Super Mind

SuperMind is a 1994 Macintosh implementation of the classic Mastermind code-breaking puzzle, written by Chris Innanen (InWare) of Johns Hopkins APL. It expands the familiar board-game concept by letting the solver choose pattern lengths from 2 up to 10 pegs, with the Mac taking over the referee role so the game plays solitaire-style.

Gameplay

The computer picks a hidden code drawn from eight peg colors, at a width the player chooses (2 to 10 pegs). The solver has 15 guesses; after each guess the program grades it with the standard Mastermind feedback of correct-color/correct-position vs. correct-color/wrong-position markers.

Difficulty

At narrow widths the game is almost trivial; at the full 10-peg setting, 15 guesses is, in the author's words, "just barely enough," turning each session into a tight deductive puzzle. Sound effects mark wins and losses.

Requirements

SuperMind requires System 7, at least 256 colors, and 4 MB of memory. On-line help inside the application explains the rules and grading conventions for newcomers to Mastermind.

Distribution

Released through Info-Mac as super-mind-22.hqx in June 1994, SuperMind is freely redistributable shareware and remains available via Macintosh Garden mirrors.