MineSweeperD12 by Alex Nevskiy

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Game is ready

https://github.com/AlexandrNevskiy/MineSweeperD12

Pure VCL;
All-In-One, self-sufficient .exe;
As close to the classic (new) version as possible;
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Custom difficult;
Safe first click (as well generate safe area larger than 3x3)
Animation (of opening area);
Sounds (played from memory, no external files);
Save game at exit and restore at start (for each difficulty);
Classic control, adapted to fast-play style.
High Scores and personal statistics.
Save and restore game window position.

Behind the scenes

[AlexandrNevskiy]

First approach:

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Mine field generation, gradient grid, mines

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Count neighbor mines for cell

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Massive refactoring.

Flags:

[AlexandrNevskiy]

In fact, all works fine.
At test, click on mine not terminate a game, but calls open area function and result is little bit weird :)
On left side of field, all empty cells contains mines

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Independent timer, accurate area open algorithm, mine/flag counting.

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Tiles with shadows

[AlexandrNevskiy]

New animation and sound settings:

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Redesigned:

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Save active game at exit.
Save files separated for Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Custom

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Restore game at start.
Save file coded (zip) and contains version check

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Loose screen (special render sequence).

Display all mines, correct flags on mine, wrong placed flags (cross on mine), and fatal mine (red)

No statistics... yet.

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Success screen (special render sequence).

Detector scan field after each change and detect success situation. Allow to win even w/o flags.

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Personal statistics and high score. Separated for difficulty (except Custom). For each user.

(As Date format used locale short date format)

[AlexandrNevskiy]

About screen:

Email and Challenge name - clickable. Mine too.

[AlexandrNevskiy]

I would like to wish good luck to all participants!

[AlexandrNevskiy]

Behind the scenes

Gradient

A set of 30 images of varying brightness is used to display tiles. When the playing field is initialized, a Gradient Field is generated - it matches the size of the playing field and in each cell contains tile indices that will be used to draw the main field.
To build a rectangular gradient:

1. The sum of the length and width of the playing field is taken - we get a one-dimensional size onto which a set of 30 tiles is superimposed. To keep the playing field as dark as possible, if this size is less than 30, then it is used to index the tiles, and starts with the darkest one.
2. Having interpolated data, you can get gradient values ​​for the upper right and lower left corners.
3. The rest of the field is filled with sequential interpolation of each column.

---

Safe first click

Initially, a draft field is created, the same size as the main playing field. Its center is found and, depending on the specified dimensions, a zone is created that is prohibited for generating mines. (for example, 1/5 of the field size, but not less than 3x3)
After this, the coordinates of all other cells are entered into the list.
Next, a random index is selected in the list. According to this index, coordinates are taken from the list and a mine is placed in them. The entry just selected is removed from the list.
The required number of times (depending on the total number of mines required for generation) is repeated in a cycle. This is guaranteed to create the required number of mines in the guaranteed time.
After this, the game goes into the first click wait mode.

Let's say (for ease of explanation), the player clicked on a tile that is highlighted in color.

For this place, the horizontal and vertical offset value is calculated and the entire draft field is rewritten into the playing field with this offset, placing a safe zone under the player's click.