A Virtual Life

On August Posted August 16, 2018 I posted a review of Madpea’s Mystery Crate Vol. 2 The Collector on Marketplace. I gave it two stars and titled it Entertaining Let-Down. You can read the full review here.

A few days later I was approached by a Customer Service Manager with MadPea about my review. She brought up some points she wanted me to explain. The note is at the end of this article.

My response:  “Hi there. I don’t have time tonight to chat but I’ll put my thoughts into a note card this weekend.”

I decided to give the game another in depth play-through to see if I was unfair in my review.

Let me first disclose that I am a mystery game beta tester, a mystery table-top and PC gamer, I read a lot of mysteries, and am writing (re-writing) an optioned-but-unpublished mystery novel. I consider myself fairly grounded in the genre.

Madpea CSM: “I see you noted that there was no story to the Mystery Case. There is a story behind the puzzle, it’s also part of a bigger puzzle including the first Mystery Case. So, I was hoping you would explain why you felt there was no story.”

After unpacking the crate you get a “read me first” notecard stating that a dying man hands you the case to destroy. Once you put on the HUD you get a bit more: A middle-aged man, blood red eyes, foaming at the mouth hands you a crate as he collapses. You call 911 and split for home where you decide to open it. (You can read my alternate beginning at the end of this article.)

Note that the crate is actually a large chest.

At a later point in the game, the man is mentioned. Period. Mentioned.

To me, that is not a story. It is a setup for a story which – SPOILER ALERT – never materializes.

The marketplace description states this is a standalone puzzle game. Nowhere in the marketplace description is it implied or stated that the mystery cases are part of a bigger puzzle. In fact, the web-page write up about the first mystery case states the game is “leading up to the final and thrilling conclusion.”  I suppose at a stretch that could mean the first game is the first step toward an over-arching conclusion. But over-and-again, it is stated these are stand-alone games with different themes, which implies that they are complete in themselves and not related to each other.

Back to the lack of a story: SPOILER ALERT! The ending is abrupt. To say the least. Nothing indicates that this is another puzzle in a larger mystery. (You can read my alternate ending at the end of this article.)

Madpea CSM: I see you also mentioned that you had a problem with the slide puzzle.

I did not say I had a problem with the slide puzzle. I said the mechanics were jinky. By which I meant awkward and difficult to use. This is frequently the case with Second Life objects. Interaction with objects is sometimes harder than it need be.

Madpea CSM: some people may love one prize, others may not

This particular prize was disappointing to me for a couple of reasons: the holding animation is really poor, it is over-sized (although modifiable so I was able to size it more realistically), and does nothing but maybe act as decor. The second part of the prize is just a MadPea advert. Suggestion: if this really is part of a larger puzzle, perhaps the prize could relate to that.

I realize that prizes mean different things to different people, but I don’t play for the prizes. The challenge and the story mean the most to me.

So, my 2-star review stands: -1 star for no story. -2 star for poor mechanics. – 3 star for disappointing pay-off

Alternate Opening: “While on your way home you take shelter from the rain in a bus shed. You notice a man, obviously in distress, in the corner and ask him if he is okay. ‘Yes, thank you,” he whispers. Suddenly he looks past you and his eyes widen in fear. He reaches out and grabs your arm. ‘They’ve found me!’ He presses a wadded piece of paper into your hand as he stumbles to his feet. ‘Please. Please help me. Pick up my trunk from the train station. Give it to no one. I’ll find you.’ With a look over his shoulder, he staggers off down the alleyway, holding his side. Two men in dark overcoats run across the street and follow him down the alley. One of them glances towards you and you quickly look away, hiding your face. Only then you notice that the wadded up luggage claim is blood-stained. Your first thought is to toss it into the trash and head home. But then you remember the look in the man’s face, the fear in his eyes, and you decide to …..”

Alternate ending: “Looking at the strange collection of objects and the things you discovered in the light of what had just happened, you realize that you had unlocked one mystery only to discover another. What had happened to the man who had bequeathed you the trunk? Was he even alive? Gazing out the window you see one of the men in overcoats watching your apartment. Backing away from the window you shove the items from the trunk into a backpack, climb down the fire escape and run.”

Full Marketplace Review: Completed in about 45 minutes with no hints. The puzzles are clever, clear, and mostly on-topic. If you like puzzle solving for itself, the game is entertaining. The story-line is non-existent. The pay-off isn’t worth the effort. Won’t spoiler by complaining about the prize except to say …. let-down.

Mechanics of the slide puzzles really jinkie. HUD is dark and interface too small.

-1 star for no story. -2 star for poor mechanics. – 3 star for disappointing pay-off

Note from Madpea CSM: “I’m (name withheld), the Customer Service Manager with MadPea. I saw your review on the Mystery Case. I was hoping to talk with you a bit about it. I see you noted that there was no story to the Mystery Case. There is a story behind the puzzle, it’s also part of a bigger puzzle including the first Mystery Case. So, I was hoping you would explain why you felt there was no story. I see you also mentioned that you had a problem with the slide puzzle. If you’d explain that as well I’d be happy to look into it 🙂 We always welcome feedback and we realize that while some people may love one prize, others may not. It’s all personal preference. Have a wonderful day!