Crossword’s LCD will display the puzzle grid. By default, the cursor will be flashing over the first let- ter of the first word that runs across. You can move around the grid in any direction that you choose using the UP/DOWN/ RIGHT/LEFT arrow buttons or the diagonal buttons. Position the cursor over the first letter of the word you wish to solve. The clue for that word is displayed at the bottom of the LCD. Press ENTER to change the direction that the word runs (down or across). The clue automatically changes to match the word direction. Once you are ready to fill in the blanks, use the
If you need help solving the puzzle, please keep in mind that the New York Times Electronic Crossword can help you accord- ing to what you need. Let’s say that you have drawn a blank and cannot think of the word. Maybe all you need is a clue. Press the SOLVE button. At this time, the LCD will prompt you to press Q, W, or E. Press the E button and the display will reveal the letter that the cursor is flashing on. Press the W button and the display will
reveal the word that the cursor is flashing on. Press the Q button and the display will reveal the entire puzzle.
Keeping
Score!
You can check your score any time you wish by pressing the SCORE button. The LCD will then show the Score screen which dis- plays the following items:
•The total number of correct letters you have entered.
•The total number of letters that have been revealed by the New York Times Electronic Crossword.
•The total number of incorrect letters you have entered.
•The total number of penalty points assessed.
•Your score, which equals the number of correct letters minus the number of letters that were revealed (using the SOLVE but- ton), minus the number of incor- rect letters, minus any penalty points for using the CHECK fea- ture.
•The time taken thus far to
solve the puzzle.
•The puzzle number
•The best score. Please keep in mind that the best score informa- tion is updated when a new puzzle is selected. Dashes will be shown in place of numbers until a non- zero score has been achieved.
•The best time.
Options and
more Options!
We recommend that you become familiar with the Options screen. This screen offers various alternatives for setting up your game, as well as saving your puz- zles. Use the UP/DOWN buttons to select one of the options listed below.
AUTO CHECK: After you select “AUTO CHECK,” press ENTER to confirm. Then select “ON” and press ENTER to confirm if you would like the New York Times Electronic Crossword to make a sound any time you type an incor- rect solution letter. Otherwise select “OFF” and then press
ENTER.
Note: When you choose to turn
on this option, each wrong letter pressed will result in one penalty point, up to a maximum of 40 penalty points.
SAVE PUZZLE: After you select “SAVE PUZZLE,” press ENTER to confirm. Selecting YES and pressing ENTER to confirm will save the current puzzle and user information.
SWAP PUZZLE: New York Times Electronic Crossword is ideal for couples who both love to work crosswords, because the device keeps track of new, tried and completed puzzles for two different users!
Once a puzzle and the user information have been saved and the second user has started a puz- zle, the Option screen will show “SWAP PUZZLE” instead of “SAVE PUZZLE.” Simply select “SWAP PUZZLE” to go back to the first player’s information and game, (including the games tried by that person and the resulting scores). Select “SWAP PUZ- ZLE” again to return to the sec- ond player’s information.
Caution: Selecting the saved puzzle from the Main menu will erase the swap puzzle informa-
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