Papertronics

Factorial Calculator

Difficulty: Expert

Game Overview

Design a physical track where a marble rolls and executes programming instructions. The marble carries a value and performs calculations as it hits different track pieces.

Puzzle

Calculate the factorial of 4 (4! = 4 × 3 × 2 × 1) and output the result 24.

Starting Conditions:

• Marble begins carrying the value: 4
• Expected output: 24

Available Track Pieces (Use Each Once):

• 2× CURVE - Changes marble direction 90°
• 1× STRAIGHT - Continues marble in same direction
• 1× LOOP-TRACK - Connects track to form a physical loop
• 1× BRANCH-ZERO - Marble goes LEFT if carrying 0, RIGHT otherwise
• 1× SUBTRACT-1 - Subtracts 1 from marble's value
• 1× MULTIPLY - Multiplies marble's value by memory slot A
• 1× STORE-A - Saves marble's current value to memory slot A
• 1× LOAD-A - Loads value from memory slot A into marble
• 1× OUTPUT - Displays marble's current value
• 1× HALT - Stops the marble

Rules:

• Arrange all track pieces to create a complete path
• Marble executes instructions when rolling over pieces
• Design must calculate factorial using the loop mechanism
• Marble must output 24 and then halt

Goal

The marble completes its journey, outputs 24, and stops.

Game Description:

PaperBugs is a puzzle where you control bugs on a grid by writing a simple program. Each bug executes the same program step-by-step to reach their targets. The key challenge is that ALL bugs run the SAME program simultaneously!

Puzzle:

Available instructions:

• MOVE - move forward one cell
• LEFT / RIGHT - rotate 90 degrees
• IF FLOWER - execute next line only if flower ahead
• IF EMPTY - execute next line only if path clear
• IF WALL - execute next line only if wall ahead
• IF GEM - execute next line only if gem ahead

Board:

Legend:

• Flower (blocks movement)
• Gem (collectable)
• Wall (blocks movement)

Goal:

Write a single program that guides both bugs to collect gems and reach their targets safely.

Game Description:

PaperBugs is a puzzle where you control bugs on a grid by writing a simple program. Each bug executes the same program step-by-step to reach their targets. Heavy bugs have special abilities! Available Instructions:

• MOVE - move forward one cell
• LEFT / RIGHT - rotate 90 degrees
• IF FLOWER - execute next line only if flower ahead
• IF EMPTY - execute next line only if path clear
• IF ROCK - execute next line only if rock ahead
• PUSH - push a rock forward (Heavy Bug only)

Puzzle:

Special Rule: Heavy Bug can push rocks with the PUSH command, but only into empty spaces.

Goal:

Push rocks to create a safe path and reach the target.

Puzzle Description:

PaperBugs is a little puzzle where you control bugs on a grid by writing a simple program. Each bug executes the same program step-by-step to reach their targets.

Instructions:

• MOVE - move forward one cell
• LEFT / RIGHT - rotate 90 degrees
• IF FLOWER - execute next line only if flower ahead (the next cell the bug is currently facing)
• IF EMPTY - execute next line only if path clear

Puzzle - "Avoid the flower" (Easy)

• [ ][ ][T]
• [B][F][ ]
• [ ][ ][ ]

Legend:

• B: Bug (starts facing right)
• T: Target
• F: Flower
• [ ]: Empty space

Goal: Get the bug to the target.