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Post by jmgraham on Nov 2, 2017 21:54:06 GMT -5
For those of you who have explored a variety of products....
What would you recommend as the best non-MPC product you have experienced, and why?
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Post by dmikester on Nov 3, 2017 0:29:25 GMT -5
Boy, that's a tough question. I've tried out many non-MPC products, and there are a lot of really good ones out there, but it very much depends on what you're looking for. I think maybe the one that's been most impressive overall of all the ones I've done recently, and the one that perhaps provides the most variety, is Dispatch: Breakout, which has a really great combination of an ongoing and compelling story in an original universe, fun and diverse puzzles, a ton of "curios" that tie directly into the story and are often needed for puzzles, and a huge amount of in-universe websites that you at times really need to dive into to solve puzzles.
I'm a huge fan of the Decoder Ring Organization, which is made by one person and has some of the most original puzzles and most creative mailings and ideas I've ever seen from any of these products (its first season also has an awesome and very satisfying ending). With Decoder Ring, you'll get a blend of puzzles, a huge variety of items, and a number of fake websites you'll need to navigate to get the full experience (it also has timed bonus mailings you can only get if you solve puzzles quickly enough). I also love Cryptogram Puzzle Post, which is a monthly collection of themed (and often very challenging) puzzles with incredible artwork. I also enjoy Escape the Crate, which is a bi-monthly Escape Room-style crate that has a story and creative puzzles, and is a great party game (definitely requires at least 4-6 players to really work).
Hunt A Killer, which may be the highest-profile of anything I list here, is tough. I just finished Season 1 and while I don't think it starts well at all, it gets better as it goes and culminates in a satisfying season ending that makes you revisit everything that came before, but it takes eight months and hundreds of dollars to get there, so hard to know if the investment would be worth it for you. Their premium experiences have also been hit or miss. Finders Seekers is fun and quirky but if you're an avid and experienced puzzle solver it's extremely easy to solve, almost to the point where I'd more recommend it as a family experience.
There are also some upcoming experiences that may be wonderful. The Sound of Insanity, from our very own centaurofattn, is inspired by the MPC and is starting to ship now. Simulacra Games, which is in the middle of an extremely tough promotional ARG, looks absolutely sensational and is going to get much money from members here, as it looks to be extremely high quality, is a super cool idea, and could potentially surpass C&C in terms of creativity and quality puzzles; they'll be launching a Kickstarter soon. If it ever actually gets made and ships (it's been delayed for a year and a half), the Armchair Detective Company is basically going to be like C&C but through intricate puzzle boxes.
Basically, it depends if you want puzzles or stories (or both). Dispatch or Decoder Ring probably provide the best blend of both of those things, and in terms of pure puzzles, Cryptogram Puzzle Post is my favorite right now.
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Post by Memosinstilettos on Nov 3, 2017 0:41:41 GMT -5
Boy, that's a tough question. I've tried out many non-MPC products, and there are a lot of really good ones out there, but it very much depends on what you're looking for. I think maybe the one that's been most impressive overall of all the ones I've done recently, and the one that perhaps provides the most variety, is Dispatch: Breakout, which has a really great combination of an ongoing and compelling story in an original universe, fun and diverse puzzles, a ton of "curios" that tie directly into the story and are often needed for puzzles, and a huge amount of in-universe websites that you at times really need to dive into to solve puzzles. I'm a huge fan of the Decoder Ring Organization, which is made by one person and has some of the most original puzzles and most creative mailings and ideas I've ever seen from any of these products (its first season also has an awesome and very satisfying ending). With Decoder Ring, you'll get a blend of puzzles, a huge variety of items, and a number of fake websites you'll need to navigate to get the full experience (it also has timed bonus mailings you can only get if you solve puzzles quickly enough). I also love Cryptogram Puzzle Post, which is a monthly collection of themed (and often very challenging) puzzles with incredible artwork. I also enjoy Escape the Crate, which is a bi-monthly Escape Room-style crate that has a story and creative puzzles, and is a great party game (definitely requires at least 4-6 players to really work). Hunt A Killer, which may be the highest-profile of anything I list here, is tough. I just finished Season 1 and while I don't think it starts well at all, it gets better as it goes and culminates in a satisfying season ending that makes you revisit everything that came before, but it takes eight months and hundreds of dollars to get there, so hard to know if the investment would be worth it for you. Their premium experiences have also been hit or miss. Finders Seekers is fun and quirky but if you're an avid and experienced puzzle solver it's extremely easy to solve, almost to the point where I'd more recommend it as a family experience. There are also some upcoming experiences that may be wonderful. The Sound of Insanity, from our very own centaurofattn, is inspired by the MPC and is starting to ship now. Simulacra Games, which is in the middle of an extremely tough promotional ARG, looks absolutely sensational and is going to get much money from members here, as it looks to be extremely high quality, is a super cool idea, and could potentially surpass C&C in terms of creativity and quality puzzles; they'll be launching a Kickstarter soon. If it ever actually gets made and ships (it's been delayed for a year and a half), the Armchair Detective Company is basically going to be like C&C but through intricate puzzle boxes. Basically, it depends if you want puzzles or stories (or both). Dispatch or Decoder Ring probably provide the best blend of both of those things, and in terms of pure puzzles, Cryptogram Puzzle Post is my favorite right now. I totally agree with all of dmikester's comments and would like to add the Librarians Almanac to the list, the puzzles were very cool once you got pass the destroying of a really nice book. And for the the on the go puzzler none* and never completed game, downloadable on your mobile device, are both very noteworthy crypic puzzles that will make you go "huh!" often....
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Post by flightoffancy on Nov 3, 2017 6:50:38 GMT -5
If you have a deep love of puzzles then your best bet is pandamagazine.com/ The difficulty level is high and there is a meta puzzle that is very satisfying for the diligent.
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Post by macindc on Nov 3, 2017 7:09:07 GMT -5
I'm going to back the others up on Dispatch by Breakout. It is probably the most immersive and polished offering I've experienced (including MPC.) Their boxes have been on the short side so far but I'm all about quality over quantity and they so far have had it in spades.
I subscribed through the first season of Hunt a Killer and I don't think it was for me in the end.
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Post by wortelboer on Nov 3, 2017 7:10:58 GMT -5
I'm going to back the others up on Dispatch by Breakout. It is probably the most immersive and polished offering I've experienced (including MPC.) Their boxes have been on the short side so far but I'm all about quality over quantity and they so far have had it in spades. I subscribed through the first season of Hunt a Killer and I don't think it was for me in the end. I second this and that I believe Simulacra's Box is going to be amazing.
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Post by jmgraham on Nov 3, 2017 9:07:53 GMT -5
It sounds like Dispatch by Breakout is right up my alley - I like a good balance of story and puzzles. Order placed. Thanks so much for your recommendations!
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Post by neutronstar on Nov 4, 2017 8:14:34 GMT -5
Dispatch by Breakout is fun....I'm still in the middle of it..
Hunt a Killer is tough, but intriguing...only on Box 2
Decoder Ring Org. is really fun... just started
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