My logic quest game
 

Hello,
I would like to present to you a project I've been working on lately. The name of the game is "Treasure rebus". It is online logic quest game which includes riddles and puzzles, the solving of which requires the players' general knowledge and Internet research. The game is quite alternative and a kind of difficult, probably because of my wish to recreate the feeling of a real treasure hunt.

If you want to take a look at it: http://treasurerebus.com

I'm thoroughly enjoying the "game" even. I'm fixated with it, and struggling a little with the over all lack of direction.

The first puzzle with the 7 "pieces" for example, once printed, can the pieces be flipped (faceup/facedown)? Are all pieces necessary?

The word search puzzle, does that tie in at all with the page with all the (-xx) numbers, or does that correspond to the Letter Wheel to its right? Or is every page its own puzzle as per the pdf descriptions.

Lastly, I was thrilled when I found the first Google Map location. I thought your integration of that was something really special. Kudos.

Hi, Da_Duke2000, thanks for the comment and for taking interest in the game. Hope you liked it.
The puzzles in the book are not related at all. At this stage you should concentrate on finding the Google maps locations. While doing so, you will understand when and how to use the puzzles from the book.
The very idea of the game is that it be a competition for everyone playing logic games and finally to be anounced a winner. That's why I tried to make it more difficult and it lacks directions. I wanted the feeling of solving the puzzles to be one of, you know, "Yes.I solved it!".
I'm willing to give some directions and explanations if I see it's really hard for players to manage.
Thanks again!

Thanks for your reply. The puzzles seemed so very out of context without a framework to put them in.

I may suggest for the Diary to place the 9 names first, followed by the puzzles, if that's the intention of the game. I'll keep hunting for the second location then!

Thanks for the reccommendations.

The fourth puzzles in the book are actually sort of half-puzzles. When you find the locations you actually find the other halfs of the puzzles.
I've placed the puzzles first because I was afarid that people wouldn't see them and when they find the other halfs, it'll be more confusing.
Good luck!

P.S. How do you like the graphic design?

I think the graphic design is very clean, and I applaud the effort your spent into refining it as much as you have before its release. I would prefer to see a "Page #" option at the top or bottom for simplicities sake.

I would like to ask a question about the second Google location. Is the reward from the first location, and the list of names the only hints the player is given?

The name list is not a hint but a sort of addition to the story. After you've got the first envelope (reward) there are two things inside. On the small piece of paper there is a puzzle which leads to the second envelope. As for the bigger paper, you will understand what you do with it further in the game. You just need to be very observant.

Ah, I wasn't sure why the bigger paper had a print option, but the smaller one didn't.

In any case, I'm stumped! The small paper by itself has me confounded.

Did you solve the puzzle of the smaller paper and if you did how many location did you find so far?

I have done the following so far:
-Found the first location by using the photo/map as a hint.
-Used the "text phrase" at that location, and found the two papers.
-The big one of the image, I've set aside for now.
-The small one I am having trouble understanding the Goal of the puzzle. I'm anxious to solve it so I can move on. Is it a standalone puzzle, or does this use any of the 4 Book half-puzzle pieces?

It is a standalone puzzle. It's not connected to any other puzzles and it leads to the next location.
It's very important, for the game as a whole, that "Rules" and "Diary" chapters are read. They actually give all the instructions for what you're searching in the game. Observation is crucial.

Unfortunately, I am stumped. I cannot decipher the puzzle on the smaller paper.

I would love to read feedback from others here on the forum, and hear of their progress.

A hint for the number puzzle

Spoiler:

Write the digits in the correct order to find another page

BTW I'm at the third location, where you find the second half of the jigsaw puzzle
Is the solution of the jigsaw puzzle connected to the strange symbols in that page?

I'm enjoying this, even more.

Hi SuperEdy,
Under all the puzzles from the book, as you can see, there is 6 dashes. They imply that the answer of each puzzle is a six-letter word. These words you'll need at the end of the game. The puzzles from the book are not connected to the finding of the locations. Did you manage to solve the first puzzle from the book?
How do you like the game?

Yes, I found the solution to the jigsaw puzzle and the related page in the website; I have an idea on how it can be used in the final puzzle, but it's just a hunch
I finally managed to reach the fourth location, that puzzle with the strange symbols was really tough :crazy:

I like the idea of an uber-puzzle a la Fool's Errand, too bad more adventure games don't have one
Your game reminds me of one of my favorites, Evidence: The Last Ritual (using the internet, the list of people...), did you play it?
I think you should write somewhere in the website that the four puzzle in the book are incomplete, it can be very frustrating for the player trying to solve a puzzle that can't be solved (until you find the other half of the puzzle)

I'm glad you like the game so far. I haven't played the game you mentioned but I'll take a look at it becuse I've always wanted to play such kind of games and that is why I did one like that.
I realize the four puzzles stuff is kind of frustrating. But since I've done all the work on the game by myself (with no reccommendations), at certain point, it seems I've lost the feeling about what would be difficult for the players.
I'll take your advice, though, and will add some lines to the "News" chapter.
I hope more people will get in touch with me and leave comments.

By the way, I see someone's managed to find the sixth envelope. I'll be happy to hear from them.

If you want more feedback, you can try posting on other fora (JustAdventure, GameBoomers, Mystery Manor...) Unfortunately, as the Rhem 4 review rightly says, the puzzle-driven adventures are a niche-within-a-niche (and the word 'logic' makes most people run in the opposite direction :D)

I reached the sixth location, the P-4-O puzzle was particularly clever

Thanks for the advice and for the sites.
I'm glad you've come that far in the game.
I agree that the puzzle-driven adventures are a niche-within-a-niche...which is truly a pity.

Hi SuperEdi, as I see you've almost done it. I'm soo happy that someone made it till the end!
Since probably you'll be the first one to solve it, will it be too much to ask for a short description of the game from you as a player?If you do, I'd like to post it on the site and the Facebook profile...Hope you don't mind...
Thanks in advance and well done on the game!

Almost done it?? I can't find a single Latin word in the fourth puzzle, let alone a whole sentence (I guess it's only fair since I hate Latin with a vengeance :D). I found the solution to the second page puzzle but I have no idea whatsoever about the third page despite having seen National Treasure twice :frusty:
I used your short description as a starter:
Treasure Rebus is an online quest game full of riddles and logic puzzles. To solve them you'll require intuition and the help of Internet: Google maps, online solvers and Wikipedia will prove to be essential allies if you ever hope to reach the ultimate goal (I know, this description sounds a bit bombastic :D)

According to Google maps it's 1053.63 km instead of 1051...Is there a mistake maybe?

Thanks for the review on the game!
As for the kilometers, I measured this with the Google earth option...I thought this one will be difficult but I see you've made it.
Did you solve the "nine-parts" puzzle?

Google Maps and Google Earth report different values!! Strange, maybe Google Earth doesn't take in account Earth sphericity and calculates the straight distance between two points in space.

I thought the nine-parts puzzle was the one where you need the solution of the four puzzles in the book, so I didn't try to solve it (I only put together the big picture)

I don't know where the difference comes from, but I measured it using a Google Earth tool, I zoomed the two points and measured it in a bee-line. Maybe Google Maps measures the points using routes, but 2 kilometers would be a small detour in this case...
Anyway,I think it's not that crucial...
The puzzles from the book are used after you find the treasure place. When you solve them and find the treasure let me know, please...