## Description

_Microsoft Encarta_ is an encyclopedia program by Microsoft Corporation.
Included, from Encarta 94 to Encarta 2007, with minor user-interface
variations between versions, is the educational game MindMaze. (Earlier
versions have a direct link in the main menu, later versions hide it behind
the Ctrl-Z shortcut.)

In _MindMaze_ , while reading _Encarta_ , the player is transported back in
time to break the curse on King Miser the First’s castle. The castle consists
of several floors, each floor holding 100 rooms in a 10×10 grid. To unlock a
door between rooms, the player must correctly answer a multiple-choice, timed
trivia question. While the exit is marked, the road leading to the exit has
many twists and turns. Dead-ends are common, though retracing steps does not
require answering more questions. Points are added to the player’s score with
each correctly answered question. Once the points reach a certain level, the
next floor reached will be the king’s throne room, breaking the curse, and
winning the game. Answering a question wrong twice in a row will cause the
question to reset, though no points are lost. There is a character in each
room who will talk to you, and there are paintings on the walls that lead to
_Encarta_ articles.

Four difficulty levels of questions are included, and nine different
selectable trivia categories are included, along with an “all of the above”
option. Higher difficulty questions give more points when solved. Five torches
are included, which will reveal the path to the next floor for a short time if
used. When answering a question, an article link is next to each potential
answer, letting the player research the answer.

Microsoft Encarta (Included game)