Winning Moves Launches "Rubik's Void Puzzle"

Ben · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:25 am

Winning Moves has launched a version of Okamoto's Void Cube in the United States as "Rubik's Void Puzzle" on February 23rd. It has a different color scheme and truncated corners. View picture here.

The following excerpt is from the Winning Moves press release of the Rubik's Void Puzzle:

Quote:

DANVERS, Mass., Feb. 23, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winning Moves Games, maker of the Rubik's® Cube, unveils a revolutionary new puzzle: Rubik's® Void. The Void is puzzling to comprehend because there's a hole right in the middle of it. Consumers can literally put their finger right through the center of the Void. The object is to solve each side, much like you would a standard Rubik's Cube, but that's where the similarities end. The Void has different colors, rounded edges, and requires a different solution. This is a hole new challenge!

"We are delighted to bring something entirely new and unique to the market with the Void. A Rubik's puzzle without a center space is really something tricky to wrap your head around. Thanks to the ingenious internal mechanism, the Void is extremely durable and twists very smoothly. We think the millions of Rubik's fans will really enjoy trying to solve the Void," said Phil Orbanes, a noted game historian, author of Monopoly®: The World's Most Famous Game & How It Got That Way, and President of Winning Moves Games.

Winning Moves is pleased to announce it has signed a 3-year term extension with Seven Towns, licensor of the Rubik's brand.

Winning Moves Games has delighted game players for more than 15 years with their line of classic and custom card games, board games and puzzles. They are available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Calendar Club Stores, specialty retailers nationwide and at http://www.winning-moves.com.

The press release in PDF form is attached at the end of this post.

Ben

otischeng · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:44 am

So do this Rubik's Void Cube got conflict with Okamato's one?

pianocubing · **Joined:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:12 pm

What distributor will carry it? Do you know? Wal-Mart? Toys R Us?

X-TownCuber · **Joined:** Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:37 pm

Interesting......if there is no conflict with Okamoto I might buy it. the stickers are pretty cool, but they will most likely wear away quickly.

Letti · **Joined:** Tue Dec 06, 2011 7:19 pm

It looks like a KO

. I know its not. But thats cool.

zackz115 · **Joined:** Sat Sep 03, 2011 3:11 pm

Ya, for some reason I only own a half void cube, atm. If someone finds this at a local retailer, please says o, because I don't feel like waiting on shipping. Thanks.

Drake · **Joined:** Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:48 pm **Location:** Canada

The mech ois probably sommething like the mefferts holley megaminx, I think

?

Ducttapemaster48 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 15, 2012 8:42 pm **Location:** My House

Until someone owns one, none of us can call it a KO. I'll only buy one if it has a different mechanism or if the company has gotten permission from Katsuhiko Okamoto. It sure does look interesting though.

wwwmwww · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:26 pm

Ben wrote:

The following excerpt is from the Winning Moves press release of the Rubik's Void Puzzle:

Quote:

The object is to solve each side, much like you would a standard Rubik's Cube, but that's where the similarities end. The Void has different colors, rounded edges, and requires a different solution. This is a hole new challenge!

Anyone else find this press release a bit over stated? The object is to solve each side and it requires a different solution then the standard Rubik's Cube. It calls finding this solution a hole (bad bad pun... I assume to be read as whole) new challenge. And why? Apparently because the faces are different colors and the edges are rounded? Escuse me, just what effect does either have on the solution to a standard 3x3x3? There is an added challenge due to the lack of visable face centers BUT that isn't what I'd consider a whole new challenge. Maybe 10% new and 90% of the original challenge. And if you get picky the stardard Rubik's Cube would be this exact same challenge if the center stickers fell off.

Maybe I'm expecting a bit much from a press release. And as the voids are circles I too think this will have a mech more like mefferts holley megaminx. The Void Cube mech is more complicated and only needed if you want square voids in the center of each face which rotate with the face. If you don't have that I see no need to go that complicated.

Carl

bmenrigh · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:35 pm

wwwmwww wrote:

Ben wrote:

The following excerpt is from the Winning Moves press release of the Rubik's Void Puzzle:

Quote:

The object is to solve each side, much like you would a standard Rubik's Cube, but that's where the similarities end. The Void has different colors, rounded edges, and requires a different solution. This is a hole new challenge!

Anyone else find this press release a bit over stated?

Way overstated. Typical marketing department crap.

I would call the solution "slightly new" though since the lack of centers allows you to decouple the parity of the edges from the corners (the so-called "void parity").

RubiksMaster614 · **Joined:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 6:56 pm **Location:** Chicago,

I think that such a big company wouldn't take the risk of making a KO. I will definetly buy it.

Volitar Prime · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 10:22 pm

Even if Winning Moves and/or Seven Towns copied the original Void Cube (which it doesn't appear that they did as you can somewhat see that the mechanism is different from what little we seen in the pictures) there wouldn't be any legal issues since (to my knowledge) Okamoto did not patent the Void Cube. And since the stickers on this new version are completely unique they get around any potential trademark or copyright issue (a favorite for Seven Towns these days). There is no KO issue here.

Ender Delphiki · **Joined:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:55 pm **Location:** Montana

Sad day. Rubik's used to release unique puzzle concepts and that has always been the reason to buy from them. Now not even the name is different. This puzzle is not original and is produced by a company whose twisty puzzles specifically fall short of respectable quality. I see this as only a scheme to make money off of the people who don't know about the 'real' Void Cube already. This puzzle is a brick with holes and a price tag.

Steveo · **Joined:** Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:37 pm **Location:** Canada

Volitar Prime wrote:

...There is no KO issue here.

Even if there isn't a legal issue, it's still pretty bad if someone steals an idea for profit. Very few custom puzzles are patented, but I certainly wouldn't be happy if I made a puzzle and the idea was taken by a company. What I'm trying to say is- if it's taken without permission, it's still stealing, even if it's legal.
I am not, however, saying that this was taken without permission. I don't know the situation, and I doubt that they would do that.

Frankly, I'm just happy to see and actual puzzle being released, after the Revolution, Twist, and 360. Sure, the marketing is ridiculous, but this is for a larger audience than just us!

Aether13 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:06 pm

RubiksMaster614 wrote:

I think that such a big company wouldn't take the risk of making a KO. I will definetly buy it.

I agree, especially after Seven Towns cried foul on Dayan for the "stealing" their color scheme, it would look very hypocritical of them to endorse a KO.

My thought on this puzzle is it looks very 1980-1990's ish xD, I feel like the stickers are the reason why, I probably won't buy this puzzle but who knows

BN · **Joined:** Thu Sep 16, 2010 4:35 am

From looking at the high res picture, I'd say that yes, it does use something similar to the holey megaminx.

DLitwin · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 12:11 am

With Okamoto as a TwistyPuzzle member perhaps we can bypass speculation and get a definitive answer (I have asked). For those noting the lack of patent, please keep in mind the KO policy is based on more than just patents, and came about in part because of the shameful copying of Mr. Okamoto's (non patented) designs a few years back.

Dave

Katsuhiko · **Joined:** Fri Jun 04, 2004 7:37 am **Location:** Japan

Hello all,

Rubiks Void is regular items.

I designed Void Cube newly, "New Void Cube".
http://cubepuzzle.arrow.jp/modules/pico ... tent_id=10

I approve Rubiks Void.

Regards,

Katsuhiko Okamoto
http://cubepuzzle.arrow.jp/

Tony Fisher · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2005 7:37 pm

Katsuhiko wrote:

Hello all,

Rubiks Void is regular items.

I designed Void Cube newly, "New Void Cube".
http://cubepuzzle.arrow.jp/modules/pico ... tent_id=10

I approve Rubiks Void.

Regards,

Katsuhiko Okamoto
http://cubepuzzle.arrow.jp/

Another great puzzle Katsuhiko. I hope it does well for you.

Volitar Prime · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 6:26 am

Wow, that's awesome news! Now I'm going to have to buy a few of them and chain some of them together too!

merlintocs · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 11:56 am

Thank you for the information, Katsuhiko. Good luck!

Andreas Nortmann · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:25 pm

bmenrigh wrote:

Typical marketing department crap.

Yeah.
Remember this: During the original cube craze, Rubiks Cubes were sold with descriptions saying it has "over 3 billions" of combinations. Once again: Typical marketing department crap.
Are we back into a cube craze? 8-)

Jared · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:33 pm

Why did they make it so round? Otherwise people would confuse it for the Revolution?

bmenrigh · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:43 pm

Andreas Nortmann wrote:

Remember this: During the original cube craze, Rubiks Cubes were sold with descriptions saying it has "over 3 billions" of combinations. Once again: Typical marketing department crap.
Are we back into a cube craze? 8-)

The average TwistyPuzzles forum member: The Void Cube has (8! * 12! * 3^7 * 2^11) / 24 == 3604333606207488000 distinct permutations.

Rubik's Marketing Department: Millions and millions of combinations!

:lol:

Modern-Day Warrior · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 2:41 pm

I really love the circular void for this new remake. Makes the "voidness" of the puzzle much more noticeable. Very cool.

Ducttapemaster48 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 15, 2012 8:42 pm **Location:** My House

Katsuhiko wrote:

Hello all,

Rubiks Void is regular items.

I designed Void Cube newly, "New Void Cube".
http://cubepuzzle.arrow.jp/modules/pico ... tent_id=10

I approve Rubiks Void.

Regards,

Katsuhiko Okamoto
http://cubepuzzle.arrow.jp/

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!! :mrgreen:

This is awesome news. It looks like an awesome puzzle.

I also like the rounded center

Katsuhiko · **Joined:** Fri Jun 04, 2004 7:37 am **Location:** Japan

Volitar Prime wrote:

I'm going to have to buy a few of them and chain some of them together too!

You can chain 2 of New Void, but the inner line can not rotate.
When making the outward form a globular shape, you can turn the inner line.
When linking 2 of globular new void, that would be called the perfect linking void ball.

Regards,

Katsuhiko Okamoto

zackz115 · **Joined:** Sat Sep 03, 2011 3:11 pm

Anyone find this in stores yet?

retropuzzlecollector · **Joined:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:45 pm

So far the best price is on Amazon.com. I just received mine in the mail and it is an official Rubik's branded puzzle. I could not be more pleased with it. The quality is superb and it is one of the smoothest turning puzzles I have ever handled. The mechanism seems to be very high quality and feels like there are roller bearings in it but that is not the case. It was a great purchase and does not disappoint.

http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Moves-115 ... 773&sr=8-5

S3rzz · **Joined:** Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:01 pm

zackz115 wrote:

Anyone find this in stores yet?

Recently went to a Toys R Us as well as a Toy Wiz and they both had no idea what I was talking about.

Doug Roth · **Joined:** Sun May 29, 2011 2:56 pm **Location:** New York

I have this cube, and it is NOT a KO. It uses large inner edges to function across the pieces.

grigr · **Joined:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:38 pm **Location:** Russia

Circle holes were already in my puzzle Never Cube

I recently designed the Anti-Fluffy-Cube and made this puzzle

This puzzle is similar to my ...

BleuLlama · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 5:23 pm

I just picked one of these up at a local toy store (Toys R Us did NOT carry it (yet?)) for $19. It's quite nice. It moves REALLY smoothly. A lot smoother out of the packaging than the older Void Cube I have is. It feels like it's been lubed, but I haven't figured out how to take it apart yet. As with the older Void Cube, it does block very easily as you'd expect, being that it's pieces on interlocking tracks, rather than hanging within a springy core spider.

EDIT: After doing a few solves on it, I really like the feel of it a lot. (not that I'm super experienced in this area, so, yeah.)

redKB · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:03 pm

I'm confused on how to chain the puzzle together like this:

**Edit. Changed photo location.

Unless I'm missing something obvious, one would need to cut the circular internal pieces, chain them together, and superglue them back.

Does that seem correct?

EMI94100 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:22 am

Maybe that part of the mechanism is slightly different.

Volitar Prime · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:58 pm

I just got one of these today. I find it interesting that it is actually simply named "The Void Puzzle", no "Cube" or "Rubik's". In fact, the only mention of "Rubik's" anywhere on the packaging is on a sticker added onto the outside of the clam shell, almost like it was an afterthought.

I do like the holes in the clam shell into the void.

"We have a new puzzle that is sort of like a Rubik's Cube, and we actually have a license to market and sell Rubik's Cubes, maybe we should use that license with this, or maybe not."

robertpauljr · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:07 pm

Volitar Prime wrote:

I just got one of these today.

Where did you get it? It is next on my want list, as I do not have any kind of void cube puzzle. Since this is Winning Moves, I wonder if it will be sold in stores like Target and Walmart.

Volitar Prime · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:09 pm

I assume that eventually it will be sold in most stores that sell the Rubik's Cube. I got mine on Amazon.

robertpauljr · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:34 pm

Volitar Prime wrote:

I assume that eventually it will be sold in most stores that sell the Rubik's Cube. I got mine on Amazon.

OK, thanks.

grigr · **Joined:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:38 pm **Location:** Russia

RedKB - Rubik's Void Cube Unboxing and Chain Mod!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L_548PjZKM

Winning Moves Launches "Rubik's Void Puzzle"

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