unforum

[Machina Kyrios]

[imbri]

I did not play OC so I might be misunderstanding you, but this seems crazy to me.

1 - you solve a puzzle early by decompiling the flash and that is either ok or how it was meant to be solved.
2 - players and pms are all aware of this
3 - you get a puzzle later on that can be solved by decompiling the flash but that is not ok

I'm sorry, but that seems rather idiotic to me. Once it's established as being ok, you can't really go back on it. And, if the PMs were aware of that tactic being used previously (esp if they meant for it to be used), they can't then later get annoyed when you use the tactic on another puzzle.

I know I'm just about the most meta person out there, but really, shouldn't people be playing the game as it's presented and not the game that they think the PMs want to present?

[jamesi]

/me whispers: Psst. Don't want your Flash-based puzzle to be decompiled and 'solved'? Don't code your puzzle in Flash.

[Phaedra]

[Rolerbe]

My last post on this thought, as I think I've touted my view enough (and yet strangely I can't...resist...must...post...)

A tool is a tool is a tool. If one is available, you have to expect someone to use it. Its simply too hard, (particularly for a loosely coupled collective of 'free agents') to say "of course you can use a hammer, but those screwdrivers over there? Now, that just crosses the line..."

[colin]

I'm going to try and explain this...I'm not sure how clearly it will come out, i can't think staight with this cold. (yes, I made all the flash stuff that is being talked about here)

[CreativeEmbassy]

I know I won't shut up about this point, BUT... everything MUST be done in context. I'm trying to remember the puzzle trails exactly... Steven was the hidden person, and he was trying to get messages to the outside world, right? So, in this context, it depends on if Steven is okay with you decompiling the flash.

I will admit, my viewpoint can make it pretty damn hard to use puzzles within the context of a game, but it's something that has to be done. A flash decompiler should still fit in the context. If a character later gets upset (not by proxy of a PM) that flash got decompiled because of in-game reasons, then it should be okay. Characters can change their minds, right?

[CreativeEmbassy]

Another thing, and I sincerely hope I'm not jacking this thread TOO much, since the topic of hacking and brute-forcing is the same. Many of the BTS teams I've been involved with usually end up breaking into core groups, like artwork, websites, storyline, actors... would it make sense to include someone on your team who is very good with security? Possibly someone to ensure that if your game may attract hackers, then they can still use the toolsets they want to and not have your game fall apart because of some hole or exploit you missed...

[krystyn]

A tool is sometimes also a cudgel.

One cannot dictate a mindfulness to context, but it's probably a good thing to try.