Designing Treasure Hunts, CS 227
This is the official course website for Designing Treasure Hunts, CS 227,
taught by Ira Fay at Hampshire College in Spring 2014.
Basic Info
The most important document for this class is the syllabus. I spent hours crafting it, and I
believe it contains useful information, including the course schedule.
Class Sessions: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30pm - 1:50pm, FPH 102
Professor: Ira Fay, (413) 559-6844, ASH 216, ifay@hampshire.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2pm - 3:30pm, and by appointment. A
sign up sheet is available
digitally.
Course Email List: gameclass2@lists.hampshire.edu
Projects
Project details will be posted here when they are available.
Design Journal project.
First Puzzle project.
Second Puzzle project.
Hint 1: What do those numbers mean? Did you try Googling them?
Hint 2: It could be an emergency if you don't figure this out!
Hint 3: Don't over-react. It's better to be under-stated.
The Answer: Actual Second Puzzle project.
Third Puzzle project.
Hint 1: Perhaps I should have called this Guveq Chmmyr.
Hint 2: The translated version has some useless letters.
Hint 3: Try meditating to get centered.
The Answer: Actual Third Puzzle project.
Fourth Puzzle project.
Hint 1: Lightning is dangerous if you're swimming in a river, particularly in South America, North America, or Europe.
Hint 2: Use each set of numbers and the river name to find the building. The rivers start with A, M, and R, respectively. The clouds provide the room number.
Hint 3: Each set of numbers + river name yields one letter. The rivers are the Amazon, Mississippi, and Rhine. Each cloud yields one number.
The Answer: Actual Fourth Puzzle project.
Fifth Puzzle project.
Hint 1: Maybe you could call me using your phone keypad?
Hint 2: Notice the shapes created as you dial each group of numbers.
Hint 3: Each group of numbers represents one letter.
The Answer: Actual Fifth Puzzle project.
Sixth Puzzle project.
Hint 1: The numbers are important, and not for sorting!
Hint 2: The last two clues aren't talking about planets. Don't count spaces.
Hint 3: Each line represents one letter of the final answer. Use the
number and the clue's answer to find a letter.
The Answer: Actual Sixth Puzzle project.
Choice Project.
Useful Links
Puzzle
Feedback Form
Feedback
Results
News Guru
Throughout the semester, students present game-related news to the class, which
hopefully puts our work in context of the greater world. The articles are listed
below.
Field Trip
We may go on a field trip to see the Art of Video Games exhibit. We need
student drivers. If you are willing to drive a van provided by the college and
have a good driving record, please sign up here!
Bonus Info
If you want to keep up with Game Development at Hampshire and in the Five
Colleges, join the Game Development email list.
On Wednesdays 2:30pm - 4:30pm on the main floor of the library (near the tables in the
back), there are regular Game Gatherings to play card and board games. Everyone is
welcome!
Ira is running a Magic league to explore the design of the newest set. Sign
up here and learn more about
it.
There was a game jam event at Mount Holyoke the first weekend of classes.
Everyone in this class should attend! More
information here, and sign
up here.