[Hunt03] Re: 2004 MIT Mystery Hunt and Large Teams

[Mike Selinker <selinker comcast net>]

Hi, it's Mike Selinker. Since Eric posted such a thoughtful and heartfelt
message, I figured I'd reply. I've only been to two mystery hunts, but I
have done a lot of other such events, and so have something to compare. You
can take this as the perspective of an outsider if you like, but it's also
the perspective of someone who wants to like the hunt.

I think the MIT hunt is broken, and broken badly. Team size is the major
problem. Though I find the quality of the thinking and puzzlemaking to be
great, I find the solving parameters to be difficult. Because the hunt has
to be doable by a team of 40, the puzzle quantity and difficulty has to be
so high that it is impossible for a new, small team to make any headway. 
And
it's nearly impossible for an experienced, medium-sized team. At one point
last year, our team (which was doing well, mind you) had FIFTY unsolved
puzzles. That's not fun, that's frustrating.

Similarly, because team size is so large, it's impossible for anyone to
track the entire event. When Jofish and company ran their excellent
overlapping phrase game in the auditorium, only a few of us could be there.
A smaller team size gives a much greater chance of someone not feeling they
are left out of the fun.

Compare the much junior Microsoft hunt, which I like a lot. Though the
puzzles aren't as good, the team size is great. On our 12-person team
(half-Microsoft, half-outsiders), everyone feels like they're in the thick
of things. Some people stay behind when there's an outside event, but
everybody gets to play most things. The logistics of coordinating such a
team are much easier; you need one room with a half-dozen computers and 
some
sleeping areas. And there's only 40 or so puzzles to solve, so you can get 
a
handle on it better.

I want to like the mystery hunt, I do. But it's not fair as it stands. It's
fun enough that I'll come if I'm invited. But it's not anywhere near as fun
as I'd like it to be, and that's all about team size.

Thanks for listening, and I hope to see you all in January.

Mike Selinker (Slik)

P.S. Mark Gottlieb doesn't have a wombat puzzlers org account. Include him
as timhunt earthlink net if you want to include him.