Mersenne Prime Number discovery: (2 to the 74,207,281)-1 is Prime!

http://www.mersenne.org/primes/?press=M74207281  Read all about it. The actual number has  22,338,618 digits.

Loop 101 (Free) - puzzle app game for ipad, iphone

SANG MOON JOO has recently published a slew of interesting puzzle app games.  Loop 101 (Free) is the latest.  The objective is to fill the board completely with loops. Think of a snake eating its tail.


Look at the image above.  See the red circle? Its loop must pass over the red square. It will then have to go around the blue circle.


See the orange circle? It can't form a loop because purple is in the way.


Oh yes, there are wormholes - and that's when things get more interesting.


I did all the 'easy' & 'normal' levels in about 45 minutes. I have not downloaded the paid version.


A more interesting game, that's very similar is Patchmania.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/loop-101-free/id1068141648?mt=8


Sang Moon Joo's other games
Maze 11
Number Escape
N16
4 Way Puzzle

Side by Side (Game): puzzle app for ipad, iphone

 

Guenther Rosenbaum recently contacted me about his puzzle app game Side by Side (Game).
The object is to fill the grid with numbers or X's so that all the numbers form one big cluster - connected either vertically or horizontally.


No two adjacent numbers can be identical.


Each number indicates how many adjacent numbers are next to it.


Grid sizes go from 6x6 to 15x15.


I've done about 10 levels at the 6x6 & 7x7 levels.  It is obvious to me that this game is a Labor of Love for Guenther. He's taken his time to get everything right. Everything. 


If you're still playing Sudoku, take a break and try this game.


https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/side-by-side-game/id990437059?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
http://www.rosenbaum-games.de/sw/sidebyside/index.htm

Jhulo - free puzzle app game for iphone, ipad

 

Seema Datar recently contacted me about her latest game Jhulo.  The object is to tap each circle to swing back and forth on its arc while avoiding collisions.

 

At the moment I've done the first 22 out of 100 levels.  I know exactly how to solve level 23, but getting the exact timing down is difficult. Jhulo is fun and it's free!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jhulo/id1069277612?mt=8

Seema's other game Zeroed Out

Similar to Jhulo: Hyspherical 2

RotoDots: free puzle app for iphone, ipad

RotoDots is a dexterity puzzle app.  The black line rotates and you must tap the screen when it passes over the pink dot.  When that happens, the big central circle changes colors and then you have to stop the dial on whatever color matches it.

This game is way too hard for me.  It's a great concept, but the speed is too fast.

This game definitely gets its inspiration from Pop the Lock, which is simple but brilliant.  Winter Color Spin is another variation. Links below.

RotoDots is free.

Pop the Lock
Winter Color Spin
https://itunes.apple.com/ua/app/rotodots/id1069428748?mt=8

New York Puzzle Party

The annual New York Puzzle Party will be held a month from today: Saturday 2/13/16.


The agenda will include 4 talks/presentation about various subjects in the puzzle world.  There will also be a time for buying & selling & trading puzzles.  Most importantly, puzzlers can see old friends and make new ones.


If you're interested in attending, please contact me.

4 Way Puzzle: free puzzle app game for iphone, ipad

 

Sang Moon Joo's been publishing some interesting puzzle app games lately.


4 Way Puzzle: you start with a black dot in the center and must build on it from the bottom, then the left, the top and the right.  When a cluster of one color occurs, you score points.


I'm not sure exactly how the scoring works, but larger clusters score a lot more points.  Also, if you've got a red piece on top of your emerging blue cluster, when that blue cluster is finally formed, it will disappear as well as that lone red piece.


The game ends when you cannot make a move.
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/4-way-puzzle/id1021237100?mt=8


Sang Moon Joo's other games
Maze 11
Number Escape
N16


Other Point Scoring Games Worthy of Your Time
NumberMania
Four Straight Lines
Pushopolous
Stickets
Folt
Nineout
Nineout II
BeeCells Lite
Kindly Colors
HexAgony
Domino Drop
Put Number
Tripevo          
Triple Town          
Kindly  Colors    
COLORswipe     
SubaraCity
Virus Pop Smash
+1 Number

Black Boxes: free point scoring puzzle app game for iphone, ipad

 

If you've been following this blog, you know that I like clever point scoring games that contain a puzzling element.


Black Boxes comes from Kevin McLean and Konrad Bajtyngier. It's quite good.  First, combine the pink box - two at a time - to create 1 red box.  Combine 2 red boxes to form 1 Black Box.


Next, combine 2 light blue boxes to make 1 dark blue box. Then 2 blue boxes to make 1 Black Box.


When 3 Black Boxes are lined up, you score points. If you can get a super cluster of Black Boxes, you'll score major points.


There are 2 versions of this game: the first: you are given a time limit.  The second, more cerebral version, you get 40 moves.


My high score is around 4600. I like this game.

https://itunes.apple.com/app/id911083763




Other Point Scoring Games Worthy of Your Time
NumberMania
Four Straight Lines
Pushopolous
Stickets
Folt
Nineout
Nineout II
BeeCells Lite
Kindly Colors
HexAgony
Domino Drop
Put Number
Tripevo         
Triple Town          
Kindly  Colors    
COLORswipe     
SubaraCity
Virus Pop Smash
+1 Number
N16

7 Park Puzzle: free puzzle app for iphone, ipad

7 Park Puzzle is a terrific new puzzle app game from von Kofokoo. It's very similar to Route Out and its successor Route Out 2. (Links below.)


Your task is to get the cars to land in their parking spaces.  You must place arrows to guide them.


The arrows are almost the same as the reflectors in Route Out.


Another difference is that in Route Out, you can place as many reflectors as you wish.  In 7 Park Puzzle, there's a limit.


Look at the top image. At the bottom right, under the arrows is a stop symbol.  A car landing on it will stop and then resume after the others have traveled 3 squares.




From a mathematical angle: in Route Out, the key to solving the hard levels with 20 or more balls, is to figure out the loop that must be created.  In 7 Park Puzzle, the loop can be intersected.




There are 72 levels and they can get really hard.  At the moment, I've done 54.  On the Leaderboard, there are only 35 people playing this. Come on puzzlers, download this for free and let's see how high we can get that number. 
https://itunes.apple.com/de/app/7-park-puzzle/id1038357053?mt=8


Route Out
Route Out 2


Perfect Paths is also similar, but much more sophisticated.

Floppy Petaminx - crazy!

You have to watch this video to see the latest in the rapidly changing world of twisty puzzles. I once had a goal of collecting them all. Then the 3D printer was invented.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYyIcIEONQg&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs


Tomorrow I'm posting a review of a really great puzzle. Stay tuned.

Winter Color Spin - free dexterity puzzle app game for iphone, ipad

 

Do you remember Pop the Lock? That's a fabulous dexterity puzzle app game.  Winter Color Spin is related.  The dial spins. When it's in the area of the same color - tap the screen. It will change direction and change color.


It's definitely fun. My only qualm is that the shades of blue are not as distinct as I would prefer.  Better to use Black, Orange, Blue & Purple. Just my opinion.


Brett Wharton is the author. Winter Color Spin is FREE. So give it a chance and get on the leaderboard.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/winter-color-spin/id1061382177?mt=8

Seky: puzzle app game for iphone, ipad Monday

      

Giovanni Columbu recently contacted me about his new puzzle app game Seky.  The object is to get the colored tiles to match the pattern.

 

The Typical Moves: swipe everything up, down, left or right.

 

The Cool Move: Double tap the center of the screen and the 4 central tiles will rotate. Great twist on an old concept.



A few levels are free. After that, they cost.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/seky/id949265894?mt=8
https://sekyapp.com/

N16 - point scoring puzzle app game

 

Happy New Year Puzzlers!
Sang Moon Joo has recently published a bunch of interesting puzzle games. N16 is a point scoring game with a lot of potential. 


Combine 1's to form a single 2.  Combine 2's to form a single 3.  The game ends when there are no adjacent matching numbers.


How the scoring works

		2	3	4	5	6
1		2	4	6	8	10
2		4	8	16	32	64
3		8	16	32	64	128
4		16	32	64	128	256
5		32	64	128	256	512
6		64	128	256	512	1,024
7		128	256	512	1,024	2,048
8		256	512	1,024	2,048	4,096
9		512	1,024	2,048	4,096	8,192
10		1,024	2,048	4,096	8,192	16,384
11		2,048	4,096	8,192	16,384	32,768

The numbers on the left represent the actual tiles.  The numbers at the top indicate how many matching tiles will be connected. For example, if you have three 6's lined up, you score 128. Interestingly, that's the same score as six 3's.


I'd really like to see a leaderboard for N16. Right now my best score is 11,834.


I've spent a lot of time trying different strategies. There's a certain amount of luck involved, as in many of the other point scoring puzzle apps listed below. But make no mistake: this is a game of skill.


Before I forget, I should mention that the new tiles added are done randomly. However, I have not figured out what the pattern is for the Highest Random Tile. For example, if the board has only 2's & 3's, it will not give me a 4 or even a 3.  When my highest tile was 11, I did see 6's pop up. Not sure about 7's.


If you manage to get a 12 or 13 tile, please take a screen shot and email me. Or leave a comment below.


https://itunes.apple.com/kr/app/n16/id985122380?mt=8




Sang Moon Joo's other games
Maze 11
Number Escape




Other Point Scoring Games Worthy of Your Time
NumberMania
Four Straight Lines
Pushopolous
Stickets
Folt
Nineout
Nineout II
BeeCells Lite
Kindly Colors
HexAgony
Domino Drop
Put Number
Tripevo           
Triple Town          
Kindly  Colors    
COLORswipe     
SubaraCity
Virus Pop Smash
+1 Number

2015 Puzzle App Games of the Year Award Winners (The Famous PAGY Awards)

Best Dexterity Puzzles
Pop the Lock   
Double Juggle       
2 Cars     
Pinball Sniper                
Make Them Fall            
Orph


Best Point Scoring Puzzle Games
SubaraCity    
NumberMania     
Hexagony    
Four Straight Lines    
Put Number


Best Escape the Room Puzzle Games
Cube Escape: The Lake     
Cube Escape:Seasons                                           
Cube Escape: Arles


Best Physics Puzzle
Manowar


Best Hardest Puzzles
Puzzle Wizard    
Chess Light   
Test Chamber   
Good Fences                      
Hard Logic


Best 'I have to solve all the levels' Puzzles
Numoly   
Maze 11    
The Weaver  
Factory Balls    
RGB Express  
Route-Out 2
Blue Box X       
Mutale       
Rect Pushers    
Tile Enigma
Cubot The Complexity of Simplicity
One Line Circle & Conquer  
Pathz    
Foot Prints !   
Hook    
Patchmania       
The Chain Free


Best Sokoban Puzzles
A Good Snowman is Hard to Build     
Go To Gold   
Go To Gold 2


2014 PAGY Winners
2013 PAGY Winners
2012 PAGY Winners
2011 PAGY Winners

2015 PAGY Award Nominations

Below are the annual PAGY (Puzzle App Games of the Year) Nominations.  Tomorrow the finalists will be announced.
Route-Out 2
SubaraCity
Numoly
Double Juggle
Maze 11
The Weaver
Factory Balls
Chess Light
Pop the Lock
Manowar
Test Chamber
RGB Express
Go To Gold
Go To Gold 2
A Good Snowman is Hard to Build
Cube Escape: The Lake
Pathz
Foot Prints !
Hook
Puzzle Wizard
Cube Escape: Seasons
Cube Escape: Arles
Pinball Sniper
One Line Circle & Conquer
Blue Box X
Mutale
Good Fences
Rect Pushers
Tile Enigma
Patchmania
NumberMania
Cubot The Complexity of Simplicity
Hexagony
Alcazar
Hack Beam
Twisted Snake
Four Straight Lines
The Chain Free
COLORswipe
Blogic
'Quick Route - A Puzzle That Requires Thought To Solve'
 Make Them Fall
 LogicCity Jr
 MoveZ
Shuttle Shuffle
Quebix
Pokergreen
Quruare Puzzle
Shoot & Reflect 3x3 NEON
Filling
2 Cars
Sharp Minds
Ten Sum
Predikt
Get Line
5Fives
Jelly Slide
Equalise
Glyph
Rects
Orbb
Panal Puzzle
Can You Even Count Bro?
H3X
Block Mania!
XXOO
Japanese Minesweeper
Slangle
Kropk'i Sudoku
Dots Tails
Star Sudoku
Puzzle Number 9
Routy
Jelbreak
Mole Rescue
Tiny Aliens Escape
MonoMerge
Galaxy Hopper
Opposites Unite
Puzzotate
Area Quiz
Shuffle Islands
Transmission
Delta: It's All about 4
Colorazy
Pegs N Holes
NineOut II
Put Number
Incredible Box Brainstorm
Frown Icons
Flanker
Laser Maze 2015
Star Lights
Overgrown
RLogic
NumberKnot
Wappi
Divide By Sheep
Sokoban Evolution
50x50
Grot
Okay?
4Arrows
Eat A Way
Bloxorz 2
Nekonedari
Sphere Puzzle
Logic City for Schools
Peg Snoids
Holes & Bears
Domino Drop
Fishy Brainteaser Madness
Array Puzzler
Baffles Class Puzzles
Sumaze
Move the Stone
Mr. Square
Tile Tales
Hexa-chroma
Hard Logic
Orbit Playing with Gravity
Ribbon Puzzle
Circulate Dots
No More Kings
Kerfuffle
Flow Draw A Line
Move Puzzle - A Funny Strategy Game, Matching Tiles Within Finite Moves
Rota
Clever Clocks
[The Sequence]
Blocks & Shapes
Lost Qubixle
+1 Number
Number Escape
Virus Pop Smash
Hyspherical 2
Kaodoku
oh no
Green the Land
Number Chef
Ozaiko
Clean!
Orph














 

December 29th Surprise

There are some folks out there who must think that all I do is play these silly puzzle apps. In fact, I do manage to read some books, usually on my NYC subway commute.


Here's what I read this year.


Feel free to make book recommendations in the comments below.