and the
Temple of Boom!

A Module
focusing on
Logic, Boolean Algebra, & Logic Circuits









Problem Statement
The Adventures of Indiana Jones Video and Computer Game is in the process of being updated to include the fourth movie in the Indiana Jones series. The film is scheduled for release in the year 2000. In the new additions to the game, you are needed to develop one of the features--a bomb.

...so that's why this module is called "...the Temple of BOOM!" That is so cheesy! Yeah, OK, but it gets the point across...that's right! --your job is to devise a logic circuit that triggers a bomb to explode in the video game. Sounds easy, right?

Here's the deal:

In the game, Indiana Jones has just entered a World War II War Room where extremely top secret documents are stored. These documents give clues to the whereabouts of an ancient Mesopotamian treasure worth millions. If Indiana (actually, the game player) can find where the documents are stored, escape the room and building alive (while slaying a few sordid enemies), he can move to the next level of the adventure game.

You need to figure out what parameters will trigger the bomb to explode. If the bomb is to be an effective part of the video game, then it must appear to explode randomly. However, it is not. You will decide what conditions of the game will cause the bomb to blow up! Then, during the game, if the player has just happened to stumble through the game with one of the conditions that you have decided, then it blows up, Indiana loses his life, and the game is over.

OK...you might be saying...what conditions? Well, here are the possible parameters I am giving you:

  • Indiana could enter the room through any one of three ways (window, normal door, trap door to escape tunnel).
  • It is possible that Indiana could have gotten into the Wareroom level of the game by having completed any of 1-5 previous levels.
  • Indiana could be carrying any one of three weapons (gun, hunting knife, his trademark leather "whip").
  • There are two good hiding places to store the secret documents (hidden drawer in a desk, hidden panel behind a wall hanging).
  • Indiana could find the documents or not (The documents are programmed randomly to be in either hiding place.).
  • Enemies could burst in on Indiana in the War room -- or not.
  • Indiana could leave by any of the three ways that he entered (window, normal door, trap door to escape tunnel).

    Whoa! That's a lot of stuff to keep track of...how am I supposed to build a circuit from all of this information?

    Good question! Let's establish our own game levels for the module:

  1. Getting Started Level--build a logic circuit that triggers the bomb based on only one of the parameters listed above.
  2. Novice Level-- Build a bomb-triggering circuit based on just two of the parameters listed above.
  3. Intermediate Level--If you can build such a bomb-triggering device with three different parameters listed above, you will have demonstrated a good basic understanding of logic circuits and Boolean algebra. It's time to move into more sophisticated uses of logic and circuits.
  4. Advanced Level-- Choosing any four parameters listed above, build a logic circuit to blow up Indy. If successful, you are the ultimate World War II villain!
  5. Expert Level-- OK...this is daunting...if you can build such a "bomb-blower-upper" that uses five different parameters listed above, you are not just an expert...you are Indiana Jones!
  6. Game Wizard-- If you can create your own parameters, and build your own logic circuit from them, give the video game makers at Lucas Arts Entertainment a call...they might have a job for you!

    But, hey--let's not rush things...there are some introductory lessons that you need before you make your stab at this bomb...Click the button below to move on to the lessons themselves!

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Last Revised 4/17/98.