Puzzling Behaviour
Just a brief one today, but something I’ve been musing on. I’ve been playing Picross on my 3DS since just before I went to Cyprus, and by Great Mara is it addictive! For those of you not in the know, Picross is a puzzle game that’s essentially a graphical crossword; You’re presented with a grid, and given the number and size of filled pixel clusters on each row and colum. It’s an interesting challenge, and makes for some excellent logical thinking opportunities. I freakin’ love it!
It’s gotten me thinking: Why, in general, do we love puzzles so much? They’ve been a popular pastime in all shapes and sizes for centuries, millennia. Perhaps it’s the chance to display intelligence that attracts us; humans, after all, love to flaunt our strengths. Probably a mating thing.
I think, for me, the real attraction of the puzzle is somehow outwitting them. It’s like an opponent who you can always defeat given enough time and effort, so it’s a challenge with a definite end condition and you know that you can get the reward of satisfaction at the end. Plus, it’s always fun to analyse something, experiment with a solution method and see the fruits of your labour.
Anyway, enjoy today’s page, and I’ll catch you all on Monday! Oh, also, for those of you in the UK, the brand new series of Red Dwarf is AMAZING. It’s like vintage dwarf, after you get past the initially shaky start. If you’re outside the UK, I’d still suggest finding a way to watch Red Dwarf Series X if you can, something tells me it’s going to be well worth it!
M.
u could also ask why do some people despise puzzle games?
Lies! Everybody loves puzzle games AND SO SAYS FRIEND COMPUTER! 😛
I jest, of course. Probably in the same way that, say, I dislike playing racing games (with the obvious exception of Mario Kart). I don’t find racing games stimulating, and some people won’t find puzzle games stimulating either. I suppose it depends on how you prefer to get your kicks: Games like racing, action, shooter type games present (simplistically) a more physical challenge involving reactions and quick-thinking; Roleplaying Games are about immersion, storytelling and, in a sense, ‘people reading’ through decision trees and simulated social interaction; Logic and puzzle games tend to be more sedate affairs, where investigation, analysis and experimentation are the keys. Different strokes for differen folks, I guess, but I suppose it really stems from the things that give you the most thrill!
And from that very analytical statement, I think we’ve discovered why I like logic puzzles 😛