[WCA Regulations 2012] Proposed New Event: Skewb

[MaeLSTRoM]

Hello,

I would like to propose Skewb as a new official event in 2012. This event has a large amount of popularity, many people own a skewb and there are several methods out there.

Scrambling: A ramdom-state scrambler would have to be produced. The one produced my meep here seems to be the best option at the moment: http://meep.cubing.net/html5/skewbscrambler.html

I'd like to propose U, D, L and R as the possible moves. To see these moves, hold the skewb as you would a standard 3x3x3, then do the rotations y/2, x'/2. U is a third turn around the top corner, D is around the back corner, the one that is not visible from the front, and L/R are the two back corners on the left and right sides respectively.

Penalties: 1 turn is defined as a 120 degee rotation around a corner. So following this, +2 is a angle of more than 60 degrees from solved state, the same limits as pyraminx.
In terms of pops, as far as i know, all pieces are functional, so any pops at the end of a solve would be a DNF.

If I've missed anything out, feel free to let me know, and I'll edit this accordingly.

Also, a warning:
This discussion is meant to be serious and useful. Posts construed as silly, inane, or similar will be moderated and dealt with harshly. Please post both constructively and respectfully.

EDIT: changed notation to fixed corner, as documented here: http://meep.cubing.net/skewb-fcn.html
EDIT2: Added scrambler link.

 

[Kirjava]

Should use this fixed corner notation;

boobs

 

[Meep]

Should use this fixed corner notation;

boobs

This. It's been around for years (acubist).
Should link to my new page though: http://meep.cubing.net/skewb-fcn.html
'Cause I'm probably gonna take down the atspace one soon (Or make it redirect in the meantime).

 

[Kirjava]

MEEP MAKE A HTML5 SCRAMBLER WITH PICTURES

 

[Meep]

MEEP MAKE A HTML5 SCRAMBLER WITH PICTURES

I've never made a solver before ): Making the pictures given a scramble/state shouldn't be too hard though.

 

[Kirjava]

As far as I'm aware, it doesn't *need* to be random state.

I can help you make a solver though if you want :£

 

[aronpm]

As far as I'm aware, it doesn't *need* to be random state.

I can help you make a solver though if you want :£

It doesn't need to be, but for such a "simple" puzzle I think a random-state scrambler is the best method.

 

[Carrot]

I approve this proposal no matter how scrambling procedure is going to be! It's the missing link of the minx family!

 

[jrb]

This would be awesome! I've been getting into Skewb more recently, and realizing how cool it is

 

[Tim Major]

Unlike team BLD, this is just like other events. The only thing to be stated is +2, which should be 60 degrees. There are already scramblers for skewb, all that's needed is for a more official one to be put together. http://www.logan.cc/skewb.html Similar to this but with FCN.
Ron wanted 8 unofficial for it to show enough interest, more than 8 were recorded, and there were even more such as Australian Nationals which weren't submitted.
So the only thing needed is a scrambler correct?

 

[Kirjava]

Not really. We can hack together a non-random state scrambler pretty easily and that's good enough.

I started work on a random state scrambler.

 

[Meep]

Yeah I quickly turned my sim into a non-random state (15 moves, God's Alg is 11) scrambler with pretty pictures. Testing the scrambles, they seem scrambled 'enough,' but that's not for me to decide:

Spoiler

I can upload it when I get home if people want to try it.

 

[JustinJ]

How much do skewb scrambles affect times? I know 2x2 isn't that much fun officially when you get to a somewhat high level of it, compared to bigger puzzles, since your results are very, very dependent on the scrambles/cases you get, and being a smaller puzzle it would seem like skewb would be similar, which would kind of suck. Do any fast people have an opinion on that?

 

[Dene]

I will again be the lone person to object to this event. My main objection is the blatant simplicity of the puzzle. Best times are going to become a joke in the regulations eventually, just like magic, master magic, 2x2, and pyraminx. I do not think it is in the interests of competition to introduce such simple puzzles to official competitions.

 

[aronpm]

I will again be the lone person to object to this event. My main objection is the blatant simplicity of the puzzle. Best times are going to become a joke in the regulations eventually, just like magic, master magic, 2x2, and pyraminx. I do not think it is in the interests of competition to introduce such simple puzzles to official competitions.

How are magic and master magic singles "a joke"? There is no variance derived from having a "lucky scramble".

Please explain why "simple puzzles" should not be involved in WCA competition.

 

[kinch2002]

I'm not totally against skewb at this moment, but I'm swaying that way. As Dene says - it's just too simple a puzzle. Correct me if I'm wrong but you learn about 10 algs and then you can 2-look it. To me that suggests that it's even simpler than 2x2.

Also, maybe it's just me, but the puzzle is really annoying to turn so it's just not enjoyable to practise. So I'm going to end up feeling really stupid after solving it in 8 moves and taking more than 5 seconds doing it.

Yes, I know that feet is like 1tps, but at least you're not expecting to be able to turn fast with feet.

Having said all that, if we really want a new puzzle then I haven't heard any better suggestions than skewb so far.

 

[Dene]

Magic and master magic averages are also a joke. The reason is because the events are so basic that the times achieved are so low that it becomes a competition of who can start and stop the timer the fastest. The same reason applies to the other two puzzles mentioned.

Why not simple puzzles? Because of the reason above. And because we have to upkeep the competitive spirit. We are hosting competitions here, not funfairs. You can have fun with other puzzles whenever you want, but at official competitions we want there to be competition, and not silly events.

 

[Kirjava]

Correct me if I'm wrong but you learn about 10 algs and then you can 2-look it. To me that suggests that it's even simpler than 2x2.

You're wrong. Either way, why should it matter?

Also, maybe it's just me, but the puzzle is really annoying to turn so it's just not enjoyable to practise.

You honestly think that no one enjoys practising skewb?

I don't see why being unable to do 9tps is justification for not adding a puzzle.

First of all, comparing Skewb to Magic is pants on head retarded.

You can have fun with other puzzles whenever you want, but at official competitions we want there to be competition, and not silly events.

You're the only one who sees Skewb as silly.

 

[nlCuber22]

You're the only one who sees Skewb as silly.

Skewb is silly.

To add, I think it'd be a cool event to have, but it seems like it'd get the same hate that 2x2 does with all the silly scrambles and random world records and such.

 

[kinch2002]

You're wrong. Either way, why should it matter?

You honestly think that no one enjoys practising skewb?

I don't see why being unable to do 9tps is justification for not adding a puzzle.

I have this feeling that it might look silly because you're doing a few slow moves then stopping after a few seconds (inb4 you say why does it have to look good?). At least magics and 2x2 you can see some speed involved. It is speedsolving after all.

There are many people who enjoy practising skewb - I was just saying why I don't. Just to clarify - I'm not definitely against it - I was just voicing the negative opinions that I had seeing as the positive ones are kinda obvious, like 'a new challenge', 'there's no harm in adding it', 'some people really like it'.