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Jon Topielski5 years ago (2 edits)

My lord. I never thought someone would actually sit there and mine 50 hashes. Maybe this is a true psychological experiment..

Evidently, you got stuck and didn't make progress. 

(Spoiler Alert for others)

The question now is did you see the cryptic_hash message that says "distract_the_creator" and "annoy_the_creator..."? These are meant to hint at the idea that you should hit the Alert button.

If you did see them and didn't hit the Alert button, then that is a problem with the messaging/wording.

If you didn't see them and didn't hit the Alert button, then I need to go back and work on making sure the story progresses by either constantly bombarding the user with hints in the cryptic_hash or interrupting the player somehow to ensure progress is made.

It's possible to get stuck like this if you never bother to look at the cryptic_hash but that isn't the case here since you showed me the 50 hash message. I tried to do a band-aid solution by adding a HELP I'M STUCK section to the game's description but that probably isn't looked at or the solution isn't good enough.

Thank you for the very insightful feedback.

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Crime Dog5 years ago(+1)

Ah cool, just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

For context, this was in my second playthrough. 

So, I did see that message, and I DID hit the alert button, but nothing happened?

For reference I:

<saw the message>

<spammed alert about twenty times>

<mined another hash to see if the mysterious outsider would say anything again (they did not)>

<game continued on as it did in my first playthrough>

Maybe a glitch?

On the too cryptic note, I think all you really need to do here is to have messages hidden in EVERY cryptic hash, not just some.

I actually played the game through twice, and the first time I checked the hash a few times but coincidentally none of the times I checked it did I see a message, so I figured 'eh, guess I was wrong about that'.

Second time I checked the hash literally every time, but I only did that because I'd already failed the first playthrough and was looking really hard for something I'd missed.

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Jon Topielski5 years ago

(Spoiler Alert)

Yeah.. so essentially "both" to my last question.. you not only had problems with discovering storyline progression (searching cryptic_hash), but even after discovering the progression you didn't know how to progress (hit alert -> mine hash -> hit alert -> repeat).

This is a HUGE learning for me.

I think I've just learned the value of playtesting before releasing a game, especially if it is a game that requires close attention and secret storylines.

Thank you again. This has been very useful and I really appreciate it.

Reply
Crime Dog5 years ago(+1)

No worries Pyrecraft! The tricky thing about playtesting a game like yours is that you almost need a new playtester in the chair every time you make a change!

Failing that, I feel like you just have to make some more affordances and try and widen the successful path through a bit, although it's definitely a tricky balancing act when you're making something deliberately obtuse.

Good luck!

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