CTRL+F: Archive Recovery Protocol

Basic Game Setup

• 15 random words are selected from a large word database.
• Words are placed randomly within a 20×20 grid.
• Words may appear:
  • ⬆ Up
  • ⬇ Down
  • ⬅ Left to Right
  • ➡ Right to Left
  • ↗ ↘ ↙ ↖ Diagonally (both directions, including backwards)

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Finding Words

• Click and drag across letters in the grid to highlight a word.
• Release the mouse button to confirm your selection.
  • If Correct
    • The word is surrounded by a border in the grid.
    • The word in the word‐bank is struck through.
  • If Incorrect:
    • The highlight fades away after 0.5 seconds.

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Game Start & Timer

• The puzzle begins empty (no letters in the grid).
• The interface and word‐bank are visible.
• When the player clicks Start Game:
  • Words are placed in the grid.
  • Remaining spaces are filled with random letters.
  • The timer begins.;
• Players have roughly 1 minute per word.

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One‐Time Hint System
Players may use one hint per game.

How it Works:

1. Click the Hint button.
2. Select a word from the word‐bank.
3. The grid is divided into four equal 12×12 quadrants.
4. The quadrant containing the first letter of that word is highlighted with a red border for 5 seconds.

Important Notes:

• The word itself is NOT highlighted.
• The first letter is NOT highlighted.
• Only the quadrant receives a temporary red border.
• Using the hint removes a possible 50‐point bonus.

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Scoring System

If Time Runs Out: Score = (Words Found × 100)

If Puzzle Is Completed Before Time Runs Out: Score = (Words Found × 100) + (Time Remaining × 5) + No‐Hint Bonus

• Each word = 100 points
• Time remaining is multiplied by 500% (×5)
• Not using the hint awards a +50 point bonus