Thread - Nikoli Selection - LMI October Puzzle Test 1

Posts: 152

Country : United Kingdom

detuned posted @ 2010-10-06 2:40 PM

rakesh_rai - 2010-10-05 2:13 PM
For Numberlink, does every cell need to be filled? The rules currently do not say so, but it seems to be implied (indirectly) as the answer key has no mention of blank cells.

There is no requirement that all cells need to be used for numberlink, and there are plenty of examples where all squares haven't been used, however I'd say it's pretty likely that all the cells will be used in the answer keys at least, given that oversight. If you read MellowMelon's primer, you can decide for yourself whether this extra information will be of any practical use. :)

The "marathon puzzles" are big enough to sensibly fill an A4 page, without being too small. Motris is right in assuming they are big, but not THAT big.

@ 2010-10-07 8:30 PM (#2081 - in reply to #2068) (#2081) Top

Country : India

Administrator posted @ 2010-10-07 8:30 PM

rakesh_rai - 2010-10-06 9:25 AM
No partial bonus this time?

After discussing with Tom, this is what we decided.
Keeping in mind that WPC is only few weeks away where you *mostly* get 0 for a wrong answer, there is no partial bonus this time.
Also the bonus system is already fairly complex with the marathon puzzles.

@ 2010-10-08 12:01 PM (#2082 - in reply to #2014) (#2082) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2010-10-08 12:01 PM

Announcements

1. For HEYAWAKE in main section -
The answer key will be different that what it is specified in the IB

New Answer key: Enter the number of shaded cells in the 3th row, followed by the number of shaded cells in the 3rd column.

For the example the answer is 0,2

2. For HEYAWAKE in marathon section
The answer key is same as what it was mentioned in the IB. Enter the number of shaded cells in the marked rooms.

3. For Kakuro (both main and marathon section)
Instead of rows / columns, some sums will be marked. Players need to enter the digits for them.

Answer Key : Digits in marked horizontal sum 11, followed by digits in marked vertical Sum 24
For the example posted above : The answer is 5132, 798

@ 2010-10-08 12:58 PM (#2085 - in reply to #2014) (#2085) Top

Country : India

Administrator posted @ 2010-10-08 12:58 PM

The puzzle booklet will be uploaded around mid-night (IST).

For all puzzles where rows and columns are to be entered - they will be explicitly marked in the puzzle booklet by arrows.

The puzzles in the booklet will be sorted in ascending order of points.
P01 - Numberlink
P02 - Hashi
P03 - Sudoku
P04 - Surarumo
P05 - Akari
P06 - Masyu
P07 - Fillomino
P08 - Hitori
P09 - Slitherlink
P10 - Shikaku
P11 - Yajilin
P12 - Nurikabe
P13 - Kakuro
P14 - Yajilin
P15 - Heyawake
P16 - LITS
P17 - Nurikabe
P18 - Slitherlink

@ 2010-10-09 12:56 AM (#2089 - in reply to #2014) (#2089) Top

Country : India

Administrator posted @ 2010-10-09 12:56 AM

Password protected pdfs uploaded.
Note that the marathon puzzles are in a separate pdf.
~~Both the pds share the same password (which obviously will be displayed after you start the test)~~

Password for marathon pdf is different than main puzzle pdf. Both passwords will be displayed after you start the test

edited by debmohanty at 2010-10-09 6:20 PM

@ 2010-10-09 4:08 AM (#2090 - in reply to #2089) (#2090) Top

Posts: 152

Country : United Kingdom

detuned posted @ 2010-10-09 4:08 AM

At this point, I'd just like to thank all the help and support I got from Deb and testers - absolutely top stuff guys and this wouldn't have happened without you!

@ 2010-10-09 6:25 AM (#2091 - in reply to #2014) (#2091) Top

Country : India

Administrator posted @ 2010-10-09 6:25 AM

"Nikoli Selection" has started. All the best to everyone.

@ 2010-10-09 3:24 PM (#2093 - in reply to #2091) (#2093) Top

amitsowani

Posts: 349

Country : India

amitsowani posted @ 2010-10-09 3:24 PM

We would like to apologize for mistakes in some of the puzzles.
1) The LITS image in the pdf is incorrect. We have uploaded an updated pdf. So all participants who are yet to participate please download the updated version.
2) The Nurikabe 10X10 puzzle is incorrect.
3) The Numberlinks puzzle has multiple solutions.
4) The Heyawake marathon puzzle is incorrect.

Extremely sorry for participants have already taken the test. I am sure you must have had a great time solving the rest of the puzzles. Hope it will serve as great practice for the WPC.

Password for marathon pdf is different than main puzzle pdf. Both passwords will be displayed after you start the test

@ 2010-10-09 3:40 PM (#2094 - in reply to #2093) (#2094) Top

amitsowani

Posts: 349

Country : India

amitsowani posted @ 2010-10-09 3:40 PM

Meanwhile we have also double checked all the other puzzles.
So all participants can proceed confidently with the puzzles without having to worry about inaccuracy or non uniqueness.

@ 2010-10-09 3:47 PM (#2095 - in reply to #2093) (#2095) Top

rakesh_rai

Posts: 774

Country : India

rakesh_rai posted @ 2010-10-09 3:47 PM

amitsowani - 2010-10-09 3:24 PM

1) The LITS image in the pdf is incorrect. We have uploaded an updated pdf. So all participants who are yet to participate please download the updated version.
2) The Nurikabe 10X10 puzzle is incorrect.
3) The Numberlinks puzzle has multiple solutions.

I am yet to take the test. It seems the updated pdf will have correct grid for LITS. As regard Nurikabe and Numberlinks - how are the points going to be awarded for these puzzles?

@ 2010-10-09 4:07 PM (#2096 - in reply to #2014) (#2096) Top

StGeorge

Posts: 11

Country : Bulgaria

StGeorge posted @ 2010-10-09 4:07 PM

Frankly, I am a bit disappointed by the mistakes, as I wasted some time trying to fix the nurikabe and the LITS is a lot of points, but then again it's not like I was going to win anything anyway. I'll just solve the corrected versions and when I see my low score I'll have an excuse :P Still, I hope the people responsible take something out of this and be more careful next time :)

I haven't even started the marathon puzzles. Judging by Tom's post yesterday, I'm in for a treat :)

@ 2010-10-09 4:18 PM (#2097 - in reply to #2096) (#2097) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2010-10-09 4:18 PM

StGeorge - 2010-10-09 4:07 PM

Frankly, I am a bit disappointed by the mistakes, as I wasted some time trying to fix the nurikabe and the LITS is a lot of points, but then again it's not like I was going to win anything anyway. I'll just solve the corrected versions and when I see my low score I'll have an excuse :P Still, I hope the people responsible take something out of this and be more careful next time :)

We understand yours frustration about spending time on those two puzzles.
After the announcement, we hope that players who are yet to play will enjoy remaining puzzles.

@ 2010-10-09 4:33 PM (#2098 - in reply to #2093) (#2098) Top

Posts: 152

Country : United Kingdom

detuned posted @ 2010-10-09 4:33 PM

I will take the blame here for this disaster - just not good enough I'm afraid.

We are currently discussing what to do. I have proposed the following:

-the nurikabe and numberlink are broken beyond repair and ought to be removed from the test (bringing the total score for the first section down to 920). Participants who have already finished the test should be compensated for the wasted time.

-the LITS is fixable. What will happen here is either the same as for the numberlink and the nurikabe - or else a new PB will be uploaded, and all earlier participants will be awarded the full points.

Once again, my sincerest apologies

@ 2010-10-09 5:30 PM (#2099 - in reply to #2014) (#2099) Top

yureklis

Posts: 183

Country : Turkey

yureklis posted @ 2010-10-09 5:30 PM

I opened the first file but I have trouble with opening the marathon file. I downloaded it again but it does not accept the password (which was said to be common for both files). Is there something that I am missing?

@ 2010-10-09 5:34 PM (#2100 - in reply to #2099) (#2100) Top

Country : India

Administrator posted @ 2010-10-09 5:34 PM

yureklis - 2010-10-09 5:30 PM

I opened the first file but I have trouble with opening the marathon file. I downloaded it again but it does not accept the password (which was said to be common for both files). Is there something that I am missing?

Sent you password for marathon. check your forum inbox

@ 2010-10-09 5:43 PM (#2101 - in reply to #2099) (#2101) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2010-10-09 5:43 PM

Both the files have 2 different passwords now. Both passwords are displayed in the submission page after you start the test.

@ 2010-10-09 6:03 PM (#2102 - in reply to #2101) (#2102) Top

amitsowani

Posts: 349

Country : India

amitsowani posted @ 2010-10-09 6:03 PM

Reposting to make sure that everyone has read this post:

1) The LITS image in the pdf is incorrect. We have uploaded an updated pdf. So all participants who are yet to participate please download the updated version.
2) The Nurikabe 10X10 puzzle is incorrect.
3) The Numberlinks puzzle has multiple solutions.
4) The Heyawake marathon puzzle is incorrect.

Password for marathon pdf is different than main puzzle pdf. Both passwords will be displayed after you start the test

@ 2010-10-09 9:38 PM (#2108 - in reply to #2014) (#2108) Top

Akuma21

Posts: 22

Country : ITALY

Akuma21 posted @ 2010-10-09 9:38 PM

A good set of puzzle, i like it! I have done only a stupid error in hashi'answer key; i have entered the number of all double bridges.
Good luck to everyone!

@ 2010-10-09 11:15 PM (#2109 - in reply to #2014) (#2109) Top

Deyan

Posts: 7

Country : Bulgaria

Deyan posted @ 2010-10-09 11:15 PM

I had the bad luck to solve the wrong PDF.

This is what I found:
#1 Numberlink - multiple solutions
When I realized it, I just found a solution that is using all cells and got points
#5 Akari - 4 solutions
For luck, all solutions have the same answer, so no problems with it
#12 Nurikabe - wrong image
I spent a lot of time on it. After time limit I solved the bigger Nurikabe for about 1/3 of the time I spent on this.
Actually, it's very easily fixable: just change '4' to '3' at R5C10
#16 LITS
I also spent some time until found it's wrong (one small line, but a big difference)

@ 2010-10-09 11:53 PM (#2110 - in reply to #2109) (#2110) Top

Posts: 152

Country : United Kingdom

detuned posted @ 2010-10-09 11:53 PM

For anyone wondering what the big heyawake should have looked like:

Puzzle: http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~marear/36x20_heyawake.png
(and solution: http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~marear/36x20_heyawake_solution.png)

Please accept this as something of an apology :)

@ 2010-10-10 1:06 AM (#2111 - in reply to #2109) (#2111) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2010-10-10 1:06 AM

Deyan - 2010-10-09 11:15 PM

I had the bad luck to solve the wrong PDF.
#5 Akari - 4 solutions
For luck, all solutions have the same answer, so no problems with it

Sorry again about the problems.
#5 Akari has one solution. Please check your email.

@ 2010-10-10 1:57 AM (#2112 - in reply to #2111) (#2112) Top

Deyan

Posts: 7

Country : Bulgaria

Deyan posted @ 2010-10-10 1:57 AM

debmohanty - 2010-10-09 9:06 PM

Deyan - 2010-10-09 11:15 PM

I had the bad luck to solve the wrong PDF.
#5 Akari - 4 solutions
For luck, all solutions have the same answer, so no problems with it

Sorry again about the problems.
#5 Akari has one solution. Please check your email.

Oops

You are right. I should change my notation for this puzzle.

@ 2010-10-10 4:36 AM (#2113 - in reply to #2014) (#2113) Top

StGeorge

Posts: 11

Country : Bulgaria

StGeorge posted @ 2010-10-10 4:36 AM

The heyawake marathon was wrong? I didn't notice. It did take me quite a while to solve it - about 75 minutes - but I didn't see any mistakes. I'm sure I can easily be missing something and the correct version that Tom posted looks quite a bit different. Can someone tell me what the mistake is? Or is it that the one in the booklet is still a valid heyawake, just not the one that was intended? That would be a weird happenstance :)

@ 2010-10-10 5:37 AM (#2114 - in reply to #2113) (#2114) Top