Add a subtitle here.

If you have unlocked Summer's blog, you can decrypt the luggage tag. It's also easier to decrypt if you have the yearbook. If you haven't unlocked Summer's blog, do that first. If you don't have the yearbook yet (i.e. you haven't opened that part of the game), you can try decrypting the note, but it will be easier with the yearbook.

Add a subtitle here.

Checkpoints are a way for you to check if you are on track. They are optional - you do not need to complete them before moving on to the next part of the case. There are three kinds of checkpoints:

1) Hidden evidence checkpoints

- There are some pieces of evidence in this game that are introduced discreetly (like hidden websites, for example). If you miss one of these pieces of evidence, you might get stuck. Checkpoints will let you know when pieces of evidence like this have been introduced. Because these sorts of checkpoints are "spoiler-y" in a sense, proceed at your own caution (if you're the kind of person who prefers discovering this type of evidence on their own). You also have the option of seeing what the checkpoint is (let's go with the example of a hidden website checkpoint), and if you haven't found it, going back through the evidence to see if you can figure it out. If you can't (or if you just want to skip to the answer), you can click on the "reveal", which will tell you what the checkpoint is (for example, the website address).

2) Decryption checkpoints

- You will need to decrypt one or more pieces of evidence in this game. Decryption checkpoints will let you know when you have all the vidence you need to decrypt a piece of evidence. Evidence will be introduced gradually, so it's possible that you might have a piece of evidence you need to decrypt, but you don't have all the tools/evidence you need to decrypt it yet. Decryption checkpoints will let you know when you have the necessary evidence to decrypt a piece of evidence (although, it's possible that you may be able to decrypt something before all the evidence is available if you have outside expertise or are thinking outside the box.) If you're feeling stuck, it could be because you haven't decrypted a note that holds an important clue. While it's possible to solve the case/eliminate suspects without decrypting all notes, decrypted notes provide important context that might help you.

3) "Aha!" Checkpoints

"Aha!" checkpoints are questions that you should be able to answer at a given point in the game. They are a way to check if you've connected evidence together and made key inferences before crucial parts of the game. They help the story unfold in a logical and linear way. For example, an "Aha!" checkpoint might be "You should be able to identify [insert suspect]'s motive at this point in the game." While there is no specific time by which you must identify a susupect's motive, if you figure out a suspect's motive after you've already eliminated them, that's a bit anticlimactic.

That said, there is no "right" way to make some of these inferences/discoveries, so if you're the sort of person who prefers minimal guidance and likes to explore on your own, you might not want to look at the "Aha!' checkpoints and instead discover evidence at your own pace. Or, you might want to see what the checkpoint is, and if you

Checkpoints are optional. For people who prefer more guidance, they might be ideal. For people who want to check that they haven't missed anything, they might be helpful. Some other people may prefer to discover the unprompted. All of these approaches are equally valid - there is no right or wrong way to solve the case! That said, if you are feeling stuck, it might be because you've inadvertedly missed something important (like a hidden website). If you're feeling stuck, it might be worth looking at the checkpoints to see if you've missed anything. Checkpoints aren't necessarily hints (although you can skip ahead to the checkpoint "reveal" if you'd like) - they're just a way to check if you're on track and/or you've missed anything.

Checkpoints can also be a way to help you see the "full picture" of the story. Some evidence isn't strictly "needed" to solve the case (because ruling suspects out depends on objective evidence relating to means and/or opportunity), but it can help explain things and give you a fuller picture of the characters and their individual motives. If you don't care about the back story, then you might not be as concerned with checkpoints. Most decryption checkpoints help flesh out the story, and most "aha!" checkpoints help you discover evidence in a logical and coherent way. Hidden evidence checkpoints vary - some hidden evidence is crucial for solving the case, and other hidden evidence provides motive or context.