhelds support music; for more information please refer to our knowledgebase here.

Use the HotSync button as usual to install the game onto your handheld. If you have a handheld with an expansion card, you can then move the game over to it. Do this before you register the game!

Now run Sudoku and tap the screen to play the game!

If you've got any queries about Sudoku or the registration process, first check out our knowledge base on our website (you must be connected to the internet to access this). If this doesn't help, get in touch with us at support@astraware.com. If you've got any questions (or suggestions, we love those) about the game itself, please get in touch with us at the email address at the top of this page.

How to Play

Sudoku is a logical puzzle game, originally created in puzzle books and then made available in countless newspapers worldwide.

Many people are put off by seeing a grid with numbers in it, but in fact the puzzle doesn't require any arithmatic at all - just deduction and logic.

The goal when solving any Sudoku puzzle is to fill in all the 81 cells of the game board with a number between 1 and 9, but there are a few rules which restrict what you may enter where!

The board consists of a set of 9 3x3 grids, arranged themselves in a 3x3 grid. The first, and only rule, is that you may only use a number once in each row, in each column, and in each 3x3 box.

Solving Sudoku

There are many techniques for solving Sudoku, and while simple Sudoku can be solved with the simplest techniques, the most complex Sudoku can only be solved using some of the more advanced techniques.

Pencilmarks

Most paper-and-pencil Sudoku players tend to come up with their own systems to help them complete the grids. Very few players complete puzzles only by writing in the final numbers!

The most common way to annotate grids is by writing in tiny numbers - usually referred to as "pencilmarks" - which really mean "this number is still possible for this cell." You may be able to narrow down a cell to only contain "5 and 8" but not know which one.

If you write a tiny "58" in the cell, then later on you may make another placement which allows you to cross off one of your pencilmarks. So, if you crossed out the "5", you know that the cell can now only contain an "8", so you can erase both pencilmarks and write in the large "8".

You don't need to add in all of the pencilmarks - good players find it slows them down too much for the easiest puzzles, but need to use them for trickier puzzles.

Many of the techniques that follow don't actually provide you with a direct placement, but help you by allowing you to cross out one or more pencilmarks.

Writing in all of the pencilmarks for every cell is quite a laborious task, but a computer program can do this automatically, updating the pencilmarks for cells whenever you add in a new value. Spot in the example puzzle that having pencilmarks there makes finding Single Candidates trivially easy! (See the lone 3 in the top right 3x3 block).

Astraware Sudoku can automatically update and fill in the pencilmarks for you if you wish, by selecting the "Auto Pencilmark" option from the in-game menu. The game bases the pencilmarks on the numbers currently in the grid, and if you make changes does not automatically update, but you may use this feature as often as you wish.

Simple Techniques

Here are a couple of the simplest techniques to get you started started on your first Sudoku! Even though there are many more advanced techniques which can be used, most are simply used to help you eliminate possibilities, making it possible to apply these two to finding a solution. Further information on getting started be found at www.palmsudoku.com.

The "Single Position" technique

Choose a row, column or box, and then go through each of the numbers that hasn't already been placed. Because of other placements, the positions where you could place that number will be limited. Often there will be two or three places that are valid, but if you're lucky, there'll only be one. If you've narrowed it down to only one valid place where you can put the number... you can fill that number straight in, since it can't go anywhere else!

An example of how to apply this technique is available here.

Tip: While sometimes you may end up having to scan every row, column and box, the chances of finding a single position are better in an area that already has plenty filled in. Start your search in a line or box that is already busy, and you may save yourself quite a bit of time!

The "Single Candidate" technique

This technique is very easy - especially if you're using pencilmarks to store what candidates are still possible within each cell.

If you've managed to rule out all other possibilities for a particular cell (by examining the surrounding column, row and box), so there's only one number left that could possibly fit there - you can fill in that number.

An example of how to apply this technique is available here.

Tip: If you're using a computer program to assist you, then you'll probably do most of your placements with this method. If you're doing your pencilmarks by hand - double check that you've filled them in correctly, otherwise you might make a placement that isn't valid!

Filling in the Cells

In Astraware Sudoku, the numbers along the bottom of the board are used for entering pencilmarks into the currently selecting cell. To enter pencilmarks manually, select a cell, and then tap on the numbers which you wish to mark in this cell.

Along the right hand edge of the board is a second set of numbers, used to enter a full number into the currently selected cell (once you've determined which number you wish to enter into the cell). To enter a number, simply select the cell and tap on the number you wish to enter.

Advanced Techniques and more!

For more information on all the current Sudoku techniques and examples of how to apply them, visit our Sudoku guide here:
www.palmsudoku.com

Tip: Registered users can also download extra puzzle packs from here!

Registering

In Demo form, you can play 10 games of Sudoku for free, as you decide whether you like it or not. After these games are up, the program will display a short message reminding you to register each time you play!

If you beam a demo to someone else, and they also like the game, then they can register it either by purchasing a copy from a local store or by purchasing online.

Registering Online:

For those that like the speed and convenience of buying via the internet, you can register online to get a code which will unlock the game and remain valid for future upgrades. Go to the web page at http://www.astraware.com/palm/sudoku/ for more details.

You'll need to know your HotSync ID which you can find by running Sudoku, opening the menus, and selecting the 'Register...' option. Your HotSync ID will be filled in for you below.

When you register, Astraware will generate a key based on your ID, which will normally be sent out by email within 48 hours of registering. When you receive your key, go to the same register option described above, and enter the key into the space provided.

Astraware Products

You can find out about Astraware and the product range we have for mobile platforms by visiting our website at www.astraware.com.
Here are our top products at time of writing:

Release Revision History!

• First Public Release!

Feedback

If you've got suggestions for Astraware Sudoku, or wish to report any problems you've had, then please contact us!

Contributors

Astraware
Game design and Programming: Janet Campbell, Howard Tomlinson, Larry Dyde
Graphics: John Phillips, Bryan King, Larry Dyde
Quality Assurance: Graham Harrison, Paul Klosowski, Kieren Smith

Many thanks also to our tireless beta testers!

Software License Agreement

1. Grant Of License
   This License permits you to use Sudoku on any single computer, provided the software is installed on only one handheld device at any time.

2. Copyright
   The software is owned by Astraware Limited and is protected by United Kingdom copyright laws, international treaty provisions, and all other applicable national laws. You may not modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble or otherwise attempt to discover the code and algorithms of the software.

3. Other Restrictions
   You may not rent or lease the software, but you may transfer your rights under this license agreement on a permanent basis provided you transfer all copies of the software and all written materials and the recipient agrees to the terms of this license.

4. No Warranty
   The software is delivered as is and Astraware Limited makes no warranty as to its use or performance. Astraware Limited does not, and cannot warrant the performance or results you may obtain by using the Software or its documentation. Astraware Limited makes no warranties, express or implied, as to noninfringement of third party rights, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. In no event will Astraware Limited be liable to you for any consequential, incidental or special damages, or for any claim by any third party.

Legal

Astraware Limited takes no responsibility for any adverse effect that this software could cause to your machine or the data on it: backup important data before using Sudoku. Sudoku is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. Sudoku is licensed, not sold.

You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble this software.

Astraware’s and its suppliers’ entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be, at Astraware’s option, either (a) return of the price paid, if any, or (b) replacement of the product that does not meet the warranty and which is returned to Astraware with a copy of your receipt. This warranty is void if failure of the product has resulted from accident, abuse, or misapplication. Any replacement software product will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer. These remedies are not available without proof of purchase from an authorized source.

Written permission must be obtained before distribution of this game, either in demo form or full form, through any online or offline methods. You may link to the product specific page, but not directly to the files (as these will change and as the programs are updated) 

Copyright (c) 2005 Astraware Limited.

Astraware and the planet logo are trademarks of Astraware Limited All rights reserved.