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Interactive Flash pieces have generally been designed as either games to be played or art to be interpreted. However, the line between game and art has been steadily diffusing, and there are now many offerings where it's not clear whether the author's intended focus was engaging the user in gameplay or immersing them in artful ponderings. One particularly beautiful example is Choice.
Choice is the product of the Department of Visual Communications and Design at Ling Tung University in Taiwan, presumably a product of one of the students, although I can only speculate, as I cannot read the Chinese language.
Luckily, you don't have to be able to read Chinese either to experience Choice. All you need is a mouse and your own two eyes. However, you'll probably want to engage your ears as well, for there are some wonderful ambient sounds to encounter. To begin, click the game title and then click the flashing numbers to freeze them. Write down the number that appears—you'll need it at the end. Click the numbers again and then click anywhere on the text that appears to start the game. From there, it's up to you to explore and complete the six stunning levels, each one its own fascinating milieu.
Analysis: Joye, who submitted the game, has posted translations of all the Chinese text on her blog, as well as a step-by-step walkthrough for each level. However, I would suggest only using the walkthrough as a last resort, because the experience provided by immersion into the environment is something that cannot be replicated when using shortcuts. Before resorting to the walkthrough, check the game itself for hints: click the book in the top right corner to bring up some text (in Chinese) which hints at the purpose of the level. Click the book again to highlight all of the hot spots in the scene.
In terms of game play, Choice feels a bit like an escape-the-room game of mild difficulty. However, I think you'll agree that there's much more to the game than simply the joy of completing it. The accompanying music and visual effects are top notch, but the rich text really shines in beauty, drawing parallels from a simple game to philosophy, art, and life in general. The book on level 5 offers this little bit of wisdom (as translated by Joye): A person's life time is limited, a victory or defeat at the conclusion isn't the most important thing at all, but rather playing the course. The ups and downs of one's mood and passing a test, the successful feeling of checkmate. Play Choice.
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Comments (may contain spoilers)
Whee!
Posted by: Jasmine | May 28, 2007 2:12 PM
Um, not to bring politics to a casual games website, but Ling Tung University is actually in Taiwan...
wctaiwan
Posted by: wctaiwan | May 28, 2007 2:38 PM
It's a strange one, but I like it. Very mysterious, but quite neat.
And I'm stuck...
Posted by: LazyPint
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May 28, 2007 7:42 PM
wctaiwan: who said anything about politics? I only see geography. ;)
Posted by: Suho1004
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May 28, 2007 7:52 PM
Stage 5:
Posted by: Ezrabbit | May 28, 2007 7:52 PM
You know, something funny I realized about the book at the top of the screen...
Posted by: Metanaito
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May 28, 2007 8:01 PM
Ezrabbit, for the hourglass puzzle:
Posted by: Hand-E-Food | May 28, 2007 9:52 PM
I'm 'stuck' on the level where it's the room with the framed picture and the bamboo(?) tree, and I'm wondering again... what are all those little circles for, when you click on the book? =\
I've barely started playing though, will try some more. G'luck to everyone playing it. =)
Posted by: kerrigwen
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May 28, 2007 10:33 PM
Ah, lol, now I know what the circles are for! *doh*
Posted by: kerrigwen
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May 28, 2007 10:39 PM
Nevermind... got it. Why do these things never work the first time. =\
Posted by: kerrigwen
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May 28, 2007 10:41 PM
I tried this game before. I couldn't click the mouse fast enough for the 0/5 section or whatever that was. Is carpel tunnel syndrome a new avenue in P&C games?
Posted by: Corona
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May 28, 2007 11:19 PM
Corona - not yet lol. Read the spoiler/hint that Hand-E-Food gave. =)
Posted by: kerrigwen
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May 29, 2007 12:05 AM
I'm at the one with the chalkboard, but I'm stuck.
Posted by: jessthemullet | May 29, 2007 12:44 AM
jeesthemullet: For the chalk board you must click co-ordinate on a book, then use the computer to match up where it has to go on the chalk board.
Eg click and hold co-ordinate 599286, then use the computer to find the spot 599286 then release mouse
Hope that makes sense
Posted by: Wurly early | May 29, 2007 6:13 AM
Kerrigwen, I haven't seen a post here yet that even mentions that puzzle. Trust me, I've read all the hints at another site and none of them helped me. It's all about speed. But thanks.
Posted by: Corona
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May 29, 2007 7:01 AM
Would it be remiss of me to stick a walkthrough here also? Cause if it ain't, I'll leave it here for yall who don't wanna use the provided link.
Posted by: WalkingToDaMan | May 29, 2007 7:14 AM
About the hourglasses
Posted by: LASD | May 29, 2007 8:04 AM
Oh sorry Corona, mybad.
I'm stuck in the classroom scene and
Posted by: kerrigwen
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May 29, 2007 9:27 AM
Nothing happen at level 6 even if i use the password that i have printscreened from the beginning. How to get to the ending?
Posted by: samsonaba | May 29, 2007 10:32 AM
Samsonaba:
Posted by: xadoc | May 29, 2007 5:22 PM
For the hourglass level.. I think (I'm not entirely sure):
But I haven't been able to test it because I keep getting stuck on level five.
Anyone else having this problem? I've tried to get it to work 3 times now by starting over. It worked the very first time I played the game.
Posted by: Nicol3 | May 29, 2007 8:26 PM
So I'm stuck at....
Posted by: Becky | May 30, 2007 12:41 AM
If anybody noticed at all, I posted an entire walkthrough if you're too lazy to check the one in the blog. It's under some random name, as Typekey keeps kicking me out after a certain period of inactivity....like the amount of time it takes to actually make a walkthrough.
As for your problem, you need to
Posted by: weirdguy
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May 30, 2007 5:36 AM
Actually, about the incense -
Corona... finished the game, not sure which 0/5 puzzle you're referring to. =\
Posted by: kerrigwen
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May 30, 2007 2:37 PM
There are some interesting easter eggs in this neat game. Did you guys know that if you log in as 'administrator' in the game, you can unlock additional info and a super easy game mode? Here is how:
Posted by: SiamJai
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May 31, 2007 10:08 AM
Loved it. Beautiful.
At the end of the game, it says you must not live for yourself but also others.
More like confuscanism (however you spell it).
Posted by: bored | June 1, 2007 2:15 AM
im stuck in stage 4..how to make the '0' and '5' touch ??
Posted by: Noob | June 9, 2007 3:17 AM
Wow I can't believe I missed you guys posting this! I even subscribe to your feed, I wonder what I was doing May 28th that I missed it? ^_^;;;
The game was the project of six students.
Posted by: joye
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June 16, 2007 9:02 PM
Also you can host a copy of the walkthrough on the site if you like. :D
Posted by: joye
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June 16, 2007 9:03 PM
I'm going to cry - I can't get past Stage 3! I know what to do, but
Posted by: Karin M Designs | July 20, 2007 10:32 PM
I don't know what to do at the (2nd I think?) scene with the blue map thing on the wall. The only place I see to click on it is on the top right arrow but when I click there it just buzzes at me and takes me out of that veiw. What do I do? And why do you click on the circle on the floor to get there? What is it?
Posted by: MehMeh | August 17, 2007 5:07 PM
Beautiful start, but I got annoyed very soon. I don't like clicking on like, every goshdarn pixel on the screen, hoping something will make the game advance, sorry. That's not succesful gameplay, after the thousandth click the enjoyment wears thin. And yes, I played point&click adventures, there at least you have some better clues and feedback, even if the solution happens to elude you. Here is just pixel-hunting. And that's bad.
Posted by: satori78
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January 4, 2008 3:47 AM
I read Chinese thankfully, but all the talk about the life, the representation of the flowers for each door of life, love, education, enjoyment, the journey of life we all undertake, it's all getting a little too deep for me. [Ow, my head...]
The graphics felt so sinister at first too, but it's not scary after a while [b-but the scrolling letters across the teacher's desk, omg.. T_T I'm so glad I didn't play this during the first 15 days of Chinese New Year, it's so unnaturally scary...].
I found burning incense for the statue of one of the gods a familiar and assuring touch, but best of all has to be the ending: "No matter how much life is like a game, it cannot be repeated... a game can be repeated, but life cannot be repeated..." Then it fizzed out and my mouse cursor went crazy for a while. T^T Why is it so freaking SCARY?
Posted by: Mezza
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February 22, 2008 5:01 AM