The Idea

puzzelate^TM is based on the idea of playing a jigsaw puzzle with the clock running.

• the game 'puzzelates' any (jpeg) image based on a set of criteria called a 'game rules set'.
• then it randomly chooses a piece and shows it to the player for a certain period of time dropping it along the left side of the screen.
• the player has a set number of tries to place the piece in the correct position on the puzzle field.
  • if he succeeds the game records the score for placing this piece and choose the next piece.
  • if he fails then
    • if the player has another chance left to place this piece it will be added to the list for a later attempt at playing it.
    • if this was his last chance to place the piece and he failed then the game is lost.
• so long as the player places or has another chance left at placing the piece the game continues until all the pieces are placed.
  • then the game is won and the player gets a score and time for how well the game was played.

meanwhile a selection of songs specifically composed for puzzelate^TM accompanies the game play to create the proper mood for the player to get into the zone, making puzzelate^TM irresistable entertainment.

puzzelate^TM is a complex and addictive game that is very easy to learn. it will strengthen your mind and provide you with endless hours of challenge and fun.

How to Play

On the main screen you can choose one or more folders or puzzles (shown as thumbnails) to play, a player identity to play as and the game rules set. The game rules are listed in order of difficulty with the easiest one ('Nice and Easy') a the top of the list. Clicking on the underlined words in top crumptrail and the folder list let's you navigate anywhere on your disk to find any image you want to play (in the full version). Then click Let's Play to get started
the game randomly choose one image and puzzelates it according to the settings of the selected game rules. one piece is then choosen randomly and drops along the left side of the screen according to the drop rules of the game rule set.
click the image to view a game in play (note that this game is played at the easiest game rule set)

Game Rule Sets

A game rule set determine all the factors necessary for laying out and playing a puzzle.

These game rules sets include how many pieces the image is to be divided into, how many 'connectors' each piece is supposed to have, how quickly the pieces are supposed to drop, if the puzzle image is supposed to be visible or not, how the piece drops and a variety of other criteria.

A sophisticated formula computes a handicap value for each rule set which is used as the basis for scoring the game play. The handicap makes it possible to compare the score of games played under different rule sets and different images while remaining as fair as possible. It also makes it obvious when someone named a simple rule set the same as complicated one. just compare the handicap

Tips and Tricks

Everyone will find their own best way to puzzelate. Some general rules apply though:

• rely on your instinctive feeling when placing a piece. if you try to use your conscious brain too much you will find it getting in the way. you need to get into the zone when puzzelating. from there your subconscious mind will naturally direct you to the proper location. being in the zone is what makes puzzelate^TM sooo much fun
• click inside of a piece to place it. especially when playing a puzzle with many pieces and/or being under time constraints causes the common mistake of clicking somewhere outside of a piece. you can click inside of a connector of a piece though even if that connector is inside the neighboring piece
• make sure you compare the exact connector layout. may times they look similar but are not. on piece with fewer connector it is possible that there are 2 different locations that look alike. each piece fits into exactly one position though. check the picture on the piece and the puzzle field to determine where the given piece fits.
• when you see a piece that has no connectors on any one side it is a good idea to first look along the edge that does not have connectors on that side. while it is not guaranteed it is very likely the piece belongs somewhere along that very edge.
• as the puzzle gets partially solved the pieces fall faster. so while it gets easier because more of the puzzle is solve it also gets harder because you'll have less time to place a piece.

puzzelate^TM is a complex and addictive game that is very easy to learn. it will strengthen your mind and provide you with endless hours of challenge and fun.