XWord Muggles Forum

Please see below for the latest puzzle PCC#28 - "Check the Sound Cord"

[Level 2] Meta prompt: The answer to the meta is one of my favorite computer games of all time (which appears on BuzzFeed's best PC games of the 90s here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/joshcorrea/best-90s-pc-games)

Many thanks to FrankieHeck and Abide for test-solving!

Note: the level is the intended difficulty I had in mind when I designed the puzzle, but may play differently since every solver has their own area of expertise... what one person may find easy, another may find difficult.

Have fun and keep in mind if you're ever lost at sea, google is your best friend (actually, I don't know if you'd get internet service in the middle of the ocean)
-Phil

Links courtesy of Joe Ross (thank you as always for the tech support!)
crosshare
PUZ
PDF
spreadsheet




Nudges below:

Note: You may consult the list of computer games mentioned in prompt if you wanted to narrow down your options https://www.buzzfeed.com/joshcorrea/best-90s-pc-games

Hint #1: The answer is comprised of three words

Hint #2: 1-A, 33-A, 46-A, 72-A

Hint #3: The clue from 72-Across helps us parse the three sound checks: "B or R," "P or K," "F or K"

Hint #4: Apply the three sound checks to the three longest entries in the puzzle

Hint #5: Only the first words of the three longest entries are relevant

Hint #6: "Bowler Poster Typhoon" almost sounds like the answer to the meta... you'll need to change a letter sound in each of these words

Solution below - SPOILER ALERT:

Answer explanation: Answer explanation: The clue for CORD tells us to interpret that as "C" or "D"... apply the three sound checks (BORR, PORK, FORK) to the three longest answers: BOWLER --> ROLLER, POSTER --> COASTER, TYPHOON --> TYCOON... and so the meta answer is RollerCoaster Tycoon.

Constructor Notes: RollerCoaster Tycoon was released on March 22, 1999. I have such fond memories of playing it - spending hours designing theme parks, building roller coasters, adding scenery to the park, all that good stuff... Easter eggs in this puzzle include: "Excitement" in the clue for ADO, "Intensity" in the clue for LUX, "Nausea" in the clue for SARTRE... These are the three stats that are scored when you build a roller coaster. The game was designed by Chris SAWYER who coded the game almost entirely using Assembly language (which is insanely tough to do) and he was a one-man operation (only help he had was with graphics/rendering and music)!

Nice one, @pchow13! Enjoyed it!

Turned the corner -- (But only because of list provided. )
Thanks, Phil!

Turned the corner! Very clever!

Nudged around the corner (needed some help due to my utter ignorance of the topic). Clever metanism and fun to solve - thanks!

Solved! Needed half the hints to get there though! Thanks Phil!

Barely crossed the finish line, but nevertheless, a clever puzzle, Phil!

Turned the corner. Thanks!