Program: Extreme Ataxx
Author / Publisher: Mark Fitzgerald
License: Free / Open Source / GPL v.2+
Program Description: Extreme Ataxx is a configurable implementation of Ataxx, with the classic arcade layout, for two human or computer players, with simplified graphics. Ataxx is a board game which works better on a computer than on a traditional board, for two to four human or computer players, that some have likened to a cross between Reversi and Othello. Though it has been around a while, Extreme Ataxx still has one of the strongest Ataxx AI's, according to some reviews.
Website: http://www.geocities.com/mark_gamez/extreme-ataxx/ (see edit)
System Requirements / OS Support: Written for Windows 95/98/NT, it works as-is on XP.
Installed Size: 1.21 MB (1,279,442 bytes)
Implementation Details: Extreme Ataxx is distributed in zip files containing the program, or the source code (with supporting files), or both. The program-only package contains just an executable with a "cygwin1.dll" file, requires no installation (actually does not even have an installation routine), and already runs quite well portably. Though it is configurable, the configuration is not stored in any file and must be reentered each time the program is run. I have used it with no problems or adjustments on XP without using an administrative account. I have not seen any evidence of it even making any tracks to clean up, much less leaving anything behind.
Source Code: Source files are available on the download page for the program, either with the binaries, or without.
Aliases: For those searching, this game has been misspelled as "Attax," "Attaxx," and "Attacks." Ataxx has also been known as "Infection" (1988), "Spot" (from 7-UP, 1990), and, in the game "7th Guest," as a sub-game, officially called "Show of Infection," but also known as "Microscope puzzle" and the "germ game." There is also a version of Ataxx called "Hexxagon," which has a hexagonal (rather than square) board, grid, and spaces, and which also has many variants by many names.
I have enjoyed Portable Apps for quite a while, but this is my first post / contribution. I am grateful to John and the community for all the work done here. This game already works perfectly portably for me, including with the PAM, but I am submitting it as a suggestion hoping it can be packaged in PA format, eventually made official, and posted in the games section of the apps list so others here can enjoy it, too.
Zephyr Riley
edit (5-4-2012): The old Geocities mark_gamez site was archived by oocities.org, so the game page still exists (as of 5-3-2012) at http://www.oocities.org/mark_gamez/extreme-ataxx/index.html
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I tried playing the game and have no clue how it's played and the pages linked to from that site give no clue on how to play other than "it's not Othello".
Good thing about the app is it doesn't save any settings (that I can find) so there's no config file to backupe or any file/directory/registry "clean up".
This would be simple to make portable, so I guess I'll do it. It won't be released however until the new menu.pa.com stuff comes out. I'm holding all my stuff back until then so they're in the new format.
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Thank you for your comments and help. What is the current estimate on the time line for when the new menu.pa.com stuff comes out? I seem to have missed it (not that I've been keeping up that well recently).
An overload of information about all aspects of Ataxx may be found in the Ataxx section of Alain Beyrand's Pressibus site, and Mark Fitzgerald, the Extreme Ataxx author, refers to it in his descriptions. Game play is explained on the "Rules" page. Though the information is great, the Pressibus has been around a while and some of the links are no longer valid. Though not nearly as detailed, the Wikipedia Ataxx article also has a fair amount of information, including game play, and, being more recent, all of the links seem to be working. I intentionally didn't include game play instructions in the app request because I was trying to give as much technical information for partablizing without making the write up too long (in case you didn't notice, I tend to err on the verbose side), and it didn't seem like the appropriate place for game play information. Now that I know there is interest, I'll post a little game play tutorial with links.
when it will come out. Well - maybe John
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I like this! You wouldn't happen to know if there is a skinnable version out there anywhere would you?