Puzzles, what are they good for?

[Rapture]

Excellent blog entry, I could agree with most of the points mentioned. To me personally the puzzle game mechanic is an outdated concept that is really starting to feel primitive, it just doesn't find its place well in the new revolutionary games such as Amnesia or Dear Esther. It breaks the flow because it often feels forced in to the games as there is not yet satisfactory alternative to it. It is much to predictable, and many times can it could be easily distinguishable from the game, and not feel like a organic part of it.

Because of the reasons mentioned above, I am not particularly satisfied with Amnesia's or Penumbra's puzzles, and playing those game I rarely took greater notice or interest in them. I agree there should be a challenge in a game of course, but I do believe we could all be more creative and represent the challenge in other ways than classical puzzle. I will elaborate on that later .

I hope so, because "puzzle game mechanic is an outdated concept" and "revolutionary games such as Amnesia or Dear Esther" confuse me.

On the 2nd part, their is nothing revolutionary about either. They are just done properly to suit different the people's personalities and likes/dislikes.