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Jul-19-2005 06:07

I like this game and is really intriguing to play as a detective. However, given its nice features, I think the community has to come up with some improvements for a more in-depth detective experience.
I have one proposal that I would like to share with you.
I think that at difficult cases it has to be (gradually) introduce the HOUR of the CRIME or the PERIOD when the crime happened. Thus, when you search the crime scene, depending on your smart abilities you might be notified that the crime occured between 12 and 3 oclock, or if you have a more developed smart equipment the period coould decrese (eg the crime occured between 12 and 1 oclock).
Also, when you check the alibis you have to pay attention to the time of the murder. Thus if a suspect tells you that it was at the butcher and the butcher tells you that he was here between 10 and 2 oclock and the crime occured between 12 and 3 oclock you can't eliminate him completely from ur suspects lists. However if you discover that the same suspect was seen somewhere between 2 and 3 oclock you can eliminate him completely from your suspect list.
In order to provide a solid basis for my proposal, I think it would be also necessary to introduce as witnesses a so-called EYES of the STREET. For example, the detective might find out from the EYES of the STREET (anonymus people) that between 3 and 4 oclock a suspect was seen playing football or something like that. Thus, you can supplement the information given by the townies.
Anyway, my idea is just a starting point for future comments and improvements. Please let me know what you think about it and how could be developed and implemented.
All the best,
Detective Say your Pray

Jul-22-2005 00:56

I think it would be one of those things that looks good in theory but doesn't really work. I mean what if the murder occured around 2:00 or 2:30 AM and your main suspect had an alibi until 2:00? If the murder happened at 2, suspect couldn't have done it, but if it happened at 2:30 he or she could have. And what about those who aren't that smart? It would just make it harder for them. Good idea, but too complicated IMHO.

Jul-22-2005 02:11

Autumn, there are 10 difficulty levels available. Hour of the crime could be introduced just, let's say, for the last two levels, when the detective has already built a solid experience and also, it is presumable that has at his/her disposal enough smart skills and gear. Yes, indeed, this feature will complicate the game but, in my opinion will move the game towards a more realistic experience. Your example just underlines the process of judgment at the back of the alibis, so I dont know what to comment about it. Instead of obtaining a 100% false/true alibi based on what the townies say, I do think it is more challenging to assess the suspects alibies by yourself.
Thanks for ur reply

Jul-22-2005 06:39

I actually like how it is right now but that is just my opinion :)

Jul-22-2005 07:52

I can see how this would be attractive to the unsubbed, an added difficulty to keep things a little more interesting. However, those of us in an agency probably would cringe at the extra time it would take. I do! :)

Jul-22-2005 07:58

I agree cfm!

Jul-22-2005 08:02

It would be attractive to the unsubbed but subscribing is what makes it more interesting and the added features and the many more things you can do as a subscriber,is the incentive to join. Why make all them extra things for an unsubbed detective? Then there would be no point in subscribing. JMHO

Jul-22-2005 08:05

Nevermind what I said...I know he wasnt saying just for the unsubbed. My bad!! I still like how it is now...and for those of us in an agency,it would just be extra work....ick! hehe

Jul-25-2005 20:24

Actually it would probably be more appealing for the more masochistic of the Subscribed. The thing you have to remember with last two levels is that the unsubscribed have both less questions to play with and you don't have the resources of an agency(such as a lab, and contacts). Time of the crime would have most people tearing their hair out if they had to deal with it on the Almost Impossibles. If I weren't subbed and in an agency I wouldn't want anything to do with those cases. Almosts were hard enough without having anyone backing you up.

Jul-26-2005 17:30

I don't like change, I hated it when the sidebar disappeared for a while, so i would like the game to stay the way it is.