NetHack-RTK (Heisig's Remembering the Kanji version)

Description

This is for historical preservation purposes only. This is a modification of Nethack's battle code in C with insertions to ask random questions on Japanese kanji in order for attacks to harm enemies, intended as a way to study Heisig's Remembering the Kanji while playing a game. Only Windows binary included as the source code was lost two decades ago. Depending on your region settings, kanji in the game may not display properly. See Readme_First_NetHackRTK.txt for directions on how to set up your specific mnemonics for the game battles.

Features

• Study While Playing: Combine Japanese kanji study with classic NetHack gameplay
• Remembering the Kanji Integration: Pre-loaded with kanji and keywords from RTK1 (Remembering The Kanji 1)
• Customizable Kanji List: Edit kanji.csv to match your study progress
• Personal Mnemonics: Add your own memory stories to reinforce learning
• Historical Preservation: A unique artifact from the early 2000s combining gaming and language learning

Installation

Prerequisites

• Windows (binary included)
• Display with proper Unicode support (kanji may not display correctly on all region settings)

Setup

1. Extract the archive anywhere on your system
2. Run NetHackW.exe from the NetHackRTK directory

Usage

Starting the Game

Simply launch NetHackW.exe and play NetHack as normal. When you encounter enemies and attempt attacks, you'll be asked questions about Japanese kanji.

Customizing Your Kanji

1. Open kanji.csv in a text editor

2. The file format is: NUMBER, KEYWORD, KANJI, MNEMONIC,

   • NUMBER: Kanji number in RTK1
   • KEYWORD: RTK1 keyword for the kanji
   • KANJI: The actual kanji character
   • MNEMONIC: Your personal story to remember the kanji

3. Example entries:

   990,use,使,a PERSON who's an OFFICER gets "USED" for his abilities
   991,convenience,便,as it GROWS LATE a PERSON can only satisfy cravings at a "CONVENIENCE" store
   

4. Remove kanji entries for chapters you haven't studied yet (make a backup first!)

Game Help

• Refer to Guidebook.txt in the NetHackRTK folder for gameplay information
• Use in-game help for additional information on how to play

Project Structure

NetHack-RTK/
├── README.md                       # This file
├── Readme_First_NetHackRTK.txt    # Original release notes
├── NetHackRTK/
│   ├── NetHackW.exe               # Main Windows executable
│   ├── kanji.csv                  # Kanji database (customize this)
│   ├── defaults.nh                # Game configuration
│   ├── nhdat                       # Game data file
│   ├── tiles32.bmp                # Game graphics
│   ├── *.dll                       # Required libraries
│   ├── Guidebook.txt              # Game manual
│   ├── NetHack.txt                # Additional documentation
│   └── [other game files]         # Supporting files
└── .gitignore                      # Git ignore rules

Notes

• Source Code Not Available: The original C source code modifications were lost approximately two decades ago. This repository preserves the Windows binary version.
• Kanji Display: Depending on your Windows region settings, kanji characters may not display correctly. Adjust your system locale if needed.
• RTK3 Support: While the game can theoretically handle RTK3 kanji, no pre-made RTK3 dataset is included.
• Original License: See the license file in the NetHackRTK directory for the original NetHack license terms.

Historical Context

This project is a unique fusion of:

• NetHack: A classic roguelike dungeon crawling game
• Remembering the Kanji (RTK): A popular kanji learning methodology by James Heisig
• Early 2000s Language Learning: An innovative approach to combining gaming with serious study

Support

For questions about the original game mechanics, refer to Guidebook.txt. For kanji-specific questions, consult RTK learning communities online.

License

NetHack license applies to the base game. See the license file in the NetHackRTK directory for full details.

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Preserved for historical purposes - A unique artifact of early 2000s educational gaming.