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GAMES '07 Thread
For discussion of Feb. - Dec. 2007...
Comments
Hi,
Anyone want to make a prediction about the upcoming GAMES contests?...
I heard that Bob Lodge submitted a possible contest...
I also hope that we see the return of "Cartoon Rebuses", Calculatrivia, & Alphabetrivia...
Have a nice year!...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | Oct 26, 2006 12:08:24 AM
An excellent Little Joe, Jim!
Now we must practice total digit decussation!
Posted by: warren fraser | Oct 26, 2006 6:29:25 AM
I'd love to see a Bob Lodge contest in GAMES again.
I would especially like anothe Calculatrivia!
I am looking forward to our new challenge here as well.
Posted by: Paula | Oct 26, 2006 8:46:10 AM
There probably is a difference between contests I would like to see and the contests that will actually be.
Unfortunately, there will probably be another "create a story" contest -- too subjective for me to enter.
I would like to see more grid contests. Crossing ???
Is it time for another cartoon rebus contest again? They are very popular.
Posted by: Laurie | Oct 30, 2006 4:45:26 PM
The Cartoon Rebus contests tend to come up in the April issue.
Posted by: Jeff R. | Oct 31, 2006 2:23:14 PM
GAMES magazine-online has posted a new online contest. This time it's a crypto type puzzle.
They've change the rules back to one entry per person (unless the solutions differ). The summary of last month's, which I solved but did not win, indicated that there were hundreds of correct entries. I'd be curious to know how many different people entered.
Posted by: Paula | Nov 3, 2006 11:33:56 AM
The January GWOP is in the mail with a contest based on altered song lyrics. It's rated 3 stars. Winners of the "That's SUM Contest" from July also are announced; they got 835 entries.
Posted by: Jeff R. | Nov 10, 2006 3:42:33 PM
Hi,
I finished the January GWoP contest...
Is it something I did or is there an error in the contest?...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | Nov 10, 2006 5:11:48 PM
It's not you, just more sloppy editing from the folks at GAMES...
Posted by: susy | Nov 10, 2006 11:25:58 PM
Does anybody here have a clean copy of the Common Factors contest from 2001 that they can send me?
Posted by: Alan Lemm | Nov 13, 2006 12:38:14 PM
The last 3 "Cartoon Rebuses" contests were in the following issues:
March 2005
October 2003
October 2002
A new one could be coming any time soon.
I also think that a dictionary-based contest may be coming soon, although I haven't done very well on those. I just don't have the programming skills.
Posted by: Laurie | Nov 16, 2006 9:22:25 AM
How often do they have the Scavenger Hunt contests? I like those.
Posted by: Cheryl | Nov 16, 2006 1:28:04 PM
I doubt GAMES will have more Scavenger Hunt contests, because of the advent of eBay and similar sites that have altered the nature of "scavenging". If they do, I expect they'll add an additional twist, like having to solve puzzles or trivia questions to figure out what the items are...
Has it really been that long since "roo-pert-pup-kin"?
Posted by: susy | Nov 16, 2006 2:23:22 PM
I still remember the first Scavenger Hunt Contest in the late 1970s, long before eBay or home computers. There were 30 items to find, and they allowed SIX MONTHS and stated they didn't think anyone would find all 30. I managed to do so, with only a few days to spare, and hopefully sent in my entry. The results showed they received over 1000 sets, including one received TEN DAYS after the contest started!
One item I recall was a calendar page showing a full moon on Friday the 13th! Tough to research before the internet! (There had only been about 5 or 6 in the previous century!)
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Nov 16, 2006 6:47:27 PM
I was looking through some of my old GAMES issues (I only have a few before 2000). I found a Scavenger Hunt contest from October 1992. It was called "Scavenger Hunt III". It refers to previous scavenger hunt contests from 1983 (where 700 contestants got all 30) and 1989 (where only 1 entrant got all 30).
How did people find all of these items? I thought that I would be lucky to find 10 items.
I think it is possible to have another scavenger hunt contest if the items are very unusual. It wouldn't make sense to buy a whole bunch of stuff on eBay and spend more than the total prize amount.
Posted by: Laurie | Nov 19, 2006 12:36:53 PM
It's been quite a few years now since I sent GAMES a few suggestions for a future scavenger contest. One idea was an original post office ballot for the Elvis stamp! Now anyone can buy one on eBay for a couple of dollars, although of course as a SH item there might be a run on them. Yes, challenging to think of things that eBay wouldn't affect. I remember a couple of items to be torn from phone books, though. One was a listing showing someone whose last name was also the name of his street, and another was a yellow page ad with some hackneyed phrase (can't bring it to mind) that turned out to be elusive as the devil. Another thought I had was a simple pencil with commercial advertising on it, but for entries from east of the Mississippi it had to be from Wyoming, and western entrants had to find one from Vermont!
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Nov 19, 2006 3:13:08 PM
A Chinese menu with at least 2 misspelled words, a swizzle stick with a heart-shaped top, a letter signed by a president of the US...ah, yes, I remember it well...
Posted by: DonV | Nov 20, 2006 1:50:30 AM
I remember that at every resturant we would eat at, I would check all the small sugar packets for the picture of a penguin. I don't remember, though, if I actually found it. And we didn't have any old E tickets from Disneyworld.
Posted by: Scott | Nov 20, 2006 8:29:27 AM
Yes, whether it's physical items for scavenger hunts, or images for WYWW or information for Calculatrivia, the internet is now an information-finding-contest killer, unless the contest is tailored for the internet.
To combat this, some routes to go down, for the latter two types of contests at least, could be:
1. Create questions that require the information to come from proprietary sources - for example, a physical book which isn't available for free on the web. Some examples of this are postage stamp catalogs (though I recently obtained electronic copies of some Scott catalogs), and auto repair manuals like Chilton. But the sources shouldn't be so proprietary that they can't be found at a library.
2. Create questions that involve audio recordings, but NOT lyrics, since those are readily available. I don't remember seeing any of this type. "In the XYZ audio edition of Bee Season, by how many words does the narrator deviate from the XYZ print edition, during chapter 7?" This type of question has potential because there is not yet a precise enough digital technology to "OCR" recordings and publicize the results - speech recognition is still unreliable.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Nov 20, 2006 3:58:26 PM
I don't remember trying to find a penguin on a sugar packet. I think it was a cardinal... Maybe that's why I didn't win.
Posted by: DonV | Nov 21, 2006 12:46:27 AM
I thought it was a red-headed woodpecker...
Posted by: susy | Nov 21, 2006 2:35:30 AM
No, it was an A ticket, not an E ticket. That was Tomorrowland, not Frontierland.
Posted by: Scott | Nov 21, 2006 7:20:36 AM
Off topic and yet strangely on topic:
For those of you who worry that you miss comments, The UCDP presents the Chalkboard. It lists the 100 most recent comments in reverse chronological order. It is linked under recent comments as "Read more comments...".
Enjoy! Now back to our regularly scheduled thread.
Posted by: JmSR | Nov 21, 2006 7:54:39 AM
Excellent idea, JonMichael, and thank you and a big tip of the hat from here! I try to get back here often enough to find where I left off in the recent comments, but now and then if there is a flurry, or I have a crash or some activity keeping me away for a while, all I see is unfamiliar posts and I wonder what else I missed! Especially when I am the ''host'' of the current contest it is important not to miss any, so this is a most welcome addition to this excellent board!
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Nov 21, 2006 3:16:38 PM
I knew you'd like it, Bob.
Posted by: JmSR | Nov 21, 2006 4:15:56 PM
February 2007 issue is in the mail with a contest using images of postage stamps. Results of Deja Vu and the September Hidden Contest, which drew only 28 correct entries. Cover is Eyeball Benders.
Posted by: Jeff R. | Nov 22, 2006 6:38:52 PM
Perfect, just in time for my aforementioned acquisition of pdf stamp catalogs.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Nov 23, 2006 7:09:21 PM
We haven't had a HONEYCOMB puzzle
in a long time. Honeycomb is a
weird logic/spatial puzzle,
fill in the blanks according to
very specific, yet confusing rules.
The last time one appeared I
was so intrigued that I went through all
my old issues and found half a dozen,
all blank and pristine in otherwise
heavily worked over issues.-*--
Granted, they're not for everybody
but one a year would be nice.
timbabwe
Posted by: timbabwe | Nov 27, 2006 12:08:08 PM
Timbabwe, do you mean Honeycomb Hotel? If you do, you can buy software from www.kaser.com. That way, you don't have to wait for Games to publish it.
Posted by: Alan Lemm | Nov 27, 2006 1:45:02 PM
New word containing letters in alphabetical order:
naGHIJevan - that part of Armenia that is
now a non-contiguous part of Azerbaijan Rep.
The United Nations and the map on the Armenian Weather Service
use "Naghijevan" as the spelling,
Wikipedia uses "Naxcivan", with a little cedilla
(or whatever they call it) under the C.
Armenia also claims Nagorno-Karabakh, which is entirely
contained within Azerbaijia. So, two countries in a
nasty custody battle. It'd be difficult to
construct a puzzle around these facts.
How could you find two authoratative web sites that agree
and it all might change before you got the puzzle published.
It wwas so much simpler when the British and French
just drew straight lines over land they didn't own
and settled property disputes that way.
Posted by: timbabwe | Nov 28, 2006 9:57:30 AM
The February issue has one of the bizarrest Games features I've seen - a Martin Gardner exposé on toilet paper tubes.
ç <-- free small c with cedilla for timbabwe
Posted by: Jim Miller | Nov 28, 2006 10:18:38 PM
I've started my own categorization of GAMES contests
Here it is:
Very Unofficial Guide to GAMES Magazine Contest categories
0100 Programmer’s Delight
0110 Dictionary-Based
0111 Dictionary-Based – Best Score
0102 Dictionary-Based – Most Words
0120 Grid-Based
0121 Grid-Based -- Stuffer
0121 Grid-Based – Smallest Grid
0200 Search Search Search
0210 Trivia
0211 Calculatrivia
0212 Alphabetrivia
0213 Difficult Trivia
0220 Photo Identifying Contest
0221 Wish You Were … Where?
0222 Identify the Game
0230 Scavenger Hunt
0300 Solve the Puzzle
0310 Cartoon Rebuses
0320 Crack the Code
0321 Cryptogram
0330 Math Puzzle
0400 I’m Just So Creative
0410 Create a Story
0420 Write the best line
0430 Find the Best Photo
0440 Make the Best Game
0500 This contest completely defies categorization
Some contests may qualify for more than one category.
Posted by: Laurie | Dec 1, 2006 9:41:18 AM
Good idea, Laurie! One format they've used a few times that I didn't see there is the tic-tac-toe with nine pictures, and you have to find the common thread for each of the eight 3-in-a-row lines. Oh wait, perhaps they never used that for a contest, just a no prize puzzle with the answer at hand.
If I ever locate all my old copies of GAMES (don't hold your breath) I always wanted to construct a database or a document at least describing each contest, number of entries, % correct, and log all winner and runner-up names. Also I'd like to learn which copies I need to make a complete run, as I am pretty sure I'm not missing very many, possibly less than a dozen out of almost 30 years! But they're scattered and buried with decades of other packrat accumulations. I'm not quite as solid on GWOP, but it would be fun to complete those, too. I never write in them, always photocopy worksheets for anything I want to work on. Handy having a copy machine at home.
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Dec 1, 2006 3:07:21 PM
Back Issues -- A seller with ID Clemmie506 has 16 back issues of GAMES up for sale on eBay, in 4 lots of 4 each. 15 between 10 and 20 years back, 1 recent one (2003). Wish I had a want list up to date. I have no affiliation with the seller, just a heads up for anyone interested.
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Dec 1, 2006 3:25:00 PM
Great idea Laurie. I can't yet think of any past Games contests that need to go into category 0500, so I think you are pretty comprehensive.
Some other aspects of the contests are that some have a planned "correct" answer, and others are open-ended - generally the 0200 and 0300 series are the former, and the 0100 and 0400 are the latter. Also, some are objective (0100 thru 0300) versus subjective (0400). I think there may be a few exceptions - I remember a dictionary contest from college days (1985 or so) with "Six Pack" in the title, and it was pretty easy, so much so that I think the author had the best answer already figured out.
With this in mind, I'd call category 0100 something like "Objective Open-ended", since a lot of people don't program these contests and some aren't very amenable to computer attack because of their complexity.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Dec 1, 2006 8:20:46 PM
Hi,
Does anyone out there have the very first issue of GAMES Magazine?...
I'm wondering what it was like...
The contest, cover, table of contents, etc...
If anyone would care to share some scans that would be nice...
Thanks...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | Dec 1, 2006 10:30:49 PM
I am a little surprised at the critique of my contest categorization. It was supposed to be somewhat humorous, but I obviously didn't make that clear enough. I am thankful that I am not trying to make a living in comedy.
Posted by: Laurie | Dec 2, 2006 1:08:33 PM
Laurie, less a critique than a contribution. I've thought about categorizing the contests many a time.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Dec 2, 2006 4:04:37 PM
For your delectation, here's some pages from GAMES issue 1.
Maybe we can start an ongoing archive?
http://files.j--a.net/GAMES/archives/GAMES-no.1-hilites.pdf
Posted by: Jim Miller | Dec 2, 2006 5:07:58 PM
Has anyone here ever participated in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre (advertised on page 3 of the Feb 2007 GAMES) or any of the other competitions from that outfit? I always look at the ads but the entry fees stop me. I was just wondering if anyone could comment on their experience(s) with it.
Posted by: Susy | Dec 2, 2006 7:30:19 PM
Susy, are they the folks who do the Trophy Dash, or whatever it's called? Aren't these contests rather time-consuming, yet they offer no prize? (Beyond the honor of winning.) Unless I'm mixing them up with a different ad in GAMES.
On the subject of GAMES' history, do you folks know exactly when the magazine stopped and recommenced, back in mid-90's when the company changed hands? (Sidenote: I believe the "GAMES Deluxe" option, w/Pencilwise Plus, ceased with that changeover.) I think I have every issue since 1988, but might be missing one or two from the time of that recommencement.
The increase in issues-per-year, and expansion of issue length, were two other major changes more recently. I'm sure another old-timer can chart all of this more clearly...
Posted by: Kevin | Dec 2, 2006 8:06:47 PM
The ads I referred to are for The Old Maltese contests, which include the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, the Great Maltese Circumglobal Trophy Dash, Almaniac and Independence Day Fireworks. The entry fee for the current contest is $49. From what I can make out, you get a road atlas or almanac or similar publication (depending on the contest) along with the contest materials. No cash or valuable prizes, just trophies or plaques or the like for the top finishers. Considering that just one of their contests costs about the same amount as annual subscriptions for both GAMES and GWOP combined (and costs infinitely more than this fabulous site), I was just curious how the bang-for-buck compares.
The original GAMES magazine folded in April 1990, due to bankruptcy of its parent company. The assets were purchased by the Bits & Pieces mail-order company, who initially just wanted the subscriber mailing list for advertising purposes. (There is an interesting Folio magazine article from around the time of that acquisition at http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3065/is_n7_v21/ai_12713937/print) They relaunched the magazine in July 1991. Kappa, the current publisher, acquired GAMES in 1996 and moved the editorial offices from NYC to Fort Washington, PA.
Posted by: Susy | Dec 2, 2006 9:46:08 PM
Sorry, the link for the article cut off. Here it is again:
http://www.findarticles.com/p
/articles/mi_m3065/is_n7_v21
/ai_12713937/print
Posted by: Susy | Dec 2, 2006 9:48:28 PM
I've participated in every Old Maltese contest since 1999, almost always doing better than average, but never well enough to merit a plaque. The St. Valentine's and Independence Day rallies come with the current edition of the Rand McNally Road Atlas, and the Almaniacs (Spring & Fall editions) come with the current edition of the World Almanac. The producers provide their own material for the Circumglobal Trophy Dash. While I enjoy doing them, they don't stand up very well to a cost/benefit analysis, as the fee for all five contests in a calendar year is about $150, and the only items of value you get are the Almanac and the Road Atlas.
One contest I can recommend is Puzzle-Up. The entry fee this year is, I think, $25, and the prize is shared equally by all contestants who score the highest. In the past, the prize pool was $1000, and a typical contest will have 25 - 40 contestants with a perfect score, who each get an equal share of the prize money. Each contest is made up of 50 questions, most with various answers to find within the question. The following is a typical question from the last contest:
"13. OCCUPATION and ???T??T??? and PLAYWRIGHT and PLAY and AUTHOR and ACTRESS
The occupation contains the ???T??T??? of ________ in sequential order and the target word in reverse sequential order. The word that fits in the blank is the first name of the playwright and begins the first name of the author. The play, written by the playwright to find, was made into a movie starring the actress whose first name is a color. The last name of the author is the homophonic counterpart of the last name of the actress. The last name of the playwright contains the target word in consecutive order(rl). Name the occupation, the ???T??T???, the playwright, the play, the author, and the actress."
"Target word" is a single word that can be found in a significant number of answers, and the target word for this question was STIR. "(rl)" means rearranged letters. ???T??T??? is, of course, a ten letter word with T's in the indicated places.
I'll be participating this year, though I've lost my entry form and have asked Alan Levine to send or e-mail me a new one. While the contest is not math based, I think it fits right in with what we do on this site, and you can potentially win some or all of your money back.
Posted by: Alan Lemm | Dec 3, 2006 1:52:56 AM
Community = information.
I have begun the slow cataglogging of old GAMES contests at http://gamescontests.pbwiki.com/ with all of the issue that I have. I think the format looks good, but I will take others input as well. Currently there are pages for issues, authors and contests. So if you wanna pitch in, let me know. It is a wiki so anyone can participate.
The password is: games
Posted by: JmSR | Dec 3, 2006 8:57:30 AM
Excellent. Can your wiki easily handle attached images? I'm willing to slowly scan relevant pages from my issues. Some contests can only be described well with a graphic. The pages I'd consider important for archival/orientation purposes are the front cover, table of contents, perhaps the masthead page, then the contests and contest results.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Dec 3, 2006 10:30:22 AM
There appears to be 10MB of storage space for "attachments" on the free site. If I/we are willing to pay for a better wiki, we can have as much a 5GB of space.
There's also the possibility of storing images on this blog in a photo album and linking the approproate pages. That might not require any additional outlay of money.
We'll keep talking.
Posted by: JmSR | Dec 3, 2006 11:51:30 AM
The selected pages from the whole run of 227 issues would take 400-500 MB as decent quality pdfs, I estimate.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Dec 3, 2006 8:27:15 PM
Thanks, Jim Miller, for the look at the very first GAMES issue....interesting "calculator" contest. I love the prize, "electronic, tv entertainment center"...with which to play a game of "Pong" perhaps?
Like Bob, I have old issues (back to the 80's) of GAMES, in boxes(somewhere)down in my basement, I'm fairly sure I don't have the first issue, or any from the 70's.
Though I am sure of having lost out on issues I'd paid for, during their bankruptcy/transition period.
Re: Feb. 07 issue and contest "Postal Code". Is anyone working on it? If so, are you finding the stamps difficult to locate? I found a few, but then, I'm not working on it as loyally as I have on past contests.
I am enjoying the new subjects and ideas on this site. Thanks everyone!
Posted by: Toni | Dec 3, 2006 11:16:47 PM
Toni --
I completed the "Postal Code" contest, and I was able to do so in 2-3 days with the internet as my only resource. I'll leave it to you to figure out the best sites to use!
Posted by: Susy | Dec 4, 2006 12:04:08 AM
I have a couple boxes full as well!
Although I am have started to cut out some of the puzzles to use in my classroom. The kids especially like to look at pictures that require them to identify movies, television and their stars, etc.
Posted by: Paula | Dec 4, 2006 8:25:41 AM
Susy, thanks, I'll have to locate those 'best' sites. Right now, I'm jumping all over the place.....and landing nowhere!
Posted by: Toni | Dec 4, 2006 1:56:56 PM
Hi,
To Jim Miller -- Thanks for the scans. I really enjoyed looking at the very first GAMES issue. But for some reason my computer gives me an error message when I try to look at pages two & three...Any ideas why?...
I remember when they gave out Ataris (remember Pitfall Harry & Kaboom! ?) & Commodore 64 as prizes...
Speaking of flashbacks...
As I was doing the current contest "Postal Code" I had these flashbacks of being at the library & looking up these very stamps in the Scott's Stamp Catalog...
It just dawned on me that GAMES had issued this very same contest in the past, before the internet was in wide use where I live, & I had to go to the library and look thru the Scott's Stamp Catalog...
But I can't remember the exact issue although it was pre-1993...
Would GAMES do that?...
Re-issue the same contest over a decade later?...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | Dec 4, 2006 4:53:17 PM
Jim from MN - what's the error?
They do reissue some puzzles - there's one in the current issue - but they identify them as such. Contest would be lame, but maybe there's something more to it....
Posted by: Jim Miller | Dec 4, 2006 10:15:45 PM
Oh, Paula, taking scissors to vintage GAMES? Sacrilege! Can't you photocopy?
When GAMES went belly up, the last issue before the hiatus contained a small puzzle I had contributed--the very first they accepted from me, I believe. I never did get paid for it (was supposed to be $25) but I didn't mind, I was just thrilled to see it in print nationwide.
I was wrong about the stamps contest--it is easier for seasoned stamp collectors. I posted a link to it on the eBay chat board (it's scrolled off now) and one of the worldwide collectors solved the entire puzzle in 10 minutes, out of his head! I doubt he'll bother to enter, though. Most collectors have specialized and focused knowledge, but a few still attempt universal collections and have gained phenomenal knowledge over the decades. Some gal just posted a tiny fragment of a stamp, with no lettering at all, and someone nailed the ID within a few minutes!
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Dec 5, 2006 1:28:59 AM
Alan,
I too have participated in the PuzzleUp, and found it extremely enjoyable. I have forwarded contact information along to you in case you did not have it.
PuzzleUp is very suitable to the likes of those who traipse this board. For anyone interested, I could forward you the entirety of last years contest (questions and answers).
Last year, the creator had done some work to increase advertising, and had increased the overall prize money. Unfortunately, the number of participants did not increase significantly enough to justify the larger prize, so he has brought the prize monies back down accordingly. I have posted his contest info here and a few other places to see if he can get more entries and therefore take the prizes up.
Posted by: Jay Winter | Dec 5, 2006 8:42:57 AM
I'll assure you - all clippings are laminated, labeled and filed carefully....
I still photocopy every issue to avoid "ruining it" with a pencil. It was only after 20 years of collecting that I felt it was time to give them more life and share them with my students rather than imprison them in a plastic tub.
I have given my 15 year old daughter permission to write in old GWOP issues, as I have photocopies of many of the puzzles. I decided that exposing her to the joys of puzzle solving and letting her have "her own magazine" was more important than archiving.
Posted by: Paula | Dec 5, 2006 10:29:30 AM
I'll assure you - all clippings are laminated, labeled and filed carefully....
I still photocopy every issue to avoid "ruining it" with a pencil. It was only after 20 years of collecting that I felt it was time to give them more life and share them with my students rather than imprison them in a plastic tub.
I have given my 15 year old daughter permission to write in old GWOP issues, as I have photocopies of many of the puzzles. I decided that exposing her to the joys of puzzle solving and letting her have "her own magazine" was more important than archiving.
Posted by: Paula | Dec 5, 2006 10:29:33 AM
The wiki GAMES contest web site looks great.
I hope I don't offend some people, but I don't have much space to store old GAMES issues. I keep the GAMES issues for a while. Eventually, they will end up in the recycling pile. I do have a file of the contests and contest results. I also write in the original GAMES issues, instead of photocopying the puzzles. I will photocopy the contests because I save those.
I worked on the Postal Code contest and I had it done in couple of days. I have never been a stamp collector, but it wasn't a disadvantage considering the amount of time from the publishing of the contest to the deadline.
Would GAMES actually recycle a contest?
Posted by: Laurie | Dec 5, 2006 12:13:55 PM
Hi,
To Jim Miller --
It says "Unable to read document(9)." &
"File contains too many errors."
Some of the images on pages 2 & 3 appear briefly before they disappear...
Does that help?...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | Dec 7, 2006 3:20:37 AM
Hmm, got me. Are you using the latest Acrobat reader (7.0.8)? Next scan I make, I'll try a little different pdf configuration.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Dec 7, 2006 5:21:26 PM
Were You Aware of It? Made-up facts by John Hodgman
Jorge Luis Borges, the famed Argentine fabulist,
was the Editor-in-Chief of Games Magazine from
1980 to 1981.
Quoted from "The Areas of My Expertise" by
John Hodgman. You know him from The Little Gray Book
Lectures and as the PC-guy in the Apple commercials.
Posted by: timbabwe | Dec 8, 2006 4:20:47 PM
That's very funny.
I think that was the Michael Donner or the Will Shortz period.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Dec 9, 2006 12:08:26 PM
The March 2007 GAMES contest is a create your own Cartoon Rebus contest.
Posted by: Laurie | Dec 27, 2006 7:39:27 PM
Hi,
I want to wish everyone a "Happy New Year!"...
I "predict" that we will see a "Carton Rebus" contest sometime in the latter half of this year...
If GAMES gets at least 375 entries to this contest we'll be having the "Cartoon Rebus" contest every year for the next 25 years!...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | Dec 29, 2006 12:56:16 AM
Hi, all! The contest wiki looks amazing. I might be able to help with earlier issues; I don't have the first, but I have almost everything (with a few notable exceptions) from the second issue til last year. (Strangely enough, though, I missed something like five or six of last year's issues due to travel and money problems, and it's annoying me no end.)
Posted by: Adam Fromm | Jan 1, 2007 2:00:22 AM
I just returned from NY celebration at a family member's house. Tried to make a long post before I left, a few hours ago, but got an error message. Was anyone else having trouble posting? I see a new post above, so I'll try this first, to see if it gets through.
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Jan 1, 2007 3:59:15 AM
OK, that worked, EXCEPT, it reported an error message again, and didn't let me preview the message. But I went ahead and filled in the REALLY hard to read spam trap code and posted, and it worked! So, I'll try pasting in my message and see if it works. Hope I don't mess up the HTML, because apparently I won't get to preview:
I've had a few emails asking if I might help fill in between now and March Madness. It so happens that in mid-November, I got an idea for a new puzzle, which in 6 or 7 weeks has grown into an extensive marathon contest. It was based on the shuffle procedure for scrambling a rectangle of characters, that I introduced in Operation Obfuscation, Part 6 of Capital Craziness. An ever-growing series of operations to set up the final grid finally evolved into these 19 distinct procedures, which essentially manipulate a String of letters until it becomes a message:
I ---- Start with a given 108-letter String of letters.
II --- Solve cryptograms (all one key!) and identify pictures.
III -- Find 6 easy words from definitions.
IV --- Insert the words into the String.
V ---- Cut String into 12 pieces and rearrange.
VI --- Find 3 ZIP codes to get 7 numbers.
VII -- Use the numbers to cut the String into 8 pieces.
VIII - Find 2 ZIPs to get 6 numbers, for future use as variables.
IX --- Find 25 words from clues.
X ---- Rearrange 8 sub-Strings slightly, based on the word list.
XI --- Alter many of the 25 words in 8 separate procedures.
XII -- Add 1 word to 1 sub-String, reorder, and rejoin the String.
XIII - Perform a shuffle on the String, per a clue for size.
XIV -- Find 5 ZIP codes and
XV --- 10 smaller integers, from which
XVI -- 24 insertion points are generated.
XVII - Put the remaining 24 words into the String.
XVIII Do a shuffle. No clue, try factors until it is readable.
XIX -- Follow the directive to find the contest solution.
As much scrambling, rearranging, altering, and mixing of letters occurs, I named it Mad Scrambles.
Most steps are a quick one-time-through operation, once the prerequisites are at hand, more a test of following directions than a puzzle challenge. But VI, VIII, IX, and XIV are regular trivia puzzles, highly involved with U.S. maps, ZIP codes, stamps, music, literature, and much with the good old IMDB!
It is virtually done save a final touch-up and locating an item I need to scan for one of the pictures. I originally thought of proffering it to GAMES, but it grew way too long to fit on only 2 or 3 pages, and between the IMDB and many items that cry for Googling, I think it would be impossible without the internet, but a lot of fun with it.
If you are interested (I've broached it to JM&N) I can try to get it ready in a very short time. Any comments?
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Jan 1, 2007 4:10:43 AM
I'm ready to go. Anything that comes from Master Lodge is always anticipated with anxious titillation. I'm working on my own sequel, but it won't be ready for a month or so.
Posted by: DonV | Jan 1, 2007 3:41:44 PM
YES, by all means! I've finally reached a point where I can devote time to something like this and not have to abandon half-way through. Bring it on!
Posted by: Stephen | Jan 1, 2007 5:18:13 PM
I am posting this from the public library. we have had a terrific windstorm here and I've had no power, internet, phone, or TV for more than 30 hours now. At least tonight I'll have flashlights instead of last night's candles! (Found 3 flashlights. All but 3 of them worked!) Anyway, I'll get back to my puzzle and to the board ASAP. Hopefully tomorrow will be the day. The neighbors across the street have theirs back!
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Jan 8, 2007 8:38:35 PM
I am REALLY looking forward to a "fresh" puzzle - especially a Lodge Puzzle, as I couldn't commit last summer.
Posted by: Paula | Jan 9, 2007 7:50:47 AM
Are any of you involved in the "Perplex City" world? I had investigated it a bit last fall, but I see that it is featured in the inside back cover of the March GAMES. Looks enticing but am wondering if its just a marketing scheme and if players have to spend a fortune to be competitive.
Posted by: Paula | Jan 11, 2007 10:56:25 AM
I am involved in the PerplexCity ordeal. It really hasn't cost me that much...so far. I've completed all but 4 of the puzzles (my international rank is like, 13 or something. The 4 puzzles I have not completed have not been completed by anyone else either, so far. Its a lot of fun, but its also very unrealistic to expect to win the $200,000 prize.
There are entire websites devoted to finding solutions, understanding hints, cheats, etc. (www.perplexcity.com or www.perplexcitycardcatalog.com)
The first wave of cards came out in four segments about 6 monthe apart. That wave is finished and now we are waiting for the first segment of the second wave to be released.
When I first started, it was a lot more difficult to obtain cards in the US because the organization is based in the UK. But, due to overwhelming popularity, it is now much easier to obtain cards here.
There are PerplexCity conventions held globally, but the closest one to me so far was in San Francisco, and that was a bit too far for me to attend.
If anyone has additional questions about this contest, you can post them on this site, which I monitor daily or send me an email at dlxvi@aol.com.
Posted by: DonV | Jan 13, 2007 8:22:35 PM
This is a bit off topic, and it comes dangerously close to spam, but it's something y'all will be interested in, I'm sure.
I've recently come across the 1987 "Games: The Video Edition", and for a contest it includes a Calculatrivia puzzle, in video. I've been trying to work out the answers, but I've gotten about as far as I'm able to. So I'm taking it to you experts, in the hope that you can work it out.
The blog post is at http://theycallittrivia.blogspot.com/2007/01/it-all-adds-up.html .
I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes by doing this. I've been a Games subscriber since 1983, and up until about 3 years ago I could boast a complete set of issues. I haven't been buying every issue lately, as I no longer have the time nor the space to properly attend to them.
I do have a mint set of the 4-Star Puzzler, though. I'm kind of proud of that.
Anyhow, I'll sign my real name, as a good-faith gesture. Hope you can help.
-Myron M. Meyer
Sioux Falls, SD
Posted by: Myron M. Meyer | Jan 14, 2007 11:55:01 PM
DonV, wondering more about Perplex. If there are web sites with hints and cheats, how much leg up do those give the people who use them? Are there some puzzles that nobody posts the answer to, perhaps because they're difficult and the answers are jealously guarded? Are answers bought and sold to achieve higher rankings? How fair would you say the whole Perplex system is?
These issues sometimes come into play with the GAMES contests, though GAMES contests have far less media exposure (usually none at all offline).
Posted by: Jim Miller | Jan 15, 2007 12:15:05 AM
Myron -- That's a most interesting blog you posted a link to. I hadn't been aware of it before. It would seem much easier to solve today, with tools like Google at hand. Are there particular variables that you're hung up on?
That magazine collection sounds nice! Let's see, the 4-star puzzlers was that deluxe edition with extra puzzles, right? I didn't get around to subscribing to those, and had hoped to fill them in some day, but never did.
To All -- I finally got a rough draft (well, not too rough, I hope--with luck it will all take to this format and be ready to go!) of my new puzzle, ''Mad Scrambles'', sent to JM&N for setting up. It took longer than I had anticipated for final polishing and formatting (including many improvements), and I sent it very late last night after the weekend was gone. But I am in hopes that we can launch very soon!
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Jan 15, 2007 12:58:07 PM
I used to subscribe to the four-star puzzler. One time, they had three issues with tons of rebus cartoons as part of a three-part contest. So sad it didn't last so long. What a great magazine.
Posted by: Ross | Jan 15, 2007 1:04:36 PM
I'm hoping to have Bob's puzzle shipshape and bristol fashion by the end of the week.
Posted by: JmSR | Jan 15, 2007 4:33:29 PM
I just received my March GWOP today. The contest really looks fun! It's a huge (40x40) one of those paint-by-number grids, in FIVE colors (counting white), with a letter in each box (1600 of them) and messages to find after you solve the artwork! Wow!
Results are for the September Baseball Diamonds contest, which received 588 entries.
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Jan 23, 2007 8:04:37 PM
I have the final question in the PBN contest in the latest GWOP. I just have to answer the question and submit.
Posted by: Alan Lemm | Jan 23, 2007 8:20:34 PM
I haven't paid much attention to GAMES as of lately, but I did pick up the March GWOP just for that intriguing contest! I agree, Bob...looks like a fun challenge up ahead with that one.
Posted by: Mike | Jan 23, 2007 8:42:33 PM
Hi...
I was wondering about the March contest in GAMES World of Puzzles "A-mazed By Numbers" ...
Some things are missing from the contest...
The contest is perfect except for "row" 24...
It reads in part 5 1 4 2 6 1 2 2 5 7
I think there should be two more numbers after the "7" but can't see any...
I also want to clarify the last number in "column" 12...
It looks like a "3" but I just want to make sure...
Thanks....
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | Jan 26, 2007 5:40:07 PM
I saw that as well earlier...my guess (not 100%) is that it's just an alignment issue on Row 24 and that not any numbers are missing.
I've got a "3" on my end as well for column 12.
Probably starting the contest tonight...I finally cracked a Cross Sums (Kakuro) at lunch today that's taken me a whole week to do so I hope the luck'll translate over to this contest, too. :-)
Posted by: Mike | Jan 26, 2007 6:10:06 PM
The empty spaces at the end of that row, Jim, are simply an alignment problem. There are no digits after the "7". I've solved the PBN, and there are no extraneous or missing values anywhere.
One way to check a PBN for mistakes is to add up all values of a single color in the rows, and compare it to the sum of all values for that color for the columns. Since every pixel is represented by both a row and a column, these sums must be equal.
Posted by: Alan Lemm | Jan 26, 2007 9:15:53 PM
Aargh! I've solved the PBN. I found the message in the pink area. I found the next set of instructions. And then I found...garbage. AND I've got nonsense from my Final Shuffle in Bob's contest. Sigh. It's just not my day.
Posted by: Susy | Jan 28, 2007 9:11:25 AM
The pink instructions led me to three other instructions. And I can't figure out why one of the red letters is red.
Posted by: Ross | Jan 29, 2007 8:23:31 AM
GAMES has posted a clarification of the A-mazed By Numbers contest on their website. It's regarding the alignment of row 24 and the distinction between red and pink numbers in the grid. Visit their website http://www.gamesmagazine-online.com/
and click on the link at the lower right (below the image of GWOP).
Posted by: Susy | Jan 29, 2007 10:28:43 AM
I still don't know why the row 14 letter is red.
Posted by: Ross | Jan 29, 2007 10:56:56 AM
April(!) Games arrived today. Contest results of November's "Game Roundup," a Hidden Contest, and a "Mystery Cross" where we are given a blank criss-cross grid and the letters and numbers which fill it. We have to do it in such a way as to produce five entries that belong to a single unknown category ($500).
Posted by: Stephen | Jan 30, 2007 9:03:10 PM
"Amazed" question before I get myself into deep:
The directions mention something like "Black out the given letters, but keep them legible when filling in the other colored letters." Something like that. I assume that means you can fully black out the black letters, but the gray, pink, and red ones require the actual text to be seen. To me, all the letters in the grid are "given letters." Just asking for clarification...thanks.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 3, 2007 8:03:07 PM
Mike -- I read it as "you can black out the black ones, but you might need to read the white, pink, gray or red ones later." I'd like to know what others think, though, since I haven't actually completed the whole contest. Personally, I'm working on a xerox copy just in case.
Posted by: Susy | Feb 4, 2007 2:56:36 AM
I went with my gut and assumed that, Susy...that's what I was thinking as well. I spent last night and this morning finishing the grid so that part's probably OK. But I think I might be at the same point you are, Susy, with the "garbage" at the end. I'm at the point where I should be finding the trivia question, but I'm lost (at least for the moment).
Posted by: Mike | Feb 4, 2007 1:07:57 PM
(1) Re: GWOP Amazed by Numbers: I used different colored pencils to lightly shade the letters (keeping track of what the "real" color meant), including the "white" squares since I wanted some way to mark them as being "proven" as opposed to "unknown". Visually, it was nice and pretty once it was completed.
(2) Re: April Hidden Contest Puzzle. Randomly flipping through the pages, I found both the "red herring" and the "hidden contest" pages in under 10 minutes.
(3) Re: April Mystery Cross. Took about 2 hours of thinking here, but I'm confident about my solution.
Posted by: Bart | Feb 4, 2007 3:26:58 PM
From the April Eureka, for the February "Marking a Pattern" Wild Card: I've had the best chance in years to get my name in the magazine, but they print someone else's, almost identical, improvement. In the magazine they printed a letter where the guy writes:
"Your solution listed 11 words; I came up with 12."
CACHING
DADOING
EARRING
FANNING
GAUGING
JAZZING
MAIMING
SAPPING
TABBING
VALVING
WAXWING
YAKKING
And he notes that A and Q are left, and CACHING/SAPPING can be replaced with CAPPING/HASHING.
On 11/29/06 at 4 in the morning, I think the day after I received the issue in the mail, I emailed Games with:
"For “Marking a Pattern” in Wild Cards 2/07, I found a 12-word solution, over the 11 given. My words come from the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary 4th Ed. I doubt a 13-word solution is possible with any collegiate-sized dictionary because of the Q.
CABBING
DADOING
EARRING
FANNING
HAGGING
JAZZING
MAIMING
SAPPING
TAUTING
VALVING
WAXWING
YAKKING
A,Q left over
Jim Miller
Portland, OR"
Instant turnaround and a nearly identical solution. Yeah, I didn't note any variations, which I thought were too trivial to even mention (PASSING instead of SAPPING, for example). Yeah, my TAUTING is uncommon. But don't I deserve at least co-honors for the improvement? Jesus!
Posted by: Jim Miller | Feb 6, 2007 7:01:53 PM
2nd complaint: It really dampens my zeal to do a contest when, for example, I read beforehand so-and-so telling the group that they already found the Hidden Contest in 10 minutes, and by the way avoid the red herring. Gee, there's a red herring - I might like the pleasure of having discovered that myself. Gee, it only took him 10 minutes - I might like the mystery of the contest (will it be really fiendish and hard to find?) and discovering that for myself. Now I don't have much of an appetite for even looking.
I might have been guilty of this myself once or twice in the past, in the context of decrying the abundance of no-brainer contests Games seems to favor now. If so, I was wrong to spill any of the beans ahead of the contest deadline.
But with so many people discussing the contests in this forum, the tendency to gloat a little or merely to relay what one person may consider innocent information means more chances for spoiling the fun. I realized recently that since I've been reading this site, my desire to work on Games contests and submit solutions has actually decreased rather than increased. I think this is because I have always enjoyed the contests as solitary mental challenges; I don't really want to know how far Dick or Jane or anyone else has gotten, and fortunately or unfortunately that seems to be built into the DNA of this site (have you noticed the current trendiness of the word "DNA" applied generically like this?).
So I think that despite the UCDP being a great concept on paper and attracting intelligent people to discuss a favorite pasttime, it doesn't really work for me. More important for me is to enjoy the contests. To that end, I'll be reading and participating less here. I wish the Games contest discussion were separated into separate threads for each contest - that way one could go back after a contest is over and read and post only about that contest, without accidentally reading material other people have posted about current ongoing contests. This would be my suggestion to the site maintainers for improvement.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Feb 6, 2007 7:30:30 PM
Jim, I do understand your comments. My posting of the April issue information was just purely out of excitement of solving both puzzles in one afternoon. I've been a Games/GWOP subscriber for a long time and I recall many issues where I couldn't find the hidden puzzle for months and I didn't know where to begin for the other contests.
I tried not to reveal anything specific that would diminish the enjoyment of the puzzles. If it is the consensus of the board that I did so (and where the lines are that I crossed), I shall endeavor to keep even quieter.
Posted by: Bart | Feb 6, 2007 11:12:44 PM
Hi,
Very well said, Jim!! You echo my thoughts,totally!
W Fraser
Posted by: w fraser | Feb 7, 2007 6:49:24 AM
I'm open to any and all suggestions. The format you see now exists because I am somewhat lazy and don't remember to post new issues when they become available. I am willing to take a more active role if that's what people want -- let's discuss and then move forward.
Posted by: JmSR | Feb 7, 2007 7:13:08 AM
It's hard sometimes to look forward to a new issue with new possibilities if you know someone who received the issue already solved (and rates)the contests. I think we're happy for anyone who is excited (especially if he wins the contest!), but maybe reveal it after the contest has run for a while, because sometimes when others are frustrated, they do appreciate hints privately.
Posted by: Ross | Feb 7, 2007 8:20:34 AM
Maybe the policy should be that contests that are currently active cannot be discussed save for the fact that they exist (including whether or not you have completed them) prior to the deadline.
Posted by: JmSR | Feb 7, 2007 8:25:34 AM
I think that would be totally appropriate. In fact, I would vote that we do not discuss the contests until the results are published. At least that way we can be proud of our submissions for at least a month before they are deflated (often by someone who solved with programming).
Posted by: Paula | Feb 7, 2007 9:40:32 AM
In the six months or so since I started reading this forum, I have found myself even more motivated and interested in the GAMES contests than before. I love the odd blend of commiseration and competitiveness that I have found here. I'd hate to lose that aspect of this group, but I do understand and respect the feelings of those who'd rather not discuss current contests at all.
How about setting up a separate thread for "Pats on the Back and Shoulders to Cry On" -- where it would be okay to share one's excitement about success/progress on a contest (but not to share answers or specific scores), or to ask if the hidden contest really exists or if it's just a cruel joke by the editors, or other similar kinds of posts? It could be a little like the "Spoilers Ahead" thing that IMDB and other movie-related sites do, and people could choose to read it or not.
Posted by: Susy | Feb 8, 2007 4:04:56 PM
I agree with the bulk of the points. I think a subset of threads, one per contest perhaps, would be most beneficial to the nature of this forum. I think the bulk of discussion of GAMES around these parts involves contests anyway (which is why I think I held on to my subscription for as long as I did until I terminated it last year or so).
To be honest, I was worried at first when this place became the phoenix out of the ashes of Ultimate Calculatrivia. I originally feared all the mystery and intrigue of the contests would be gone since we now had a basis of individuals that could just help each other out and whatnot. I'm actually glad this is here, though, because the wealth of web contests has been delightful; and I've enjoyed hearing other people's insights.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 8, 2007 10:16:13 PM
I think that two threads could be created to separate the spoilers from the general information. This would simplify the number of threads needed.
1. About and After the Contest Thread
-- Announcement of new contest
-- GAMES recognition of an error in a contest
-- Answers and scores could be posted the day after the contest ends
-- no spoilers
2. Contest Progress and Feedback Thread
-- Opinions on difficulty
-- Progress on contest
-- Possible spoilers
-- No scores or actual answers before the contest ends
Posted by: Laurie | Feb 9, 2007 7:36:20 AM
I agree with Laurie's proposal for the two threads.
JimM> But don't I deserve at least co-honors for the improvement?
Yes! I am surprised they did not mention your name. In a similar situation, I emailed an alternate solution to a 3D three-in-a-row puzzle. They published another person's letter but mentioned my name also. Sigh.
Posted by: Mark Mammel | Feb 9, 2007 9:21:02 AM
I agree with Jim, Ross and Paula on this. People here give away far more than they think they do, even when they're trying to be vague. Bragging over quick solving times is inherently a hint, and on hidden contests it is a HUGE hint. Consider the current Hidden Contest (which I hope I'm free to mention only because it's already been brought up here -- but if you're still looking for it, do yourself a favor and skip down to the next paragraph). Still reading? OK: For anyone who hasn't solved the contest already, the 10-minute reference obviously eliminates a wide range of possibilities. Second example: There was a post here about the resources someone used to solve the contest that used images of postage stamps. While vague, it lends enough information for a huge intuitive leap about the work required to enter the contest.
I'm fine with contest announcements and, to as lesser extent, errors. (Disclosure: I strayed from my own standards once last year when I stumbled in an online contest.) But errors are getting posted quickly on the Games website now, so a purist might argue that even error information constitutes a spoiler UNTIL it gets on the GAMES website.
I honestly don't know why there has to be a separate thread to "share excitement about success/progress." Again, any information about the ease or difficulty of a contest or any individual element in it is going to provide someone else with information they might not want otherwise have.
I'm a very infrequent poster here; discovered the web site while trying to track down a back issue. I don't (can't) do calculatrivia and cannot solve any contest that benefits from computer programming. But it strikes me, if you want to win these contests, keep the information to yourself til deadline. If you just want to brag about how smart you are, join a club.
Posted by: Jeff R. | Feb 9, 2007 12:13:28 PM
The comments seem to be getting a bit harsh. I don't think anyone is bragging, or competing to see who the top Games solver is. We're a nice group sharing ideas and successes with one another, and we support each other. It's just that it led to some technical issues which need to be ironed out. So why not a separate thread which others choose to look at or not? The only problem is that it's more work for the hosts.
Posted by: Ross | Feb 11, 2007 8:11:53 AM
Didn't mean to come off as harsh. Sorry, Ross.
Posted by: Jeff R. | Feb 11, 2007 12:42:21 PM
If Laurie's idea for 2 threads is used, it would help to have, for the non-spoily thread but probably for the spoily as well, a list of currently open and recently closed contests in the left or right sidebar, along with their closing dates, and with the open contests highlighted in some way; and since these threads get quite long vertically throughout the year, display this info using the HTML or CSS trick where the text always follows you vertically and hovers on whatever section of the page is in your browser window (or some less annoying way to accomplish the same thing).
My reasoning for this is that it will give people a crystal clear notice about when it is safe to discuss spoilers in the non-spoily thread. I can see some cross-chat happening between the threads if their roles aren't well-defined.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Feb 11, 2007 1:43:22 PM
Hi,
My personal opinion is to not post anything about the current GAMES/GWoP/GAMESOnline contests except to announce them OR to announce errors in them...
(Another exception, though extremely rare, is to ask for help reading the published contest, like some of those very faint numbers in the current GWoP contest. But I would have to rule out reading words on a picture postcard.)...
To do more would give unknown hints about the contest & help people that you are competing against...
I don't have any problem with talking about "revealing all" a couple of days after the deadline passes...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | Feb 13, 2007 2:50:23 PM
Hi,
For those of you still working on the GWoP PBN contest...
I see that GAMES has put a PDF version on their website with the clarifications...
You can "zoom in" and read every number really clear...
I wonder if they would start putting a PDF version of every GWoP contest from now on?....
That would be nice...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | Feb 20, 2007 11:16:50 AM
Just received today the May GWOP. The contest, called Sherwood Forest, is a cryptic crossword, by author Harvey Estes, with a couple of interesting twists! The clues are not numbered, but in order, all Across then all Down. Only hitch is, there is an EXTRA clue thrown in, and you don't know which one! Additionally, some of the answers won't fit, but you are allowed a certain modification to make them fit. You have to figure out what the modification is! Looks to be a cut above some of the lackluster offerings of late, but so far I have only studied it about 60 seconds. Solutions is for the Stars and Stripes from November, which received 1390 entries, 100% correct! Winner was Valerie Collins-NY. Last names and location of T-shirt winners were Dolliver-TX, Mitchusson-GA, Saunders-TX, Stoner-CA, and Vanderploeg-BC.
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Mar 8, 2007 8:44:59 PM
I just stumbled across a film on TV called Mercury Rising, a 1998 Bruce Willis spy adventure. It involves a secret Government code planted into a puzzle magazine, which in fact is GWOP! It's on the USA channel now and again again tomorrow. (Saturday-Mar 10) Check your local listing (2 pm here in Pacific time) May be of interest to those here with the GAMES connection. I've only seen a few minutes of it, have no idea if it's any good, but thought I'd mention it if any want to tape it, or look for it to rent or check out.
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Mar 10, 2007 2:37:11 AM
May GAMES arrived today - contest is called "Middle Ground". Put *all* of the number names ONE thru TWELVE exactly once into an 11x11 grid, standard criss-cross fashion (no adjacent letters other than the twelve number names, no separate word islands). The outermost band of the grid is worth 100 points per square; the next inward band (9x9) is worth 10 points per square; the entire middle (7x7) is worth only 1 point per square. You receive points for the squares which are *unoccupied* by a letter. Thus, the goal is to cram everything toward the center as much as possible. Highest score wins, no tiebreaker, just random draw.
My first impression is that it is a medium-weight contest, probably amenable to computer and wetware both, and I'm guessing there will be ties for high score from between 50-300 unique people.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Mar 12, 2007 9:53:49 PM
It's great GWOP finally has a contest with a cryptic crossword. They're my favorites. I like the ones Henry Hook makes and put out in book form, with all the hidden messages etc.
Posted by: Scott | Mar 13, 2007 10:12:55 AM
Hi...
I have a question about removing address labels from GAMES magazine covers...
My most recent GAMES had the address label attached to the cover with something like white glue...
Since it is covering part of a puzzle I would like to remove it without damaging the cover...
I've tried the "hair dryer approach" but that doesn't work...
The two issues previous to this one came with the label attached to the plastic bag it came in & I didn't have to worry about it...
Any ideas on how to remove the label?...
Thanks...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | Mar 13, 2007 12:05:26 PM
I said that I wanted to see more grid contests, and now GAMES has another grid contest (Middle Ground). Now the programmers can come out of hibernation.
Maybe another scavenger hunt will be coming along also.
Posted by: Laurie | Mar 14, 2007 3:17:43 PM
Laurie and Jim Miller,and all,
In Regard to "Middle Ground" there is a "rule clarification" on the GAMES website. I had written to ask them to clarify a particular instruction, and was happy to learn, the arrangement I inquired about is allowed.
Laurie, you're right: this is one for the programmers. But, we've proven WE can do it with a few good pencils!
Good Luck all!!!!
Posted by: Toni | Mar 15, 2007 8:55:36 AM
Right, it's standard criss-cross rules.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Mar 15, 2007 9:58:46 PM
I'm enjoying the Middle Ground contest (crisscrossing ONE thru TWELVE), but I agree with Jim Miller that 50 to 300 people (or so) will tie with the high score. I'll bet the maximal solution isn't too hard to find, even though the 12 words cross in numerous ways.
Posted by: Kevin | Mar 27, 2007 8:33:43 PM
Good news! I just returned from Safeway, where I spotted GAMES in the magazine aisle--first time I've seen it on a newsstand for a long time. I hope it's a trend, and not just a one-shot try.
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Mar 27, 2007 8:39:12 PM
I also saw it on a newstand for the first time in about a year this past weekend!
Posted by: Paula | Mar 28, 2007 10:19:00 AM
I also saw it on a newstand for the first time in about a year this past weekend!
Posted by: Paula | Mar 28, 2007 10:19:01 AM
Kevin...You're right, the maximum score wasn't too hard to find.:-)
Posted by: Toni | Mar 29, 2007 9:38:47 AM
Excellent to hear about GAMES popping up at the newsstands. I'm going to Wal-Mart later tonight so I'll check there.
Posted by: Mike | Mar 29, 2007 12:52:39 PM
Is it too late to submit a Cartoon Rebus for the contest. I misplaced my Games Magazine and don't know the cut-off date.
Thanks!
Posted by: Nate | Mar 30, 2007 9:03:11 AM
Nate, I had my March issue handy. Entries must be received by April 2nd, so you still have a little time...but not much. Good luck. I just realized that I forgot to send anything as well, but I really don't have any prize-winning ideas like I thought I would.
Posted by: Sean F | Mar 30, 2007 12:13:49 PM
Hi...
HAVE A HAPPY EASTER! EVERYONE...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | Apr 6, 2007 6:25:35 PM
Once again I write from the public library as my computer has crashed! Just want to let anyone know my communications may be spotty for a while. I've tried to start it and it just freezes up! Hopefully it won't be long until I figure it out, but hard to say.
Posted by: Bob Lodge | Apr 10, 2007 5:04:54 PM
July GAMES arrived: new contest is called "First Eighteen", and "Postal Code" results from February. First Eighteen is yet another find-the-pattern-in-a-short-list type of contest with a canned answer, which have become so tiresome that I'm not going to bother describing it. Postal Code had 365 entries, "nearly all" with the correct answer (Japan).
Posted by: Jim Miller | Apr 24, 2007 2:01:33 AM
In the May issue, can any musical instrument be made into a verb? I hope someone has a "clue" to what I'm referring to.
Posted by: Ross | Apr 24, 2007 8:12:48 AM
July GAMES already? I still haven't received my May issue after calling for it twice. Here's hoping that third time is the charm. I guess I'll wind up getting both issues at the same time!
Posted by: Sean F | Apr 24, 2007 11:11:14 AM
I didn't get the May issue either, and I was thinking I was way overdue.
Posted by: Jeff R. | Apr 24, 2007 12:34:40 PM
"Well, Ross, SOME CERTAINLY CAN," Tom trumpeted. Of course, Tom's always harping on that subject, and he really ought to pipe down.
Personally I thought that puzzle really fell flat. Talk about horning a one-note joke into a long-winded story...
Posted by: Kevin | Apr 25, 2007 1:59:28 AM
Actually I thought it was clever. I'd like to use the idea for a story in my english class. But that musical word I also found strange. Is there an alternative?
Posted by: Scott | Apr 25, 2007 8:12:11 AM
Nouns are nouns and verbs are verbs. A few supple words are both. The word featured in the story is not one of them. The poor English language. So much abuse.
Maybe the editors should have Xed that feature. I certainly won't be Xeroxing it.
Posted by: Susy | Apr 25, 2007 8:01:18 PM
Now that the "Mystery Cross" contest is over, what was the solution for it?
Posted by: Laurie | May 2, 2007 8:56:58 AM
Laurie, I didn't solve this one, although I was on the right track and just didn't follow through with it. I actually don't have it in front of me at the moment, but I recall a few of the entries being se7en and 8mile (movies involving numbers in their titles).
Posted by: Sean F | May 2, 2007 9:37:16 AM
Hi,
Has anyone seen the new issue of GWoP yet?...
Just wondering...
Thanks...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | May 4, 2007 6:07:59 PM
The "Mystery Cross" contest must have been harder than it appeared. So far, nobody claims to have solved it.
Posted by: Laurie | May 5, 2007 4:23:11 PM
"Mystery Cross" was a tough contest. Even though I worked on it many times, trying several different catagories, I could not get anywhere with it.
Posted by: Toni | May 6, 2007 9:09:31 PM
Well, I'll make the claim I solved "Mystery Cross". I had "8MILE" crossing "48HRS" at the "8", "SE7EN" crossing that at the "S", "1776" crossing that at the first "7" and "THE6THDAY" crossing that at the "6"
Posted by: Bart | May 7, 2007 8:33:27 PM
July GWoP arrived today. Contest results from Atkins Musical Diet (01/07) are on p.1. All 1260 entries were correct.
This month's contest is $500 and is a trivia-based crossword puzzle based on the Scrabble board, tiles and scoring.
Posted by: Brad | May 8, 2007 5:30:32 PM
What's in the Special Section, if I might ask?
Posted by: Stephen | May 8, 2007 9:40:13 PM
The title is the Google US Puzzle Championship, but the section includes puzzles from three different puzzle tourneys: The World Sudoku, World Puzzle and the US Puzzle championships.
Posted by: Brad | May 8, 2007 10:09:23 PM
Hi...
I was wondering if someone can e-mail me a copy of the new GWoP contest (July)....
We get it where I live but about 3 weeks after it gets announced here...
I have an idea...
Would it be OK to have a section here that features the current GAMES & GWoP contests scanned in?...
(It would help people who want to enter the contests but don't have the magazine where they live. I know that you don't have to buy the magazine to enter the contests.)
Or would GAMES not like the idea?...
What are people's thoughts about this idea?...
Thanks...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | May 9, 2007 2:10:20 AM
My prayers were answered. The GWoP had a Honeycomb Hotel.
That was one I should have xeroxed first. I blasted in with my pen and ruined it in fifteen minuted.
Posted by: Tim Szeliga | May 9, 2007 6:21:42 AM
It would also help people who look through an issue at the newsstand and decide that they would have only bought it for the contest. (Assuming that we would ever find anyone like that, of course.)
Posted by: Ross | May 9, 2007 11:26:47 AM
Bart, great going on "Mystery Cross"!
Numbered movie titles, hmmm...never occurred to me.
Good luck! Hope you win!
Posted by: Toni | May 9, 2007 11:12:40 PM
Hey all... first time poster here, but loooooong time GAMES Magazine devourer, with a question for you...
I've been working on the "Middle Ground" contest, with my trusty #2 pencil, and I'm wondering if my score of 4185 is worth entering. I've avoided using any of the orange squares, so I've got that going for me.
I know there are computer-files out there who will probably let their Macs do the letter crunching for them, but is my "old-fashioned" score of 4185 any good?
Posted by: Chris | May 11, 2007 2:17:38 PM
Chris, we generally don't reveal scores until after a contest is over.
Posted by: Laurie | May 11, 2007 6:36:57 PM
Jim, you're so smart you should have a 3 week handicap, anyway. :-) I'm totally messed up for emailing scans, but if you email your snail address I'll send you a photocopy of the GWOP Scrabble puzzle. It looks reasonably easy if I had access to Google. But there may be somee hidden surprises.
Remember, come monday it's 41c postage! I got some of the new Jamestown stamps. Very lovely, and triangular in shape!
Posted by: Bob Lodge | May 12, 2007 6:15:21 PM
Thanks for the input, Laurie... I kinda had this gut feeling that I shouldn't have been posting scores, as I figured there would be some agreed credo of not doing that kind of thing on here. My bad.
I do know now that my previous score wouldn't be enough, anyway, as I wasted another weekend on "Middle Ground" and hopefully came up with something that'll have a chance.
Still... I'd love to know what some of you have come up with so far, so please feel free to email me on what you've got. I'd just like to know if I'm in the ballpark or not.
Posted by: Chris | May 15, 2007 1:12:21 PM
Chris, I will give you some input on entering contests. My general rule is this: If I spend any considerable time (hour or more), I will enter the contest. GAMES doesn't publish the names of the bottom scorers who didn't win prizes, so I don't feel that I risk embarrassment by entering.
I actually thought that I had done poorly on the Wish You Were ... Where? 6 contest, but my entry ended up winning the contest.
I use mostly pencil and paper (or a computer without programming) for the grid contests. I have gotten two second place entries and a tie (5-person) for first place with my grid being published. The non-programmers can compete on the grid contests.
Posted by: Laurie | May 15, 2007 4:48:38 PM
You're right, Laurie... I think it's about time that I started entering my efforts, rather than just compare them to the end results.
For example, I actually figured out the "Mystery Cross" in five minutes, ( luckily, I tried movies right off the bat) but I figured that too many people would get that one, so it would end up being a random draw winner among hundreds of people. Still, I can't win if I don't at least try by entering, right?
On the flip side, contests like "Postal Code" and "Wish You Were Where" totally flummoxed me, so I was truly impressed by your ability to win the WYWW6... well done!
So, my "Middle Ground" entry will hit the mailbox this week... now I just need to hit the post office up for some 2-cent stamps, thanks to yet another rate hike. :)
Posted by: Chris | May 16, 2007 12:17:29 PM
A heads-up: For anyone trying their hand at my Tetris Crisscross in the latest issue of GWOP, the bottom row of pieces somehow got its bottom row of squares duplicated (although sans internal borders, which might have tipped you off, I suppose). (This problem is peculiar to the GWOP version, as it was fine on last year's USPC.) Ignore the bottow row of squares on the bottom row of pieces when solving.
Posted by: Craig K | May 17, 2007 7:38:42 AM
Hi...
I was doing a New York Times crossword puzzle & I noticed that the author was Will Nediger...
Is this the same Will Nediger that created CALCULATING PI & SECOND HELPING OF PI?...
Thanks...
Posted by: Jim from Minnesota | May 19, 2007 6:57:31 AM
The August (!) issue is in the mail with the winning entries in the create-a-Rebus-Cartoon contest, which comprise this month's contest. Happy solving!
Posted by: Jeff R. | May 25, 2007 8:38:49 PM
I have 3 cartoon rebuses still to solve. #5 (movie) #12 Vehicle. Any hints??? What year is the movie from. By vehicle does this mean make and model of a car?
Posted by: J | May 28, 2007 9:48:47 PM
Somebody at the Games online site should really be on top of updating it.
Posted by: Ross | May 29, 2007 1:33:14 PM
Yes - I am often dissappointed with the GAMES website.
Speaking of it - I am having a harder time with the online contest than usual. Despite solving all but one of them so far, I have yet to win a subscription!
Posted by: Paula | May 29, 2007 3:23:18 PM
J...Regarding contests, we're all vying for the Grand Prize, so hints aren't given freely. (Sometimes they're discussed or traded through personal e-mails, but never on this site before the contest deadline.)
When I work on a contest, and it's taken me a long time to solve, or get a good score, I would be very cautious about sharing the details with my competition. But that's me.
Regarding VEHICLE...To be as helpful as I can without giving away any specific info....it could be ANY type of vehicle.
Posted by: Toni | May 29, 2007 9:15:26 PM
j - as for the rebus contest...I am stuck on the TV character #6 and Historicl figure #6. I always get so far on the rebus and get stuck on one or two. Then I put it down and don't get to finish it on time. DRAT!!! Here I go again.
Posted by: flora | May 30, 2007 10:56:11 PM
Flora, there's still plenty of time before the deadline...don't give up!
I'm stuck on two cartoons, but I'll get it at some point. Eventually, something will click and all the clues will fall into place.
So keep at it...and good luck!
Posted by: Toni | May 31, 2007 10:38:52 PM
JmSR, May I make a request? If it isn't too much trouble, or time consuming for you, could you put the dates next to the puzzles/contests, in the "Catagories" column on the right?
I'd like to be able to identify the latest puzzles without having to click on each title to find out when it was posted.
Thanks JmSR...
Posted by: Toni | May 31, 2007 11:16:26 PM
Great, I don't even have the August GAMES yet, but I'm already enlightened by "j" in Springfield and "flora" in Peoria of their advanced progress and particular difficulties with its contest, and also another person's conception of a good score in "Middle Ground". Not that we don't all know that rebus contests will have a thousand perfect entries, but can at least the freshness of contests and the act of solving them not be spoiled by this hive-mind progress-sharing? It's nearly as enjoyment-killing as giving away answers.
I haven't read here in a long time, and this reinforces that policy for me. What's needed on this blog is a PROMINENT warning against spoiling contests and puzzles in the main discussion thread, and spelling this out, so that the same mistakes aren't made over and over again by each newbie. Also, current and recent contests should be listed somewhere near the top or prominently on the side, along with their entry deadlines, so people know when discussion is wide open. Also consider having a separate "progress-sharing" discussion thread to which to relegate that kind of stuff. Same problems, same solutions.
Posted by: Jim Miller | Jun 1, 2007 8:14:12 AM
Jim's right. I've got some work to do on this front. But I will point to this text on the first post on the top of the main page:
Please do not discuss ANY contest information for an existing contest outside of what is printed in the magazine.
Sorry if this space has ruined anyone's fun. BUT DO NOT TALK ABOUT EXISTING CONTESTS...AT ALL. Not even progress. All of that is spoilers that should be left to e-mail. Thanks
Posted by: JmSR | Jun 1, 2007 9:07:25 AM
Agree totally with Jim and JmSR. I thought this got settled a few months ago and that it was generally agreed there would be no announcements about progress on contests in a spoiler-free thread. J's initial post was probably an innocent mistake by someone who stumbled across this website the same way I did, by googling "Games magazine," but the proper response, Toni, would have been "This is not the place to look for hints." Period. Your answer was a huge giveaway. And when you and Flora talk of having only a few cartoons left to solve, it is not just providing support, it conveys enormously useful information about the difficulty of the contest.
Posted by: Jeff | Jun 1, 2007 11:42:54 AM
The first rule of GAMES MAGAZINE contests.
You do not talk about GAMES MAGAZINE contests.
The second rule of GAMES MAGAZINE contests.
You do not talk about GAMES MAGAZINE contests.
:)
-n[8]
Posted by: Auburnate | Jun 1, 2007 3:24:27 PM
Jeff, it was not my intention to give away any hints, only to be supportive.
I apologize to you and to anyone else who thought otherwise.
Posted by: Toni | Jun 1, 2007 7:13:13 PM
I think that it's important not to be too harsh toward new posters that may not understand the rules of posting. The rules were not strictly followed for past contests, so it may not be clear to those who aren't regulars. We had some past regulars who no longer are posting to this forum. It would be good to get some new people to this site.
I think that some people may have found this site by googling "Cartoon Rebuses". If you do google "Cartoon Rebuses", you will get an interesting result.
Posted by: Laurie | Jun 1, 2007 8:41:34 PM
I apologize for not having things as clearly labeled as they should be. This is my fault and I am sorry. I will improve the site's labelling as best I can with the software that I have.
I also do not want people to feel as if they are being piled on. We have had a lot of discussion of this and a lot of people have left because we either 1) curtailed their speech or 2) spoiled their fun. I feel bad about both things -- and I will make an effort to improve that.
Again, I'm sorry for the things I haven't been able to get to on the site. I try to practice minimal moderation and I'm sorry if in this instance anyone feels like 1) or 2) above. I hope that we can resume discussion of completed contests and games in general.
Posted by: JmSR | Jun 1, 2007 11:12:18 PM
The "Middle Ground" contest is now over. My final score was 4223.
Posted by: Laurie | Jun 2, 2007 1:36:09 PM
I got 4223 too.
Posted by: Wendy | Jun 2, 2007 2:43:23 PM
I got 4230.
Posted by: Wimsey | Jun 2, 2007 4:52:38 PM
My best grid had 11 letters in the greenish/yellow ring and 29 letters in the white center, with only the minimal 11 crossings. I don't know if 4230 is the best score but I doubt it's possible to get above 4241. 4241 would have only 10 letters in the greenish ring and 13 crossings. A grid beating that would be incredibly dense. I'm curious what others came up with though...
Posted by: Wimsey | Jun 3, 2007 4:12:01 PM
I wrote a program for this one too -- really just modified a program I already had. Even though it was a much easier problem than the previous grid ones, I did not tinker enough to get an exhaustive search done. So the best my program found was 4212, the humans win ! :)
-Mark
Posted by: Mark Mammel | Jun 3, 2007 8:11:00 PM
Mark, would you mind sharing your source code with me?
Posted by: Auburnate | Jun 4, 2007 7:57:55 AM
Wimsey, would you post your grid for the "Middle Ground" contest? You could substitute Q's or Z's for the blanks.
Posted by: Laurie | Jun 4, 2007 3:17:59 PM
......F............T...
TWO...O.....W...
......U...N.I.NE....
TH.RE.E.......L...
.........L...F.I.V.E
SEV.EN.......E...
I.......V...............
X......E.I.GHT....
...T.EN..............
Posted by: Wimsey | Jun 4, 2007 7:02:40 PM
That didn't really format as it did on the preview comment , but you can sketch it out.
Whats everyone sitting on their scores for? Aren't there supposed to be hundreds of perfect scores? I'm really curious what the optimal grid is.
Posted by: Wimsey | Jun 4, 2007 7:09:15 PM
That didn't really format as it did on the preview comment , but you can sketch it out.
Whats everyone sitting on their scores for? Aren't there supposed to be hundreds of perfect scores? I'm really curious what the optimal grid is.
Posted by: Wimsey | Jun 4, 2007 7:10:56 PM
Auburnate: sure.
Wimsey: Looks like your grid is optimal. I fixed up my program, found your grid and a slight variant, nothing better. Nice work, I don't think there will be hundreds of matching entries :)
Posted by: Mark Mammel | Jun 4, 2007 9:58:17 PM
I have solved ALL of the rebuses in the current contest. Yay! This is a first for me.
Posted by: Mary Rose | Jun 5, 2007 10:40:18 AM
As my supervisor once told me...
"There's no cure for stupid."
Posted by: regular | Jun 5, 2007 12:08:18 PM
Mary Rose:
Please keep ALL comments about currently active contests, including progress, to yourself or e-mail.
Thanks,
The Mngmnt
Posted by: JmSR | Jun 5, 2007 2:54:34 PM
Wimsey...looks like your score of 4241 may hold up as tops! It will be interesting to know if there were others with that score....or more, if that's possible.
I had 4223 as my best score.
Good Luck, Wimsey!
Posted by: Toni | Jun 6, 2007 7:36:03 PM
Wimsey...looks like your score of 4241 may hold up as tops! It will be interesting to know if there were others with that score....or more, if that's possible.
I had 4223 as my best score.
Good Luck, Wimsey!
Posted by: Toni | Jun 6, 2007 7:36:15 PM
I am looking to complete the "Around the World in 80 Puzzles" series.
Due to a lapse in my subscription, I am missing the issues between December and June. (I have those two).
Would someone be kind enough to email me scans of the puzzles between? I'd really like to attempt the entire series.
Posted by: Paula | Jun 7, 2007 8:40:26 AM
Is there anywhere I can find old contest results?
Due to unreliable delivery, I never received my issues with the results of the ROI and Millionaire III contests. (I know, they were quite a while back.) Is there anywhere I can find the winning entries/answers, or could someone post them for me?
Thanks!
Posted by: Rusty | Jun 7, 2007 2:36:28 PM
The Millionaire III (November 2002) winning word was "Rubify" worth 41,200. 651 of 1036 entries had that word.
The ROI Part 1 (February 2003) winning word was HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUAAS (no kidding) worth 2420. 573 of 844 entries had that word.
The ROI Part 2 winning words were JAZZY, SYZYGY, and JAZZBOW. 541 of 798 entries has those words.
Posted by: Laurie | Jun 7, 2007 5:10:11 PM
Thanks Laurie!
I entered both of those contests and it had been driving me nuts ever since that I never found out what the winning answers were.
Posted by: Rusty | Jun 7, 2007 5:59:18 PM
I´m stuck on the GAMES online contest #12 (Mystery Cross). Would anyone be willing to email me a hint (the category, perhaps, or whatever else)? Thanks!
Posted by: Pedro | Jun 10, 2007 3:06:10 PM
Everyone here competes for the prizes, Pedro, so this is not the place to look for hints.
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