I want to introduce a new way to play sudoku that very soon will be available on iTunes and GooglePlay for iPhone, iPads and Android smartphones and tablets.
We are racing with time to finish the app and get it out to the world. The release date will soon be announced, but hopefully it will be in the next few weeks.
This is unlike any other implementation of sudoku out there.
it uses colors instead of numbers
the classic size 9x9x9 grid is wrapped around a sphere. The wrapping is the same style as the maps of the earth on the globe.
Here are additional consequences related to this implementation:
a) you never see the whole game grid all at once
b) you rotate the Spheroku in every direction by touch with the tip of your finger.
c) the colors are selected and placed by touch.
d) top and bottom are interchangeable
e) horizontal grids don’t have defined left and right sides but are complete loops.
f) the cells are not the same size but are defined by non-euclidean geometry.
Some people say it reminds them of Rubic’s Cube, but unlike the cube, you can never “learn the solution” and every game is different.
The concept started with simple questions – What if the numbers were colors instead – would it be easier or more difficult to get the answers? Then other questions followed and we ended with this wonderful new experience of the old classic… Warning: This game is even more addictive then the original grid-number based that has turned millions into sudoku junkies.
The Patent Is pending. More info will be coming soon. Please help us to spread the word around. Use the link on the website to try the webplayer demo.
The rules:
Each area surrounded with black boarder, each vertical slice and each horizontal slice have 9 cells. No color can be placed twice in any of the areas or slices. Use mouse to rotate the Spheroku, and to pick / place colors. Markers, to help remember positions can be placed anywhere on the surface of Spheroku with a click . No scoring or timing is implemented in this demo version.
Patent pending… bahaha… good luck with that. Despite that ridiculous notion, seems like an ok idea. I thought about toying with similar ideas, but decided colors would end up being difficult to do properly.
I would suggest you also have numbers on the colors.
upside down numbers would not work. This game is meant to be played 360 in every direction…
Can yo expand on Patent Pending as a bad idea? This is a legal phrase that indicates that patent has been filed and the patent filing date has been set up world wide. Anybody thinking about knock-offs has to think about legal ramifications, wherever they might be…
You can always rotate the numbers to be right side up. Not that hard.
The cost of the patent will most likely outweigh any profit you make (if any)
There is nothing original about your idea - I decided to google sudoku ball/sphere - there’s a game already in the market that uses the same idea… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SueFzXfErKY
which means you are wasting your money if you have already paid for it. You cant patent pre-existing ideas.
Ball detective is not a single 9x9x9 sudoku grid wrapped on sphere. Look carefully. We did an extensive search before filing an application.
There are plenty of new ideas in Spheroku™ and this is what the patent application has been filed for.
Of course there is a financial risk. It would be there regardless whether or not you file for patent. With the application, there is one fewer thing to worry about – knockoffs in addition to pirates. It also allows us to talk about it before release…
There is absolutely no reason to have numbers. In addition to forcing you to orient the sphere in certain direction (why?) – numbers make it look like math and this is something we are trying to avoid. We hope also to draw people who don’t like math and may have been avoiding sudoku for this reason… This is a pure logic / memory / spatial coordination puzzle.
“Number placement” or “color placement” makes only a visual difference. Rubik did very well with his cube without the numbers – we are hoping people will make metal connection with Rubik’s cube and intent to exploit this in marketing. Colors are more fun.
PS. James, please do not be offended with my answer. I really appreciate you taking time to comment and answer questions. I wish more people would. This type of input is so important in this stage when not everything is yet set in stone.
I think it would be nicer if when you click on a segment it cycles through the possible colours, rather than having to select a color then a segment each time.
The reason behind using numbers is that it makes it much easier to keep track of which you already have in a slice. Rubiks Cubes are different in that you’re trying to get each side all one colour so it’s much more obvious when one piece is out of place if you’re using colours rather than numbers. The problem might be made slightly easier were you to use the 7 ‘colours of the rainbow’ and then black and white as people will easily be able to identify what they’re missing - still not quite as easy as numbers, though.
I suppose this might be true for some people that it is easier to remember number then colors… For some the opposite might be true. I wonder if this is something universal, or personal… Another thing is the people with synesthesia for whom their numbers are colored anyways
I suppose I could change one of the colors to black and see if it makes any difference. One of the things that sudoku is famous for is its “brain exercise” aspect – What is wrong with exercising the color recognition parts of the brain as well as spatial coordination and logic?
As far as I can tell, he’s only going for a patent on the name and logo, not the gameplay, which is fine. Nothing to stop anyone from making the same type of game.
I handed this one off to my missers, who trust me, has an addiction to Sudoku which borders on needing treatment! haha.
She wasn’t keen on the colours over numbers and the movement of the web player demo seemed to be inverted, which we both thought was a bit odd and slightly unplayable, but I assume that it may be different on a touch device.
I think to appeal to both markets you need to incorporate both modes – numbers for existing Sudoku players and colours for those new to the concept.
One more clarification on the patent issue and then I’ll give it a rest. The logos and names are covered by trademark laws. A separate application has been filed for Spheroku TM name and logo. This is what the TM indication stands for. Patents are for new ideas and the Patent Pending phrase tells the world that the application has been filed. There is a penalty imposed by law for using this phrase without being given a permission to use it by the government.
This patent application is not on a gameplay, that is for sure – The game play is in public domain. The patent is on the things that were never done with sudoku before, so nobody should assume anything until the US Patent Office publishes the patent to the world. Then you will know what it is exactly that is claimed and covered by the patent. To say that nothing is to stop anybody from creating the same kind of game is not true. Using anything present in Spheroku TM that was never done before with sudoku grids is likely to violate the patent will bring all the legal consequences. This is what patents are for - to protect the new ideas, so that those who originated them can enjoy the benefits of their ideas.
Thanks for the feedback regarding the movement. We’ll check what can be done…
Here is the reason why numbers won’t be used… They don’t add any clarity, just the opposite! (In addition to being much less attractive, even if we were to fix the UV mapping distortions).
Select the “easy” setting – only this puzzle selection works:
Its your choice whether or not you add numbers, but I believe its a mistake not to have it as an option.
You dont seem to care about anyone other than your own opinion on how clear it is. This is a huge mistake. I would know. I released a puzzle game making equally dumb assumptions. Surprise surprise, people found it too hard.
I dont really care if you put them in. Im never going to be a customer, but just FYI, my game was intended to appeal to people who liked sudoku. I made assumptions on how well it would be received. I was wrong. Learn or Lose… its your choice.
The reason why I was able to post a version with numbers today is that the game is constructed in such a way that is ready for this kind of addition/revision from the get go and considered all along. It is as simple as changing a texture. Whether we will make or not this an option is an open question…
The game is being tested, we are getting great feedback and making adjustments. I am sure this will be for the better. This is why this discussion is in “work in progress” section and I am grateful to everybody who participates. Personally right now I am against the numbers, but I might be convinced to change my mind… Having opinions and defending them is not a bad thing. “It is knowing for sure something that is not true that gets you in trouble.”… (I think this is from Mark Twain’s)
As to success or failure the determining factor will be marketing and the ability to break through the noise. The easy levels will be easy enough…
You made me curious about your game… Can you share a link?
You cant get the game anymore because I let my iOS licence expire, but you can see some screenshots. To summarise, you need to re-position and rotate the tiles so that all the numbers adjacent match. There is only one solution per game.
