I don't think It's just me either.

Judging by the number of people requesting saved games for "Next Life".

I think they spoil a good Adventure Game.

At my advanced years, I just don't seam to have the dexterity and hand-eye coordination needed for this type of puzzle.

Does anyone else feel the way I do about these things? Lou

You are not alone Ikgregorio. I will not buy Nancy Drew games because of the timed puzzles. I do not see the point of a timed puzzle in an adventure game where, surely to idea is to use your brain, not to find out if you are quick on the draw.

I just hope the developers of games are reading this because from other threads I can see we are not the only voices crying out of the wilderness, maybe they should remember the power of the gray pound/dollor :holidays:

Since the emphasis in most things these days is to aim for the young person's dollars I wonder if that is the reason for the timed puzzles in games that are supposedly aimed at the brain and not the dexterity of the player. Unfortunately, it discourages many of the older players, of which I am one, to play the games containing timed puzzles. If the trade-off of old for young is profitable we will be seeing more and more of them, I suppose.

I generally don't like them either though sometimes they fit into the story okay with a decent amount of time given and replay available if you mess up (Nostradamus' end game or one of the puzzles in Nibiru).

Some timed puzzles are just frustrating if they're really just stealth & chase (e.g., Dreamfall, Broken Sword 3) or just so difficult (e.g. Myst IV) but if they only make up a small percentage of the game, then I'm willing to let that slide.

I'm sure it's not just us older people Billybob - my hand eye cordintaion has never been good and has got worse as the years pass. I was the one who always dropped the ball when playing rounders ( bit like baseball)

Maybe the developers could put in a pass button as they do with some puzzles. I will sit here for hours tweaking a puzzle till I get it right but repeating a run through a wood again and again and yet again is not fun it's just boring. If I manage to get passed a timed area I don't feel happy I just press saved game as fast as possible.

I avoid games with timed puzzles.
I think that it is where the line is drawn between adventure
and action type games, sometimes getting a little blurry there.
And yes, it seems to be about the pound/dollar, trying for the bigger market.
Sad, but understandable. If they don't sell enough, how's the author
going to be able to keep creating them. aaargh, I just hope I can do
them when I run into them, but if they just had a SKIP button, I'd sure
push it.

I don't like the timed puzzles either. But the game developers do have a choice, they can make it an optional feature so at the click of mouse button or a press of the a key the timer could be turned off. This should please all gamers. As to why they don't do this, is anybody's guess.

Ispace - that is the best idea of the year - just turn off the timer -simplicity- you are a genius - I love it

To all game developers out there :christmas: and please, please read this thread

I think the SKIP button suggestion by BeaSong is better than just turning off the timer, because most timed sequences are also action or arcade type puzzles. Or do it like they did in Al Emmo where if you missed the action bit, the game saved just before that move so all one had to do is repeat that one move rather than start at the beginning of the whole action sequence and redo those parts that you already managed to get past. Even though I had to try some actions over and over before I got it right, it still was not as boring as starting it from scratch.

I heartily agree, Old Lady!! If only the developers would realize how many of the people playing these adventure games are older, with diminished reflexes (if we ever had them in the first place ). Putting in a method of by-passing the timed puzzles would be a kindness, to put it mildly...

Even better would be the ability to choose whether to use timed or dexterity-dependent puzzles or not during the game install -- or through the game's options menu. That way you'd need never be presented with them at all during the game.

I totally agree with all of the above. Ordered Next Life without checking if there were timed puzzles and it's just been sitting here and may sit forever. Teddo

I am glad to see that I am not alone in my disdain for "timed puzzles"

How about a new rating on the box: "Senior Friendly" this game contains no "timed puzzles". Lou

I don't think I would want a "skip" button as there are some timed puzzles I would enjoy solving if I wasn't under the pressure of a ticking clock.

They could allow you to get rid of the timer though.

I passed on buying Next Life because of the arcade puzzles. It's ridiculous. All they had to do is put a skip feature in and they would have had my sale and I imagine quite a few more.

Teddo, if you ask nicely someone may send you a saved game or 3 for Next Life, its a really great game.

I think the genre is trying to expand itself to more than the usual fringe adventure cult (which is tiny), and therefore it starts inserting elements of casual games. I for one have no problem with timed puzzles, probably because I usually don't find it very hard to solve them, and also because I enjoy the challange.
I do agree, however, that they should make it possible to cancel or skip timed puzzles (I have in mind Myst 4 - it would be nice to cancel the time issue in the puzzles). However, that obviously harms the design of the puzzle, and effect the realism of it.
I always saw this issue with time adding to the realism of the game.

Hi Tomer -- are you implying that we are fringe adventure cult members?

I would love to see a bypass button, not just for timed or arcadey puzzles but for others as well. Tex Murphy did this a long time ago, and Keepsake did it beautifully with gradually helping up to a complete solve. Those that wish to do the puzzle can, and those that don't wish to, don't have to.

Egads, I'm a cultist!

Nope, it's not just you. I used to be a diehard Nancy Drew fan, but not anymore. And it's not an age & dexterity issue for me.... I simply don't like mindless busy-work. Wouldn't have liked it in my 20s either... (had there been PC games) ...not then, not now. Has nothing to do with my hands' dexterity. To keep my synapses firing, I turn to Scrabble, giving my opponent "Maven" (the computer) a high-challenge level.

Adding timed or dexterity-dependent elements to adventure games is only going to shrink their current market. It is certainly not going to make the games more attractive to casual gamers. The nature of casual games is that you can pick them up and play anytime, even after long breaks from playing. You can't do that with an adventure game. You lose track of the plot, forget what you've already accomplished, forget how to find your way around, etc.

OK, sorry for going off-topic with my smart aleck remark above. It's been a lifelong fault and I never seem to get over it.

Personally I don't mind timed sequences and, since they're relatively rare in adventure games, have welcomed the challenge when they're presented; I've yet to see one that I couldn't beat. That being said, however, I realize that many people, probably the majority, don't like those and I think developers would be well advised to provide a means of bypassing them. (Although they weren't timed sequences, the leopard interludes in Paradise had a way of skipping them if one preferred, and that's the kind of thing that I'm referring to: let the player decide whether to do the thing or not.)

This is all I can say now because the Powers That Be have given me a timed sequence for completing my wrapping of presents this afternoon, and if anyone thinks it's bad in a game, just consider the doom I face if I don't get it done in time!

I am not too fond of timed puzzles either. UNless they give you lots of time!!! I like the idea of an ''auto solve'' button...if after you've spent enough time and are so frustrated that you might consider not even finishing the game...just click on the ''auto solve'' button..AND it has to show the puzzle being solved too! You know what else i don't like?.....Adventure games that are really Action/Adventure games....meaning they sneak in some jumping or fighting...OR lots of timed puzzles!!! grrrrrrr....