Manda Makes A Game Part 3: Narrative Considerations and Influences
To understand the rest of the design process for this game, I’m going to have to actually talk about the narrative first. Because it’s me. At the same time though…this is one of the more difficult things to talk about process wise. So..SPOILERS, if you ever actually want to play the game (likely not) and for my Secret Santa.
Manda Makes a Game Part 2: Spreadsheets, Scripts, and Flow
Am I procrastinating actually writing the game by writing about the process of writing a game?
Maybe.
While I am writing this blog series in real time, I am not releasing them until my game is safely shipped to avoid spoilers to my Secret Santa. I’m also writing these kind of piecemeal so while it looks like I had a very organized process where I went from one phase to the next with ease…that’s not really true. Things followed a general timeline, but there were lovely chaotic bits where I was brainstorming, writing, and gathering materials at the same time. But I figured splitting up blog posts by topic is far easier than bringing you 100% along my chaotic journey of madness. This time around, let’s focus on general organization!
Manda Makes a Game Part 1: The Brainstorms
Every year the Puzzle People Facebook group coordinates a Secret Santa, where people design a take home puzzle game for someone and get one in return! Designers of all experience levels are encouraged. Some games are designers first ever puzzle game, some are extremely elaborate, some even go on to get a Kickstarter campaign and be sold commercially.
I’ve done enough narrative design now but still have yet to design an entire game on my own, so I figured this would be a great opportunity to try my hand at a puzzle game! And because I’m weird, I am chronicling my process!
Not being a puzzle designer in the slightest, my main goal is to make something that basically works. Things working against me:
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An Escape Enthusiast Abroad: Netherlands Day 5
I am sitting in the airport writing this and feeling more than a little sad that our escape adventure is over for the time being, but at the same time sooooo happy that it got to happen!
Our final day also had a single escape room. Mondays are usually dark days for escape rooms, but Escape Room Junkie was very gracious when we were booking rooms back in May and were willing to have us book their game, Corpse Inc., with them on a Monday! We were very grateful.
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An Escape Enthusiast Abroad: Netherlands Day 4
My feet are very sore. Many parts of my body feel bruised. But I had a very fun day. Just one escape today: Dark Park’s Stay in the Dark!
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An Escape Enthusiast Abroad: Netherlands Day 3
Ohhhh my goodness. We did not get back to our hotel until 1am. I don’t think I have fallen asleep so fast in a long time.
Today I woke up far more refreshed. Which is a good thing because there was some trekking to be done today.
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An Enthusiast Abroad: Netherlands Day 2 (Amsterdam)
You know, I didn’t bring my laptop with me because it would be too cumbersome. But now, I remember how much I hate typing on my phone. It takes so much longer!
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An Escape Enthusiast Abroad: Netherlands 2 Electric Boogaloo- Day 1
I am back! And abroad! Yes, after a long period of withdrawal I am back on an escape room trip. Not only is it another escape room trip, but a return to the Netherlands no less!
This time around I am with my regular crew: Errol, his sister Lizette, our friend Margaux and special guest Myra, who we met during the pandemic and became a regular part of our online escape crew! It is great meeting her in person! The whole trip started because Lizette was going to be hanging around Europe for 2 weeks, so we figured, why not plan escapes around it?
Read the rest of this entryEnigMarch Day 28
Things have been busy! But I wanted to get another puzzle out. Can Manda stay consistent with whatever crazy story she has written so far? Hopefully! Will she make a fatal error in her puzzle? Likely!
Dear Jenny,
Yes, I am excited about Halloween! I’m thinking of going as Scully. Red hair and all, and I can just borrow one of mom’s pant suits. I don’t know if anyone at school will get it though. Except Amber. I just met her, and she seems just as nerdy as me! Don’t worry, she’ll never reach your levels! We’re going to watch The Exorcist. She was amazed I’d never seen it and insists it’s a right of horror movie passage. I’m a bit nervous I admit it.
I don’t think mom likes it here. Dad says we’ll get used to it, but she seems bored already. She misses the city. I hide in my room whenever they fight about it. That’s been a lot lately. I mean, I miss the food options in the city. Here, we’re lucky to get more than a Tim Horton’s. There is a decent pizza place though.
Oh man! I just remembered I forgot to give you my new number! I love these letters but it would be awesome to hear your voice. Here it is!
18 5 1 4 16 1 7 5
I know, I write phone numbers weird. What can I say, I like to do things my way!
Talk to you soon! Sunday! After X-files?
Katie
EnigMarch Day 21
Okay! Puzzle attempt #3! Things that have happened so far:
My first puzzle had a bunch of spelling errors in morse code.
My second puzzle had a character writing a letter to herself, but at least the Pig Pen cipher wasn’t misspelt.
How about the third puzzle? What mistakes shall I make today! I did it pretty quickly. For those who might have figured out what to do but are like me and too lazy to do all the work, here is a handy site (if you don’t want to be spoiled right away, hold off until you figure out what to do).
Dear Katie,
Wow, I must be on your brain. You signed your letter with my name instead of yours! Ha, loser! Kidding. But seriously were you just sitting there thinking “JENNY! She is the key to all happiness!” You know what Mr. Vigenere would say. He’d be all “clr gmvi vf krwfvlp fhg g qeir rqi evrdey cypi!” At least, that’s what adults all sound like to me. You know what I mean though.
No way, you found a new hideout?! I’ve always wanted a forest hideout. Don’t get me wrong, my parents’ crawlspace is convenient AND near the minifridge, but a forest just has that much more atmosphere.
Halloween is coming up. It’s not going to be the same without you, for sure. I gotta admit, I’m pretty excited about my costume. I won’t tell you what it is yet, though, I want it to be a surprise! All I will say is that I have been putting the sewing machine through a gauntlet! What about you? Got anyone to Trick or Treat with? Or watch cheesy scary movies with? The idea of you hanging out on Halloween makes me sad!
Talk soon!
Jenny
Thoughts from the Test Chamber 