From cube-lovers-errors@mc.lcs.mit.edu Thu Jan 27 19:43:12 2000 Return-Path: Received: from sun28.aic.nrl.navy.mil (sun28.aic.nrl.navy.mil [132.250.84.38]) by mc.lcs.mit.edu (8.9.1a/8.9.1-mod) with SMTP id TAA24502 for ; Thu, 27 Jan 2000 19:43:12 -0500 (EST) Precedence: bulk Errors-To: cube-lovers-errors@mc.lcs.mit.edu From: "Chris Pelley" To: Subject: RE: Rubik's Revenge by Oddzon and Meffert's New Puzzles Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 00:08:38 -0500 Message-Id: In-Reply-To: I'll add my two cents to this discussion, since I recently acquired some of the new 4x4x4 units as well. In short, both the Meffert and Oddzon reissues are excellent. The Oddzon initially turned the smoothest, but now my Meffert's version is broken in and turns equally well. Both cubes offer a little give when the faces are not perfectly aligned. They seem very forgiving and you don't get the sense that you're going to break something by playing with them. In contrast to the old 1982 models (I have 3 or 4 of the squeaky variety that broke easily), I'd say they're both great improvements. Regarding the stickers used, the Oddzon uses the blue opposite green color scheme (yellow opposite white, orange opposite red). The stickers on the unit I received have not worn off like the Oddzon 3x3x3 stickers. This could be due to the fact that they are smaller, and less likely to be scraped by a fingernail? At any rate, the Meffert's 4x4x4 is clearly superior since it uses the same six colors, but with the non-slip grooved tiles. His color combination places red opposite white and yellow opposite orange, which works well. I also got the other new Meffert cubes that feature the non-slip tiles, including a Megaminx that has 12 unique colors (even the original had two yellow faces on the top and bottom). This is the best Megaminx ever! It's also nice having the Pyraminx, Skewb, and 5x5x5 in deluxe tile versions. The cubic puzzles feature the same colors as his new 4x4x4 and the Pyraminx receives red, blue, yellow, and green. Finally, I'll mention a new puzzle called QUBLE by Geospace. This is really just a 3x3x3 with letters printed on the stickers. Scrambling the letters allows word games to be played with the cube, and there are six colors so you can also solve it the traditional way. Here is the URL: http://www.kbkids.com/toys/product.html?WebID=0098549f5b33001b519f5b330041ea 9f5b330018619f5b33 If that doesn't work, just search for "rubik" at www.kbkids.com Christopher Pelley ck1@home.com www.chrisandkori.com/cubes.htm