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the output terminal. The game presents the list of inputs and the target output values that it is expecting and requires the players to develop the code for each node to match this; if during execution the output nodes receive unexpected outputs, the player will have to rework their solution. Not all nodes are available in certain puzzles, so the player will need to route around these nodes. The game offers the player the ability to step through the execution of the code and insert
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332:, was far too difficult. However, he had completed the assembly-language puzzle aspect, and decided to go ahead and refine only that portion as a full game. To finish off the game, he worked with Keith Holman to write the language's manual inspired by similar computer manuals of the time, and with Matthew Burns to craft a simple story around the game. They used concepts from a
354:, providing a game that was nearly complete to gain suggestions and improvements and the ability to add more content before releasing the final product. Barth estimated that the Early Access phase would last 1–2 months. The final version was released on July 20, 2015. A mobile port published by Metaversal Studios featuring twenty levels titled
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Each TIS-100 compute node has two registers called ACC and BAK. ACC is used by most instructions, while BAK is only accessed by two instructions, one for swapping and one for copying. The instruction set contains 13 documented instructions for arithmetic, basic flow control (conditional jump), no-op,
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The player is presented with a series of puzzles that require them to program the nodes to perform specific actions on a set of numbers from one or more input terminals to produce pre-determined output at other terminals. For example, one task requires the player to double the value of the input at
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statements to determine logic issues within their code. Once the target output conditions are met, the player is considered to have solved the puzzle. The nodes that are disabled in puzzles contain cryptic messages related to the narrative of the game and which contain more information that can be
205:, the player is said to have come across a malfunctioning TIS-100 computer ("Tessellated Intelligence System") and its manual, based on early computers of the 1980s. The computer is presented to the player as twelve separate processing nodes laid out in a four-by-three grid. Each node has a single
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program as entered by the user. The assembly language, a simplified version of real-world assembly languages, allows the node to accept external input or a numerical value sent from an adjacent node, perform basic math and logic operations, store and backup the current data value, and then send
250:, once the player completes a puzzle, their solution is compared to other players through online leaderboards. The player is ranked based on the number of nodes used, the number of instructions within their code, and the number of
314:. One aspect would be the player-character coming across a used electronics store and finding an old computer with corrupted areas, which as they worked to clear up, would discover these corrupted areas contained the core of an
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memory module. Each compute node may hold 15 instructions and each memory node may hold 15 values. Nodes at the top or the bottom may be connected to external sources of input or output respectively.
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presents the player with 12 assembly language-based nodes and other options to develop code in. In this puzzle, the top right node in red is unavailable for use.
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results to an adjacent node or to the program's output. Later puzzles introduce stack nodes and an output to a simple 5-color graphics display.
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in June 2015 with about 25 puzzles within the game, and another 25 were added by the time of its official release the following month.
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code to perform certain tasks on a fictional, virtualized 1970s computer that has been corrupted. The game was released for
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called the game's technology "relevant" and said "if you can survive its stiff challenge, you’re ready to code".
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The TIS-100 architecture has also been implemented outside of the game in an emulator, intended to be used as an
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used. The game allows the player to return to earlier puzzles to better their solution. The game launched in
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infographic based on cybertech fashions to write the tongue-in-cheek narrative for the game and manual.
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to be injected into the player-character's blood as to be able to solve various types puzzles akin to
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304:, which was set in the Middle East sometime in the near future, in which the player would program
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A TIS-100 "machine" is made up of 12 interconnected nodes on a grid, either a compute node or a
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300:, the founder and lead game designer of Zachtronics, had years prior. The concept was named
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and sending data to adjacent nodes. The game also includes undocumented instructions, with
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on June 1, 2015. Barth stated that he took a similar approach to Early Access as with
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to store a numerical value as well as a backup register. Nodes also hold their own
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599:"'Things we create tell people who we are': Designing Zachtronics' TIS-100"
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499:"Zachtronics' programming puzzler TIS-100 now out of Early Access"
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438:"Program a strange, corrupted computer and discover its secrets"
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personal computers in July 2015. A mobile port was released for
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533:"Phlarx/tis: A TIS-100 emulator, uses TIS-100 save file format"
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278:(reboot game) being the first known undocumented instruction.
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was released exclusively for iPadOS on
January 8, 2016.
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In its article "Can
Videogames Teach You Programming",
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630:"SpaceChem Dev's TIS-100: A Programming Puzzler"
400:, a programming game involving assembly language
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412:, a real life CPU with a similar architecture
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235:accessed when the entire game is completed.
663:"TIS-100 Just Launched Out of Early Access"
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238:As with previous Zachtronics games such as
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725:"Can Videogames Teach You Programming"
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328:but found the effort, concurrent with
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737:from the original on February 2, 2017
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575:from the original on March 31, 2022
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673:from the original on July 22, 2015
531:Anderson, Derek (March 28, 2018).
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509:from the original on July 23, 2015
497:Matulef, Jeffrey (July 21, 2015).
448:from the original on June 10, 2015
14:
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661:Estrada, Marcus (July 20, 2015).
642:from the original on June 2, 2015
609:from the original on June 9, 2015
478:from the original on June 2, 2015
628:O'Conner, Alice (June 1, 2015).
545:from the original on May 7, 2021
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723:Sayer, Matt (October 3, 2016).
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436:Hudson, Laura (June 9, 2015).
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283:esoteric programming language
597:Wawro, Alex (June 9, 2015).
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58:Zachtronics Industries
47:Zachtronics Industries
16:2015 puzzle video game
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302:The Second Golden Age
262:Computer architecture
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115:Windows, OS X, Linux
318:. While developing
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368:Rock Paper Shotgun
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207:processor register
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741:January 23,
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163:programming
139:programming
88:Platform(s)
64:Designer(s)
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565:"Assembly"
423:References
410:Transputer
335:Mondo 2000
298:Zach Barth
69:Zach Barth
861:SpaceChem
603:Gamasutra
503:Eurogamer
468:"TIS-100"
362:Reception
241:SpaceChem
232:debugging
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513:July 23,
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476:Archived
446:Archived
397:Core War
374:See also
356:TIS-100P
306:nanobots
197:Gameplay
130:Genre(s)
868:TIS-100
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579:May 25,
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452:June 9,
342:TIS-100
294:TIS-100
223:TIS-100
203:TIS-100
201:Within
179:Windows
158:TIS-100
145:Mode(s)
111:Release
93:Windows
27:TIS-100
538:GitHub
191:iPadOS
185:, and
135:Puzzle
121:iPadOS
105:iPadOS
76:Engine
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268:stack
187:Linux
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101:Linux
81:Unity
743:2017
710:2024
679:2015
648:2015
615:2015
581:2023
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484:2015
454:2015
311:Myst
244:and
183:OS X
97:OS X
276:HCF
886::
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