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I've been working on creating a point-and-click adventure game for a few years now. It's in the style of "Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders." The main characters are myself, my girlfriend, and my daughter
. For the first 3 years, I explored what I could achieve technically in Lua/Love2D, and now I've reached a point where I'm ready to complete the story. I already have the main storyline. However, I've been reading some books on how to create a story, but I'm still looking for additional information on coming up with fun puzzles and understanding what children aged 12 and above can comprehend. So, connecting the story with puzzles.TL;DR
I'm searching for a book about the psychology of why people do/do not understand puzzles. This might sound a bit vague; let me try to explain through an example.
In the game "Zak McKracken" you can walk along a street and see a few houses. You notice a bakery with a closed door. You can only proceed when you ring the doorbell 3 times. The first time you ring, the window opens, and the baker tells you not to ring the bell, then closes the window. Then, you ring the bell 2 more times, and the baker throws a baguette out of the window, which you'll need later in the game.
Here, three things are evident:
- Everyone will ring the doorbell (curiosity?)
- Everyone will ring the doorbell 2 more times (the baker said not to, so is it teasing? Curiosity?)
-A reward for the action (the baker throwing the baguette)
Are there any books written about why this happens? To create safer puzzles that everyone understands and finds enjoyable, etc. I don't want it to become too complex, nor too simple.
Additionally, I might be looking for a book (again, vaguely described) that outlines all the clear 'elements' that everyone from the age of 12 can understand. Examples could include a stop sign, traffic light, a king, or some well-known fairy tales. Perhaps it's better to say, references that everyone comprehends.
