Cubes are kids' toys?

**n00bCube** · 06-08-2012

It's weird, I've never viewed them like that. To me they're something that kids and adults would enjoy, like word puzzles, fishing, whatever.

I've never got the impression at least where I live (the North West in the UK), that the typical 3x3 Rubiks cube that everyone knows was seen as a kids toy by most people either. I see plenty of adults with them.

But for some reason, in China, pretty much every puzzle is classed as a toy for children. And on Youtube, from a lot of comments that I see, cubes/puzzles are seen as though they're just kids toys, and that it's immature or sad for an adult to be into them.

So yeah I've never understood this. Anyway, it's just something I wanted to get off my mind, and I'm interested in other peoples thoughts about this on here.

**Owen** · 06-08-2012

They are meant for children, but they are fit for adults too. Sort of like Lego.

**BlueDevil** · 06-08-2012

People just think they are kids toys, but it takes intellect to solve one of these (which makes it more meant for older kids/adults). Also, Rubik didn't invent the cube to be a kids toy, the initial reason was to help teach geometry.

Non-cubers say the darndest things.

**5BLD** · 06-08-2012

It's a toy. Kid's toy? Um. Anyway it's also an interesting puzzle for adults too. I think only we can appreciate the sophistication and interesting aspects of the cube. To some non-cuber's it's just a toy that once you've solved, you've "won the game" as some have said to me.

**n00bCube** · 06-08-2012

Originally Posted by BlueDevil

People just think they are kids toys, but it takes intellect to solve one of these (which makes it more meant for older kids/adults). Also, Rubik didn't invent the cube to be a kids toy, the initial reason was to help teach geometry.

Non-cubers say the darndest things.

Exactly.

An adult doing word puzzles is the norm and is seen as perfectly fine, yet learning to solve a cube is a LOT more complicated IMO.

**Dominate** · 06-08-2012

"... And on Youtube, from a lot of comments that I see ..."

There's your problem right there.

It's hard to justify as a hobby to many people because of how repetitive it looks (and is) and how obviously unproductive it is. Many people are just being hypocritical when they say it's a waste of time, as if they don't do anything that's a waste of time themselves. I don't really see it as much of an issue. Some (too many) people are just like that.

**Athefre** · 06-08-2012

I once read some useful definitions in "Fundamentals of Game Design":

Toys: A toy does not come with any rules about the right way to play with it, nor does it come with a particular goal that you as a player should try to achieve.

Puzzles: Puzzles have one rule that deﬁnes the goal, but they seldom have rules that dictate how you must get to the goal. Some approaches might be fruitless, but none are actually prohibited.

Games: A game includes both rules and a goal. Playing a game requires pretending and it is a more structured activity than playing with toys or puzzles.