LockGame3D 1.0 for Linux Documentation

LockGame3D is an attempt to develop a realistic 3d lockpicking game intended for release to hobby lockpicking/locksport community. This project was conceived, designed, and implemented by Jonathan King aka JKtheCJer. It is license under the Creative Commons Sharealike license. This can be summed up to mean the following:

REQUIREMENTS:

CONTROLS:

NOTE: The Windows version and the Linux version's controls differ slightly.

Navigating the menus: Playing:

HOW TO PLAY:

Using the main menu select Play (using S) Select a lock, select a visibility mode (Full is easiest) Select (using S)

You will now be presented with a 3D lock to attempt picking. The timer will be counting, so if youre going for that fastest time (seperate time for each visibility mode) hurry :-) You can reset the timer at any time and start from scratch.

Start by hitting Z to check out the pick selection. Left/Right select the pick and hitting Z again will bring you back to the lock with your newly-selected pick in-hand. Raking can work, but isn't as effective as single-pin picking in my experience, so try a good SPP pick (like the Long Hook) at first.

Next you'll need to apply some tension (turning force on the plug). Hold down V to do this. By release V, the tension will start to drop back down. If it drops too far, all of the pins will reset; so keep an eye on it. In this version, it is possible to pick the lock under full-tension and is probably easier that way at first. As the applied tension increases, you'll notice the arrow beside the tension wrench get longer.

Now that you've applied some tension its time to lift those pins. The first thing to do is find the "binding pin", this the pin that is currently preventing the plug from turning and the lock from opening. Only one pin binds at a time, but all must eventually be "set" before the lock will open. The binding pin will put forth a bit of resistance when pushed on with the pick.

Once, you've found the binding pin, start pushing it up. It will set once it reaches the "shearline". This is an invisible line between the plug and the shell of the lock. The tension wrench will rotate a bit when this occurs. Once you see this happen, stop pushing the pin up and lower the pick. The top pin should stay up. Now find the next binding pin and repeat the process. If you push a pin too far, it will overset (both the top and bottom pin will stay up). If this happens you must release some or all of the tension to unset it. If a pin is overset, no other pins will bind until it is unset, and thus the lock cannot be opened. Once you've properly set all of the pins, the plug will turn and the lock will open! At this point if your time beats the lock's fastest time, your time will become the fastest time (like a high-score). Start slow at first, then worry about becoming quick.

If this process sounds completely alien, I suggest checking out some lockpicking texts and books. The LSI Guide the Lockpicking is free and is excellent in my opinion. This process is a tad hard to understand without pictures if you've never seen it before.

SECURITY PINS

The game features 4 types of driver/top pins: Normal, Spool, Serrated, and Spoorated. The last 3 are known as security pins and are put in locks to make picking more difficult. But, don't worry, they aren't that hard to deal with in most cases. Their behavior in the real world is a bit complicated, and my in-game model of them isnt entirely accurate, but they still act mostly like they should. From now on, when I describe them, I am describing my in-game model and not necessarily real-world security pins. Security pins are made to make you think you've set a pin, when in reality you haven't. This trickery is accomplished by machining grooves and other shapes into the sides of top pins. When you push up on a pinstack containing one of these devils under tension, it will "false set" when the shearline reaches one of these grooves. When this happens, the tension wrench will rotate slightly clockwise just like a real set; don't be fooled! In order to set the pin, you must keep pushing. There will be a bit of resistance as you push the pin out of the groove. When you do, you will see the tension wrench rotate backward (counter-clockwise). After you get it out of the groove, keep pushing until you either meet another groove or set the pin.

MISC

Explore the program and figure out making custom locks, its not too hard and will allow you to experiment. The fastest times included by default are my own and are just meant as a general gauge so you know how fast each lock can be picked. I expect them all to beaten without too much trouble and the one's I couldn't get to be opened...I challenge you:-)

The program is not perfect and I know that, but rest assured I worked really, really hard on it. This is the largest project I've worked on (self-taught hobby coder here) This was also my first experience using OpenGL and I've learned a ton. Thanks to the hobby lockpicking community for the support and inspiration. Also thanks to JackNco aka John for the testing. Without him, this app would have turned out a lot buggier than it already is.

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, praise, criticism, etc... is happily accepted at jkthecjer@gmail.com