What would the WR times be if the 4x4 was the original Rubik's Cube?

[lejitcuber]

I was just wondering what would happen if Erno Rubik invented the 4x4 first and that gained all popularity?

I think that all of the bigger cubes would have slightly lower times as more 4x4 algs would have been developed, also I think we wouldn't solve larger cubes with redux as the method we would all be familiar with would be Yau or Hoya.
I also think that the the Rubik's Cube being a 4x4 wouldn't have been popular due to the difficulty.
But this is just my opinion and I would love to know what everyone else in this vast community thinks.

 

[Robert-Y]

But Yau and/or Hoya were based on traditional reduction so I don't know if someone would figure it out if traditional reduction wasn't "invented" yet. Also since 3x3x3 may not be as popular, people may suck at whatever 3x3x3 stage is left, after reduction.

 

[Hssandwich]

Also since 3x3x3 may not be as popular, people may suck at whatever 3x3x3 stage is left, after reduction.

If that was the case, wouldn't LBL methods be more popular? Especially methods like K4 since they are probably the most logical way of solving the cube, and they don't involve 3x3 stage.

 

[Sajwo]

Why do you assume that there would be actually any WRs? I think 4x4 would be extremaly unpopular and WCA wouldn't be even created due to that unpopularity. Maybe Terutoshi Ishige's cube would steal the show (he created the cube 2 years later)

 

[SenorJuan]

If you could invent a 4x4x4, then it would be a fairly small step to create a viable 2x2x2, and THAT would be a popular puzzle, especially with school age buyers.

 

[shadowslice e]

I was thinking of posting this thread but with like mega or pyra.

I think it may be interesting cause redux wouldn't be the dominant i don't think but rather some fairly interesting direct solving methods.

 

[JustinTimeCuber]

assume that the WCA is created

 

[Hssandwich]

assume that the WCA is created

Assuming that some sort of rankings system is created, which it undoubtably would be.