Threes
A sliding number puzzle game about merging tiles.
Where Threes comes up1 episode or test
- Prompt: 'swipe left twice'
- Player just follows the arrow
- Game advances; player learns nothing
- Prompt: use walls to add 1 and 2
- Player must push tiles into walls
- Teaches the thinking the game needs
Tutorial steps became tiny problems players must think through
From Mark Brown on Threes' tutorial
What was said about Threes
Threes taught players with a small puzzle instead of a swipe instruction. Designer Asher Vollmer replaced a prompt like 'swipe left twice' with a prompt to use the walls to add 1 and 2 together. Players had to work out how to push tiles into walls, which is the thinking the real game needs.
Mark Brown contrasts this with click-here arrows, where 'as far as the game is concerned; I have advanced. But as far as my brain is concerned; I've learned nothing.' The lesson is to turn tutorial steps into tiny problems the player must think through.
Can we Improve Tutorials for Complex Games?
Designer Asher Vollmer replaced 'swipe left twice' with a prompt to push numbers into walls. That tiny puzzle makes players think the way the real game needs.
Threes taught players with a small puzzle instead of a swipe instruction. Designer Asher Vollmer replaced a prompt like 'swipe left twice' with a prompt to use the walls to add 1 and 2 together. Players had to work out how to push tiles into walls, which is the thinking the real game needs.
Mark Brown contrasts this with click-here arrows, where 'as far as the game is concerned; I have advanced. But as far as my brain is concerned; I've learned nothing.' The lesson is to turn tutorial steps into tiny problems the player must think through.
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