Algodoo

When a knob gets selected that cannot move because of it being blocked by other squares, it changes state and remains latched in that state although there is nothing that indicates which state that it's in. Then later when a particular knob gets selected, as many as three previously selected knobs may slide in on their own. Is that how you intended this to work? In my opinion, that doesn't seem right.

Q: Is that how you intended this to work?
A: No then yes. I initially wasn't thinking of that but wanted to give the user the ability to push and pull the knobs. When I saw that you could preload all the knobs except one trigger knob, I though that that was something kids might enjoy discovering and also thought that it may allow a different way of playing the puzzle. You could play the puzzle by clicking all the knobs except the trigger knob and then set it off with the click of one knob. If you hit the trigger knob prematurely, then you didn't solve the puzzle. In normal use, if the user makes a mistake, then he can just click the knob a second time.

"In normal use, if the user makes a mistake, then he can just click the knob a second time." I guess you could either let the users figure that out for themselves, or you could show a short list of instructions.

You and I are very different when it comes to writing instructions in our scenes. You seem to be very minimal, and typically you show nothing more than a couple of arrows which indicate the control keys. I, on the other hand, usually go overboard with instructions. I'm not suggesting that either one is better or worse than the other, and maybe something in-between the two extremes might be the best way to go.

In any case, you did a great job overall on these scenes, and I'm sure that many kids who play these puzzles will enjoy them.

Statement: I'm not suggesting that either one is better or worse than the other.
Response: Your way is better. It gives the user a choice of reading or not reading the instructions. It also gives the user a chance to read the instructions after they try to do it without instructions and fail.

I purposely left the instructions somewhat vague because I wanted kids to explore the mechanism and discover how it works. Also I'm lazy.

how are the puzzles supposed to look like when they are finished?

All knobs pushed in.