General Information
Is this cheating?
No. When you use GuideWire, you agree to use it for its intended purpose, which
is to enhance solo game-play. This aid is only to be utilized for personal enjoyment
and should never be used to deceive anyone. You should not post a score
that was obtained using a gaming aid without acknowledging your use of that aid.
Do not use this tool to compete against anyone without their knowledge. However,
if all parties consent, GuideWire can be a great way to set up a handicap for players
of unequal abilities (in other words, an advantage for inferior players) or increase
enjoyment of some games if all players use it at the same time.
Don’t forget, games are supposed to be fun. GuideWire can ethically
be used as a learning aid, to transform difficult games into those children can
play, to create handicaps involving consenting participants, to convert games based
primarily upon visual skill into strategy or puzzle games, to make existing sighting
systems easier to see, or for a plethora of other practical uses. Honesty and common
sense are paramount when deciding how to use it.
Do you charge to use GuideWire?
No. GuideWire can be used completely free of charge.
Do I have to register to use GuideWire?
No. Just install the program and use. We do not require you to give us any personal
information in order to use GuideWire.
How can I keep up on GuideWire-related information?
While we do not collect any personal information against your will, you are free
to subscribe for our email newsletter. This
will allow you to receive periodic updates on new features, events, and offers related
to GuideWire.
Will you install adware or spyware onto my computer?
Absolutely not. While GuideWire is supported by ads, much like many common web games,
we do not install any third party, passive, or otherwise intrusive advertisement
software onto your computer. The only time GuideWire will serve ads is when
it is running.
We are also spyware free. Since this product is new, our website has not yet been
officially certified by an outside source as being spyware free, but it will soon.
Installing and Opening GuideWire
How do I install GuideWire?
Go to http://www.maxthe3rd.com/GameUtilities/GuideWire
and click on the red “Launch Now!” link. The installation process is quick and easy
on most computers. If you don’t have .NET 2.0 or higher, you may need to upgrade
certain components installed on your system.
Is GuideWire compatible with Mac computers?
At this time, we do not support the use of GuideWire on a Mac. It may be possible
with Mono but
we have not had a chance to come up with a formal, supported solution.
Contact us if you have figured out how to get GuideWire working on a Mac.
Can I access GuideWire offline?
Yes. After you install GuideWire the first time, you have the option to access GuideWire
from your computer’s start menu without being online. In the program listings of
your start menu, click on “GuideWire” in the “Hexagon Software LLC” folder.
Application Updates
Will you be offering software updates?
Yes. We are constantly improving GuideWire and currently have several updates in
the works to increase functionality and ease of use. You are always welcome to contact us with suggestions or comments.
How do I install updates?
You don’t need to go out of your way to install updates. Each time you open GuideWire
after an update has been made available, you will be asked if you want to install
the latest version.
What if I skip an update?
The update behavior is a function of Microsoft’s .NET components installed on your
computer so the behavior may vary from context to context. Generally:
- If you skip an update, GuideWire should wait seven days to ask you if you want to
install that same update again.
- If we publish a new version, GuideWire should ask you if you want to update immediately.
- You should always be able to force GuideWire to update to the latest version by
launching it from our website.
Using and Closing GuideWire
What is the “frame?”
The frame is the large, empty, rectangular structure that hosts GuideWire’s menu.
The purpose of the frame is to set the boundaries inside which GuideWire’s laser
operates. If you have set the laser to bounce, it will reflect off of the interior
sides of the frame. Generally the interior of the frame should approximately line
up with the boundaries of the underlying game play space.
What is the “source ring?”
The source ring designates the origin of the laser. Even though the laser will only
be drawn in the interior of the frame, the origin of the laser can be anywhere on
your desktop.
How do I make the frame fit over the game I am playing?
Use the standard method of clicking on the sides or bottom of the frame to move
the entire frame to match up with the top, left corner of your game. Then click
on the bottom, right corner of the frame and drag it to change the dimensions.
The GuideWire Tutorial and
Getting Started with GuideWire both illustrate how to set up GuideWire with
your game.
How do I set where the laser starts?
The source ring can be moved in a similar manner as the frame. Place the center
of the source ring wherever you want the laser to originate by grabbing the ring
with your mouse and dragging it until it is where you want it to be.
The GuideWire Tutorial and
Getting Started with GuideWire both illustrate how to set up GuideWire with
your game.
How can I see the game underneath the frame or source ring?
If you are having trouble viewing the game underneath GuideWire, change the opacity
(found under the “Skin” option on the menu) of either one or both to 10%. This will
make them quite translucent and allow you to see the game more easily.
What are the “Color” and “Opacity” options under “Skin” on the menu?
The color and opacity options are there for your convenience. Set them to whatever
combination works best for you to make GuideWire placement and game play easiest.
Most people set the frame and source ring to be fairly opaque (50-100%) during placement
and then lower the opacity (10-50%) for game play. The color combination you choose
should be based upon your personal preferences.
How do I set the opacity of the laser?
Currently, the opacity of the laser is correlated to the opacity of the frame. If
you change the opacity of the frame it will automatically change the opacity of
the laser in the same way. There may be an update that allows you to control them
separately at a later point in time, but for the time being, use the frame controls.
What’s the purpose of having bounce options under “Laser” on the menu?
Many games allow objects to bounce off of surfaces within the game. If you are playing
one of these games, you may wish to predict the behavior of the object after numerous
wall bounces. You can set GuideWire to show any number of bounces between 0 and
8. Our videos contain examples of this feature.
Why can I not choose more than eight bounces?
Even eight bounces gets somewhat difficult to sort out. With fast-pace games, it
is unlikely that you will want more than one or two bounces. With games that let
you think and plan, like Bubble
Spinner , we have been able to successfully use
five bounces. Even with Bubble Spinner, though, it becomes difficult
to visualize the path of an object with eight bounces because all segments of the
laser look alike. In the future, we may add something that helps users of large
numbers of bounces but, for now, eight is enough.
Why do you have a “Bounce At” option under the “Laser” menu?
The “Bounce At” option allows you to control how the laser beam reflects off of
the walls of the frame. The appropriate setting should be chosen based upon how
you like to set up GuideWire in relation to your game surface. Select “Edge” under
the “Bounce At” option if you plan to match up GuideWire's interior borders precisely
with the borders of the game-playing surface, when the projectile for which GuideWire
is modeling the trajectory bounces like a ball, and when you can easily match the
width of the laser to the width of the projectile in the game. If you choose the
“Center” option, you must place the interior borders of GuideWire inside the game-playing
surface at the place where the center of the object would be at the moment of reflection
(for spheres such as you find in many bubble popping games, a distance equal to
the radius of the object being bounced off of the game walls) for it to work in
an ideal fashion. There is no “right” setting: choose the option that allows you
to most easily configure GuideWire for the game you are playing.
How can I use the “Width” option to my advantage?
The “Width” option under the “Laser” menu allows you to change the diameter of the
laser beam. In addition to changing the look and feel of GuideWire, this option
has implications on how trajectory is modeled. The best way to use the “Width” option
under the “Laser” menu is to try to match the width of the laser most closely with
the diameter of the projectile. That way, you can determine how much space the object
will take up on the game board as it travels and see if the object will fit into
small spaces or clear tight corners before releasing it (assuming you were able
to find a width very close to the diameter of your projectile). At a later point
in time, we will offer a wider variety of width options.
What’s the purpose of the “Reverse Beam” option?
The “Reverse Beam” option of the “Laser” menu can be useful for games where you
use the mouse to control a tool behind the object. Examples of this type of game
include golf, billiards, and pool. Keep in mind that GuideWire does not account
for obstacles, inclines, or spin (many games, particularly pool and billiards, often
involve spin), so flexibility and creativity on your part will be beneficial. If
you’d like to see this feature in action, check out our
golf video.
How do I minimize the application?
There is a “Minimize” option on the menu, which will minimize both the application
and the ad window.
Will GuideWire change the behavior of the game I am playing?
No. GuideWire does not interfere with the game at all. Just think of GuideWire as
being a tool you lay over the game. The game will perform exactly as it would without
GuideWire and you can access and use all parts of the game (or anything else on
your computer) even while GuideWire is placed over it.
What do I do if the ad window is in my way?
As long as GuideWire is open, the ad window will be visible. You can move the ad
window anywhere on your screen by clicking on the top of the frame and dragging
it around. The ad window can be minimized by minimizing the entire application and
you can close the ad window by closing the application.
How do I close GuideWire?
Just click on the "File" menu, then click "Close."
What if I still have questions?
If you still have questions that haven’t been answered here, please contact
Hexagon Software LLC.