- Publication date
-
1993
- Topics
- DOS games, Vintage computer games, Puzzle games
- Item Size
-
381.3K
Cryptograms are word puzzles which encrypt a saying or pun using a simple substitution code. For example, the saying “A penny saved is a penny earned” might appear in a cryptogram as “B QFOOZ TBWFE JT B QFOOZ FBSOFE”, by using the next letter of the alphabet in place of the original (“A” becomes “B”, “B” becomes “C”, etc.). Or, a random substitution sequence might generate “L RFSSG DLYFU CD L RFSSG FLISFU” (“A” becomes “L”, “P” becomes “R”, and so on). To decipher these codes, one looks for letter frequencies, groupings, and repetition to provide clues as to the encryption sequence used.
Popular interest in cryptograms goes back to at least the 19th century. Arthur Conan Doyle had Sherlock Holmes decipher such a code in “The Case of the Dancing Men,” in which stick figure men drawn in various positions were used as an encryption sequence for a secret message. Edgar Allan Poe in “The Gold Bug” narrates the deciphering of a message describing the location of buried treasure. (The Gold Bug message is included in this kit for you to try your own hand at breaking the code.) Nowadays, cryptograms are commonly found in word game magazines, or in the newspaper next to the crossword puzzle.
Solving cryptograms requires an initial trial-and-error process. When solving by hand, this usually involves repeated markings and erasings as different substitutions are tried out. However, using CRYPTOGRAMMER, the letter translation is automatic, and trial-and-error is a far simpler process. In addition, CRYPTOGRAMMER provides a simple toolkit for tallying frequencies of letters, doubles, 2- and 3-letter words, and provides references on typical frequencies found in everyday usage.
- Addeddate
-
2017-09-17 19:10:24
- Emulator
-
dosbox
- Emulator_ext
-
zip
- Emulator_start
-
crptgram.exe
- Identifier
-
CRPT13
- License
-
shareware
- Scanner
-
Internet Archive HTML5 Uploader 1.6.3
- Year
-
1993
Another thing that really makes CRYPTOGRAMMER v1.3 enjoyable for me is how it manages to stay interesting even after playing it multiple times. Many games feel repetitive after a while, but here, the experience still feels fresh because of the small details and different ways you can approach the gameplay. As you continue playing, you naturally start improving and understanding the mechanics better, which makes everything feel more rewarding. I also appreciate the balance the game maintains—it’s not too difficult, but it’s not too easy either. You can play it casually for a short break or spend longer sessions without getting bored. That flexibility is one of the biggest reasons why I keep coming back to CRYPTOGRAMMER v1.3. Overall, it’s the kind of game that doesn’t just entertain you for a moment, but actually gives you a consistently enjoyable experience every time you play.
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