Rubik's Revolution

pelley · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:34 pm

I just got an e-mail about an upcoming product called Rubik's
Revolution (http://www.rubiksrevolution.com/#). It appears to be an
electronic extension to the cube:

"We at Techno Source are really excited about adding an electronic
complement to the Rubik's Cube that you already know and love. For this
reason, we wanted to capture the best features of the original Cube—
speed, intelligence, challenge, and the tactile experience—in an
electronic version that will provide several different challenges for
you to conquer! Packed with six games that test your speed and your
smarts, multiple levels, single & multiplayer games, lights, sounds,
and more, are you ready for the next challenge?"

Sounds intriguing. The web site has a countdown, showing 130 days
until release.

Chris

Bryan · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:58 pm

Cool! Browsing around it looks like it'll be introduced at the American International Toy Fair Feb 11-14, so hopefully we'll have more details then. It also looks like the price is $25.

What mailing list are you on?

Scott Bedard · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:45 pm

Here is the complete email for anyone who is interested...

Quote:

Techno Source USA, Inc. s 20 West 22nd Street, Suite 1101 s New York, NY 10010

Tel: 212.929.5200 s Fax: 646.304.6372 s sales@technosourceusa.com

February 2, 2007

Dear Scott:

It is my pleasure to invite you to become an exclusive insider during the debut of the first electronic Rubik’s Cube, the Rubik’s Revolution. Before we officially announce the Revolution at Toy Fair in February, only a select few have seen, played, or even heard about this next-generation Rubik’s Cube. While discussing the Revolution with David Hedley Jones, we wanted to share advance information with a short list of elite users like you before we introduce it to the public in the next two weeks.

In development for close to a year now, we designed the look, feel, and game play of the Rubik’s Revolution based upon close collaboration with members of speedcuber community as well as gathering input with Rubik’s users and fans of all ages. As a member of the development team, our ultimate goal was to design a Rubik’s item that captures the essence of the original cube, yet lets you play in a completely new way!

We at Techno Source are really excited about adding an electronic complement to the Rubik’s Cube that you already know and love. For this reason, we wanted to capture the best features of the original Cube—speed, intelligence, challenge, and the tactile experience—in an electronic version that will provide several different challenges for you to conquer! Packed with six games that test your speed and your smarts, multiple levels, single & multiplayer games, lights, sounds, and more, are you ready for the next challenge?

We would really appreciate hearing your thoughts, suggestions, and comments about the Revolution, so we would like to offer you a Revolution before it hits stores this summer! To receive exclusive updates as well as being the first to hear about our future Rubik’s products, please do not hesitate to contact me at jason@technosourceusa.com or (212) 929-5200 ext. 119. In the meantime, check out http://www.rubiksrevolution.com for more info!

Sincerely,

Jason Willard

Associate Product Marketing Manager

Techno Source

20 West 22nd Street, Suite 1101
New York, NY 10010

jason@technosourceusa.com

(212) 929-5200 x119

Ryan Thompson · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 11:37 am

What if it had a built in timer? That would certainly revolutionize the Rubnik's World. Also, is it going to be a normal cube with electronic insides, or is it going to have something like lights instead of stickers. That might be cool as well. I can't wait to see what it has that's new...

Tom · **Joined:** Fri Feb 06, 2004 3:47 pm

http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/ind ... xml&coll=5

A higher tech version, called the Rubik's Revolution, will be introduced by Techno Source, an electronic game and toy company, Feb. 11-14 at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. The electronic cube tests speed and logic with six built-in games that feature light, sound and voice effects.

Noah · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:43 pm

I told you all! I mentioned this a whiles ago in a newspaper artical.

Speedy McFastfast · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:07 pm

hmm they said 43 quintillion possible combinations... but i thought it was only 43 quadrillion? which one is it??? i confuuused

pelley · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:06 pm

Speedy McFastfast wrote:

hmm they said 43 quintillion possible combinations... but i thought it was only 43 quadrillion? which one is it??? i confuuused

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubik%27s_ ... rmutations

Speedy McFastfast · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:11 am

it appears i have been wrong... thanks for the correction tho!

S.Rubiks · **Posted:** Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:00 pm

I thought of a neat idea (before I knew about lights out).

Sometime of rotating rubiks cube where the lights would turn on when you had the pieces in the correct position.

I'm looking forward to this product. Looks like we will have to wait 125 more days.

Bryan · **Posted:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:02 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duivtt7fse8

My enthusiam has dropped.

ErikD · **Posted:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:04 pm

blogan wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duivtt7fse8

My enthusiam has dropped.

What the...

They've made it into a toy!

Volitar Prime · **Posted:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:08 pm

I'm sorry but that just looks lame.

pelley · **Posted:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:42 pm

I don't get it.

Some observations:

1. It looks larger than a standard cube. Could be the kids' small hands, but it still looks larger than 57mm.

2. I didn't see any twisting. What about the "tactile experience?"

3. I couldn't understand the point of what they were doing. Looks like some sort of "hot potato" type game, but all I saw was a permanently solved cube.

Myke · **Posted:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:16 pm

It looked like they were pushing a button of some sorts inside the cube or
they are doing nothing. :wink:

Clayne H. · **Posted:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:17 pm

Nobody claims that to be the Revolution. That's just some electric toy that resembles a rubik's cube.

Now if that really is what it ends up being, I'd be thoroughly disappointed.

Bryan · **Posted:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:50 pm

I wonder what the collaboration with the speed cubing community was like.

Cuber: It should twist.
TechnoSource: No, how about six buttons?
Cuber: Could it scramble itself?
TechnoSource: How about going from dark red to bright red?

Scott, did you get your demo version?

ryanheise · **Joined:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:59 pm

Clayne H. wrote:

Nobody claims that to be the Revolution.

These people do:

http://pcnews.tv/139/a-new-spin-on-the- ... biks-cube/

DANGAZN · **Joined:** Sat Dec 23, 2006 11:40 am

Looks like I'm not going to buy this piece of whatever...

Clayne H. · **Posted:** Sat Feb 10, 2007 5:27 am

ryanheise wrote:

Clayne H. wrote:

Nobody claims that to be the Revolution.

These people do:

http://pcnews.tv/139/a-new-spin-on-the- ... biks-cube/

Oh..wow.

I withdraw my statement.

That looks horrible.

wronginthehead · **Joined:** Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:46 am **Location:** USA

It looked to me like they were finding the square that lit up and pressing it...kindof like a new "Simon" game.

Tell me this, how does crap like this come out all the time and the real puzzles (sq1, mgminx, etc.) are so hard to sell?

It's probably going to be like 20$USD for the thing anyway.

I'm disappointed.

Myke · **Posted:** Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:25 pm

Bleh it is an electronic puzzle

(probibly not even a puzzle).

pelley · **Posted:** Sun Feb 11, 2007 6:11 pm

Here's another short article about it:

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/02/r ... oluti.html

So far I've seen no evidence that it twists.

Chris

Pembo · **Posted:** Sun Feb 11, 2007 6:25 pm

A reflex tester, great!

Speedy McFastfast · **Posted:** Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:21 pm

wronginthehead wrote:

It looked to me like they were finding the square that lit up and pressing it...kindof like a new "Simon" game.

Tell me this, how does crap like this come out all the time and the real puzzles (sq1, mgminx, etc.) are so hard to sell?

It's probably going to be like 20$USD for the thing anyway.

I'm disappointed.

I'm disgusted. It looks like it don't turn at all, and the games on it are some rip off of something that you could sell for 5 dollars. The entire reason it is cube shaped is because the cube sold alot of copies and still makes money today. The only reason it is going to cost 20 dollars is because it is shaped like a cube, and has rubik's name on it.

WITH, (nice abbreviation, lol) the reason puzzles like the square-1 and the megaminx are hard to sell is because we are a special class of people. We are the people who can solve easy puzzles like the cube, whilst others find it mind numbing and annoying. Considering there are only a few thousand of us in the world (that number is a complete guess with 0% former knowledge) puzzles such as those don't sell quickly. Normal cubes continue to sell because people from the 80s still remember them. When you think about it, we as speedcubers probably don't have anything to do with Rubik's main income, due do the fact that we don't like piece of crap cubes

Bryan · **Posted:** Sun Feb 11, 2007 8:52 pm

Here's a great quote http://www.sys-con.com/read/334924.htm

Jim Silver, editor-in-chief of Toy Wishes magazine wrote:

Rubik's Revolution is truly innovative. It's rare that a follow-up can match or even surpass the original in respect to creativity, game play, and fun, but Techno Source has developed a product that achieves this feat,

So I guess the WCA should adapt the rules fast to make this an official category in time for Worlds...... :roll:

I've seen many blogs describe it as "Hot Potato".

Clayne H. · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:51 am

blogan wrote:

Here's a great quote http://www.sys-con.com/read/334924.htm

Jim Silver, editor-in-chief of Toy Wishes magazine wrote:

Rubik's Revolution is truly innovative. It's rare that a follow-up can match or even surpass the original in respect to creativity, game play, and fun, but Techno Source has developed a product that achieves this feat,

So I guess the WCA should adapt the rules fast to make this an official category in time for Worlds...... :roll:

I've seen many blogs describe it as "Hot Potato".

Hot potato becomes a very different game when the players are starving.

Then it becomes 'my potato'.

Noah · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:24 am

Clayne H. wrote:

Hot potato becomes a very different game when the players are starving.

Then it becomes 'my potato'.

Demetri Martin. "Person".

pelley · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:49 am

The Revolution web site has been updated:

http://www.rubiksrevolution.com

They have the same video, plus some high resolution photos of the product packaging.

From what I can see, the power switch is located on one of the red corner faces. Each center piece has a recessed button. The six faces light up, but evidently the colors are fixed (i.e. the green side can only light up green, etc.) I surmise that you might choose one of the six games on power-up by selecting a button from one of the six sides. This is basically a Rubik's-branded Simon game. It doesn't twist, you can't even scramble it, and the target market seems to be the kindergarten set. They should have named it "Rubik's Regression."

Stefan Pochmann · **Joined:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:07 pm

If it's really not twistable, I wonder how many buyers will return it once they realize they've been deceived.

Also, why are people who are 106 years old not allowed to play with it?

Kyle Allaire · **Joined:** Tue May 30, 2006 10:53 pm **Location:** FL

Hey let's make a bicycle with wheels that don't spin. Way to go on this one rubik's company. *claps very loudly and sarcasticly*

Myke · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:40 am

The people might not let you return it because a lot of people will want to
return it.

pelley · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:41 am

Stefan wrote:

If it's really not twistable, I wonder how many buyers will return it once they realize they've been deceived.

Yes, the phrase "whole new spin" and even the word "revolution" seem to imply some kind of twisting capability. But if it doesn't twist, it would be deceptive. Twistyness is the essence of Rubik's Cube, for sure.

Pembo · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:44 pm

Kyle_A wrote:

Hey let's make a bicycle with wheels that don't spin. Way to go on this one rubik's company. *claps very loudly and sarcasticly*

Ah, but don't forget this isn't by the Studio, so it isn't actually an Erno product.

silver- · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:03 pm

oh my gosh...i watched that video of the little kids playing with it...and it looks like a toy for toddlers...i'm guessing the game the little kids were play was "find the light"? seriously, when my nephews were toddlers, i used to see them play with those all the time....

Speedy McFastfast · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:03 pm

Ok then, real quick poll: Should we even consider the rubik's revolution a puzzle? Is it really worth the 20 dollars that you will regret spending on it? Is it worthy to be a part of your "puzzle" collection?

I vote NO!

everyone else?

S.Rubiks · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:18 pm

This is a tamed down version of the Tiger Electronics Brain Warp.

I like that game and still play it once in a while. However, I think this product pretty much blows. Especially billed as a puzzle at all.

Darren Grewe · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:58 pm

sexualRubiks wrote:

This is a tamed down version of the Tiger Electronics Brain Warp.

I like that game and still play it once in a while. However, I think this product pretty much blows. Especially billed as a puzzle at all.

That is exactly what I was thinking from the start.

wronginthehead · **Joined:** Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:46 am **Location:** USA

"Professor Rubik, the original Cube's inventor, adds, "After more than 25 years, the Rubik's Cube has remained the ultimate puzzle for all ages. This new addition to the Rubik's lineup captures the essence of the original yet adds an exciting new spin.""
-http://www.sys-con.com/read/334924.htm-

Do they really mean Erno?

And whoever mentioned it is right, revolution, new spin, etc. should indicate the puzzle spins.

I wouldn't even call this a puzzle any more than simon was, or hot potato, or even catch.

Doug M. · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:20 pm

The really sad thing.....

The Rubik's Revolution will probably have stickers that actually hold up to use, while the traditional Rubik's cube will continue with their crappy paper stickers. (From the photos, the Revolution stickers look like durable ribbed plastic, kind of like lenticular lens sheet material giving them a 3D shimmer.)

Doug M.

Speedy McFastfast · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:21 pm

wronginthehead wrote:

I wouldn't even call this a puzzle any more than simon was, or hot potato, or even catch.

ok, so that is 2 votes no, 0 votes yes! any more takers?

Bryan · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:52 pm

pelley wrote:

The Revolution web site has been updated:

http://www.rubiksrevolution.com

Looks like there's a blog where you can make comments.

Myke · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:52 pm

Doug M. wrote:

The really sad thing.....

The Rubik's Revolution will probably have stickers that actually hold up to use, while the traditional Rubik's cube will continue with their crappy paper stickers. (From the photos, the Revolution stickers look like durable ribbed plastic, kind of like lenticular lens sheet material giving them a 3D shimmer.)

Doug M.

I think the stickers are more like tiles that are plastic lenses.

Kyle Allaire · **Joined:** Tue May 30, 2006 10:53 pm **Location:** FL

i vote we get the richest person on this forum to buy 1,000 revolutions. modify them to spin. and return them to the store.

Myke · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:06 pm

...If you got the cintacts to be on tracks so the lights would be able to light
up still. or just get a normal rubik's cube if you don't want it to light up and
be able to turn.

Volitar Prime · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:27 pm

blogan wrote:

Looks like there's a blog where you can make comments.

I attempted to leave a comment, lets see if it actually shows up or not.

Richard · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:43 am

From the Toy Fair.........

skeneegee · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:52 am

Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to judge it. It says it has 6 games, maybe 5 are lame and 1 is great.

I don't know, I just think we should give them the benefit of the doubt. At the page for it, if you click on the "Begin your training now" and then click the "2" it shows the hands performing a twisting motion.

I understand everyone here loves new puzzles, myself included, but between this, olympic cubes, and the new meffert puzzles, it seems like most of us just want to complain.

I'll admit it doesn't look too promising, but instead of trying to kill Revolution before it comes out, at least give it a chance.

pelley · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:02 pm

skeneegee wrote:

Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to judge it. It says it has 6 games, maybe 5 are lame and 1 is great.

Well I hope you're right. Maybe they're just holding the best features back as a surprise. I'll be the first to eat my words if it ends up being a true "electronic Rubik's Cube" as advertised.

Chris

Speedy McFastfast · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:04 pm

meh, i think i'll wait on some of you cubers with more money than I to buy it, then i'll think about getting one

until then, this product looks like it's going to let us down...

Rubik's Revolution

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