Hotspot Variations

This page has been created by JK as a means to guide the development of the Hotspot Reversi variant, and also maybe a combo game with more than one type of hotspot/blackhole.

For those of you who also play Four in a Row at this site. You will be acquainted with Hotspot and Double Trouble 4 in a Row. Now we have Blackhole Reversi, an obvious question is "when do we get HS and DT versions?". The answer (as always!) is not so simple. I coded a few variants of Hotspot at the same time I did Blackhole, but they haven't been released for the following reasons:

1. I was unsure of whether there would be HS certain positions in which there would be a guaranteed win for one or the other colour (most likely player 1!)
2. As I had tested 5 variants, any particular variant had had 1/5 of the testing of the BH variants.
3. I was unsure which variant to choose.
4. Additional graphics are needed

I have not been able to find any overwhelming advantage for one colour over the other (at least not with respect to other games at this site) and so I am now happy with the first, I now need to look at the other points.

Types of Hotspot in order of potency:

• Warmspot - Acts as one of opponents discs, not very powerful/useful, doesn't affect the game significantly when there is only one on the board.
• Hotspot - Acts as one of your discs. Has a larger affect on the game
• Super Hotspot - Chameleonic - acts as either of above as you wish.

Minor rule clarifications:

• 2 alternatives for Warmspot were considered:
  1. At least one disc must be turned when placing your disc
  2. A 'NULL' flip may be performed, so you can place a piece next to the Warmspot without flipping anything.
• 3 alternatives were considered for the Hotspot:
  1. If all the pieces on the board are one colour except the HS, then that player wins.
  2. A lone HS can still be used to flip and so not lose the game in a wipeout.
  3. as previous as long as the player can make a valid move, otherwise he loses. i.e. to 'Pass', player must have at least one piece on the board.
• As well as all previous alternatives, there is the choice for Super Hotspot as to whether more OR less pieces are taken when there is a choice. i.e. what gets flipped when X plays at a (S being the Super Hotspot):

   X O O S O O a

   X O O S X X X

   X X X X X X X

1st example shows the 'quieter' Super Hotspot, the second the more aggressive version.

I can see several game possibilities:

1. Hotspot Reversi using one of the above (but which one!)
2. Double Trouble Reversi using one of the above plus a Blackhole
3. Large Hotspot using 2 Hotspots, not neccessarily of the same type, maybe a Warmspot and a Hotspot.
4. Quadruple Trouble - 10x10 using a Blackhole, a Warmspot, a Hotspot and a Super Hotspot.

Note that I have also had some thoughts about placements of multiple holes/spots, but these can wait for another time.

OK, now I have shown you where I have got to, I appreciate your comments (preferably below!)

BTW I have also coded a Large Blackhole (10x10) with 2 Blackholes - is this enough, should it be 4 !?

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Your (constructive) comments go here

Hi, I'm a little confused...lol A question, You have to place the hotspot or it will be automatically there when the game starts like the 4iar versions?

It will be randomly placed at the start of the game, as is the Blackhole currently.

Large Blackhole; Make it 4!! (Tolp) I agree, and possibly Quadruple Trouble too :-D

1. Hotspot Reversi using one of the above (but which one!) <~~~~This sopunds like a killer game!!! (Badger)
2. Double Trouble Reversi using one of the above plus a Blackhole <~~~~and so does this one!! (Badger)