Calcudoku puzzle forum
https://www.calcudoku.org/forum/

how is the 15x15?
https://www.calcudoku.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=589
Page 1 of 6

Author:  pnm  [ Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:37 pm ]
Post subject:  how is the 15x15?

How do people like Saturday's 15x15 puzzle?
(in general, not any particular puzzle)

Is it too easy / hard / boring / interesting?

Or maybe just right? [blink]

Patrick

Author:  frederick  [ Tue Apr 29, 2014 8:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: how is the 15x15?

Due to travels, etc., I am a bit behind, just completed the March 29th 15. Perhaps I shall skip to the puzzle you mention. Looking forward to hearing from those who are up-to-date.

Author:  pnm  [ Tue Apr 29, 2014 9:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: how is the 15x15?

opacitaviola wrote:
Due to travels, etc., I am a bit behind, just completed the March 29th 15. Perhaps I shall skip to the puzzle you mention. Looking forward to hearing from those who are up-to-date.

Sorry, I should have been more clear, I meant the 15x15 in general
(just edited my first message to reflect this)

Patrick

Author:  pnm  [ Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: how is the 15x15?

It looks like there's no opinion on the 15x15 (!)

I was asking because it's the main bottleneck when generating puzzles for
the new month (I tend to do this once a month, so I can implement changes
once a month), so I was looking at ways to improve/speed up the creation
of the 15x15 puzzles.

So if nobody's interested, I can probably just remove it [blink]

Author:  sjs34  [ Wed Apr 30, 2014 1:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: how is the 15x15?

I like the 15x15 but they do tend to be the longest to solve. I would not want them to disappear. If there is some other type that is also very good and unusual, perhaps they could appear on alternate Saturdays.

Author:  bram  [ Fri May 02, 2014 1:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: how is the 15x15?

I think the 15x15 is an interesting puzzle and that the level of difficulty is just right for a puzzle of that dimension. With the numbers 14 and 15 in the mix, some numbers in multiplication cages can be factorized in more ways, meaning that you can't rely on assumptions you were used to making from solving 12x12s or lower. And that's a good thing because it's generally stimulating to be forced to leave established patterns of analysis or computation.

That being said, the 15x15 also means that most addicts/extra-puzzle completists* will use some hours more per week than we would otherwise do, which isn't good if we're trying to cut back on the puzzling to accomplish things IRL. Maybe that's why we're mostly silent on this topic: The 15x15 is a great puzzle per se, but the hours and effort used solving it would come in handy for RL purposes. But while (subconsciously) we don't really object to it being removed, we just don't like to admit it </pscyhoanalysis session> [rolleyes]

*(clicking on "All Time" reveals who of us were hooked from the day subscription/extra puzzles were introduced [blush])

Author:  pnm  [ Fri May 02, 2014 1:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: how is the 15x15?

My dad keeps complaining it's only 8 points [glare]

Author:  clm  [ Fri May 02, 2014 9:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: how is the 15x15?

pnm wrote:
My dad keeps complaining it's only 8 points [glare]


It's true that 8 points as compared with the 16 points of the 12x12's or the 14 points of the friday's 10x10 (relatively easy and fast to solve) looks a low prize, however it's a nice puzzle and being an "extra" puzzle, that is, having the subscribers 30 days for the solution ... I would not remove it, I would suggest, perhaps, the half, i.e., every other saturday, alternating with any other new and difficult type on saturdays (suggest a 9x9 from -4 to 4, a no-op 7x7), etc..

Author:  pnm  [ Fri May 02, 2014 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: how is the 15x15?

clm wrote:
alternating with any other new and difficult type on saturdays (suggest a 9x9 from -4 to 4, a no-op 7x7), etc..

I like the idea of a larger no-op, maybe a 10x10 ... [scared]

Author:  bram  [ Fri May 02, 2014 9:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: how is the 15x15?

sjs34 wrote:
I like the 15x15 but they do tend to be the longest to solve. I would not want them to disappear. If there is some other type that is also very good and unusual, perhaps they could appear on alternate Saturdays.
clm wrote:
I would suggest, perhaps, the half, i.e., every other saturday, alternating with any other new and difficult type on saturdays (suggest a 9x9 from -4 to 4, a no-op 7x7), etc..
Actually, that makes a lot of sense. I agree (and needn't have written my own wordy post in the first place, had I just paid closer attention to sjs34's post, which appeared before mine) [blush]
pnm wrote:
I like the idea of a larger no-op, maybe a 10x10 ... [scared]
Oh well, I shouldn't raise my hopes too high about getting back a few hours IRL, then :-)

Page 1 of 6 All times are UTC + 1 hour [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/