Passion For Puzzles

Recently I noticed in my website statistics some people coming from a Spanish weblog su.doku.es. Here I found another example of a Sudoku variant called Domino Sudoku. Although the text is in Spanish I don't think an explanation on how to solve this Domino Sudoku is necessary. Just combine the rules of Sudoku and Domino to solve this puzzle.

Tags: Sudoku | Domino

Tilelander is a new puzzle and/or action game for windows. It can be played as a puzzle (when you are in a puzzle mood) or as an action game. You have to save Tileland from the invasion of the evil Xyzon empire by filling tile areas and using special items such as blasts, remote controls and generators to complete level after level. Tilelander has the following game features:
- A game that can be played as a puzzle (think before every move you make); Or in a furious wipe-them-all urge.
- Levels are progressively unlockable and there are four difficulty settings for extra longevity.
- More than 70 levels.

Tilelander for Windows will cost you US$15.95, but you can first download a trail version. Tilelander is also available for mobile devices like Pocket PC, Smartphone and Symbian.

Tags: Tilelander | Puzzle Game |Mobile Puzzle | Windows

Flip Five is a Japanese Flash puzzle game. To be honest I don't understand a thing on the web page, but I do understand the game. Just turn all the nine tiles so you see all nine tiles (in a grid of 3x3) shows the figure five correctly. Just click between to tiles to flip them around. Nice games with a limit number of moves, so be careful before you make any move. Happy puzzling.

Tags: Flash Puzzle | Flip Five

Satyendra Pakhalé designed in 2005 this puzzle carpet available in three different designs (Water, Grass and Sand). This Italian Puzzle Carpet comes in soft expanded polyethylene coupled with polyester fabric, is 36cm by 36 cm and is 1.5cm thick. (14" x 14" and 0.6" thick). Price including VAT is £9.49.

Available via Panik Design

Tags: Carpet | Puzzle

Don't Break The Bottle is the latest puzzle of my puzzle collection. Object of this puzzle is to first remove a wooden enclosure before you can open the bottle of wine locked. It's not a puzzle for yourself but for friends, you can watch them struggle to remove the rope with wooden balls before they can open the wine bottle. Lovely puzzle, though you have to install the puzzle yourself on a wine bottle and that the instructions are not that clear because they show how to install the puzzle from a different point of view each step. Next to that you will know the solution because it's the reverse of the installation. Nice puzzle to keep your friends busy before drinking some wine.

Tags: Wooden Puzzle | Wine Puzzler

Clickmaze is a Java applet to be able to play clickmaze puzzle Jukebox online. Jukebox is a mechanical puzzle by Oskar van Deventer. The object of Jukebox is to insert colored coins in the correct order into the juke-box (at the top) such that they drop out into the right colored baskets at the bottom. All red coins should drop into the left red basket and all blue coins should drop into the right blue basket. The switches flip the coins left and right. Can you drop the coins into the correct colored coin baskets and keep the music of the Jukebox playing?

Tags: Clickmaze | Jukebox | Puzzle | Java

World most famous Sudoku solver Carol Vorderman will talk you through a number of topics including: An introduction to Sudoku: Learn the origins and rules of Sudoku puzzles. And a step-by-step guide on how to play Sudoku. Carol Vorderman will lend a hand and help you solve an entire Sudoku puzzle from start to finish. Hints and tips: Gain knowledge on how to become a great Sudoku player. Tutorials for every level of player, if you're a master or novice, find out how to improve your game with live action, easy to follow tutorials. Multi-player Hot seat and wireless play: Go head to head or take on the hot seat and win by solving puzzles in the fastest time. Four difficulty levels, a level to suit all players, from beginners to experts. Including 1,000,000 plus unique Sudoku puzzles! There is an easy to use interface and grid assistance. Choose from multiple game modes, never seen before game modes and even challenge Carol herself. Classic Sudoku - Career mode- work your way up to a Sudoku master. Challenge Carol mode – can you beat the best? 2-player modes. Head to head wireless play and Hot seat. Multiple Arcade modes: Beat The Clock, Extra Time, Perfection, Three Strikes.

Please find here articles and video's with Carol Vorderman's Sudoku Tutorial Video's
Rules of Sudoku
Tips for playing Sudoku
Tips for playing Sudoku II
Tips for playing Sudoku III

Tags: Carol Vorderman | Sudoku | PS2 | PlayStation

Come watch the world's greatest solvers of the Rubik's Cube compete for the fastest times under improbable Rubik's Cube Solvers circumstances. New World Records have been set at the last three Exploratorium-hosted Rubik’s Cube events. Will it happen again? The International Rubik's Cube Competition returns to the Exploratorium on Saturday, January 13th, from 10am-4:30pm. This event is included in the price of admission to the Exploratorium.
Entry into the competition is open to anyone, although only the very fastest solvers will advance to subsequent rounds. Registration is from 10-11am. Competition begins at 11am.
Events will include the 3x3x3, 4x4x4, and 5x5x5 speed solves, the 3x3x3 blindfold solve, the 3x3x3 one-handed solve, and Rubik’s Magic.
Competitors expected in San Francisco who hold world records include:
Toby Mao (Fastest single 3x3x3 solve, 10.48 seconds, set at the Exploratorium)
Leyan Lo (Fastest 3x3x3 Blindfold Solve, 1:28:82)
Frank Morris (Fastest 5x5x5 Average, 1:58:66, set at the Exploratorium
Ryan Patricio (Fastest 3x3x3 One-Handed solve, 20.09 seconds, set at the Exploratorium)
Bob Burton (Fastest Rubik’s Magic Average, 1.34 seconds, set at the Exploratorium)

Other notable competitors:
Tyson Mao, Cube-loving cast member of the TV show Beauty and the Geek Two
Top female solvers Casey Pernsteiner, Brittany Dzoan, Ambie Valdes, and Shelley Chang

The Caltech's Rubik's Cube Club is responsible for hosting all of the World Cube Association-sponsored Rubik's Cube competitions in the United States, drawing participation from around the world. The Exploratorium has been bringing the Caltech-sponsored Rubik's Cube Club competition to the Bay Area since 2005.

For more information, or to pre-register, please go to www.exploratorium.edu/rubiks

Tags: Rubik's Cube | Championship

This Christmas I got a wooden puzzle from Santa Claus called Porcupine made by Family Games Inc. This genius-level wooden puzzle [10" x 10" x 10" or 25cm x 25cm x 25cm], challenges you to release the central disk by manipulating the ten wooden rods. The puzzle is already assembled so you can start puzzling directly after opening the big box. Well this year Santa got me puzzled not more than 15 minutes before the wooden disk was released (to be honest my brother was not very happy about that). At least the wooden Porcupine puzzle will be added to my puzzle collection.

Tags: Porcupine | Wooden Puzzle

If you are bored solving your Rubik's Cube every day again. Now Cubesmith dot com offers you the Calendar Rubik's Cube. Now you will have a reason to solve your Rubik's Cube every day. You will have to compose each day the month (three letters), day (two syllables) and the date (two figures) at one side of Rubik's Cube. This is really a nice cube to put at your desk in the office.

Tags: Rubik's Cube | Calendar

James programmed Wiidoku, a flash website with a daily Sudoku for the Wii browser. If you have an Wii your Wii console can communicate with the Internet even when the power is turned off (Internet connection required). But even if you don't have a Wii you can still solve James' daily Sudoku. What I like is the way James programmed the way you can put a note in each cell. Just a little dot (left, center, right and top, middle, bottom) so each of the nine locations represents a number. Via Digg.

Tags: Wii | Sudoku | Nintendo | Flash Puzzle

For people who love to solve puzzles during Christmas also this year there is Blaine and Felicia's Christmas Puzzle. This years puzzles is called "Close But No Rhyme". Each clue’s answer is a pair of words that would appear to rhyme (since only the first letter differs), but they actually don’t rhyme. See the first pair of words as an example. Once you have figured out the words, place the corresponding letters in the grid to spell out a phrase.
Their Christmas puzzles appear each Christmas on the internet since 1996. You can also download a pdf version of the Christmas Puzzle and the solution.

Tags: Christmas Puzzle

Via speedcubing dot com I found an interesting interview with 23 year old Chris Hardwick in the News Observer. Now Rubik's Cube featured prominently in Will Smith's new movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness." Chris is excited about the movie's potential for expanding the puzzles fan base, and so am I. Nice article (Rubik's takes another turn in spotlight) to read during the Holidays.

Tags: Rubik's Cube | The Pursuit of Happyness | Chris Hadwick | Will Smith

The Bolton entrepreneur and the driving force behind one of the UK's most popular puzzle games, the Bedlam Cube, has won a top trade award.
Danny Bamping, from Bromley Cross, the managing director of Bedlam Puzzles and driving force behind The Bedlam Cube, has won the first ever British Promotional Merchandise Association Entrepreneur of the Industry Award from the UK's promotional marketing industry. Next to this the Bedlam Puzzle Company also won the Most Innovative Product Award.
Danny Bamping's primary business interest is the Bedlam Cube puzzle, a worldwide phenomenon, with annual sales now estimated at over £1 million.
If you want to read more about Bedlam Cube please read a previous blog item about this amazing Cube. Via This Is Lancashire

Tags: Puzzle | Bedlam Cube

Kaskade is a classic action puzzle game for Mac OS. The game play of Kaskade is very easy to pick up. You have to slide multi-colored blocks into a grid. The blocks slide and rest at one corner (I love this twist for sliding block games). Join a patch of four or more of the same color to clear space! The remaining blocks fall and can sometimes form new patches. With good logic and forward planning you can create cascades of color for bonus points! Continue dropping blocks into the grid and try to avoid running out of space! You can download Kaskade for you Mac OS at VersionTracker dot com.

Tags: Kaskade | Puzzle Game | Mac OS

If you are looking for a nice DIY project during the Christmas Holidays than you have to take a look at the instruction on how to build a Magnetic Rubik's Dice Cube. The detailed instruction in eight steps, needed equipment and the complete part list are available at the Instructables website.
The non-symetrical nature of some of the die patterns gives the magnetic dice cube an extra element of strategy not present in a regular Rubik's Cube. This variable of rotation is an aspect of the "sudocube," but the magnetic dice cube is easier to solve, because each face contains identical figures, and every cubie is unique - two properties of the original Rubik's Cube that are not carried over to the "sudocube."
To build the magnetic Rubik's dice cube will cost you around US$ 60 and of course some spare time.

Tags: Rubik's Cube | Dice | Magnets

This Rubik's cube is a bit less daunting than some of you might have felt about the original one. Based on the original Rubik's cube, this side table called Ruby Cube consists of the same color special acrylic plates that change color when viewed from different angles. Colors change from dark green to grey to aubergine. The Ruby Cube design side table is designed by J.P. Meulendijks. Dimensions are 14.175" x 14.175" x 14.175" [36cm x 36cm x 36cm] and made of "Reflex" color changing acrylic, MDF and will cost you $399.00. You can buy this Rubik's Cube table at gnr8 dot biz.

Tags: Ruby cube | Design table

The title for the upcoming Harry Potter VII book is released. But if you want to figure it out yourself you can visit jkrowling dot com and play a little game of hangman.
Author J.K. Rowling is still working on the seventh Harry Potter book, she explained on her Web site in an entry posted early Thursday. "I'm now writing scenes that have been planned, in some cases, for a dozen years or even more," she wrote. "I don’t think anyone who has not been in a similar situation can possibly know how this feels: I am alternately elated and overwrought. I both want, and don’t want, to finish this book (don’t worry, I will.)" Meanwhile, she set up a test for her Potter fans. Here is the first step: Go to the site, click on the eraser and you will be taken to a room ...

Tags: Hangman | Harry Potter | JK Rowling

For all Rubik’s Cube lovers who want to solve Rubik’s Cube using Linux now Rubix 1.0.5 is available at softpedia. Rubix runs under X11.
The program will auto-load the file "rubix.dat" which will be created when you save your current game. This enables you to continue from where you stopped. You have to save the file in the same directory. You can run rubix -l saved_game.dat to change the default directory.
    Run "rubix -h" to have the commands during the game.

At this moment Rubix is not able to solve Rubik’s Cube for you. If you know a solution to program this, Sed would love if you send it to him. More information how to install Rubix under Linux is available on the website of Softpedia where you can also download Rubix.

Tags: Rubix | Linux | Rubik's Cube

Electronic Arts released one of two second-wave games for the fifth-generation iPod. Electronic Arts' Sudoku has two modes, the first one is the Normal Mode (with partially filled Sudoku grids) and the second one is the Newspaper Mode (with empty Sudoku grids). There are also multiple control schemes to accommodate probably one of your own method of number entry. iPod Sudoku has clean Japanese-themed scrolling background artwork and peaceful default music, hint and auto-fill features to help novice players, and timers to indicate both your progress and remaining battery life. An extensive help system guides you through the game's modes and settings. Sudoku from Electronic Arts is compatible with your 5GB Ipod and costs US$ 5.00. Via Ilounge.

Tags: Sudoku | iPod | Puzzle

Gridgame is a variant of popular sliding-piece solitaire game called Rush Hour which you can play online at Passion for Puzzles. It's designed by Japanese puzzle author Nob Yoshigahara and distributed by Binary Arts (now called ThinkFun). Next to playing Gridlock online (designed by Corwin Derkatch from Crystal New Media) you can now download Gridlock and play this stand-alone version of Gridlock on your Mac OS. Object of the addictive Gridlock puzzle is to slide the blue block out the right hand side exit.

Tags: Gridlock | Rush Hour | Flash Puzzle | Mac OS

Last Chessman Standing is invented by Vesa Timonen. It is a combination between chess and a puzzle. Before you start this puzzle you need to know the rules of chess. Object is to have the pieces capture each other until there is only one. One of the difference with the chess game is that you must capture a piece each move you make, next to that the chess board is also smaller. The puzzle is easy to play, just click and drag a piece onto another to capture it. Pieces capture as in standard chess, but color can be ignored. When the button is held on a piece, the legal captures will turn black. You'll be notified if there are no more moves.

Tags: Chess | Puzzle

CombinationLock dot com is a free online interactive logic number puzzle game designed to provide stimulation, relaxation or just pure entertainment whenever there are a few minutes to spare. As a great new alternative to Sudoku and other number puzzles, CombinationLock can be played alone or with other players across the globe in simultaneous Multiplayer mode.
Players are presented with the image of a combination lock which can be unlocked by using clues to enter the correct digits into the reels (from two to six depending on the level of difficulty selected). The unique Multiplayer mode allows puzzlers from anywhere in the world to race to complete the same game, with the same clues, at the same time. Once one player has successfully solved the puzzle, the other player(s) can continue to play until they too have finished.
In addition to the multi-player mode, the game can also be played as 'Practice' or 'Solo'. In the 'Solo play' mode, players complete three games sequentially as the locks are opened. Additional clues to help solve the puzzle can be received by clicking on the 'Add a Clue' button. The site automatically stores players' best times and shows how they compare with other players both in the same country and across the world. The best players are also highlighted on the home page of CombinationLock dot com.
The game doesn't use Macromedia Flash, requires no downloads or plug-ins and is thus instantly accessible without coming up against firewall problems. Combination Lock requires no registration. The site offers also includes a chat facility. Via Yahoo Finance

Tags: Puzzle | Combination Lock

Today I received an email from Brad who is working for Fuel Industries. He loved Passion for Puzzles but missed some links to quest games. Well and quest games is exactly what his company develops ;-)

Fuel Industries specialized in developing casual and advergames. Mr Reach is one of their advergames. Advergaming is the practice of using games, particularly computer games, to advertise or promote a product, organization or viewpoint. In Mr Reach Fuel Industries make a match between the possibilities of dental product and a game. In the case of Mr Reach you have to use dental products like a toothbrush, a flosser and clean paste to solve the quest. Your taks is to help Mr. Reach travel around uncovering clues and solving the mystery of Mr. Reach's missing friend, Jerry the Narrator.

Best thing about is that there is a learning aspect for kids so the can see it's fun to use dental products and that you can win some prizes (e.g trip to Caribbean Island of Aruba) but for that you have to register .. and there is a commercial part again ;-)

Go to the Mr Reach website to solve the quest or go to YouTube if you want to see the In The Mouth of Mystery Trailer.

Tags: puzzle | quest | Mr Reach |

ThinkFun is a leading creator of mind-challenging games and is proud to announce that Gordian's Knot has been named Best Puzzle of the Year by Games magazine. The honor was published in the magazine's "2007 Buyer's Guide to Games", which includes a list of the top 100 non-electronic games of the year.
"Your hands and mind will find it hard to let go of this unique brainteaser by ThinkFun until you discover its secrets," said Robin King, contributing editor to Games magazine.
In addition to this esteemed award, Gordian's Knot was recently featured on the popular CBS show, Numb3rs. The puzzle also hit newsstands in the November 2006 issue of Redbook, listed in The Toy Insider's 2006 holiday gift guide.
"We are thrilled that Gordian's Knot has been so well received since its inception into the market," said Ralph Cuomo, President and COO of ThinkFun, Inc. "ThinkFun is proud to accept these prestigious honors, and we look forward to the continued success of this product."
About Gordian's Knot: Launched in 2005, Gordian's Knot is known as the world's toughest brainteaser. The challenge is to unravel all six pieces of the puzzle, and then put them back together. With 69 different moves required to take the puzzle apart, this popular brainteaser is perfect for puzzle enthusiasts and beginners alike. Gordian's Knot can be purchased at select independent toy and gift stores, select national retailers and ThinkFun dot com. Gordian's Knot is puzzlers of eight years and up and costs around US$ 10 and is also available via Amazon.com.
Via eMediaWire

Tags: Gordian's Knot | Puzzle

Sloyd^3 is a flash puzzle game from Prust Interactive. Object of this puzzle is to move all red, yellow, and blue pieces to the correct face of the cube as indicated by the arrows. To move a piece, just click it. It will jump either to an empty spot next to it, or to an empty spot behind the neighbor piece. It is claimed you can solve Sloyd^3 puzzle in 45 steps. The first time I just had 93 steps but that was without any strategy. Probably you will do much better.

Tags: Flash Puzzle | Sloyd

At Miniclip dot com you can find a lot of flash puzzle games. One of them is a swinging puzzle game called XRaye in which you have to guide Raye through all 14 levels turning as many pegs as you can. This game will keep you busy for a while but all 14 levels are solved very quickly.

Tags: Flash puzzle

What can you do when you have active toddlers and crawlers who are accident prone around furniture? For a price, you can invest in The Puzzle, a high density foam furniture set from Australian company, Enoki. The 2 seater benches and table can seat up to 4 children for fun and games and when not in use, fits compactly together for storage (Size 700 x 700 x 450mm). Upholstered in either vinyl (AUD$ 699) or macrosuede (AUD$ 949), The Puzzle easily wipes up messes and kids can go to town climbing, crawling, and bumbling around the foam without the dangers of sharp corners and hard edges. Available at ModBaby.

Tags: Baby | Furniture | Puzzle

Polygon Puzzle is a tessellation puzzle inspired by Beat The Computer. Pieces of connecting regular polygons are arranged to fit into predefined trays. The mathematical names of the shapes are polyhexes, polyominoes, and polyiamonds. The latest version 1.7 has two new puzzle trays with more sophisticated color schemes and support for the wheel mouse under Windows XP. You can download Polygon puzzle for free at fresh meat dot net

Tags: Puzzle | Polygon

For all Rubik Cube lovers who want to learn to solve Rubik's Cube Blind-folded (or with your eyes wide open) there is a website dedicated on how to do this. Michael Curtis is working out a method on how to solve Rubik's Cube blind-folded. You can find some nice tips and tricks on solving Rubik's Cube. Even if you not want to learn solving Rubik's Cube blind-folded this site is really helpful to learn some solving methods. Michael gives an overview of how to use memory techniques and all stages of study needed so that you can do the cube blind-folded. To be honest I think I will not try to learn his method to solve Rubik's Cube blind-folded.
And to end this Rubik's Cube post a link to a video on MetaCafe where you can see how to do three Rubik's Cube moves in one motion in regular speed and slow-motion.

Tags: Rubik's Cube

Sudoku puzzles are literally everywhere these days. But how can the mastery of playing them be accomplished? This is the question Sudoku Hint's new Sudoku Guide is trying to answer. Coming as a digitally downloadable ebook it is and ideal Christmas gift you can get with a few minutes notice and even send someone by email.

The Sudoku puzzle has been the most successful launch of a new puzzle game ever, and today it can be found in daily newspapers all over the world. It also comes in many digital formats for computers, cell phones or portable gaming systems.

The long and the short of it is that Sudoku puzzles are a great and inexpensive form of educational entertainment for young and old alike - especially in our day an age of lazily watching tv in a state of mental standstill.

The rules of the game are very simple, but many people still give up before they fully get into "the groove" of solving Sudoku's. Thus never getting any of the benefits from actually solving these puzzles.

Sudoku Hint's new guide is an ideal place to start, covering both the basics of the game as well as more advanced strategies. More information is available at http://www.sudokuhints.info/sudoku-guide/

Included are basics like:
- The history behind the game
- The "math" behind the Sudoku puzzle
- How Sudoku puzzles are constructed and how to play them
- Rules and sample puzzles to explain game play

And also more advanced sections on:
- Properly searching for the lone number
- Cross hatching to maximum advantage
- How to eliminate the extraneous
- Using the X-Wing strategy to eliminate possibilities in very difficult puzzles
- How King Minos daughter can help you with your Sudoku solving
- What to do when everything else fails...

Most importantly however, this guide takes the reader by the hand and guides him or her from their first wavering steps of Sudoku solving towards complete understanding of the more advanced aspects of the game. So that, at the end of the book, the reader can try to tackle a full Sudoku puzzle of "diabolical" difficulty level.

The guide is illustrated with many puzzle examples, as well as a set of puzzles to be solved by the reader.

Sudoku Hint's Sudoku Guide is a great choice for anyone interested in learning more about the game, and would be an ideal Christmas present for someone who would appreciate a challenging surprise.

The Sudoku Guide is available for immediate purchase and download at http://www.sudokuhints.info/sudoku-guide/

Via Media Syndicate

Tags: Sudoku

3D Desktop Jigsaw Puzzle Screen Saver shows you how as your desktop, or any other image you like, is broken up into a jigsaw puzzle and then slowly put back together again. The jigsaw pieces move around in 3D, and you can display any image you want! Here are some key features of 3D Desktop Jigsaw Puzzle Screen saver:
- Display the screen you were just working on, or any other image you like, as a 3D moving jigsaw puzzle! You have to see it in motion to truly appreciate it.
- Display your own digital photos as a jigsaw puzzle, making a totally unique slide show like none you have ever seen before!
- Options to let you set how many pieces are in the puzzle, and how quickly it will solve.

Play with it and see what you like! You can download a trial version of 3D Desktop Jigsaw Puzzle Screen Saver or the official version for US$ 7.50 for Windows OS at SoftPedia dot com

Tags: Screen Saver | Jigsaw Puzzle | 3D

The brightly-colored over-sized map puzzle of the world that covers 26' sq. and depicts latitude, longitude, every flag, country name, and time zone on the planet, and facilitates the development of geographical awareness at an early age. The maps 252 pieces are crafted of rugged non-toxic 1/2" double-layered EVA foam and when fully assembled, the map is over 6 1/2' long and 4' wide. The map can serve as a play mat as well as an over-sized pin-up board (backing not included). Includes carrying case for easy transport and storage of pieces. Waterproof, washable, and hypoallergenic. Ages 3 and up. The World Map Jigsaw Puzzle is available at Hammacher dot com for US$ 70.

Tags: World Map | Jigsaw | Puzzle

At the Kaleidoscope website there is a new Kaleidoscope puzzle challenge every week. One of the Kaleidoscope Classic Puzzle lovers is Mike and he put all the Kaleidoscope Classic puzzles at his Kaleidoscope Classic website including all his solutions. So if you are looking for lots of Kaleidoscope Classic Puzzles, Mike's site is the place to go. If you want more information about Kaleidoscope Classic please feel free to read a previous post about Kaleidoscope Classic at Passion for Puzzles weblog including a link to the official Kaleidoscope website.

Tags: Kaleidoscope | Puzzle

Reaktor is a challenging stacking colors puzzle game from MoClix. You have to rotate the platinum blocks and match up at least three colors to destroy them. Your task is to clean the whole reactor zone. Reaktor comes with 105 plutonium spiced levels with adjustable difficulty and 15 additional bonus levels. There is also a Power boost and unique Hyperturn. For the real puzzle fans there is a wide screen mode available for correct view on 16:10.
Play Reaktor online or download Reaktor at MoClix

Tags: Reaktor | Flash Game

At a Dutch website called Mega Gadgets I found an announcement for a new puzzle. For everybody who played with Rubik’s Cube when they were young there is a new and more difficult challenge called Im-Puzzle-Ball. The Im-Puzzle-Ball is as the name suggest almost impossible to solve. The object of this 3D maze puzzle is to move two balls from one side (entrance) to the other side (exit). Therefor you have to rotate the Im-Puzzle-Ball which consist of 26 rooms. A ball can only move from one room to another room is the colors of both "doors" are the same. Im-Puzzle-Ball is already for sale on Gadgets UK for UK £9.95 (Euro 14,00 / US$ 18.50) .

Tags: Rubik's Cube | Im-Puzzle-Ball | Puzzle | Toy

When I find some interesting video's about Rubik's Cube I'll post then here. But now for the real Rubik Cube lovers there is a website dedicated to Rubik's Cube Video's. You can find there speedcubing video's and how to solve Rubik's Cube video's. There a not a lot of video's but I'm sure this website will grow and can become special when they start to host their own video's. By the way, all video's come from sites like YouTube and Google video so you can also do a Rubik search at one of those sites.

Tags: Rubik's Cube | Puzzle Video

At Wallingford Toy Works I found a lovely wooden furniture puzzle, although this wooden puzzle is not difficult, it is rather ingenious in its design. The ten wooden pieces of furniture nest together to form a single block. The puzzle pieces may be used as doll furniture. Made of mahogany with a walnut base. The dimensions of the wooden furniture puzzle is 5" x 2.75" x 2.5" (12.5cm x 7cm x 6.5cm) costs US$ 25.00 and is for sale at the website of Wallingford Toy Works where you can also find much more wooden puzzles.

Tags: Wooden Puzzle | furniture

A new puzzle from ThinkFun will be added to my collection soon. When I receive FlipSide I will write a review about it as soon as possible.

FlipSide is a Flipping, sliding brainteaser challenge. It is the latest in ThinkFuns' line of exciting brainteasers, it's one of their most unique single-player challenges yet. The object is easy: Line up the number tiles from zero to nine. Slide the rows to move the tiles then flip the cylinder to reverse the top and bottom numbers. Catch is, six of the ten numbers reverse at one time. This flipping, sliding, take-anywhere teaser is not only tough to solve, but it's tough to put down as well. Slide it, flip it, solve it.

In the mean time if you are looking for a nice Christmas puzzle present for yourself or somebody else you can have a look at Amazon to buy FlipSide so it should still be on time for the up coming holiday.

Tags: FlipSide | ThinkFun | Puzzle

Click Drag Type 3 is a Flash Puzzle which kept me puzzled for hours. If you like this kind of puzzles, than this is one for you. With almost no instructions you have to solve 15 levels. There is a message board online available if you are really stucked, but for me that is just really last resort. Okay I have to admit that I had a look there for level 14 :-(
Happy Puzzling

Tags: Click Drag Type | Flash Puzzle

The year's most beautiful puzzle game is now available. A month ago I already wrote an article about the option to pre-order Glyph. Astraware and Sandlot Games are excited to announce the release of Glyph for Palm OS and Windows Mobile for Pocket PC and Smartphone.

Save the dying world of Kuros by reassembling ancient glyphs hidden beneath layers of rock and glistening stones. Using stylus or buttons, clear groups of like-colored gemstones to break through the layers of rock and reveal the glyphs. Several different types of powerup will aid you in your task. Progress through 5 elemental areas and 125 levels to complete Quest mode, or explore the simpler challenge of over 100 levels in Action mode.

"Glyph is, in a word, gorgeous!" said Howard Tomlinson, CEO of Astraware. "A fun game with a simple premise, but with an incredible depth of atmosphere that draws you in to keep on playing!"

Glyph for Palm OS and Windows Mobile is based upon the highly-acclaimed PC game from Sandlot Games. With its beautiful graphics, ethereal soundtrack and atmospheric sound effects, Glyph is the perfect game to enjoy through the Holiday Season and into the New Year.

"Glyph is a game which works extremely well in a handheld touch-screen environment," said Daniel Bernstein, CEO of Sandlot Games. "We are once again excited to have Astraware as a partner to deliver this quality game to the handheld market."

Glyph is available now for devices running Palm OS 5.0 with high resolution screens, Windows Mobile(R) for Pocket PC 2003 and higher with QVGA, VGA and 240x240 square screens, and Windows Mobile for Smartphone 2003 and higher with standard 176x220, and portrait or landscape QVGA screens. Glyph is priced at $19.95 with a special release discount for Club Astraware members.

Tags: Glyph | Palm OS | Windows Mobile | Puzzle Game

RoboBlitz has popped up on Xbox Live Arcade, offering you 19 levels of physics-based puzzle-solving and a bit of action in the latest Unreal Engine.

It costs 1200 Microsoft points (GBP 10.20 / EUR 13.96 / US$ 18.50), making it the joint most expensive Live Arcade game there is, but there's a demo version at least so you can help make your mind up. It all weighs in at 49.32MB.

A quick first impression? Well, you roll around your factory home trying to set up the local space cannon to wipe out some pesky space pirates, and it looks very much as though you do this by completing three tasks each in six different areas - manufacturing ammunition, sourcing launch codes, etc. - by solving the aforementioned puzzly puzzle puzzles.
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First of all, for example, you can go to the ammunition depot and manufacture a slug for the cannon, by beating up little space pirate enemies and dumping them in the smelter. I tried to go "too big" and grab enormous cogs lying around, but presumably they come into play later.

There's a helpful tip system, what looks to be a handsome array of weapons, and the option to play through a "Master Technician" difficulty if you're prepared to start each level again when you die.

What's more, you can also tackle the six areas of the factory in whatever order suits you, although with various upgrades available you'll probably find the game advising you not to be such a rash idiot.

Via EuroGamer

Tags: RoboBlitz | XBLA | Xbox Live | Puzzle Game

There is a new free puzzle game for Palm OS devices. It is called Dekses and will definitely make your mind working.
"Dekses" is a puzzle game with 3 game modes, the idea is to follow and right number order and move the digits it their correct places. Dekses is a variant of the well known 15 puzzle game. It has also included 3 bonus games and they are 15 puzzle, Lights out and Flip.
Dekses is available for free download at Freeware Palm site.

Tags: Puzzle | Dekses | Palm

Enjoy underwater adventures in action-puzzle game that blends between match-3 and breakout genres! Jewel of Atlantis is a new and exciting action puzzle which combines match-3 mechanics with breakout-style game play mayhem. In this game you explore just uncovered ancient continent in search of valuable treasures and Relics. There is huge map available for your exploration with number of various roads and pathways to travel. Sink below the deep sea to witness exciting adventures in mystical places like Sacred Temple, Ship Wreck, and Sunken Volcano by yourself! You can download a trial version of Jewel Of Atlantis at Enkord.

Tags: Flash Puzzle | Jewel Of Atlantis

At mindgames you can download for free a program to play and solve Slitherlink puzzles. Also you can download 20,000 slitherlink puzzles for free. The Slitherlink program helps you solve existing Slitherlink puzzles as well as create new ones. Slitherlink (also known as Fences, Dotty Dilemma and Loop the Loop) is a logic puzzle played on a rectangular lattice of dots. Some of the squares formed by the dots have numbers 0 to 3 inside them. The objective is to connect horizontally and vertically adjacent dots so that the lines form a single loop with no loose ends. In addition, the number inside a square represents how many of its four sides are segments in the loop. In this program you can create new puzzles manually or automatically. Automatic creation offers unique puzzle each time with different levels of difficulty. Solve a puzzle manually or let program solve it. Save puzzles in different file formats and print puzzles and solutions. The only downside is that the program has a puzzle size limitation of maximum 12 rows and 12 columns. You can download Slitherlink for free and 20,000 free puzzles at Mindgames.

Tags: Slitherlink | Fences | Dotty Dilemma | Loop the loop

Some older readers will know MacGyver, for the ones who don't know MacGyver please check Wikipedia. In short, MacGyver was always in trouble and always found a (scientific correct) solution. Know you can play MacGyver yourself in a Flash point and click puzzle game. Find the right tools and things to escape the room. Enjoy !

Tags: Flash Puzzle | MacGyver

Last weekend I received an invitation to test Pure Sudoku Deluxe. A Sudoku games which allows you to solve Sudoku's on your PC. Pure Sudoku Deluxe offers you everything you could wish for as a Sudoku Player. Five different Sudoku levels (Novice, Very easy, Easy, Intermediate or Difficult), 43 different backgrounds, smooth game play, hints and a lot of other options you definitely would like. One of the best options is that you can save your Sudoku, for example if you are stucked. Sometimes it helps to let the Sudoku go for a while and look later on again to the puzzle. Also you can print Sudoku puzzles. You can download a free version (with more than 20,000 free Sudoku puzzles but less options or download the Deluxe version for US$ 9.99 at Very Free Sudoku dot com.

Tags: sudoku

Telcogames, a global publisher, developer and distributor of mobile games, last night scooped the award for Best Mobile Game in the 2006 Forum Nokia PRO Awards.

SIL the latest puzzle game to be launched and developed by Telcogames is a 3D silhouette matching puzzle game available for all Smartphone devices and for download on PC. The game is currently launching across carriers and non-carriers globally and has already generated buzz in the puzzle market with its clever innovative game play, simple and intuitive controls and its pure addictive nature.

The Nokia PRO Awards recognize leading mobile applications, content and services successfully deployed in markets around the world and developed by members of Nokia’s advanced global developer program. Presented as part of the annual Nokia World event the awards honour exciting innovations, technical accomplishments and commercial successes that are driving the rapid evolution of mobile applications, content and services worldwide.

SIL, developed in Finland by the Telcogames owned Fathammer studio, an award winning cutting edge development studio, is the latest in a long line of innovative products to be brought to market for smartphone devices.

Enda Carey, Managing Director, Central publishing, said, "I'm thrilled Sil has achieved this award, it’s a true testament to the success of our development studio's and the talent of the individuals behind them."

Via Gameshout

Tags: Mobile Puzzle

At Dyson dot co dot uk you can play and download a Flash Puzzle Game called Telescope. Dyson is known of the famous vacuum cleaner which does not rely on a bag. The object of Telescope is to get the silver ball into the hole by clicking on the telescopes to make them push or pull the ball across the grid. There are more than 25 levels and even special Christmas Level. You can also download the Telescope Flash puzzle for as well as a PC as a Mac. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Dyson | Flash Puzzle | Telescope | Mac

An undersea spin on the classic number game Sudoku called Blue Reef Sudoku will have you swimming in puzzling fun for hours. The goal is always the same: fill the grids, columns, and rows with numbers 1-9 without repeating any digits. Use the boards that come with the game, or make your own to share with friends. With amazing graphic and wonderful music, you'll never want to end this challenge. Become a Sudoku Master! Blue Reef Suduoku offers you three gameplay modes, and three difficulty levels. You can download a trial version of Blue Reef Sudoku at Big Fish Games dot com.

Tags: Sudoku