Instruments by Elizabeth Reynolds is one of the puzzle games submitted to our first Game Design Competition. Four instruments sit silently on the right side of the screen, each in a different colored chair. Using the corresponding controls to the left, activate the instruments to produce a green wave on the bottom of the screen. Different combinations of instruments playing at the same time produce a unique wave. You can also adjust the volume to create taller or shorter peaks and valleys. The goal is to match the green wave with the black one, so you'll need to experiment with combinations before you can get it right.
Instruments is a very simple game and there's a bit more guesswork and experimentation to it than straight-up puzzle solving. Adding actual instrument sounds would have added a thick layer of delicious musical icing to the game, making it absolutely irresistible. But even in silence, Instruments is a nice experience and a great submission from Elizabeth.
For a larger version of this game, a downloadable (PC only) version with multiple levels is available over at the Experimental Gameplay Project.
Am I missing something?
You click different activator buttons on left side... then you click different values for the activator(s) you selected... then click the button - attempt to match the wavelength....
ok...
90 seconds .. click click click .. done..
no music?
only 1 wavelength to match then game over?
this is much too easy
Wow! I almost didn't get it. You must solve the puzzle within 8 seconds to get to the next round. I solved all 20 rounds and collected all 20 instraments. My winning classical score is posted in 1st place if you make it that far. Sound is included after the 5th round when you get the drums. Shoot down the flying notes with the Cello for extra time.
This must be a joke, right? Nothing happened until I just let the game sit there for an hour. Finally the instruments started to play something but that was all.
But seriously. The online version is a teaser. Get the download version for more levels. A little more of a challange. Each level is random, so you can't post spoilers really, however, I do have some hints. I reached level 8 before I got bored.
The violin raises the pitch.
The trumpet adds randomness to the waves.
The cello smooths the waves a lot and very long.
The other horn(?) is almost same as cello.
After a while you can look at a wave and figure out what instruments you need then use the volume to adjust. Long waves use more cello. Random waves use the trumpet. Tall waves use the violin. etc..
It takes a few rounds but then you start to see the puzzle part of it. But I still got bored pretty quick. Needs some kind of goal or prize or score or something.
Thanks for the words of encouragement guys. I appreciate your lack of sarcasm and respect you showed for my work.
In fairness to you, the game is short, and a bit simple.
But in fairness to me, the contest asked for a single level of a multilevel puzzle game, each level of which was not supposed to be all that time intensive or complex. Additionally, I downloaded Flash about three weeks before the contest deadline, spent 1 week learning how to use it, and about 2 making the game, while continuing to learn. So before you scoff quite so hard, please consider how many games you've made with a software program you've only just learned and a very limited amount of time.
Finally, there was going to be a prize/goal on the extended version, but my Flash trial ran out, so I was unable to implement it.
Elizabeth - we have a very tough crowd here who is rather difficult to please, so please don't take it personally. Your entry was exactly what we were looking for, and you certainly did an amazing job for a Flash novice in the time frame within which you had to work.
Cheers again for the entry, it was a pleasure having your puzzle game part of the competition! =)
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