Minesweeper Game Downloads

Mine Field

Year

1975
Strategy

Find Path
Platform

Mainframe || PDP FORTRAN
Mainframe || PLATO IV TUTOR
Mainframe || Modcomp SIMPLER

Mine Field - Game Overview

Mine Field was written in 1975 by Dirk Pellett.

The object is to cross a dangerous mine field without being near any mines when they explode (guess what happens if you are?). The mines get closer to detonating with every step you take. To help you get across, you have clues beside the field. For every mine within two steps of you, you will see the Row, Column and Time left. But they are shown randomly, so you don't know which is which!

Mine Field is a 20*20 grid with hidden mines. You use the arrow keys to navigate to the top of the screen avoiding mines before running out of time. After each move the game tells you the location is safe (no mines within 2 steps) or gives the location of nearby mines using clues. Each clue consists of 3 letters giving the column, row and time remaining but the order of these letters is random. With practice you can learn to read these clues. If you successfully reach the top of the screen a new grid with more mines appears and you keep playing until a mine explodes (under you or within 2 steps). The Highscore lists saves the best 25 scores (level, row) for players on the network.

Dirk and his brother Flint wrote the famous dnd game for PLATO.

Version History

A list of all known versions sorted by platform then version. Email admin@ if you have more! See the Downloads section for available files.

Mainframe	NA	Original version in FORTRAN for a DEC PDP-10 at Caltech.
Mainframe	NA	Ported to TUTOR to work on PLATO IV terminals.
Mainframe	NA	Ported to SIMPLER to work on Modcomp terminals.
Mainframe	NA	Ported back to TUTOR to work on the Cyber1 PLATO terminal emulator.