When I created Outcore, I tried to design every obstacle to be challenging but still passable even if you're not great at games. However, sometimes players still get stuck in puzzles I thought anyone could overcome.
One such puzzle is located at the beginning of the game: The MS Paint safe-unlocking challenge. I keep reading comments of angry players who get stuck at that part and quit the game.
I knew some players would have trouble drawing an accurate shape, so I made it very forgiving. Even if your drawing doesn't fit exactly inside the keyhole, the algorithm will still ignore a certain amount of error so players don't get stuck.
To ensure players wouldn't cheese the puzzle by drawing a tiny blob of pixels, I had every keyhole require a minimum amount of pixels before a drawing is considered a valid key.
And that's where players tend to get stuck. People often draw hollow shapes that don't pass the minimum required amount of pixels.
I knew this situation would happen, which is why I made Lumi tell the players to fill their drawing with more pixels. I thought that would mean the instructions are crystal clear, but players still got stuck and quit the game.
So I'm glad to say I (think I) finally found the solution to the problem!
....That is what I'd want Lumi to say but she won't actually say that. The truth is the only imbecile here is me. If players can't solve a puzzle, it's my fault for designing something they didn't understand.
I do believe that games should require a certain minimum skill level in challenges that are directly connected to those games' essence. But the truth is, puzzles aren't the essence of Outcore. They are just tools the game uses to showcase its desktop mechanics. That's why EVERYONE should be able to pass them.
For that reason I decided to add a new feature to the MS Paint game: SKIP THE WHOLE DAMN THING!
If you fail drawing a valid key 3 or more times, Lumi will suggest drawing a key for you. She won't actually force the solution upon you, but if you're too frustrated from this puzzle then you'll always have the chance to skip it.
(Lumi's drawing of something that looks like a spaceship and absolutely nothing else)
You'll see an option to skip a puzzle in other places too, like the idle game or the sonar puzzle. The only challenges I don't think fit having a skip option are things that are optional (like the platforming challenge from the "S.E.X Update") or the game's final boss battle (it would be too anticlimactic)
Lumi plushie last call
Every blog post I released in the last month has really just been an excuse to tell you to buy a Lumi plushie before it's gone
There are only a few days left to buy them, so this is the last reminder: Get a plushie (or 10, or 100???) now or forever regret saving your money for college or a house.
Credits
The new skip feature required new lines of dialogue. I'd like to thank the next people for translating those new lines so languages Outcore supports:
- Melancholy
- hidsky41 (Also translated a bunch of missing lines that were added a few months ago)
- Marvj13
- Lorigamer87
- helloyanis (Also helped fix other translations)
- ElChagnon
- xtwo520
- Daniel Zawadzki (Zawdan)
- Belfegordo
- Entsuo
- BotAn
- heerxingen
- Shahar from Team Kipod