Puzzle Solving - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 08:21, 6 May 2022

2022-05-06T08:21:12Z

Staffan Björk at 08:16, 21 September 2016

2016-09-21T08:16:35Z

Staffan Björk at 10:42, 16 July 2016

2016-07-16T10:42:24Z

Staffan Björk at 08:06, 8 August 2015

2015-08-08T08:06:47Z

Staffan Björk at 09:37, 5 August 2015

2015-08-05T09:37:03Z

Staffan Björk at 09:36, 5 August 2015

2015-08-05T09:36:56Z

Staffan Björk at 18:42, 3 August 2015

2015-08-03T18:42:17Z

Staffan Björk at 14:21, 9 July 2015

2015-07-09T14:21:45Z

Staffan Björk at 13:38, 9 July 2015

2015-07-09T13:38:25Z

Staffan Björk at 14:05, 7 July 2015

2015-07-07T14:05:14Z

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 == Using the pattern ==
-The prime challenge to require [[Puzzle Solving]] is to figure out a sequence of events that players should in turn figure out, and make this not to easy or difficult to do.
+The prime challenge to require [[Puzzle Solving]] is to figure out some information (e.g., facts, phrases, a sequence of actions) that players should in turn figure out, and make this not to easy or difficult to do. This means that a [[Gain Information]] goal is the core of [[Puzzle Solving]] activities.
 [[Solution Uncertainty]] makes it possible to engage in [[Puzzle Solving]] but there are examples of patterns that can be used to create puzzles that explicitly need to be dealt with. [[Movement]] in [[Turn-Based Games]] can easily require thinking before they are done, especially if [[Diegetically Tangible Game Items]], [[Obstacles]], or [[Warp Zones]] exist ([[Sokoban]] have all of these except [[Warp Zones]]). Related to this is the task of achieving [[Alignment]] (e.g. [[Zoo Keeper]] and the [[Bejeweled series]]), and in general can any type of [[Game World Navigation]] require some level of [[Puzzle Solving]]. Puzzles can also be more related to [[Combat]], e.g. when [[Capture]] is combined with [[Bidding]], [[Movement]], or [[Investments]] ([[Poker]] and [[Chess]] are examples of the two first) but here there may not exist a perfect solution so the [[Puzzle Solving]] may be to find the best solution which may be the one with the least [[Penalties]] involved. Other examples of [[Combat]]-oriented [[Puzzle Solving]] include having to do [[Aim & Shoot]] without using direct [[Line of Sight]], finding the [[Achilles' Heels]] of [[Enemies]] or [[Boss Monsters]] (or more generally to identify and find workarounds to [[Invulnerabilities]] or [[Boss Monsters]] with [[Privileged Abilities]]). Quite naturally, the opponents in [[Combat]] situations also are likely to engage in [[Puzzle Solving]] to [[Evade]] attacks. Many types of [[Social Interaction]], diegetic or real, can be the base for [[Puzzle Solving]] as well. One example of this is handling [[Internal Rivalry]] in groups with [[Non-Player Characters]]. [[Environmental Storytelling]] and [[Red Herrings]] are ways of introducing [[Puzzle Solving]] that do not need to be engaged in (i.e. they can be considered [[Optional Goals]]) or is misleading to begin to study.
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 [[Environmental Storytelling]],
 [[Evade]],
 [[Game World Navigation]],
 [[Invulnerabilities]],

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 === Can Modulate ===
-[[Alternate Reality Games]],
+[[Alternate Reality Gameplay]],
 [[Predetermined Story Structures]],
 [[Single-Player Games]],

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 [[Solution Uncertainty]] makes it possible to engage in [[Puzzle Solving]] but there are examples of patterns that can be used to create puzzles that explicitly need to be dealt with. [[Movement]] in [[Turn-Based Games]] can easily require thinking before they are done, especially if [[Diegetically Tangible Game Items]], [[Obstacles]], or [[Warp Zones]] exist ([[Sokoban]] have all of these except [[Warp Zones]]). Related to this is the task of achieving [[Alignment]] (e.g. [[Zoo Keeper]] and the [[Bejeweled series]]), and in general can any type of [[Game World Navigation]] require some level of [[Puzzle Solving]]. Puzzles can also be more related to [[Combat]], e.g. when [[Capture]] is combined with [[Bidding]], [[Movement]], or [[Investments]] ([[Poker]] and [[Chess]] are examples of the two first) but here there may not exist a perfect solution so the [[Puzzle Solving]] may be to find the best solution which may be the one with the least [[Penalties]] involved. Other examples of [[Combat]]-oriented [[Puzzle Solving]] include having to do [[Aim & Shoot]] without using direct [[Line of Sight]], finding the [[Achilles' Heels]] of [[Enemies]] or [[Boss Monsters]] (or more generally to identify and find workarounds to [[Invulnerabilities]] or [[Boss Monsters]] with [[Privileged Abilities]]). Quite naturally, the opponents in [[Combat]] situations also are likely to engage in [[Puzzle Solving]] to [[Evade]] attacks. Many types of [[Social Interaction]], diegetic or real, can be the base for [[Puzzle Solving]] as well. One example of this is handling [[Internal Rivalry]] in groups with [[Non-Player Characters]]. [[Environmental Storytelling]] and [[Red Herrings]] are ways of introducing [[Puzzle Solving]] that do not need to be engaged in (i.e. they can be considered [[Optional Goals]]) or is misleading to begin to study.
-The difficulty of [[Puzzle Solving]] is often related to number of events needed, number of game elements involved, and if players have access to all information needed at all time. Varying these can effectively be used to control the difficult, see for example the difference in difficulty between different [[Levels]] of [[Sokoban]]. [[Time Limits]] can be used to give players a hard deadline before which the puzzle must be solved (e.g., [[Ricochet Robots]], but this requires that the games are [[Real-Time Games]] (or makes them into this). [[Clues]] (perhaps in the form of [[Player Aids]]) and [[Traces]] can quite obviously make the [[Puzzle Solving]] easier by giving partial answers or pointing players in the right direction for finding these. Besides these possibilities, [[Reversibility]] makes [[Puzzle Solving]] easier since players can experiment with solutions while the presences of [[Irreversible Events]] makes the activities more difficult. Many types of [[Puzzle Solving]] can be designed to allow [[Trial and Error Solutions]], including [[Lucky Guess Solutions]].
+The difficulty of [[Puzzle Solving]] is often related to number of events needed, number of game elements involved, and if players have access to all information needed at all time. Varying these can effectively be used to control the difficult, see for example the difference in difficulty between different [[Levels]] of [[Sokoban]]. [[Time Limits]] can be used to give players a hard deadline before which the puzzle must be solved (e.g., [[Ricochet Robots]], but this requires that the games are [[Real-Time Games]] (or makes them into this). [[Clues]] (perhaps in the form of [[Player Aids]]) and [[Traces]] can quite obviously make the [[Puzzle Solving]] easier by giving partial answers or pointing players in the right direction for finding these. Depending on the size of the puzzle, [[Game State Overviews]] can also provide help. Besides these possibilities, [[Reversibility]] makes [[Puzzle Solving]] easier since players can experiment with solutions while the presences of [[Irreversible Events]] makes the activities more difficult. Many types of [[Puzzle Solving]] can be designed to allow [[Trial and Error Solutions]], including [[Lucky Guess Solutions]].
 Games that do not change puzzles between game sessions have problems with providing [[Replayability]] and [[Further Player Improvement Potential]]
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 [[Clues]],
 [[Further Player Improvement Potential]],
 [[Irreversible Events]],
 [[Lucky Guess Solutions]],

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 == Consequences ==
-Completing [[Puzzle Solving]] goals is a form of [[Stimulated Planning]], as the challenge lies in finding the right combination of actions rather than performing the actions. This planning is typically a form of [[Tactical Planning]], and is more or less incompatible with [[Limited Planning Ability|Limited Planning Abilities]]. [[Puzzle Solving]] requires [[Memorizing]] if players do not have perceptual access to all the needed game elements all the time. Whatever the exact type of activity required to do the [[Puzzle Solving]], it provides opportunity for [[Cognitive Engrossment]], and being skillful in solving puzzles is a form of [[Game Mastery]]. [[Puzzle Solving]] encourages [[Experimenting]] if contained in games that support [[Reversibility]].
+Completing [[Puzzle Solving]] goals is a form of [[Stimulated Planning]], as the challenge lies in finding the right combination of actions rather than performing the actions. This planning is typically a form of [[Tactical Planning]], and is more or less incompatible with [[Limited Planning Ability|Limited Planning Abilities]]. [[Puzzle Solving]] requires [[Memorizing]] if players do not have perceptual access to all the needed game elements all the time. Whatever the exact type of activity required to do the [[Puzzle Solving]], it provides opportunity for [[Cognitive Engrossment]], and being skillful in solving puzzles is a form of [[Gameplay Mastery]]. [[Puzzle Solving]] encourages [[Experimenting]] if contained in games that support [[Reversibility]].
 Puzzles that can be solved through manipulation of the game environment provide [[PvE]] gameplay and instantiate [[Configuration]] goals based upon [[Movement]]. These can actually be solved by simply trying all combinations although this requires players to do repetitious actions (i.e. [[Excise]]). This possibility can be difficult to design away; it cannot be avoided even with [[Irreversible Events]] or depletion of [[Non-Renewable Resources]] if players can perform [[Save-Load Cycles]] or the games are [[Quick Games]].
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 [[Configuration]],
 [[Excise]],
-[[Game Mastery]],
+[[Gameplay Mastery]],
 [[Memorizing]],
 [[PvE]],

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 [[Time Limits]],
 [[Traces]],
-[[Trial by Error Solutions]]
+[[Trial and Error Solutions]]
 === Possible Closure Effects ===

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 The difficulty of [[Puzzle Solving]] is often related to number of events needed, number of game elements involved, and if players have access to all information needed at all time. Varying these can effectively be used to control the difficult, see for example the difference in difficulty between different [[Levels]] of [[Sokoban]]. [[Time Limits]] can be used to give players a hard deadline before which the puzzle must be solved (e.g., [[Ricochet Robots]], but this requires that the games are [[Real-Time Games]] (or makes them into this). [[Clues]] (perhaps in the form of [[Player Aids]]) and [[Traces]] can quite obviously make the [[Puzzle Solving]] easier by giving partial answers or pointing players in the right direction for finding these. Besides these possibilities, [[Reversibility]] makes [[Puzzle Solving]] easier since players can experiment with solutions while the presences of [[Irreversible Events]] makes the activities more difficult. Many types of [[Puzzle Solving]] can be designed to allow [[Trial by Error Solutions]], including [[Lucky Guess Solutions]].
-Games that do not change puzzles between game sessions have problems with providing [[Replayability]] (but this may not be a concrete problem if large number of [[Levels]] can instead be provided). This can often be avoided through the use of [[Randomness]], but this requires that the [[Randomness]] used can guarantee that at least one solution exists. The existence of several solutions in general can add some [[Replayability]] to games but do so only primarily if they offer alternative developments of [[Predetermined Story Structures]] or if they have [[Perceivable Margins]] compared to each other.
+Games that do not change puzzles between game sessions have problems with providing [[Replayability]] and [[Further Player Improvement Potential]]
 [[Puzzle Solving]] is often the core activity in [[Alternate Reality Gameplay]] due to the possibility of spreading [[Clues]] over large areas and the possibility for many players to work together on solving puzzles. Even the invitations to these games, which are usually [[Rabbit Hole Invitations]], require players to engage in [[Puzzle Solving]] to be able to even start playing them.
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 === Can Be Modulated By ===
 [[Clues]],
 [[Irreversible Events]],
 [[Lucky Guess Solutions]],