I wrote the prototype story and posed the first riddle: why did miss xx ask tom xx out on a date. The explanation was written in a tentative test script/language (composite system based on german/english grammar plus some akkadian stuff).

Prototype language system 1..pdf

Observations: Genderdeterminative noticed first, used to figure out nouns (the 2nd to last sentence was critical since both names were mentioned here). In combination with the knowledge that Lady Bigglesbee is a woman she figured out which determinative belonged to which gender, and found out that man-person-next-door was also a noun.

—> Marking word types is useful for the interpreter.

Verb declination was useful to notice senctence structure and made her guess what signs denoted verbs.

Comparing the masculine genderdeterminatives in the last sentence allowed her to figure out that the verb was probably “to be”. Including sentences at the start of the game that clarify what indicates verbs and nouns by using them in different grammatical contexts is critical. This is how she found out about the accusative too (to have).

Feedback

Huge advantage because she knows German. Americans don’t understand declensions. Include an explanation about grammatical functions that exist/can be encountered when translating texts that might not be known to every player/that are language dependent. Also maybe space words so it’s more apparent when words end and thus to figure out what kind of word each one is/where the declinations and xxx belong to (e.g compound words might be difficult).

gather notebooks and jo

rummaging through things, is that satisfying??

use sticky notes with different voices and notes.

Do not implement things you know you cant make digitally.

References: immersive theater like Sleep No More.

The design of room and clutter and the way players sift through spaces — cross references and contextualizing due to the space you’re in.

Narrative escape rooms, connecting information. Think of set design as the puzzle. what kind of notes and clutter do we present to the player.

Tech restraints as aesthetics quality.

Set up a room with just a desk and the info?!