Workshop Reflection

Unlock!

Rules: You must solve all the puzzles within the time limit. At the start of the game, you will be dealt several tiles; by matching these tiles, you need to determine the number on the next tile. Then, turn over that tile and use it to match with the existing tiles to solve the puzzle.

Basic steps: First, place all tiles face down so that the numbers are visible. Prepare a mobile phone with the app installed, select the game instance you wish to play, and tap to start. There are five colours in total: red, green, blue, yellow and grey. Each tile features a pattern and text; by combining the clues from the pattern and text, calculate the sum of the numbers on the tile and determine the next tile (if the pattern contains a number, it is likely a tile that can be used directly). The mobile app has an ‘Unlock’ button; if you encounter a tile that needs unlocking, enter the correct answer to receive the corresponding clue.

Components: Sequence arrangement, mobile app

Having completed the game, I feel that both the most enjoyable and the most frustrating moments stem from the puzzle-solving process. Indeed, during the process of solving puzzles, the cycle of successfully piecing together clues to obtain the correct next link brings me a genuine sense of achievement. However, if I fail to solve a puzzle, I feel anxious; at the same time, as time passes, a sense of urgency arises, and I yearn to move swiftly to the next level. I believe this is inextricably linked to the game’s pacing and psychological elements.

The game’s rules include a mechanism whereby players must solve puzzles and escape the room within a set time limit. In the app, entering an incorrect answer may result in time penalties. Due to these time constraints, I felt a greater sense of urgency whilst playing; at the same time, the app’s limitations enriched the gaming experience—it was no longer merely a matter of combining elements and calculating numbers.

I believe that when playing games, the most challenging puzzles aren’t necessarily those that solve a specific problem, but rather those where we get stuck during the process. Because we don’t know how to piece the information together, or are unable to analyse the solution effectively, we can remain stuck on a level for a long time. The passing of time makes me anxious, but when I finally overcome the obstacle, the joy of being able to move forward and the sense of achievement from solving the puzzle well spring up naturally.

Team competition: There was no competition within our group; instead, we worked together. Everyone was fully focused on solving the puzzles and suggesting various possibilities. My contribution was identifying the corresponding numbers in the patterns and proposing possible combinations, which ultimately helped us successfully obtain the next answer.

I enjoy playing games on my own because I feel that solving puzzles alone enhances the gaming experience; every puzzle is one I’ve solved myself. However, as I solve puzzles independently, my approach tends to be rather similar, making it difficult to come up with more varied methods.

I believe that, in terms of immersion, the difference between card games and live-action escape rooms lies in the fact that the former relies on the player’s own concentration, whilst the latter offers an immersive experience. As card games primarily involve mental and strategic thinking, players tend to focus more intently whilst solving puzzles. In contrast, live-action escape rooms, due to their physical environment and the need for more movement, can easily lead to distractions; however, in terms of immersion and the sense of being lost in a maze, live-action escape rooms have the edge.