This isn't quite modding, but we wanted to start a thread for the fastest times achieved by those who are playing the Windows version of 'Dr. Dobbs Defies All Challenges'. I'll keep editing this post to add the quickest times.

Most of the quickest runs can be done by judicious use of the left mouse button to 'grab' the icons from a long way away, which leads to some interesting tactical possibilities. Also, I am no good, and people will beat my times immediately. Hurray.

Level 1 - 12.32 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 2 - 20.18 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 3 - 17.32 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 4 - 16.53 seconds. [Simon Carless]
Level 5 - 22.40 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 6 - 17.31 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 7 - 19.29 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 8 - 17.15 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 9 - 17.21 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 10 - 19.42 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 11 - 24.54 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 12 - 24.40 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 13 - 25.34 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 14 - 22.51 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 15 - 18.39 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 16 - 24.03 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 17 - 21.61 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 18 - 11.20 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 19 - 24.07 [Georg Rottensteiner]
Level 20 - 07.31 [Georg Rottensteiner]

Incidentally, this is a really kludge-y way to do things, obviously, but since we released the source code of the game, there's a possible fix!

We'll send a full set of GameSetApparel T-shirts - http://www.gamesetapparel.com - to the first person to code a working networked high-score table for the game.

The last level is nasty, but you can solve it quick if you know where to jump

These scores are done without mouse use:

01 - 12.32
02 - 20.18
03 - 17.32
04 - 29.92
05 - 22.40
06 - 17.31
07 - 19.29
08 - 17.15
09 - 17.21
10 - 19.42
11 - 24.54
12 - 24.40
13 - 25.34
14 - 22.51
15 - 18.39
16 - 24.03
17 - 21.61
18 - 11.20
19 - 24.07
20 - 07.31

I have created a Networked High Score Table. It consists of a Windows Forms app that allows you to launch the game and automatically tracks your scores and submits them through a webservice and downloads your rankings. I did it this way so that the original release can still be used with the scoreserver without any changes. The highscores are available through the following google gadget:

http://www.aspspider.info/thelastlemon/googlegadget.html

When added to iGoogle you can change the preferences to show an individual player's scores and rankings. I am hosting everything on aspspider.net (a free, but slow hosting provider). I assume you will want to host this on dobbschallenge.com. If so, please let me know how you would like me to get the files/database to you so that I can redirect the webreferences and provide the application to everyone.

Wow Chris,

Remarkable work! I'm not quite sure how to get it to work with the game, though? I need to download an app to run before I run Dr. Dobbs Challenge?

If so, please submit the app, or any required files as an entry and we can test it out!

Thanks,

Mathew Kumar
Community Manager

I have submitted the ScoreServer as an entry and left instructions with a description in the comments section of the upload. If you need more information please let me know.

The ScoreServer will work with the current WebService I've put out there, so feel free to run it, but eventually you will want to host it yourself. If you would like me to customize it to point at your servers, let me know and I'll take care of it. Otherwise, the source code is included and you can feel free to do that yourself (just change the webreference and the connectionstring). I also don't mind if you release the source code to everyone. It isn't the prettiest code at all and there may be a few problems. But it was a quick solution and I think it worked out pretty well. Maybe other people will use it to make their own for their own versions of the game. That would be very cool.