100729 First Puzzle Prototypes

Hi Doctor When team,

We had a great meeting yesterday. Acorn, Dwight, Erik, Melissa, Sean and I were present. Justin dialed in.

LOCATION

I recapped the spaces I've visited so far (see the wiki).

We brainstormed how much space we need for the central laboratory set. We estimated at least 30' X 60'.

• I'm going to ask Alexandra Dixon for suggestions of great time-related locations.
• I'll try to visit and photograph the Weird Stuff Warehouse at some point
• I'll contact the City of San Francisco to ask about their spaces, gyms, etc.
• Sean will contact some Burning Man friends of his.
• Dwight will ask his son.

PUZZLES: HOW TO HELP OUR REMOTE TEAM MEMBERS BE PRODUCTIVE

It's harder for our remote team members to be immersed in the game/plot than it is for the locals. Some have asked for help knowing what to do/how to contribute. Our latest idea is to assign a "liaison" to remote members who want such guidance.

• Tinhorn may want some input so Erik will contact him.

PUZZLES: HOW TO WORK TOGETHER ON THEM

Before delving into the puzzle prototypes brought to the meeting, we discussed how to discuss them. Everyone definitely wanted to allow for collaboration in the creation/editing process--because it's both fun and effective. But we also want to be able to do at least some play testing within the team.

So we decided to typically do the play testing with small groups of three or so so that we could squeeze in a second round of play testing with the "uncontaminated members."

We also recognize that we can do some play testing with our remote members...and with our various puzzler friends around the globe, such as Dwight's son in D.C. However, it's harder to get useful feedback from remote testers because the author can't watch the solvers in action. A well-planned questionnaire has to be included with each puzzle.

And eventually we can host some "play test parties" with outsiders.

Also, Justin wanted some help with his art history puzzle and Joe wanted some guidance, so Justin will contact Joe to see if he wants to collaborate.

PUZZLES: IDEAS

Dwight had a general idea for a class of puzzles: Since we're dealing with time travel, he suggested we present the players with completed game boards, such as with Scrabble or chess or checkers or dominoes or jigsaw puzzles. The players have to then play the game backwards to figure out the starting condition, such as the initial racks of letters for Scrabble.

These types of puzzles might also lend themselves to having more than one message encoded if different "flavor text" is given (such as in Part 1 vs. Part 3).

Other ideas batted about included:

• A construction puzzle that is presented already constructed. The trick is that the gadget has some pairs of pieces of identical shapes (so they can be swapped), but some other attribute of the pieces is different (such as letter or color). The players have to figure out the swaps to reveal the message.

• A photo sequence puzzle. Perhaps security footage from the time travel lab. So when the pictures are laid out in time sequence they show wacky comings and goings from the time machine that are clearly out of order. That's time travel for you!

• Reverse driving directions--maybe the players have to literally follow the path backwards.

• Backwards masking in an audio puzzle [but it's been done before]

• A puzzle using old/stale maps. Or perhaps based on old geography. For example, the old Embarcadero Freeway was still standing in 1986. The Doctor is bouncing around in time, so old geography could come into play. [Apparently Google Earth includes historical maps.]

• An old computer puzzle--perhaps a puzzle/activity in which the players have to recall how to use a popular computer from back in 1986, such as an Apple II or TRS-80. The players might find it fun nostalgia--and sobering to realize how slow the old machines were.

• I reminded people of the old shoe repair store puzzle idea (see the wiki). I just am still eager to use the "they'll be ready next Tuesday" joke.

PUZZLES: PROTOTYPES

Lisa, Sean, and Dwight all had prototypes ready to go...but we ran out of time. :-(

But we did work through Erik's mix tape "Password" puzzle. It was an amazing multi-layer puzzle using some great (and not-so-great) time-related pop songs. Erik showed great self-control and watched in silence as our poor brains wrestled with his cleverness.

Next meeting in two weeks on Thursday, 8/12.

As always, feel free to review, revise, correct, and enhance these notes!

Allen