Your video about "What Makes a Good Puzzle?" you talk about "The Assumption" and "The Catch". To me it seemed like basically the same concept as this video. What do you think?
omg fr fr fr fr dude this is like meta absolutely subverting our directions, god damn. thought it was just the 1 music gag but then no, there's an actual like twist
13:15 slanted tiles? What about: if you are running on top of the block and against a wall, the box will move away from the wall because your body is pushing against an immovable object and your feet are pushing the box it away from that immovable object :V
@@MentalCheckpoint Well, in my case for a VR game where the player has a locosphere (a ball at the feet is used for walking on a physics-based VR player controller) it literally happens automatically, you can even go on top of a ball and (if you are skilled enough) you can ride the ball like a circus clown hahaha.
@@MentalCheckpoint with a good physics engine it could be okay to work everywhere, not only on walls, so that the box moves left if you run to the right on top of it, but yeah the slanted tile seems easier to program
If it was just one step, you couldn't do that cause you would run away. But instead of doing it by hand, you could program it such that the slenders appear while building the levels without you having to place them.
That could cause headaches in puzzle design. There was one side button that the player had to constantly run against to activate and one button that the player had to stand on top of a box to reach. If running into walls while on a box pushed it away, you could have your players pushing their box platform out from underneath themselves trying to activate wall switches.
@@MentalCheckpoint or you could have the box move at a speed that is proportional to the difference between character current speed and player input speed, as long as the player is on top. Then you don't have to worry about walls. And it opens possibilities with the character's inertia.
I always wondered why you never finished concerned joe, i remember at the time i was following it quite closely waiting for a release date since i liked the flash version so much, and next thing i knew, you were working on the party game version of that concept.
I am so glad you used gameplay from The Witness, that game was such a hard game at first, took a few months. You should’ve used gameplay from hue too though, a game about color and when you change the color it reveals some blocks you can move and removes blocks of the same color, another good double take game
Wooow the statement at the end is super smart and mind-blowing! Worth a subscription and a like! I was just about to start designing a few puzzles for a tech demo of a physics-based VR shooter and these concepts are just the best haha Edit: lol I had no idea he would ask the people to talk about it 2 seconds after I paused the video lmao, definitively worth it watching the whole way through.
Mindblowing video as always! The most underrated youtuber I've ever seen; I'm looking forward to seeing you reaching hundreds of thousands, or maybe even millions of subscribers ^^
Seeing as to how much I have enjoyed move or die, I would be pretty stoked for concerned Joe. Also that ending was crazzzyy like I can't believe you would say such a smart thing at the end.
Wow! That conclusion was so crazy, I had to pause and reconcider life as a whole for a minute. It is just mind boggling how much amazingness you packed into that last minute!
That ending honestly changed the way I thought about puzzle games as a whole. It really tied everything together in a neat bow, which I’ve never seen a video do so perfectly before!
I swear, I've come back to his videos on a somewhat regular basis. I rewatch them and, like, just how he explains stuff is so relaxing yet insightful. Just... so good!
this channel needs so much more attention. the editing is crisp and elegant, your voice is smooth and easy to listen to, the information about game design, while not really useful for me, is still really interesting. excellent content right there. now about the content of this video, what you just described is what i like the most about puzzle games, when games give you some information, but not all of it. like the level at 7:00. if you just told the player beforehand that you can do that with blocks, this level would've been boring and would be just about doing the right thing and moving to the next level. also in the same level, there's another idea i really like, and that is nudging the player towards the wrong solution. it forces the player to think out of the box, and makes them feel like they outsmarted the game. i absolutely love when i solve a puzzle like that
I restarted a game on the Talos Principle these days and it's amazing how it confirms all your videos. I understand the game mechanics in a new way now, and it improves my game experience even more ! Thank you for your content, keep going ! I think I would also choose it for the "great hidden tutorial" category (from your last video)
One of my favorite such puzzles is literally called "Deception" in the Talos Principle. It's in one of the early areas, it doesn't have as much elements as later puzzles, but still it's probably the most memorable puzzle in the game to me by the way it's guiding you to approach it.
Everything before the final conclusion of the video was fine and dandy, but that ending truly re-contextualized everything I had learned previously: offering a satisfying, thought-provoking, new and insightful conclusion to a fantastic essay on puzzle design. My life is forever changed.
I recently bought a cast iron puzzle thats 2 parts connected to each other, they had a small amount of flex and jiggle, but no matter how much you twist, turn or bend the puzzle, it doesn't budge. Turns out you have to spin the puzzle on its axis and it will unlock itself. Felt like this was a great example of subversive puzzle design
The way your additional remarks at the end tie all these design concepts together is sublime. I feel like my brain has been rewired and im a more creative and insightful person now. Mind blown.
Wow what a great conclusion! That aside I really wish I could play Concerned Joe, don't get me wrong Move or Die is really fun but having those (and many other) interesting mechanics in a singleplayer puzzle game sounds great (especially considering how few friends I have and how not many of them own move or die)
the entire video was very informative and engaging, but the twist in the conclusion really changed my view of video games and puzzles in general in a way I never thought possible
Slanted walls really are clever, you can just use any physics solution and they'll work more or less, without needing too much extra code. Neat. Not as neat as the mind-blowing ending. Clever cutoff.
Was debating leaving a comment about how quality your work already is but honestly, after the ending? Definitely. Ties in so well with the theme, good job.
I recognize, played and finished most of the games featured in this video. Let's see, I will write each game's first appearance as I watch the video for the first time: - The Witness (0:35) - Snakebird (1:14) - Superliminal (1:16) - Portal 2 (1:28) - Braid (1:58) - Inside (2:46) - Antichamber (2:55) - Portal (3:44) - Stephen's Sausage Roll (4:40) //I like that it has my name in the title, but damn the puzzles are hard - Half-Life 2: Chapter One (5:33) - Baba is You (6:02) - Talos Principle (6:13) - Stanley's Parable (9:09) - Language, Young Man (9:52) - (?) Q.U.B.E. 2 (10:26) //not sure, probably not this one thou - Mad Age & This Guy (10:31) // had no idea, I thought it was some sort of Cyberpunk Sokoban - The Pedestrian (14:34) - (?)LoL, idk (14:51) // maybe Talos again? Such an insightful and minblowing conclusion: most of these games were in the credits already...I feel dumb now for never reading the credits, just listening to your soothing voice. P.S. Homework #1 & #2 successfully completed btw
8:30 took me a few minutes while i was paused and then i noticed "you push it half way" i wasn't sure if i accidentally found loophole or not either lmao
Definitely would be interested in playing Concerned Joe! Great video! I'm definitely a big fan of this kind of puzzle design. Though I wonder if a way to reinforce making sure players do both the vertical and lateral thinking is to sometimes only include the vertical thinking as the solution. That way the game trains you to try it because it could be the answer.
I pressed the like button as soon as you showed the solution to the first puzzle (realizing how clever the design is) and stayed until the end to hear every bit of insight you got only to be left both amused and speechless. I love you but hate you, which I think is the best compliment I can give
Where do you look for music to back your videos? They really help with the flow and presentation, plus i just desperately need the outro song in my library.
Level designer for a puzzler here. Thank you for providing this information! I've included some elements of misdirection and defiance of instinct already. I'll be sure to include more subversions in future levels.
It's incredible how entertaining, informative and engaging this video is at the same time! You might have just become my new favorite UA-camr, and I will watch your career with great interest.
11:35 is a ridiculous thing to ask a video viewer to expect. Also, it's an added mechanic that will confuse the players more than whatever you're trying to get them to do. I don't agree with this particular segment of the video at all but the rest of the video was good.
Glad someone else thought this too. I don't get why he thinks having to jump over the box to the left to push it to the right is too much to ask of the player when it's something everyone will do without even thinking about it, then adding the anti gravity brings up questions, how do I make the box go anti gravity again? How do I use the anti gravity of a box to solve a puzzle? That part just made no sense. Rest of the video was good though
I was thinking about the puzzles you gave time to solve. I felt the change and the reward for going from vertical to lateral thinking and solving the puzzle.
I'll send this to my GM. His puzzles are hella confusing and don't have any kind of tutorial inside of them. To the point where "alchemy puzzle" is an inside joke.
I was just a depressed man, but then after watching the ending of the video, I've managed to defeat my depression, win a lottery, get a wife, have 2 kids, and beat Bezos' net worth. Thank you so much for the insightful and mind blowing ending, Mr. Mental Checkpoint.
holy shit! That ending was so unexpectedly amazing! Most of the video I found myself _almost_ falling asleep, but that *_ending_* was something else! Why I subbed right there.
"Good job, you found the suicide button" with that voice I immediately had to think about handsome jack^^$ Edit: also solid conclusion by the way, really made me think
I played along and paused to try and figure out the puzzle as suggested in the video. I quickly came up with the idea of pushing the box only halfway through, but I dismissed it because I thought the other boxes and the other button surely had a purpose. Turns out, those were just red herrings. In my opinion, that is very poor puzzle design. Using such excessive red herrings is cheap and just creates artificial difficulty. Puzzles feel satisfying when they force you to come up with creative ways to use the elements at your disposal, not when you have to select which elements to use and which elements are just there to trick you.
That vertical and lateral thinking design is very interesting! And I like it, I often fall for it and does give me a confidence boost like I did something to progress the puzzle even if it has 0 connections to the solution lol
I thought that block tip was clever and innovative, but that ending! All your points came together so perfectly and brilliantly; definitely have to watch the whole video just for that, if anything!
So it turns out seeing your own face in someone else's video is tantamount to a jump scare
Wow cool hi gmtk
Oh hi Mark
Dani, the youtube developer to crab game learned that when he put his face on the red light green light robot. Players still call it cursed.
Just found this channel and remembered you
Your video about "What Makes a Good Puzzle?" you talk about "The Assumption" and "The Catch". To me it seemed like basically the same concept as this video. What do you think?
Can’t believe the ending what a twist! Definitely need to watch all the way through!
I can’t believe I got played by a conclusion of a video
TWICE NOW WHAT???
what
Bro, y tricked me
omg fr fr fr fr dude this is like meta
absolutely subverting our directions, god damn. thought it was just the 1 music gag but then no, there's an actual like twist
Not gonna lie, I kinda wish I could play concerned joe right now.
Same.
Same
same
same
who the hell is concerned joe
The ending really made me realize something new and insightful, don't want to spoil it tough
The ending was so epic lol
yeah, i want to explain what i understood about it, which is a lot, but i swore not to spoil
Favorite part of the video, hands-down
And how it cuts the the intro! I'm still sitting here, trying not to go crazy over how cool that was!
Oh I was reading this while the outro was playing, so I got a bit confused lol
Dude holy guacamole that ending was so insightful and mind blowing
The setup and punchline of the "good job, you found the suicide button!" trap was so damn good.
Why laugh at the player's misfortune when you can laugh with them?
the narrator is Amazing
@@DrRankunless the player happens to be suicidal themselves
You actual madman. I was excited to hear your reason behind not releasing the game then immediately realised I’ve been bamboozled.
I believe GMTK simply called “Double Take Puzzle Design” “The Assumption” in his video. It’s a tough choice on which moniker I prefer…
I like "double take" better, because that's the point: to push you into a second perspective
Bait and Switch. A great way to get the player pissed off at the developer, because it's not about the puzzle, it's about insulting the player.
13:15 slanted tiles? What about: if you are running on top of the block and against a wall, the box will move away from the wall because your body is pushing against an immovable object and your feet are pushing the box it away from that immovable object :V
@@MentalCheckpoint Well, in my case for a VR game where the player has a locosphere (a ball at the feet is used for walking on a physics-based VR player controller) it literally happens automatically, you can even go on top of a ball and (if you are skilled enough) you can ride the ball like a circus clown hahaha.
@@MentalCheckpoint with a good physics engine it could be okay to work everywhere, not only on walls, so that the box moves left if you run to the right on top of it, but yeah the slanted tile seems easier to program
If it was just one step, you couldn't do that cause you would run away.
But instead of doing it by hand, you could program it such that the slenders appear while building the levels without you having to place them.
That could cause headaches in puzzle design. There was one side button that the player had to constantly run against to activate and one button that the player had to stand on top of a box to reach. If running into walls while on a box pushed it away, you could have your players pushing their box platform out from underneath themselves trying to activate wall switches.
@@MentalCheckpoint or you could have the box move at a speed that is proportional to the difference between character current speed and player input speed, as long as the player is on top. Then you don't have to worry about walls. And it opens possibilities with the character's inertia.
Yo that ending is sick
That conclusion was slamming man
I always wondered why you never finished concerned joe, i remember at the time i was following it quite closely waiting for a release date since i liked the flash version so much, and next thing i knew, you were working on the party game version of that concept.
I am so glad you used gameplay from The Witness, that game was such a hard game at first, took a few months. You should’ve used gameplay from hue too though, a game about color and when you change the color it reveals some blocks you can move and removes blocks of the same color, another good double take game
Ive played hue, such a surprisingly good gem
Paused at 10:11, bought and played through INSIDE, and came back 3 and a half hours later to finish the video. No regrets.
Wooow the statement at the end is super smart and mind-blowing! Worth a subscription and a like!
I was just about to start designing a few puzzles for a tech demo of a physics-based VR shooter and these concepts are just the best haha
Edit: lol I had no idea he would ask the people to talk about it 2 seconds after I paused the video lmao, definitively worth it watching the whole way through.
Mindblowing video as always! The most underrated youtuber I've ever seen; I'm looking forward to seeing you reaching hundreds of thousands, or maybe even millions of subscribers ^^
Man, I just, you know, call it trolling the player. You're certainly embracing that with the sassy narrator.
Seeing as to how much I have enjoyed move or die, I would be pretty stoked for concerned Joe. Also that ending was crazzzyy like I can't believe you would say such a smart thing at the end.
Wow! That conclusion was so crazy, I had to pause and reconcider life as a whole for a minute. It is just mind boggling how much amazingness you packed into that last minute!
That ending was so heart filled and inspiring, it's really made me think about how I do things and I couldn't spoil it for you as it's an experience.
One of the few channels I watch the outros on. You really make it worth it with such insightful remarks.
please fully release Concerned Joe.
it sounds like a fine addition to my puzzle game collection.
That ending honestly changed the way I thought about puzzle games as a whole. It really tied everything together in a neat bow, which I’ve never seen a video do so perfectly before!
Man, that outro - the one that wouldnt make sense without watching the entire video - was absolutely incredible!
Wow that conclusion was SO mind-blowing and insightful. What a twist!
I swear, I've come back to his videos on a somewhat regular basis. I rewatch them and, like, just how he explains stuff is so relaxing yet insightful. Just... so good!
what a mind blowing conclusion
I can't believe how insightful and mind-blowing that was!
So glad I watched till the outro!
this channel needs so much more attention. the editing is crisp and elegant, your voice is smooth and easy to listen to, the information about game design, while not really useful for me, is still really interesting. excellent content right there.
now about the content of this video, what you just described is what i like the most about puzzle games, when games give you some information, but not all of it. like the level at 7:00. if you just told the player beforehand that you can do that with blocks, this level would've been boring and would be just about doing the right thing and moving to the next level.
also in the same level, there's another idea i really like, and that is nudging the player towards the wrong solution. it forces the player to think out of the box, and makes them feel like they outsmarted the game. i absolutely love when i solve a puzzle like that
that conclusion was so insightfull and mindblowing
How insightful and mind blowing that conclusion was, definitely worth watching to the end.
I restarted a game on the Talos Principle these days and it's amazing how it confirms all your videos. I understand the game mechanics in a new way now, and it improves my game experience even more ! Thank you for your content, keep going !
I think I would also choose it for the "great hidden tutorial" category (from your last video)
Honestly, that ending was insane! Never expected such a twist!
One of my favorite such puzzles is literally called "Deception" in the Talos Principle. It's in one of the early areas, it doesn't have as much elements as later puzzles, but still it's probably the most memorable puzzle in the game to me by the way it's guiding you to approach it.
loved that mindblowing ending, you are so good at making twists like that !
everyone NEEDS to watch the whole thing its so good
Everything before the final conclusion of the video was fine and dandy, but that ending truly re-contextualized everything I had learned previously: offering a satisfying, thought-provoking, new and insightful conclusion to a fantastic essay on puzzle design. My life is forever changed.
An amazing ending to that video man! Definitely worth the wait!
I recently bought a cast iron puzzle thats 2 parts connected to each other, they had a small amount of flex and jiggle, but no matter how much you twist, turn or bend the puzzle, it doesn't budge. Turns out you have to spin the puzzle on its axis and it will unlock itself. Felt like this was a great example of subversive puzzle design
That final conclusion was truly a transcendent experience. Bravo Mr. Berbece, bravo...
The way your additional remarks at the end tie all these design concepts together is sublime. I feel like my brain has been rewired and im a more creative and insightful person now. Mind blown.
An astonishing ending, could be one of the best you put out. Great video!
One of the best game design videos I've seen in a while. Keep it up!
Wow what a great conclusion!
That aside I really wish I could play Concerned Joe, don't get me wrong Move or Die is really fun but having those (and many other) interesting mechanics in a singleplayer puzzle game sounds great (especially considering how few friends I have and how not many of them own move or die)
Just skip to the end, lol.
Holy crap, that ending. Pure poetry. My passion for game design was completely rekindled by that last paragraph alone. Thank you.
*That was the most most twisted/awesome/mind-blowing ending Ive EVER SEEN!!*
the entire video was very informative and engaging, but the twist in the conclusion really changed my view of video games and puzzles in general in a way I never thought possible
The announcement at the end killed me
Slanted walls really are clever, you can just use any physics solution and they'll work more or less, without needing too much extra code. Neat.
Not as neat as the mind-blowing ending. Clever cutoff.
The ending is so mindbreaking that it's solely the reason why I want to came back programming the second time.
Was debating leaving a comment about how quality your work already is but honestly, after the ending? Definitely. Ties in so well with the theme, good job.
I recognize, played and finished most of the games featured in this video. Let's see, I will write each game's first appearance as I watch the video for the first time:
- The Witness (0:35)
- Snakebird (1:14)
- Superliminal (1:16)
- Portal 2 (1:28)
- Braid (1:58)
- Inside (2:46)
- Antichamber (2:55)
- Portal (3:44)
- Stephen's Sausage Roll (4:40) //I like that it has my name in the title, but damn the puzzles are hard
- Half-Life 2: Chapter One (5:33)
- Baba is You (6:02)
- Talos Principle (6:13)
- Stanley's Parable (9:09)
- Language, Young Man (9:52)
- (?) Q.U.B.E. 2 (10:26) //not sure, probably not this one thou
- Mad Age & This Guy (10:31) // had no idea, I thought it was some sort of Cyberpunk Sokoban
- The Pedestrian (14:34)
- (?)LoL, idk (14:51) // maybe Talos again?
Such an insightful and minblowing conclusion: most of these games were in the credits already...I feel dumb now for never reading the credits, just listening to your soothing voice.
P.S. Homework #1 & #2 successfully completed btw
I think 10:26 is Manifold Garden and 14:51 is Lightmatter.
8:30
took me a few minutes while i was paused and then i noticed
"you push it half way"
i wasn't sure if i accidentally found loophole or not either lmao
9:52 the way he says that.
13:28 - Gives us his mental checkpoint guarantee...but clearly there is a non-slanted corner in the left side of the floor.
That was one of the best endings i’ve ever seen. Incredible stuff
Not very many people walk you through their process of designing puzzles, so this is super valuable
mindblowing conclusion
The way everything ties together in the end is fantastic! Keep up the great work.
Definitely would be interested in playing Concerned Joe! Great video! I'm definitely a big fan of this kind of puzzle design. Though I wonder if a way to reinforce making sure players do both the vertical and lateral thinking is to sometimes only include the vertical thinking as the solution. That way the game trains you to try it because it could be the answer.
I pressed the like button as soon as you showed the solution to the first puzzle (realizing how clever the design is) and stayed until the end to hear every bit of insight you got only to be left both amused and speechless.
I love you but hate you, which I think is the best compliment I can give
That ending was spectacular, can’t believe he announced when the game was gonnna come out!
That outro was AMAZING!!! It was not something that I expected, but boy was it awesome!
Where do you look for music to back your videos? They really help with the flow and presentation, plus i just desperately need the outro song in my library.
I never thought about what you said in the outro that way, that's a really good way to put it
Watching this ending made me feel something I never felt before, and I do not like it. Loved the video tho, amazing as always
Level designer for a puzzler here. Thank you for providing this information! I've included some elements of misdirection and defiance of instinct already. I'll be sure to include more subversions in future levels.
Would be really interested to know if you think that our emoji puzzles have potential!
I would absolutely love a finished version of this game, even maybe as an additional game mode in move or die
one year later, and the conclusion of the video is still up to date and very helpful - thanks for sharing :D
That ending is the cherry on an already delicious and beautifully constructed cake, a round applause for you!
It's incredible how entertaining, informative and engaging this video is at the same time! You might have just become my new favorite UA-camr, and I will watch your career with great interest.
Join me in feeding the algorithm!
does this suffice?
FOOD
@@cupofdirtfordinner the algorithm always hungers for more p-p
so yes, but we need more
ah ouh
@@ThunderDraws No.. dad.. dont eat the food
That conclusion was insightful and/or mind-blowing!
11:35 is a ridiculous thing to ask a video viewer to expect. Also, it's an added mechanic that will confuse the players more than whatever you're trying to get them to do. I don't agree with this particular segment of the video at all but the rest of the video was good.
Glad someone else thought this too. I don't get why he thinks having to jump over the box to the left to push it to the right is too much to ask of the player when it's something everyone will do without even thinking about it, then adding the anti gravity brings up questions, how do I make the box go anti gravity again? How do I use the anti gravity of a box to solve a puzzle? That part just made no sense. Rest of the video was good though
The conclusion was eye-opening, will definitely incorporate it in the future. Thanks a lot homie!
What an insightful and mindblowing conclusion!
oh and 15:30 you are just evil. i wanna play that!
I was thinking about the puzzles you gave time to solve. I felt the change and the reward for going from vertical to lateral thinking and solving the puzzle.
I'll send this to my GM. His puzzles are hella confusing and don't have any kind of tutorial inside of them. To the point where "alchemy puzzle" is an inside joke.
lol
can i see u play them
@@starpeep5769 we don't record and haven't played in a while. Besides, we play in russian.
Dude I can't believe the conclusion! So thought out and nicely delivered. 10/10
I was just a depressed man, but then after watching the ending of the video, I've managed to defeat my depression, win a lottery, get a wife, have 2 kids, and beat Bezos' net worth. Thank you so much for the insightful and mind blowing ending, Mr. Mental Checkpoint.
Man the ending was amazing, watched it again and again. But I want you to watch to the end, it’s worth it.
what is the game at 10:28?
Manifold Garden
holy shit! That ending was so unexpectedly amazing!
Most of the video I found myself _almost_ falling asleep, but that *_ending_* was something else!
Why I subbed right there.
"Good job, you found the suicide button" with that voice
I immediately had to think about handsome jack^^$
Edit: also solid conclusion by the way, really made me think
Baba is You's level 7 (which you mentioned) is my favourite tutorial level because of this
I played along and paused to try and figure out the puzzle as suggested in the video. I quickly came up with the idea of pushing the box only halfway through, but I dismissed it because I thought the other boxes and the other button surely had a purpose. Turns out, those were just red herrings. In my opinion, that is very poor puzzle design. Using such excessive red herrings is cheap and just creates artificial difficulty. Puzzles feel satisfying when they force you to come up with creative ways to use the elements at your disposal, not when you have to select which elements to use and which elements are just there to trick you.
That vertical and lateral thinking design is very interesting! And I like it, I often fall for it and does give me a confidence boost like I did something to progress the puzzle even if it has 0 connections to the solution lol
I hate this sort of puzzle
As soon as you see the "trick" the solution is obvious
Just feels like it's wasting your time
Good puzzle design is usually my favourite part of any game that has it. Also that part at the end was mind-blowing
I thought that block tip was clever and innovative, but that ending! All your points came together so perfectly and brilliantly; definitely have to watch the whole video just for that, if anything!
Wow! The way you ended this video was really super smart and mind blowing!
The ending of this video truly subverted my expectations. I was not expecting that outcome. Great job!
darn you Mental Checkpoint! That ending had me dancing a little
nah man, that conclusion made me understand the subject in a whole new way, this guy is a revolutionary and a real genius
I love you mental checkpoint. That outro is absolutely justified
I know a lot of people already commented this but that was the best ending ever. Gotta watch the whole thing to understand it tho
The ending really pulled the whole video together, super insightful
that was such an insightful ending.. im glad i decided to stick around for the outro
Very nice conclusion at the end. I hope we get to see it used more in future puzzle designs.
Wow. That conclusion. Super mind blowing and insightful.
The amount of subversion, the insight, the mindblow of the last part of the video... just amazing