One of the other games that I play far far too much of is called "Lara
Croft and the Guardian of Light". I mastered the game long ago and now
play it primarily to meet people. (Actually, I'm such a pathetic person
that this is really my only opportunity for social interaction... =\ )

The game is divided into levels, each with a main challenge and two or
three side challenges. Many of these consist of puzzles which are
effectively logic problems. So when I play these multiplayer, I get to
observe the other player's problem-solving strategies.

For example, one of the challenges is basically a pit in the Forgotten
Gate. The puzzle is laid out as follows. Inside the room there is a pit.
There is a platform in the center of the pit, but it is surrounded with
spikes and is unapproachable, it also has spikes on its top so it is
impossible to stand on it. The prize is above this platform. There is a
pressure switch on one side of the room which raises the platform and
lowers the spikes. There are also gold markings on the floor which
suggest the optimal place to stand to win the challenge.

This is what usually happens (I almost always play Totec); The solutions
to these problems should usually be presented as scripts)

TOTEC: Stands in the spot designated by the gold markings, in front of
the switch.

LARA: wanders around in confusion not knowing what to do, she usually
starts trying to plant bombs here and there, hoping for a secret, makes
a few test-jumps, and then starts attacking totec out of frustration.

Eventually LARA, often under instructions relayed by microphone, will go
to the designated place on the other side of the room, fire a grapple
line at Totec.

TOTEC serves as the anchor for the grapple line and steps backwards
towards the pressure switch.

[The platform raises and the spikes retract.]

LARA uses the grapple line, now stretched over the top of the platform
and makes her jump, easily climbing on top of the platform to claim the
prize. She must then jump to safety before Totec gets bored and decides
to leave. =P

The entire game is like that. A challenge in the Spider's Tomb requires
that you step on all the spike traps on a large floor, with obstacles in
order to open the challenge room. Another prize can be had by going to
the end of the level then back-tracking almost all the way to the
beginning, a highly counter-intuitive search pattern! =P

So yeah, if you want to observe problem solving in action, try that game
out. =)


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