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Minima-Ze Series by Frederic Boucher
Produced by Pelikan
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Damn! I never thought I would say it, but I wish we hadn't had a sunny day
yesterday! The UK has basically had rain almost every day for the whole year so
far and it has been thoroughly miserable. But, you all know that us Brits love
to discuss and complain about the weather. The garden has been growing wild due
to all the rain and the rapid approach of spring. So yesterday, when the
forecast was good, I was ousted from the house by "she who frightens even the
Gods" and given instructions to tidy up the garden. After 6 hours, I was allowed
back in the house and knew that pain was coming. I was not expecting it to be
mental as well as physical pain. This morning I awoke with pain - everywhere.
Absolutely everywhere. My fingers hurt, my thighs hurt, my shoulders hurt. I
hate gardening! The garden looks great but I am in too much pain tp appreciate
it! Little did I know that I would add brain pain would be rapidly added to the
collection of aches.
I received a nice big box of puzzles from Jakub, Jaroslav and team on Monday
and after unpacking, I had to put them away for a few days due to work. The
presence of ball bearings bouncing around in an operating theatre is not a
good idea so I daren't take them to work. I finally got to investigate on
Friday and unfortunately wasn't allowed to play yesterday due to fear of
reprisals if I didn't get into the garden. As a result today I have started
work on the Minima-Ze series by Frederic Boucher.
These are an interesting variant of his Minima puzzles with a totally
different aim.These are not packing puzzles...they should be classified as
either Maze puzzles or sequential movement puzzles. The aim is to either
remove the/one of the ball bearings that is trapped inside the usual 2x2x3
box or, in the case of Minima-Ze Rally, to run the ball bearing through the
maze from entry in one side and and exit on the other.
These diminutive puzzles are perfectly pocket sized and can be carried about
without worrying about losing a ball bearing. However once you have started
you probably need to be careful because loss is a distinct possibility.
Minima-Ze 1
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| Minima-Ze (1) |
Number one in the series has been made using Leopardwood for the box and
Acacia for the pieces. A blue marble is visible in the hole in the top. There
is another smaller white marble just visible to the right of it. The aim is to
manipulate the pieces to allow the removal of the white ball bearing via the
exit hole at the front. Should be easy? Hmm! maybe for you it might be but I
struggled. There are two square holes to facilitate movement of the wooden
blocks (none of which can be removed) and there is a slot in base which serves
no there purpose other than too allow the puzzler to examine the shape of the
pieces that are being slid around. After a few minutes of fiddling a couple of
oddities can be discerned. It is obviously going to be key to work out what
those "oddities" are there for.
Being a bear of very little brains who was hurting all over, my thought
capacity was at a rather low ebb. I am embarrassed to say that it took me well
over an hour to realise what was required and actually carry out the required
moves. A ball fell out much to the alarming interest of a cat. I retrieved it
as quickly as I could before someone swallowed it.
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I'm sure it shouldn't have taken me over an hour!
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Returning it to the start was another challenge. I was able to place the balls
back inside but the once I thought I had them back inside, I either couldn't
slide the wooden blocks back inside or the balls were in the wrong order.
Another 10 minutes required to get the dexterity to do what was needed. Lovely
clever challenge and a nice warm-up for the others in the series.
Minima-Ze 2
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| Minima-Ze 2 |
This one is made by Pelikan using Mahogany for the box and Garapa for the
blocks. Inside, there is a single ball bearing visible through a hole in the
base. The aim here is to manipulate the pieces and navigate that ball bearing
through the maze and out through one of the holes in the front. It's not clear
at first how this is going to work nor which hole is the exit.
Rocking it back and forth reveals that internal pieces slide around and at one
point one of the pieces covering a hole pokes out and has a drilled hole in
it. Aha! This would imply that there is a moving path inside the pieces
trapped inside and the aim is to work out where the holes are, how they can be
manipulated into a pathway and then how to get the ball bearing through
it.
Simple? Ha! Many years ago, I spent months working through the variable mazes
inside the Revomaze puzzles and it took me months and months to solve them. I
hate to say it but this may happen to me again. So far I have worked out how
some parts move but it's very difficult to understand what's happening inside
as there is minimal visibility. I have spent a good ½ hour with the ball
bearing lost inside somewhere with no idea where it went and absolutely no
idea how to return back to the beginning. Shaking it about is no use here!
Somehow I have got it back to the start with little idea how. This is a
frightening little puzzle and will require a lot of thought in a silent room.
I think listening as you go is going to be quite important here.
Minima-Ze 3
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| Minima-Ze 3 |
Number 3 in the series has a Limba box and Wenge pieces. It looks rather
complex by the presence of a full circumferential belt of holes which are
there to help you control the pieces by squeezing fingertips through to
prevent parts from moving when you don't want them to. Again, the aim is to
remove the silver ball bearing from the puzzle (it is visible through a very
small hole in the back wall of the box).
The clue to the presence of a drilled pathway comes when you manipulate the
internal pieces to find that the single piece covering the square hole pokes
out with a cavity in it, obviously to deliver the ball bearing to you. There
is no other part of the internal maze visible inside and you are expected to
build an internal visualisation of the maze by listening to the pieces move
and using gravity to control the movement of pieces and ball whilst using
your fingers to control which blocks can move.
For 2 hours today I have been playing with this and the ball was lost
inside. I had no idea where it was and could not return it back to the
beginning. Panic began to set in. Time to put it down and think©. That
didn't work for me so I fiddled with it blindly and returned it to the
beginning. After the palpitations had settled, I tried again and suddenly
the ball was out.
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Solved it - not sure how!
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Having taken the photo of it, I now have to return it to the beginning and I
am not entirely sure how to go about it. I think I will need to draw a picture
of the shapes and where I think the holes/paths might be.
These are beautiful puzzles and terrific challenges. they are NOT for the
faint-hearted! These will keep you challenged for quite some time, require a
lot of thought and a very good 3D visuospatial ability to understand and
solve.
Minima-Ze Rally
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Pelikan version
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Nothing yet designs version
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I have not yet had time to play with this one. It was also available from Tye
Stahly's Nothing Yet Designs store (almost everything seems to be available from
him) and maybe if you badger him, it might be available again. I haven't gotten
around to it yet but my backlog is out of control just now. I need a long
holiday with no gardening to do or even to retire to catch up.
What else will be available at the next update? I should have reviews ready
for next week for you.
The secret of two friends - a design by the Pelikan team - beautifully made
from Oak (here) or "sub-fossil" oak
Shrine by Lucie Pauwels - made from Bubinga and Acacia
Diasafe by Lucie Pauwels made from Wenge and Pink Oak
Thyor by Dr Volker Latussekmade from Padua, Maple and Wenge
