Puzzle Quest Over
Wow. I want to fall asleep forever.
A gazillion hours of puzzle design. Many days preparation and planning and coordination. Reworking of puzzles, writing of scripts, photoshopping nonstop, re-reworking of puzzles, playtesting, calculation of tiny details, extended discussion of minute details, fighting over microscopic details, and finally re-re-reworking of puzzles and...
And finally the event came.
The MN0PQ6 (mnzero.org) event that I, Gut, and Willson prepared (with much much help from others) happened today. 13 teams showed up, with 50 players in total, much of them playing for a grueling 8 hours in South Minneapolis (near the recent tornado damage).
It went well. No major disasters. People seemed to have fun, despite losing energy over the course of the marathon puzzle session. Several teams solved my ridiculously devious multi-part puzzle without any hints. Some people were completely taxed by it. Some people liked my other puzzles too. And that makes me happy. Really happy.
I am too tired to write nicely now, but I feel a sense of accomplishment that I haven't felt in a long while. Joblessness and school-lessness would have something to do with it. But I'm glad that even in this rut of a time in my life, I'm able to tap into a community of creativity, invention, and fun, and to be able to make a little something to be momentarily proud of.
I'm thankful for these connections in my life, who provide persistent inspiration, imagination, wonder, enlightenment, revelry, and comfort. Thank you.
And in less general terms, thank you the many people who helped us put this event on, the many people who showed up and played our game, and the many many other people who inspire such wanton creation.
A gazillion hours of puzzle design. Many days preparation and planning and coordination. Reworking of puzzles, writing of scripts, photoshopping nonstop, re-reworking of puzzles, playtesting, calculation of tiny details, extended discussion of minute details, fighting over microscopic details, and finally re-re-reworking of puzzles and...
And finally the event came.
The MN0PQ6 (mnzero.org) event that I, Gut, and Willson prepared (with much much help from others) happened today. 13 teams showed up, with 50 players in total, much of them playing for a grueling 8 hours in South Minneapolis (near the recent tornado damage).
It went well. No major disasters. People seemed to have fun, despite losing energy over the course of the marathon puzzle session. Several teams solved my ridiculously devious multi-part puzzle without any hints. Some people were completely taxed by it. Some people liked my other puzzles too. And that makes me happy. Really happy.
I am too tired to write nicely now, but I feel a sense of accomplishment that I haven't felt in a long while. Joblessness and school-lessness would have something to do with it. But I'm glad that even in this rut of a time in my life, I'm able to tap into a community of creativity, invention, and fun, and to be able to make a little something to be momentarily proud of.
I'm thankful for these connections in my life, who provide persistent inspiration, imagination, wonder, enlightenment, revelry, and comfort. Thank you.
And in less general terms, thank you the many people who helped us put this event on, the many people who showed up and played our game, and the many many other people who inspire such wanton creation.