Overview
I developed a clue system for puzzle/mystery games, implemented in a test scene based on the tutorial for the board game series Unlock! (Demaegd, C., 2017) to demonstrate my ability, as a systems programmer, to produce a feature that can be easily reused in other projects of this game genre. This system aim to adapt assistance to player preferences.
This development is based on accessibility (tailoring help to players' needs), reusability (being able to integrate this system easily into any puzzle/mystery game) and non-intrusiveness (guiding the player towards clues without interrupting their experience).
Used Tools
I used Unreal Engine 5.6 in blueprint to create this system.
How It Works
The system follows several steps.
First, a timer is started.
Once the timer has run out, the attached transmitter searches for receivers attached to the objects involved in solving the puzzles.
For a receiver to be valid, it must:
- Be within a limited area around the player
- Contain clues with the same progression ID as the player
If several objects are valid, the one closest to the player is selected.
Once the object has been identified, the transmitter instructs it to play a dialogue corresponding to the current progress identifier.
When the player completes a step in solving a puzzle, the progression ID is incremented.
Accessibility
Rather than finding a one-size-fits-all solution for every type of player, I decided instead to create accessibility options.
Frequency
The player can choose to increase or decrease the frequency with which clues appear.
Display
The player can also choose between three display modes:
- No hints: The player will receive no hint notifications.
- Legacy Mode: The player will receive a hint every time the timer runs out.
- Dynamic Mode: The player will receive a notification every time the timer runs out and can decide whether to display the hint.
Links
Project repository: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1px251h8yfgN-Uq6tA-qv9JQ9zmdAaQyl/view?usp=sharing
Inspirations
Demaegd, C. (2017). Unlock ! [Board Game]. Space Cowboys.
Credits & Resources
Assets
Exo. (2026). Numeric Keypad / Security Pin Pad. Sketchfab. Accessed 7 July at https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/numeric-keypad-security-pin-padeebb647f4bcd4c9780dcc16f542c0264
MR. A K. (2024). Realistic door. SketchFab. Accessed 7 July at https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/realistic-door-ec835c0c500c487a93f9fcd47535a554
Spooneystone. (2021). KEY. Sketchfab. Accessed 7 July at https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/key-aeb6b20f890a4ea68b9720c213995984
UHO Development. (2017). Chest. Sketchfab. Accessed 7 July at https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/chest-35be28efe99a43c5b76cd8fed3f5c89a
Jerovdl. (2017). LED TV. Sketchfab. Accessed 7 July at https://sketchfab.com/3dmodels/led-tv-7adf0449187e4269aadea0b615b247fa
Naira. (2022). Simple alphabet. Sketchfab. Accessed 7 July at https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/simple-alphabet86bc96d947054d9398402069c02f96fc