Really need some pointers here

[derring do]

Other people seem to be doing so well with this, and since I can't play minesweeper worth a darn, I'm no better at this game.

Not only do I always time out on the first level (if I don't get skunked) the game ends so abruptly, and the game board is erased so fast, that I can't learn anything from my mistakes. I've begun trying to catch a screen cap at the end of each game, just so I can see where I went wrong...

So far, this has not helped with my scores.

if anyone who excels at this could grab a cap of a corner, or some board section and diagram how to figure out what to do, it would be immensely helpful. I need a new game, since I finally won my Googles trophy, I'm tired of playing that.

[joybugger]

I don't know how to do screen shots or anything, but I will try to explain this in words.

The object of the game is to click on all the squares that don't have skunks behind them. The numbers indicate the number of skunks in the 8 squares surrounding that number.

XXX
X1X
XXX would mean there is a skunk behind exactly ONE of the X's.

Now often you will have the situation where there is only one "hidden" square next to a 1. When that is the case, you can be CERTAIN there is a skunk behind that square. When you are certain there is a skunk behind a square, use the space bar to mark that square with a flower.

What you want to do is to start on the edges. Say you have something like this:

12321
XXXXX

You know that the 3 X's next to the 3 have to have skunks in them. So you can "clear" the X's under the 1's, and mark the other 3. Like this:

12321
_000_ (Assuming _'s are cleared and 0's are flowers/skunks.)

Then just keep moving around the board until you have them all marked or cleared.

Don't rush; rushing is when you make the most mistakes, and time isn't really an issue until at least level 11, depending on how many mistakes you make before that.

Let me know if this helps or if you have more questions. It is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I don't know if this game has a trophy, but you can easily score 100 KC in 10 or so levels. It's worth it for me.

[derring do]

Thanks for the post, joyb, that's a pretty good explanation for no pictures. Here's some rep for you!

It should be easier than I'm making it, I'm sure. "Don't rush," now there's an idea... I'll try that one. I liked your 12321 explanation, that will help. I can usually figure out the corners, or the "onesies" but the ins-and-outs with multiples had me guessing.

I'll give it a few more tries, I'm definitely looking for a new game, since I finally won the Googles trophy.

Thanks again.

[sewgrl]

There are 2 versions of the Skunk game. Beginners might like the room version from the W-Shop.
Choose easy, medium, or hard, for 10, 30, or 60 Kinzcash respectively.
No time limit.
Hit one skunk and the game is over, but you have all the time you want to study your mistake.
Or simply try again.

I use both versions. Hide N Skunk is my biggest moneymaker, too.

I really hope these tips will help. Enjoy!

[derring do]

Thanks, swegrl, didn't see your post about this until just now. Rep for you!

I had avoided the room toy like a, er, well smelly mammal, because I'm so awful at the arcade version. I think the time to figure it out is what I need. Many thanks for the pointers.

---------- derring do added 1 Minutes and 1 Seconds later ----------

Sorry for the dup post, not sure how that happened.

[sewgrl]

derring do, thanks so much for the rep!

When I first learned how to play the "mine" game several years ago, I had to discover all about it on my own. Over time, I became much more familiar with it and got better at it.
When I tried the "skunk" game I didn't understand it, got so frustrated with it, and was ready to throw it out. But I kept at it, after all, and then discovered it was simply a form of the "mine" game. Then I just took off with it.

There are some things to keep in mind:

1) To start, you click on any tile. You'll hit either a skunk or a space. If you get the space, it opens the board to the tile graph, and you get to play the game. If not, you start over.

2) Beware of any tile corner that is not surrounded by a number on every open side of it. There is a skunk under it.

3) I've noticed in the room game that sometimes when the game is finished, and I've uncovered all the tiles, it says in the margin there are "0" tiles remaining. But it doesn't award me my Kinzcash and waits for me to make another move, I guess.

I've discovered this happens when the last tiles cleared are a block of them that clear all at the same time. Quite a glitch, to play the game well and not be rewarded for it.
But there is a way to prevent this from happening: While starting each game I look for a spot where I leave one tile unturned, saving it for the last. Then, when all else is finished, I click that last tile. Voila! Zero tiles remaining--I earn my money--and I'm on my way to the next game. It has worked every time.

Learning the game may be slow-going at first, but it gradually picks up. Taking the time to learn it will well-reward you eventually. I've found the medium version to be my absolute best money-maker. When I was timing some of my games, I earned a thousand Kinzcash in about 37 minutes with the medium level room game. I love it.

Take your time. Pretty soon you'll be responding to patterns instead of counting, until you hit a more difficult area. Once in a while you're forced to make a guess, but that's part of the game. I hope these tips will help even more. Let me know if you learn any others!

sewgrl

[sno4270]

Everyone's advice in here is great. I guess the only thing I can add is don't use the flowers to mark where a skunk is UNLESS you absolutely need to. It takes time to do that, which lessens the amount of money you get in the time bonus, and runs you out of time later on when you have less time. That said, DO use them in the harder levels if you need to think something through. If for instance I'm not sure where a skunk is, I put a flower where I think it is and see if the numbers work with it there. If not, then I know to get rid of the flower and click there.

Later levels hitting a skunk takes more time. I thought getting a skunk took away 15 seconds at ANY level, but then I noticed it was taking 50 seconds in harder levels. So be very very careful. Rushing only leads to a serious loss in time, which defeats the purpose of rushing.

I really shouldn't be giving advice though. My competition in the tournament area is getting better

[sewgrl]

Originally Posted by sewgrl

derring do, thanks so much for the rep!

When I first learned how to play the "mine" game several years ago, I had to discover all about it on my own. Over time, I became much more familiar with it and got better at it.
When I tried the "skunk" game I didn't understand it, got so frustrated with it, and was ready to throw it out. But I kept at it, after all, and then discovered it was simply a form of the "mine" game. Then I just took off with it.

There are some things to keep in mind:

1) To start, you click on any tile. You'll hit either a skunk or a space. If you get the space, it opens the board to the tile graph, and you get to play the game. If not, you start over.

2) Beware of any tile corner that is not surrounded by a number on every open side of it. There is a skunk under it.

3) I've noticed in the room game that sometimes when the game is finished, and I've uncovered all the tiles, it says in the margin there are "0" tiles remaining. But it doesn't award me my Kinzcash and waits for me to make another move, I guess.

I've discovered this happens when the last tiles cleared are a block of them that clear all at the same time. Quite a glitch, to play the game well and not be rewarded for it.
But there is a way to prevent this from happening: While starting each game I look for a spot where I leave one tile unturned, saving it for the last. Then, when all else is finished, I click that last tile. Voila! Zero tiles remaining--I earn my money--and I'm on my way to the next game. It has worked every time.

Learning the game may be slow-going at first, but it gradually picks up. Taking the time to learn it will well-reward you eventually. I've found the medium version to be my absolute best money-maker. When I was timing some of my games, I earned a thousand Kinzcash in about 37 minutes with the medium level room game. I love it.

Take your time. Pretty soon you'll be responding to patterns instead of counting, until you hit a more difficult area. Once in a while you're forced to make a guess, but that's part of the game. I hope these tips will help even more. Let me know if you learn any others!

sewgrl

Correction--I gave the wrong advice!

Above, in #2, it should read this way:

2) Beware of any tile corner that is not surrounded by a number on every open side of it. There is no skunk under that tile, so clear it.

Would you believe that thought came to me as I was waking up this morning? I'm very sorry for the mistake.
sewgrl

[derring do]

Thanks again for the pointers, even if you needed to sleep on it, to say just what you intended.

Oh, and just to show you how I'm doing? The first time I played the room game? I figured I needed to click somewhere, so I did, and got skunked... It's a curse.

I've always been more of a bounce out/diamond mine sort of person, so minesweeper never made it to my pda. I'll take the time to learn it, though, I like your money-making ability. I will learn this, I will! LOL.

[polkadot911]

idk sorry =( wish i could help