Simple mechanics, inspired by science

I love puzzle games. Exploring the depths of a simple mechanic. My favorite games provide a nudge in the right direction but let the player learn by doing.

Light Finds a Way is about the properties of light: how it’s reflected, split, and affected by color. This is a compact proof of concept prototype. It’s not a complete game but its does start to sketch some areas for continued exploration. The mechanic is tried and true, a pipe works game about flow, and there are some great precedents of this being done with light. The innovation here isn’t the mechanic, it’s that the game is teaching you about light as you play.

For the moment, the core mechanics are:

• Reflection

• Beam splitting

• Prisms

• Subtractive color mixing

Designed for a short session, museum, experience and optimized for mobile play.

What musuems often get wrong about games

Games are learning environments. Pure and simple. They often reward curiosity and experimentation - which makes them an ideal environment to explore new ideas, value systems, and ways of existing. But at their heart, to resonate, they also need to push back and provide some challenge.

I started working with museums by offering game designs workshops for exhibition design teams and I continue to be fascinated by games for learning and impact.

Here’s what museum’s often get wrong: they try to do too much. They want the game to express everything about a phenomena or narrative.

Because games have the potential for so much depth the tendency is to cram the game with information. In museums, games often become mini-exhibitions unto themselves, burdened with excess information. They become a catch-all. And that ambition is what often gets in the way.

In reality, its often best to narrow down the learning outcome and letting the vistior/player practice that skill or knowledge in a variety of settings and levels.