Archive for June, 2010
The Power Of Puzzles
By Simon Gibson
In these days of seventh generation games consoles and MMORPGs, the good old classic puzzle is still as popular as it ever was.
From the meteoric rise of suduko over the last six years, to the traditional crossword puzzle which soon celebrates its hundredth birthday, are as old as time and they aren’t going away.
The success of Dan Brown’s novels and their subsequent film adaptations just go to show how much they can capture the imagination of the masses.
So what is it that keeps us coming back for more after all these years and what does the future hold for our favourite pastime?
The fact is that people like nothing more than the feeling of satisfaction that they get when they have risen to the challenge and solved that which at first seems unsolvable.
Successful puzzle creator and editor Will Shortz sums it up perfectly:
“Puzzles in general, I think, they give you a sense of being in control and putting the universe in order,” Shortz says. “With puzzles, you see the whole process through. Each puzzle you solve is a little mystery.”
The advent of the internet has only proved to further their popularity. Once a solitary pursuit, puzzle solving has now evolved. Online communities are springing up all over the net, giving people an opportunity to share their experience.
When once puzzlers were limited by the knowledge which they had stored within their memory, now they literally have all of the information in the world at their fingertips.
The traditional treasure hunt has become a whole different experience altogether. Treasure hunters taking part in games such as those found as cashhunt.co.uk can now take virtual tours of the locations which they are investigating; something which Kitt Williams could have barely imagined when he first wrote the seminal armchair treasure hunt book, Masquerade.
In short, are here to stay. They will be around a long time after this week’s latest trend in gaming is gone and forgotten.
They stimulate and they captivate, they infuriate and they educate, but most of all they are just plain simple fun.
Never underestimate the power of puzzles.
www.cashhunt.co.uk
The Growing Popularity Of Kakuro Puzzles
By Marlon Gamble
Kakuro are the latest craze that is currently making great waves in the puzzle game field. It also has played a significant impact in many areas around the world. These are closely following the footsteps of the Sudoku that is currently enjoying worldwide success. Kakuro are also known as a numbers game, which require simple and pure logic as well as a basic knowledge of the addition and subtraction mathematical concepts.
Also referred as Cross Sums, especially during its early days, Kakuro are also considered by many as the numerical equivalent of the crossword puzzle. This is because it makes use of numbers instead of the usual words. And just like the crossword, the Kakuro also comes in various sizes, from the compact size to the giant size, and ranges, from the very easy to the extremely hard.
The modern version of Kakuro nowadays comes in a variety of forms. While the traditional type, which is of the square and rectangular shape, is still around, referred to as the classic kakuro, there are other variations of the puzzle game which have already been developed and which can surely catch the attention of many puzzle game enthusiasts. There is, for instance, the holey kakuro, which is similar to the classic kakuro, except for the fact that it has holes in the middle. Then there is the round kakuro which, as its name suggests, is round on the outside, although the shape is actually more diamond-like, with some versions having holes in the middle as well.
Today, with the advent of modern technology, Kakuro now also come out in computer software program formats, which naturally makes the game more enjoyable to play, in terms of visuals. The puzzle has also found it way on the worldwide web, where kakuro players are given the opportunity to try to solve the puzzle online. One can even get to see how other players are faring as far as solving the puzzle is concerned. Kakuro news and articles as well as various techniques and strategies designed to either make the game more enjoyable to play or make it easier to solve are also available on the internet.
However, many people still prefer to play Kakuro the old-fashioned or traditional way, which is the pen-pushing method. That is why the game is still being published in many newspapers as well as magazines. This is part of the reason why a new monthly magazine, known as the Kakuro Light, was conceptualized. Formally launched last March in the Netherlands by Sanoma Uitgevers B.V., the magazine, of course, carries the popular Kakuro and is marketed primarily for beginners of the game who are nevertheless eager to know how the puzzle is being played as well as finding out why this new puzzle kind in town is fast gaining the imagination as well as fancy of everyone who just happens to love the thrill of a puzzle game.
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