Does anyone else get confused by some of the objectives?

A number of times I've been caught out thinking the objective was to get the bar high and keep the little virtual people very happy, and all of a sudden "LOST!!" appears. A few times it's left me a bit puzzled about what he objective was supposed to have been.

It has nothing to do with the level of arousal, but the path through the game you're playing.
Take a few minutes and read this posting viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2179, and the thread for the game you're playing and I think it will become obvious.
Shark often lays a trap, it seems you're gifted at tripping it.
Lou

LRM wrote:Shark often lays a trap, it seems you're gifted at tripping it.
Lou

its hard to avoid when you want to go down the line of the trap

johnjohnx wrote:its hard to avoid when you want to go down the line of the trap

After playing Shark for some time you get to know that a trap is imminent, the problem is to realise when you have reached that point, or if you know it, how do get around it. Sometimes the trap is merely selecting a different "hotspot", but then it can be that you have initiated an action and very suddenly have to find the saving "hotspot".

Don't worry, even in development Shark certainly must get some enjoyment knowing that each member of the team runs foul of his trappings.

A trap that does not work at least once is not a good trap...

shark wrote:A trap that does not work at least once is not a good trap...

and in your games the result of the trap can be good in a different way.

It would be good if it was possible to go down the alternative paths or options more. Otherwise is does feel like a very restricted one dimensional game where there is only one path.

Is that a limitation of the flash or programmer?

ZaphodB wrote:

shark wrote:A trap that does not work at least once is not a good trap...

and in your games the result of the trap can be good in a different way.

Exactly. For instance, in the Castle Whispers game most of the traps have, uh, satisfying endings! They're just not the endings that are the goal of the game.

In earlier games there are much worse consequences (I'm thinking of the ones like the "Desire & Submission" games).