Tic Tac Toe ++ is a 3- or 4-player version of the old 2-person game.  The method of play is exactly the same -- players take turns putting one of their markers on the board. The way of winning is also exactly the same -- get 3 of your markers in a row, vertically, diagonally, or horizontally.  The boards are different.  The 3-player game is played on a 4 x 4 board, and the 4-player on a 6 x 6 board.  In the 2 player game, only a mistake by one player can allow the other player to win.  It might be the same for ttt++ but it has resisted my attempts to analyze it.  At the least, it is much more likely that a player will make a mistake in this game.

All the game requires is a browser to play.  No downloads.  Probably, it will only play in Internet Explorer, but I have not tested that theory yet.

To play, contact 2 or 3 other people, settle on a game name, and a time to play.   If you want to test it all by yourself, you will need to start 3 or 4 browser instances and simulate multiple players.   Then point your browser to www.mccprogramming.com/tictactoepp/signon.aspx .  The first player clicks on the link to start a new game, then types in the name, chooses 3 or 4 players, and submits it.  Then all the players, including the first, have to sign on to the game.  To sign on, enter a name.  You may use one of the already entered names (Martin, Tom, Ira, John, Walt, Alvin), or you may click on the link to create a new player identity.  Then you choose the game name, and click on one of the supplied symbols.  There is as yet no test to make sure everyon has a different name, but there is one to make sure everyone has a different symbol. As soon as the 3rd or 4th player signs on, the application randomly puts the players in playing order and informs the appropriate player that it is "Your Turn."  That player clicks on the space that he wants to occupy, etc.  When a win is achieved, the application informs all players and stops.  A link is provided to join a new game.  So far there are few safety nets in the game.  If anyone does something like accidentally closing his browser in mid-game, the game is going to be trashed, although it may look like it is still running.

The Sign Up Page does not work yet, although you may look at it.  If all you want is to sign up for notices of meetings, send an e-mail to mccampion@aol.com .

Mostly, Tic Tac Toe ++ is a Microsoft Net Framework Web Application written in Visual Basic.Net.  It also includes client-side JavaScript  and a Web Service, also written in VB.Net.

When the first player accesses the web site, the application starts up.  The application can recognize a different session for each browser that contacts it.  The application also maintains a collection of games in progress. Instances of  the class, GameInProgress, hold methods and properties pertaining to a specific game.  An Access database holds permanent player information and some temporary game information. 

Every time an update or a new page is requested by the browser, the application potentially gets information from the text boxes, radio buttons, and button clicks that were used in the browser.  This information is incorporated in the game, using the class above and occasionally the database. Then a new page is sent to the browser, incorporating the new state of the game.

While the game is in progress, the browser is running a timer, activated and handled by  JavaScript routines.  When the timer ticks, the browser sends information and gets information from the Web Service, to find out if it needs an update.  If it does, the routine clicks a hidden button to request one.  The first version of the game did without the web service, and just did an automatic update every 10 seconds whether there was any new information or not.  This was very irritating.