RotoSphere -- This time for real

[Pawel]

For the last half a year, I've been developing RotoSphere(TM) -- this time no longer as a conceptual mobile/browser game, but a real-world twisty puzzle. Now, after the patent and trademark filings, RotoSphere officially has the "Patents Pending" status, and I can move to the next stage...

When I say "RotoSphere" I don't mean the original geometry in the initial discussion about the mobile game. I have made quite a few prototypes and also have discovered a lot of things about this puzzle. It has similarities to cubes but also differences. The biggest difference perhaps is that there is not a single "goal" setting -- instead, there are many patterns to be solved. Some patterns are easier -- like the half and half settings where you only need to move each color to a separate side of the sphere, while others require you to find a precise location for each piece.

The other difference (perhaps) is the creativity side -- RotoSphere is much more free-flowing, its logarithms do not always require to follow each other in a linear fashion...

There will be more on the subject... with videos.

 

[2018AMSB02]

For the last half a year, I've been developing RotoSphere(TM) -- this time no longer as a conceptual mobile/browser game, but a real-world twisty puzzle. Now, after the patent and trademark filings, RotoSphere officially has the "Patents Pending" status, and I can move to the next stage...

When I say "RotoSphere" I don't mean the original geometry in the initial discussion about the mobile game. I have made quite a few prototypes and also have discovered a lot of things about this puzzle. It has similarities to cubes but also differences. The biggest difference perhaps is that there is not a single "goal" setting -- instead, there are many patterns to be solved. Some patterns are easier -- like the half and half settings where you only need to move each color to a separate side of the sphere, while others require you to find a precise location for each piece.

The other difference (perhaps) is the creativity side -- RotoSphere is much more free-flowing, its logarithms do not always require to follow each other in a linear fashion...

There will be more on the subject... with videos.

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That’s really cool, I am surprised I hadn’t heard of this, but nice job! Seems like you put a lot of work into it

 

[Nmile7300]

For the last half a year, I've been developing RotoSphere(TM) -- this time no longer as a conceptual mobile/browser game, but a real-world twisty puzzle. Now, after the patent and trademark filings, RotoSphere officially has the "Patents Pending" status, and I can move to the next stage...

When I say "RotoSphere" I don't mean the original geometry in the initial discussion about the mobile game. I have made quite a few prototypes and also have discovered a lot of things about this puzzle. It has similarities to cubes but also differences. The biggest difference perhaps is that there is not a single "goal" setting -- instead, there are many patterns to be solved. Some patterns are easier -- like the half and half settings where you only need to move each color to a separate side of the sphere, while others require you to find a precise location for each piece.

The other difference (perhaps) is the creativity side -- RotoSphere is much more free-flowing, its logarithms do not always require to follow each other in a linear fashion...

There will be more on the subject... with videos.

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That is so cool! I remember playing the prototype game you made and giving feedback, and everyone trying to get a faster time. I never imagined it would become a physical puzzle!

 

[Nir1213]

That’s really cool, I am surprised I hadn’t heard of this, but nice job! Seems like you put a lot of work into it

yes for half a year! Takes alot of dedication

 

[BenChristman1]

Awesome! It would be cool to see you get your product to cubing retailers!

 

[Pawel]

Each of those balls takes 20 hours to 3d print it and 6 hours of polishing and assembly... It did take some excitement to fuel it!

 

[Pawel]

Awesome! It would be cool to see you get your product to cubing retailers!

I have a plan to bring it to life -- Either I license it to big guys and let them manufacture and market, or I will manufacture it and market myself.

I will give it half a year to see if the elephants are interested in partnering with an ant. If not (or they attempt to squash the ant) I will build an ant hill...

 

[Nmile7300]

I have a plan to bring it to life -- Either I license it to big guys and let them manufacture and market, or I will manufacture it and market myself.

I will give it half a year to see if the elephants are interested in partnering with an ant. If not (or they attempt to squash the ant) I will build an ant hill...

I would totally buy the rotospheres if they came out on cube stores!

 

[Pawel]

I would totally buy the rotospheres if they came out on cube stores!

I would be very curious as to an experienced cuber reaction to this new experience...

 

[Pawel]

Nonsymetrical pattern example -- "bandit"

 

[Nmile7300]

I would be very curious as to an experienced cuber reaction to this new experience...

I loved the online prototype (If you remember I was one of the first to solve level 2) so I'm sure these physical cubes would be even cooler!

 

[Pawel]

RotoSphere is a bit like a Transformer -- you can go from one pattern to another...

 

[Pawel]

I loved the online prototype (If you remember I was one of the first to solve level 2) so I'm sure these physical cubes would be even cooler!

send me a private message

 

[ProStar]

This is awesome! I was one of the people to test out the mobile version, and I remember wanting a physical cube. Can't wait until they're out

 

[Jam88]

I would totally buy the rotospheres if they came out on cube stores!

Same!

 

[Pawel]

Here is the official RotoSphere "Hello World" video with an amazing original RotoSphere musical theme!

 

[crazycuber36]

Ayy how ironic! I remembered my brother had a cube similar to this and I just started playing with it before finding this thread. my brother got it from our grandpa. Apparently this was an old puzzle he must have had when he was a kid or something idk really know, but heres a picture of it

 

[Pawel]

I've seen this concept when I did patent searches... It is among a few spherical concepts for twisty puzzles. I think is even possible to project a cube onto a sphere if roundness is the goal...

 

[Owen Morrison]

For the last half a year, I've been developing RotoSphere(TM) -- this time no longer as a conceptual mobile/browser game, but a real-world twisty puzzle. Now, after the patent and trademark filings, RotoSphere officially has the "Patents Pending" status, and I can move to the next stage...

When I say "RotoSphere" I don't mean the original geometry in the initial discussion about the mobile game. I have made quite a few prototypes and also have discovered a lot of things about this puzzle. It has similarities to cubes but also differences. The biggest difference perhaps is that there is not a single "goal" setting -- instead, there are many patterns to be solved. Some patterns are easier -- like the half and half settings where you only need to move each color to a separate side of the sphere, while others require you to find a precise location for each piece.

The other difference (perhaps) is the creativity side -- RotoSphere is much more free-flowing, its logarithms do not always require to follow each other in a linear fashion...

There will be more on the subject... with videos.

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Wow that is so cool! I would recommend adding some form of ridges and/or indentations similar to how they do it on Megaminxes in order to have a place to grip onto while turning.

 

[Pawel]

Wow that is so cool! I would recommend adding some form of ridges and/or indentations similar to how they do it on Megaminxes in order to have a place to grip onto while turning.

It is possible... However, solving RotoSphere is quite a different experience than cubes or even megamix -- you always rotate half of the puzzle -- not 1/3rd of a cube or 1/6th of the megamix. Honestly, I do not know how speed-solving would work with RotoSphere and if you even could use individual fingers like I see you guys doing with cubes...

This prototype presentation is just the beginning of a journey and the production puzzles should run much smoother than my prototypes (which I am still fine-tuning). My understanding is that Erno Rubik's prototypes were held with rubber bands -- I am sure you could not speed solve those with today's results... RotoSphere physically has a different set of challenges to overcome, so the final results may differ from cubes you are playing with. One of the fundamental differences is that not a single tile/piece stays in place -- there are no middles that stay fixed in relation to each -- every tile moves.