| Strange trend |
mathmaniac
Kwon-Tom Obsessive
Puzzles: 1293
Best Total: 20m 57s | Posted - 2012.07.30 05:12:09
Has anyone else noticed that since about when Foilman updated the generator, the solutions have tended to hug the right edge? At first I thought it was weird, but after it kept happening I thought I'd bring it up.
Last edited by mathmaniac - 2012.07.30 06:02:09 |
Darklady
Kwon-Tom Obsessive
Puzzles: 5369
Best Total: 9m 37s | Posted - 2012.07.30 07:33:31
Well now that's an interesting observation. I hadn't noticed, but now that you point it out, it's quite evident. |
MondSemmel
Kwon-Tom Obsessive
Puzzles: 6159
Best Total: 7m 47s | Posted - 2012.07.30 10:48:58
That's a bizarre issue...
Do you know when that update happened? We could go through the archives' solutions pages and look for any other strange issues.
Well, it would certainly make solving the puzzles easier if all new puzzles turn out to do this - but that's precisely the reason why it ought to be fixed. |
Zyntax
Kwon-Tom Obsessive
Puzzles: 6540
Best Total: 13m 6s | Posted - 2012.07.30 15:41:35
I've also noticed a "change" in the solutions - I haven't pinned it down but I have noticed some similarities in solutions lately. |
Zyntax
Kwon-Tom Obsessive
Puzzles: 6540
Best Total: 13m 6s | Posted - 2012.07.30 15:45:11
My first hint of something strange was the way the beasts have started to look since June 2012. |
mathmaniac
Kwon-Tom Obsessive
Puzzles: 1293
Best Total: 20m 57s | Posted - 2012.07.30 19:13:31
As near as I can figure it began with Friday, Saturday and Sunday puzzles on the 11th of May and moved into the rest of the weekday puzzles on the 21st. |
Authority
Kwon-Tom Obsessive
Puzzles: 3329
Best Total: 9m 56s | Posted - 2012.07.30 23:10:26
I haven't noticed that, but I have noticed a tendency for solutions like this, seemingly always vertical:
It has definitely improved my time on certain puzzles, especially since blocks of twos are often unwilling to yield their secrets. |
Darklady
Kwon-Tom Obsessive
Puzzles: 5369
Best Total: 9m 37s | Posted - 2012.07.30 23:52:14
Areas with only twos and no obvious deductions are usually mostly straight lines; that's nothing new. I think it's more an inherent property of these puzzles than an artifact of the generator. It's possible such areas have become more common, but if so, I haven't noticed it. |
Zyntax
Kwon-Tom Obsessive
Puzzles: 6540
Best Total: 13m 6s | Posted - 2012.07.31 01:06:08
Quote: Originally Posted by Authority I haven't noticed that, but I have noticed a tendency for solutions like this, seemingly always vertical: It has definitely improved my time on certain puzzles, especially since blocks of twos are often unwilling to yield their secrets. |
I've definitely noticed more of this as well - I just didn't know how to explain it very well. Whether it's a coincidence or due to the generator, it's definitely occuring more. |
foilman
Kwon-Tom Admin
Puzzles: 3625
Best Total: 24m 6s | Posted - 2012.07.31 13:58:59
You're right, looking at the recent solutions they do seem to have a lot of right-side-hugging going on... I shall have to see if I can track down the cause! |
foilman
Kwon-Tom Admin
Puzzles: 3625
Best Total: 24m 6s | Posted - 2012.08.01 10:28:47
Tracked down the issue and fixed it, so puzzles from tomorrow should be a bit more random again! Don't rely on that right-hand edge being straight again...  |
mathmaniac
Kwon-Tom Obsessive
Puzzles: 1293
Best Total: 20m 57s | Posted - 2012.08.01 23:07:45
Ah, thanks Foilman! Now when I break that 20 minute barrier it'll be legitimate. And personally, I like the puzzles that meander around rather than these puzzles with so many long straight lines. |
