Grey Labyrinth Puzzle Design Competition

[mith]

Motivation:

This idea is to encourage everyone to design their own puzzles, in the form of a focused competition. Some people like the challenge of designing a specific type of puzzle that they may or may not have done much with before, and some of you have some ideas but just never get around to trying your hand at design. Give it a shot!

(And who knows, we might lure some people back for this. )

Rules:

Each month (or other time period depending on how things go) we will hold a puzzle design competition.

Each competition will focus on a broad category of puzzles (roughly those used in previous puzzle solving competitions). These are: Logic Puzzles, Mathematical Puzzles, Word Puzzles, Patterns, and Lateral Thinking Puzzles.

Participants may submit as many puzzles as they like (within reason) within that category. Each puzzle must be original (what constitutes original may differ depending on the category).

Within the category, there will be suggested subcategories. For example, common types of Word Puzzles include: 3x3s, Cryptics, Signmakers, and Paragraph puzzles. However, it would be silly to limit entries to just these subcategories, so suggestions are welcome, and puzzles outside the bounds of any suggestion are welcome (and encouraged).

Some time (a week, perhaps) before the deadline, the judges will finalize the list of subcategories based on entries received. In order to help this, if you are planning on submitting a puzzle in a particular subcategory between then and the deadline, you should let us know.

The judges will choose the best puzzle from each subcategory, possibly along with a few others (depending on the number of submissions, the number of subcategories, and the number of submissions that do not fall in a particular subcategory). These puzzles will be posted on the main site.

Criteria for Judging:

Originality - Puzzles based on old ideas are fine, but may not score highly here unless there is something that really sets them apart.

Clarity - Puzzles should be clear enough that most people could understand what the goal is, even if they don't know how to solve it. (There are possible exceptions to this, of course; clarity depends on the type of puzzle.)

Solvability - Puzzles should not be too simple, nor too difficult. They shouldn't rely on too many huge leaps, or too much obscurity. And, in general, the solver should know that the solution is right when he finds it.

Miscellaneous - Things like Aesthetics, that might depend on the category or subcategory.

Judges:

If you consider yourself an "expert" in a particular category or subcategory, your judging input would be valuable. We could also use more general puzzle enthusiasts as judges. If you would like to be a judge for a particular round, or know someone who just *has* to be a judge that I haven't already thought of, let me know.

Other Notes and Guidelines:

Submit the solution to your puzzle along with the puzzle itself. The judges may be given a period to work on the puzzles without the solutions, before making a final decision.

If your puzzle is not chosen, you will be notified, and hopefully given some feedback. It may be that there was one particular bug that could be fixed, or just that there were so many great puzzles to choose from. After the winners are published, a thread will be started for other submissions (and puzzles within the category that weren't submitted could be posted here as well); either you can let me know, and I'll include yours when I start the thread, you can make some changes and add it later, or you can hold on to it until the next time that category comes around.

Some otherwise great puzzles may be ruled out due to length. Some submissions might be better suited as a standalone main page puzzle, in which case it will be forwarded to the current Minotaur, who can then contact you about flavortext and so on. Some might be more suited to a "Potpourri" style contest for the sixth month (we'll see how things go, whether this is a good idea). If we would like you to hold on to it for that purpose, we will let you know that as well.

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, etc., post! Much of this is not set in stone.

Puzzle Solving Competition:

An additional possibility here is to have a solving competition along side the design competition. After the deadline and judging, the puzzles chosen would be sent to all solvers, who would have a week to solve as many as possible. After this period, the puzzles would be published on the main site. Designers would be welcome to participate as well, though we would have to work something out as far as scoring for the puzzles they designed.

If you think this is a good idea, vote above.

When I've worked out a few more details (and hopefully gotten some positive feedback), I will stick a note on the main page, to include those that don't frequent the forums. At that point, I'll set the category and deadlines.

[Fuldu]

I think this is an excellent idea, but I worry that combining a construction contest with a solving contest is going to limit players willingness to do one or the other (unless you simply give a "best time" solving credit to a puzzle's constructor), but especially limit skilled players' willingness to act as judges. I can think of some categories in which I might construct and others in which I might judge or solve, but I'd probably choose to judge in the categories I don't think I have a chance of winning a solving competition, i.e. the categories I'm not as good at. That isn't the best way to attract top judges.

[Protected (university)]

Can I participate with one of the puzzles I already sent Matthew for publishing in the main page?

Also - Won't placing puzzles in a category named "lateral thinking", when it applies, partly give the solution away?

[Xylax]

Iv got lots of great puzzles
_________________
They say that one can take paint and canvas and paint a picture worth 1,000 words,
They also say that one can take a camera, actors, and a set and shoot a video or movie worth 10,000 words,
But with a computer and a few clicks of a mouse, one can create an environment so detailed and imaginative, so realistic and ambient, so that it can often render the viewer speechless. -Xylax

[MatthewV]

Protected- yes, I think so. But pm me right now if you really want to.

[mith]

Right, I've put this up on the main page. If you would like to be a judge this month, either PM or email me.

[Protected]

Nah, on a second thought, you can leave it... I'll make another one if I want to participate...

[mith]

Right, today is the deadline, and I have received a grand total of three puzzles. It would be a bit silly to have a competition with just three entries. Please vote in the poll above.

[Ctorj]

There's a puzzle I'll submit when I finish with it. I've been working on it for some time now trying to get it just right. I submitted it a while back, but it ended being too hard so no one solved it. Right now I'm trying to work on a modified easier version and its taking longer than I thought. Even though I'm severally late, I'll admit it anyways.
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"Love is the absolute expression of the human perfection" -Me!

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[Dred Pirate Westley]

All powerful minotaur, I was just wonderin' when/if we'd hear about whether our submitted puzzles made it to the final cut. Needless to say, it would be an honor to have a puzzle posted on the main page, but I'd be satisfied just to have it posted at all.

After posting my puzzle (titled "Combination Puzzle", I think), I found out that you wanted a "story line" of sorts for it. I actually DO have a story to go with it, but I just didn't think to send it since I took up so much space on the E-mail giving the solution.

Anyway, I was just curious. Lemme know if you want the story to the puzzle either through direct member mail, or through this forum. Look forward to hearin' from ya!
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Knowledge and wisdom are enigmatic persuits. The more you have, the more you realize you lack.

[marcusI]

I second Dred Pirate Westley,

I can write a story line also. Just ask.

[Ctorj]

I'll get back to puzzle writing after my wedding.
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"Love is the absolute expression of the human perfection" -Me!

Created by MyFitnessPal.com

[MatthewV]

I'll let mith decide. I would expect resonablely soon after jeepfest.

[mith]

Before the end of the week, I'll be sending all the puzzles to MattV and whatever third judge I come up with. I believe we have enough now to select four or so for publication (doesn't look there will be any specific categories). If you want to add anything (story, corrections, etc.), send them as you sent the puzzle.

[DredPiratWestley]

~~ Checks his watch ... then his calendar. Taps his foot, and tugs at his tightening collar... ...counts the spots on the ceiling, AGAIN. Debates on whether or not to begin giving the spots names. ...Checks his watch again... ~~

[mith]

I sent the puzzles to MattV a few days ago. Something will be up on this in the next week or so I think.

[MatthewV]

I just sent my responce to mith. I'll be home in a week (I hope).

[Guest]