Received: from ARDEC-LCSS.ARPA.ARPA (TCP 30003004013) by AI.AI.MIT.EDU 24 Dec 86 11:41:58 EST Date: 24 Dec 86 11:38:00 EST From: "CLSTR1::BECK" Subject: magic review article To: "cube-lovers" Reply-To: "CLSTR1::BECK" I have written a review of MAGIC for the "World Game Review", edited and published by Michael Keller, 3367-I north Chatam Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043, $8 for 4 issues. It as you can tell is based on the CUBE-LOVERS list dialog. If anybody would like to comment or make recomMend any additions or deletions please forward your suggestions to me ,. A REVIEW OF RUBIK'S MAGIC BY Peter Beck, Dec 24, 1986 The Hungarian Government two years ago approved Rubik's plans for a private business, Rubik Studio, to develop designs for what Mr. Rubik hopes will be a wide range of items including puzzles. Rubik's Magic is its first commercial venture. It is being manufactured and marketed by Matchbox and is generally available at prices ranging from $9-$15, $7 on sale. Matchbox's deal with Rubik was based on a three-to-five year plan that includes the development and marketing of more advanced versions of Magic. Like the cube, MAGIC is good for playing with and relieving the fidgets. It is palm-sized and made up of eight 2"x1/4" squares ,of impact-resistant transparent plastic, folding up into a 1"x2"x4" block which easily fits into a shirt or jacket pocket. Unlike the cube it can be maneuvered into a plethora of different geometrical shapes which makes it more fun and pleasureful to manipulate than the cube. Any of the various geometrical variations look good on the coffee table and your guests can make magical discoveries as they play with it. The object of the puzzle is to manipulate the squares from their original pattern (henceforth known as pattern #1) to pattern #2. In pattern #1 the squares form two equal rows (i.e., 2x4 arrangement) and spread across one side is a depiction of three unconnected rainbow-colored rings printed on a black background. By folding, flipping, flopping and flapping the squares, which are linked by an ingenious hinge, we arrive at pattern #2 which is three intersecting rings on the reverse side. Even though Magic has many interesting 3-dimensional geometric shapes, e.g., cube, A-frame house, 1x2 box with lid, both named patterns occur when the puzzle is in its planar or flat state. To go from pattern #1 to #2 there are two operators necessary in the 2x4 arrangement to position the squares for the operator that transforms the puzzle into the 3x3 minus a corner arrangement that displays the three intersecting rings pattern. When the puzzle is in the 2x4 arrangement with pattern #1 correct, the squares can be rearranged by either folding it on the long axis to make a loop which can be rotated or by flipping the 2 ends towards the center and then by un-flipping the puzzle on the opposite side in a perpendicular direction to the flipping. In order to display the solved puzzle it is now necessary to flip and flap and flop the puzzle (6 moves) into the 3x3 minus a corner arrangement. It should be noted that it is possible to be in a 2x4 arrangement where you cannot get to pattern #1 with only the two 2x4 operators of above. You will either need to use the operator that changes the puzzle to the 3x3 or develop another operator. For those of you who would like to take it apart and then put it back together here are some hints. Tools required: a paper clip. Each loop of string is twisted around three squares in a path like this: ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- |/ \ | / \ | / \ | | / \ |/ \ | / \ | |\ \ | / /|\ \ | or | / /|\ \ | / /| | \ \|/ / | \ \| |/ / | \ \|/ / | | \ /|\ / | \ /| |\ / | \ /|\ / | ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- 16 loops of string (actually nylon fishline) are used to make the hinges that hold the squares together. The loops of string are all the same length.and are not tangled in any way. For each string, there is another string that lies in the same channels. When stringing a loop through the channels, there is a choice at the points where the string passes from one square to the next: Which string is closer to the center of the square? That question is answered differently for the two strings running throught the same channels. Strings don't lie in crossing channels on the same side of a square. (That describes how the two pairs of loops go on the same triple and how two triples interact on their common end square.) Now that you have decomposed the puzzle into its component parts why don't you customize it before reassembly. (The squares each decompose into two clear plastic covers and a piece of paper with the design printed on it which are held together by the strings and not glue.). So what about some original designs, maybe even Penrose tiling? How about adding additional squares? For the more mathematically inclined it has been noted that the sameness of the string length is what restricts the arrangements of the squares. Can you prove that the Donut, 3x3 with center missing, is impossible? Can you invent a nomenclature and metric for counting moves? The future exists, first in the imagination, then in the will and fianlly in reality. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The above was written with the passive participation of with CUBE-LOVERS computer bulletin board at MIT; MILNET ADDRESS . Thanks to all who participated in the MAGIC dialog to date. ------