SpiderWeb is an interesting game that holds the interest of both children and adults. It is played on a random grid of dots. Each player during his or her turn must draw a line that connects two of the dots. It must be a new line and it must not cross any of the existing lines on the screen. A line is drawn simply by clicking on two dots, one after the other. If you wish, you may click on a dot and drag the cursor to another dot.
If the line when it is drawn closes a triangle the player scores a point - and is given the opportunity of drawing another line - and perhaps scoring another point. When the line drawn creates a triangle that encloses one or more additional dots the computer will object and the player is given the opportunity of choosing another line. Any number of lines may be drawn from a single point (one line for each turn) and the lines may be of any length.
This version of the game is played with the computer acting as your opponent, the spider. It follows a very defensive strategy but this can lead to some very surprising results. The moving squares in the lower left hand of the display will stop when the move of the player or the spider is being processed. The final moves of any game, especially when there is a large field of dots on the screen can be quite complex and the response of the spider may tend to slow somewhat as all the possible options are considered.
By the way, the spider is just a bit nearsighted and doesn't see all the potential moves that are possible. When he gets confused he beeps a few times and the player has the opportunity to take a free turn. Also, sad to say, every once in awhile he cheats a little bit when he thinks he can get away with it. The game ends when all the possible dots have been joined into triangles — some of those triangles, incidentally, can be awfully thin. Each game creates a new spiderweb design!
The player may at any time request a new game by selecting the NEW GAME button. The program will respond by clearing the screen and displaying the previous dot pattern. Selecting the NEW PATTERN button will create a completely new pattern of dots for subsequent games. The program begins with a random grid of 20 dots. You may increase or decrease (between the limits of 20 to 50 dots) the size of the playing grid by using the GAME SIZE button. This works as a toggle switch. Clicking on one side of the switch will increase the number of dots with the next NEW PATTERN action. Clicking on the other side will decrease the number of dots.
We hope you enjoy this game of SpiderWeb and we remind you that it is shareware. If you continue to play the game please send $5 to Dale Blackwell, 12621 Neon Way, Granada Hills, California, 91344. We will send you our latest version together with additional games we are currently offering. Now, click anywhere on the screen to begin.
