Thread - Twist - LMI April'11 Puzzle Test on 9th/10th

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2011-04-06 7:03 AM

Note about Hitori Sum Answer key

This is only puzzle where answer is 'by column'. This is not easy to remember while entering the solution under time-limit.
So I decided to mark all the columns as shown below.

There is no change in rules or answer key definition.

@ 2011-04-06 2:46 PM (#3939 - in reply to #3910) (#3939) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2011-04-06 2:46 PM

Just to make sure that everyone understands the point reduction formula, here is an example.
Basically, 'how much you get for a particular puzzle' depends upon 'when you submitted it'. Nothing else.

@ 2011-04-08 9:52 AM (#3947 - in reply to #3910) (#3947) Top

Posts: 187

Country : New Zealand

kiwijam posted @ 2011-04-08 9:52 AM

In the answer for the Minesweeper puzzle, there is a mine next to the 4 (left end of second row) that has 3 mines around it. Is this allowed?

@ 2011-04-08 10:12 AM (#3949 - in reply to #3947) (#3949) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2011-04-08 10:12 AM

You are referring to R2C1. Yes, that is allowed.

The following situation is NOT allowed because of R2C3.

Cells with numbers will have exactly same number of mines around them.
Cells with mines may have any number of mines around them

Cells without numbers and mines can NOT have 3 mines around them. [This is the only rule change wrt a standard Minesweeper puzzle ]

@ 2011-04-08 10:17 AM (#3950 - in reply to #3910) (#3950) Top

Posts: 187

Country : New Zealand

kiwijam posted @ 2011-04-08 10:17 AM

Ah thank you. I thought it meant:
(Cells without numbers) and mines can NOT have 3 mines around them
instead of:
Cells without (numbers and mines) can NOT have 3 mines around them

Looking forward to trying these twists. The hitori sum is my favourite new idea, normally the numbers just get ignored.

@ 2011-04-08 10:24 AM (#3951 - in reply to #3950) (#3951) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2011-04-08 10:24 AM

During IB review itself, we found that the wording is little cryptic. So I included the example such that all the scenarios are reflected.

Hope it is clear to all.

@ 2011-04-08 9:44 PM (#3952 - in reply to #3950) (#3952) Top

brianklimek

Posts: 14

Country : United States

brianklimek posted @ 2011-04-08 9:44 PM

Ah, glad this was addressed, I just logged on to check on the same thing, and I had misinterpretted the instructions the same way. Thanks.
I look forward to this one. Thanks again to the organizers and creators!

@ 2011-04-08 10:29 PM (#3953 - in reply to #3910) (#3953) Top

Administrator

Country : India

Administrator posted @ 2011-04-08 10:29 PM

Puzzle Booklet uploaded. It has 12 pages, each page has 2 puzzles (and instructions and solution to the example) of one particular type.
There is no cover page.

@ 2011-04-09 5:33 AM (#3954 - in reply to #3910) (#3954) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2011-04-09 5:33 AM

Twist has started.
Good luck everyone!

@ 2011-04-09 10:45 AM (#3955 - in reply to #3954) (#3955) Top

motris

Posts: 199

Country : United States

motris posted @ 2011-04-09 10:45 AM

Wow! Phenomenal test with a nice balance of difficulties and many fun puzzles on both ends of the spectrum. The twists were very interesting, and you even managed to make Hitori fun! You don't know how much that means to me. Thanks a lot Deb.

@ 2011-04-09 10:50 AM (#3956 - in reply to #3910) (#3956) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2011-04-09 10:50 AM

The score page doesn't show the bonus properly. Will be uploading fixed score page in few minutes

@ 2011-04-09 11:00 AM (#3957 - in reply to #3956) (#3957) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2011-04-09 11:00 AM

debmohanty - 2011-04-09 10:50 AM

The score page doesn't show the bonus properly. Will be uploading fixed score page in few minutes

Bonus should show up properly now - here is the link to score page - http://logicmastersindia.com/M201104P/score.asp - which you can view after you complete the test.

A twisted view of the score page available here - http://logicmastersindia.com/M201104P/score.asp?view=twist

@ 2011-04-09 11:40 AM (#3958 - in reply to #3955) (#3958) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2011-04-09 11:40 AM

motris - 2011-04-09 10:45 AM

Wow! Phenomenal test with a nice balance of difficulties and many fun puzzles on both ends of the spectrum. The twists were very interesting, and you even managed to make Hitori fun! You don't know how much that means to me. Thanks a lot Deb.

Thanks a lot for the feedback.
Yes, Hitori is a type that is not liked by all. I'm glad that the 2 Hitoris came out well and you liked them.

@ 2011-04-09 1:24 PM (#3961 - in reply to #3910) (#3961) Top

Para

Posts: 315

Country : The Netherlands

Para posted @ 2011-04-09 1:24 PM

Thanks for the test. I had fun. My favourite was the ABC twist, really good puzzles both. And I managed to avoid making any entry errors, although I did take a very cautious approach entering my answer keys this time, probably cost me some time as I doublechecked what I had put in each time.

@ 2011-04-09 1:26 PM (#3962 - in reply to #3939) (#3962) Top

Posts: 136

Country : India

anurag posted @ 2011-04-09 1:26 PM

thats a nice clarification.before looking at this post,i was surprised about the reduction as i thought it was calculated on the total score.This logic i think should be posted on the contest page too,to ensure no one is in doubt.

@ 2011-04-09 1:38 PM (#3963 - in reply to #3962) (#3963) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2011-04-09 1:38 PM

anurag - 2011-04-09 1:26 PM

thats a nice clarification.before looking at this post,i was surprised about the reduction as i thought it was calculated on the total score.This logic i think should be posted on the contest page too,to ensure no one is in doubt.

We've experimented with many bonus systems, not all of them are flawless - but we'll never have a bonus system where players need calculators (more than pencil and eraser) before submitting a puzzle.

@ 2011-04-09 1:46 PM (#3964 - in reply to #3963) (#3964) Top

Posts: 136

Country : India

anurag posted @ 2011-04-09 1:46 PM

that sounded funny.i didnt say the contestants would start calculating.in fact i liked this penalty(bonus)system:) Good and simple one.
To make it better,why not increase the number of intervals and make it 6 ,of 5 mins each.That can probably sharpen the evaluation.

@ 2011-04-09 1:54 PM (#3965 - in reply to #3964) (#3965) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2011-04-09 1:54 PM

anurag - 2011-04-09 1:46 PM

that sounded funny.i didnt say the contestants would start calculating.in fact i liked this penalty(bonus)system:) Good and simple one.
To make it better,why not increase the number of intervals and make it 6 ,of 5 mins each.That can probably sharpen the evaluation.

Changing the interval to 5 minutes is an option. But it might become too stressful for players in last 30 minutes.
As the poll options indicate, we definitely can make adjustments to this system in future.

@ 2011-04-09 2:17 PM (#3966 - in reply to #3965) (#3966) Top

rakesh_rai

Posts: 774

Country : India

rakesh_rai posted @ 2011-04-09 2:17 PM

Nice twists. I liked L&M&I, Lights and Hitori Sum the most.

@ 2011-04-09 2:36 PM (#3967 - in reply to #3910) (#3967) Top

Posts: 136

Country : India

anurag posted @ 2011-04-09 2:36 PM

a question off the topic..I want to know if the preliminary online is all we need to give(as it used to be every year) ,or the regional rounds are required too?

@ 2011-04-09 5:25 PM (#3968 - in reply to #3910) (#3968) Top

Posts: 136

Country : India

anurag posted @ 2011-04-09 5:25 PM

Odd skyscraper: Some evens inside look like valid skyscrapers .The 2,4 in the third row can be valid and satsify the outside '3' at the same time.Is that a problem with the example? or will that hold for the test puzzle too?

Edited by anurag 2011-04-09 5:30 PM

@ 2011-04-09 6:10 PM (#3969 - in reply to #3968) (#3969) Top

Country : India

debmohanty posted @ 2011-04-09 6:10 PM

anurag - 2011-04-09 5:25 PM

Odd skyscraper: Some evens inside look like valid skyscrapers .The 2,4 in the third row can be valid and satsify the outside '3' at the same time.Is that a problem with the example? or will that hold for the test puzzle too?

I think the rule and the example match perfectly.

@ 2011-04-10 10:40 AM (#3970 - in reply to #3910) (#3970) Top

Posts: 187

Country : New Zealand

kiwijam posted @ 2011-04-10 10:40 AM

I don't understand why people like the reducing points. It's quirky and fun, but does it make the contest better?
As a middle-of-the-field solver, it doesn't change my strategy at all - I've always started with the puzzles that get me the fastest points, and leave the hard/slow ones for last. I assumed most people did this (unless they're intending to just do all the puzzles!).
If we scored this test normally, then wouldn't the rankings be almost exactly the same order anyway? e.g. we're all penalized a similar percentage of our total score in the end, except the fastest solvers who get an increased lead now.

@ 2011-04-10 10:41 AM (#3971 - in reply to #3910) (#3971) Top