I'm SO stuck!

[Knut]

I've been trying level 10 for so long and I just cant' get by. I've read everyone's guide but I just can't seem to get it.

I get really overwhelmed by 6 numbers and just crack. I just can't seem to find all the numbers. In my last game I had all 6 numbers with 3 guesses left and 3 were in the right spot and the other 3 were not. I just couldn't seem to get the last three into the right order. I don't know if I'm the only one having trouble but I'm extremely annoyed.

[monkeecj]

I would love to try to help you.

The levels with 6 numbers can be very tricky. You mentioned reading the guides, but I wondering if you read Hamlet's advanced strategy (it can be found here: www.ant.igon.us) - that is the one that I was able to understand the most.

What you have to keep in mind is that it is all about the "Shift Technique." Finding numbers as in the answer and gradually shifting them to the right to find their position while adding more numbers into the sequence.

I played a game to get a good picture example, but my Level 10 was rather messy so I took a picture of my Level 20 puzzle instead. There are only two differences - less guesses (which doesn't matter if I'm giving it as an example) and multiples of the same number can be found in the answer. I hope that second difference doesn't matter to you as I explain this, but if so I can get you a picture of a Level 10 clue.


(you may want to click the larger version if you can't see the numbers so well)

Here is my Level 20 clue.
I always begin with 121212 which is essential for me, but you could try 010101 or some other combination of alternating numbers if you can keep track of them in your head.

My first guess (121212) gives me a red ball so I know that there is either one 1 or one 2 in the answer and it is NOT in the correct position. So in my next guess I begin with a 2 in the first spot and 3s in all the rest of the spots - If I was to receive a green ball for this, I might know the two is in the first position (and I make sure to try it in one of the positions NOT in the first guess because I got the red ball).

Instead, I received nothing, which means there are no 2s or 3s in the answer.

Now begins the shift technique. I place the 1 in its first possible position (it can only be in the second, fourth, or sixth spots because of that first red ball) and I put 4s in all the other spots. From this guess I receive a green and a red ball. I know from these that my 1 is NOT in the correct position and one of the 4s IS because if the 1 was correct the only place for the incorrect 4 to go would be the 1's position and they both can't occupy the same spot.

Now in the next guess I place the 4 in its first possible position, and SHIFT the 1 to the next possible spot, filling the rest of the places with 5 (my next number in sequence). From this I receive two green and two red balls. I make the assumption with this that only one of 1 and 4 is incorrect because the odds of both being incorrect are so slim (it would force the last two numbers to be 41 and then the other two 5s would be correct in the other two spots - not likely). That tells me that one 5 is correct and one is incorrect, which means that a 5 occupies either the position of the 1 or the position of the 4.

I guess that the 1 is correct and the 4 is incorrect. It doesn't HAVE to be true, but the odds favor it because the 1 only has one more possible position and the 4 has several. So I test this theory out in the next guess by keeping the 1 in its spot, SHIFTING the 4 to its next possible position, and filling all the rest with 6, my next number in sequence. The green and red balls favor the idea that the 1 is correct and the 4 is incorrect.

In my next guess I know I will have placed the 4. I try the 4 in its next spot, keep the 1 the same, and add 7s to the other spots. By getting two greens, I know the 1 and 4 are correct!!

So now I am down to 4 more spots to fill... but wait! Thinking back to my guess with the two 5s, I know that one of the 5s either had to be in the 4's or the 1's position. Seeing that the 1 was in its correct spot, I know that one of the 5s is in the first position (the 4's original one). So now I am down to 3 spots to fill.

My next guess I put the 5, 1, and 4 in the positions I KNOW they are in, and try out my second 5. I know that this 5 HAS to be in one of the positions it was in the first time I tried it (because of the green ball). So I begin in the first possible position (the second spot) and fill the other two missing spots with 8s (my next number in sequence). This yields 5 balls, 3 green and 2 red, so I know an 8 is in the answer.

Thinking back, I KNOW that the first 5 and the 1 and 4 are all correct, so that means the other two numbers (8 and 5) are both incorrect. This is easy placement for the 8, because it only has one other spot to go in!! So now I know that the sequence is 58_14_. I know the 5 is in one of the last two positions, so in my next guess I try the 5 in its next possible spot (the third) and I fill the last spot with my next number in sequence, 9.

585149 happens to be the answer and I pass level 20!

Now, this guess could have shown me five greens and no red which would tell me a 0 was in the last spot. Or it could have shown me four greens and two reds which would tell me the 5 and 9 were reversed. Or it even could have shown four green and one red which would tell me the 5 was wrong and the 0 was in the third spot, but any way you look at it I had one more guess so I was safe!!

It should be easier for you, Knut, because you are on Level 10 so you have more guesses. I hope you understand the above, and if not, feel free to ask questions.

I love Operation Gumball!!

Good luck!!

[Knut]

Thank you for all your help, I'm extremely grateful that you took the time out to help me with this. I really did need all the tips I could get.

I tried again using this 'shift technique' to the best of my ability and understanding through the first 10 levels and....... I BEAT LEVEL 10!!!!!! But I failed again at 11. But thanks to you, I was able to complete 1 tough level.

Thank you so much for all of your help, monkeecj!

[ThanuX]

Wow, Monkeecj. Reputation point for you!

[monkeecj]

Originally Posted by Knut

Thank you for all your help, I'm extremely grateful that you took the time out to help me with this. I really did need all the tips I could get.

I tried again using this 'shift technique' to the best of my ability and understanding through the first 10 levels and....... I BEAT LEVEL 10!!!!!! But I failed again at 11. But thanks to you, I was able to complete 1 tough level.

Thank you so much for all of your help, monkeecj!

You're very welcome!! Secretly, I've seen all of those tutorials for this game and I have always wanted to write up an example of my own! LOL

Congratulations on completing Level 10! That is a huge step to take!

I am curious, though - if you don't mind my asking, what was the issue at 11? I wouldn't assume that to be too difficult after 10, but I know strange combinations can come up. Make sure you update the strategy in 11+ to accommodate for multiples of the same number.

For me, it is all about the "shift technique." I didn't even understand how in the world to play the game until I understood that and suddenly I was able to play so much better and I have now completed the entire game several times. And it's all a lot of fun, too.

[Knut]

Okay, when I was doing level 11, I sort of forgot that numbers could be repeated. When I did, I had but 4 guesses left only to realize afterward I didn't need to repeat the numbers. I messed 2 up by putting in the wrong numbers, by accident. When I finally got control of my keyboard I tried it again and had only 1 number right, 1 number in the wrong spot and one unknown (The number was 197) I had 1 right, and 7 in the wrong spot. For my last guess I had to guess 9 or 0. So I put 107 and it exploded. Haha..

But update on that I made it to level 20 with 3 consecutive repeating numbers (227700) and I lost. But for a beginner, I think getting that far is good. I'm just hoping to get a trophy some time soon because I finally beat Polar Plunge and got that trophy, so I figure I'll get this one sooner or later.
It's getting a lot easier thanks to everyone's guides and help.

[monkeecj]

Originally Posted by Knut

But update on that I made it to level 20 with 3 consecutive repeating numbers (227700) and I lost. But for a beginner, I think getting that far is good. I'm just hoping to get a trophy some time soon because I finally beat Polar Plunge and got that trophy, so I figure I'll get this one sooner or later.
It's getting a lot easier thanks to everyone's guides and help.

I'm glad you sorted through that problem and made it to Level 20. Once you complete Level 20, that is the last big obstacle until the very last levels and by that time the odds of winning the trophy increase so much you are likely to get it even if you don't complete the game right away.

When there are multiple repeating numbers it can sometimes get VERY confusing. That situation you describe with 227700 sounds difficult. I once had a Level 20 clue that had my head spinning, but I did get it on the last guess - it was 995999!! That is the most of any number I've ever seen repeated!

I suppose my picture above should be of more help now that you are at Level 20. Again, good luck and you will win that trophy!

[Knut]

Thanks for all your help and support.

[Knut]

Updated!!! I made it to level 24 With the hardest numbers yet on my part. Still no trophy, too.

[monkeecj]

Originally Posted by Knut

Updated!!! I made it to level 24 With the hardest numbers yet on my part. Still no trophy, too.

Congratulations on getting to Level 24 - you are getting so close!! If you are able to get past Level 20, you will have a trophy in no time at all!!

One of my close friends is eventually going to get up the odds of winning a trophy at each level of Operation Gumball (and other amazing statistics). Since that is not up yet, I thought I might be able to give you a preview if you are interested. As you probably know, the odds of winning the trophy increase as the levels get higher. There is a 1 out of 904 chance of winning a trophy on Level 1. This is where you are:

Level 1 - 1/904 chance ----------- 0
...
Level 20 - 1/125 chance --------- 0
Level 21 - 1/104 chance --------- 0
Level 22 - 1/85 chance ----------- 0
Level 23 - 1/68 chance ----------- 2
Level 24 - 1/53 chance ----------- 1
Level 25 - 1/40 chance ----------- 3
Level 26 - 1/29 chance ----------- 1
Level 27 - 1/20 chance ----------- 4
Level 28 - 1/13 chance ----------- 0
Level 29 - 1/8 chance ------------- 1
Level 30 - 1/5 chance ------------- 3

I haven't been playing Operation Gumball for very long at all, but I can inform you that you will definitely be winning trophies if you can consistently get past Level 22 based on my statistics. The number to the very right is the number of trophies I have won from that level in my minimal number of game played. I have won 16 Operation Gumball trophies - the latest 15 are up there and I also won my very first trophy on Level 8 (1/533 chance), which is my only one below Level 23.

You will be getting tons of them if you keep playing, Knut. Good luck on that trophy!!