Curator's Calamity

Overview: Curator's Calamity is a sliding picture tile game built from a curated collection of photographs featuring Leading Edge hardware, software, manuals, and promotional materials.

• Each game selects one photograph at random from a large pool
• The image is cut into a grid
• All puzzle pieces are placed inside a sliding play box, restricting movement to sliding only
• The goal is to reconstruct the original image as quickly as possible

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Core Gameplay:

• Puzzle pieces can only slide, not lift or rotate
• Pieces must be moved strategically, often requiring thinking multiple steps ahead
• One puzzle piece is excluded from the play box, creating the free space needed for movement
• The game is a timed challenge
• Your final score is based on how quickly you solve the puzzle

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Swap Puzzle Piece Mechanic A defining feature of Curator's Calamity is player choice during the gamet:

• The player can choose which puzzle piece to swap with the default
• This swaped piece is placed outside the slide box, visible on the play table
• The old piece is placed into the former free space
• When the player is confident the puzzle is complete:
  • An overlay asks for confirmation from the player
  • The timer is paused during this time
  • The player can opt to continue shuffling pieces
  • When the player confirms a complete game, the game is scored

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Reference Image To assist the player:

• A reference image of the completed puzzle may be displayed beside the play area
• The reference appears as a large thumbnail
• Hovering enlarges it to 2× size
• Clicking expands the image to full size

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Time Limit & Scoring

• Each game has a fixed time limit
• The player must submit a completed puzzle before time expires

Outcomes:

• Time expires → Game Over, score = 0
• Puzzle solved in time → Win condition

Scoring Rules:

• Faster completion = higher score
• Time elapsed directly determines the final score

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"Bump a Piece" Mechanic (Optional Aid) For players willing to accept shame in exchange for help:

• Once per game, the player may activate "Bump a Piece"
• This allows one puzzle piece to leapfrog over another
• Using this mechanic:
  • Permanently reduces the potential score by 25%
  • Cannot be undone
  • Is never required to solve a puzzle

Activation Safeguards:

• Requires a button press
• Displays a clear warning about the penalty
• Player must confirm understanding via checkbox
• Final confirmation is required to activate

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Shame System™ If the puzzle is completed after using Bump a Piece:

• Final score breakdown is shown as:
  • Score without aid
  • −25% "Bump a Piece" penalty
  • Final Score
• A "shameful" label is applied:
  • "Cheater −25%"

If the player still fails after usuing the mechanic

• Game Over message becomes:
  • "Cheated and still lost"

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Notes on Puzzle Images

• All photographs are:
  • Identical in dimensions
  • Randomly selected from a large asset pool
• Tile layouts are:
  • Randomized each game
  • Always solvable using sliding alone
• The Bump a Piece mechanic is never required to complete a puzzle