Feedback Request: Solitaire Hop!

[brianbrick]

Your favorite elements of Solitaire and Sudoku come crashing together in Solitaire Hop! You'll need lateral thinking and strategy to master Solitaire Hop!'s simple mechanic. Take 30 seconds to learn the rules and you'll be hooked! EVERY randomly-generated game can be won so you have no excuse

The game is currently hosted at the below sites so pick your poison:
http://www.hallpass.com/media/solitairehop/
http://www.kongregate.com/games/BrickAge/solitaire-hop
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/440426 (no high scores)

Requirements: Flash Player 8

**FEEDBACK
I've heard from many people that the mechanic and/or instructions are confusing (even Jay of JayIsGames had a hard time with it). What I'm really looking for are improvements which could better convey the mechanic or better represent it. Basically, how to let people just jump in a play? Is there a crucial point of instruction I've just left out?

http://www.brick-age.com/SolitaireHopSFX/Solitaire Hop - Title Screen - 640x480.jpg

http://www.brick-age.com/SolitaireHopSFX/Solitaire Hop - Gameplay2 - 640x480.jpg

THANKS!

Brian Crabtree
Game Designer
Brick Age

[Maupin]

I checked it out. I see no element of sudoku involved at all, so that may cause some initial confusion.

Ultimately, I think the mechanic just isn't simple. After three games I thought I knew what was going on, but still cards I expected to flip over didn't. The instructions mention cards hopping on other cards and columns shifting/falling but it all happens instantly... maybe some animations would make things clearer. Especially of the selected card hopping so you can follow its path.

The "play" button shows the instructions again, after you've already read them using the "how to play" button, which is kind of annoying. Maybe if someone clicked through the instructions once you could skip showing it to them again when they click on the "play" button...