Why are Some Puzzles More Popular Than Others?

[Czery]

Why do different puzzles have varying degrees of popularity?

Searching through the forum, I haven't found much information specifically on why some puzzles are more popular than others.

For instance, most cubers know how to solve a 3x3. They invest time learning algorithms or practicing. According the the WCA statistics website, there are +17,000 competitors who have competed in the 3x3 event. This when compared to the ~1,000 competitors for Square - 1 is quite a difference. Both puzzles have been around for some time (20 years for Square 1) so time is not a factor.

I am just curious if there are any underlying reasons you guys think would cause this kind of difference. Is it the complexity of different puzzles? The lack of fast cubers promoting these puzzles or what?

 

[Escher]

Branching imo.

In my experience, usual order of interest or learning goes:

3x3 -> [4x4/5x5 -> 2x2 or vice versa] -> pyraminx [first non-cuboid] -> megaminx/sq-1/clock -> non-WCA puzzles

BLD is a funny one, some people never learn or try, and others go straight to it after learning to solve sighted. 6x6+ also used to depend on how much money someone had and how much they liked 5x5, not so sure now since the advent of $24 SS 6x6. Starting OH is also generally only well after the person has gotten interested in the community. Just my $0.02.

P.s. Magics can get ****ed.



Edit: there is also the factor of inspiration, if a bunch of fast people do R&D and 'promotion' of a puzzle it's easier to get interested and improve. However the enterprising 'fast people' generally go for the unique puzzle because a) they think it's really cool or b) specialisation is the only way to get good at something compared to those who have been cubing for years and years.

 

[Noahaha]

I haven't been cubing long, but I've tried everything and the only thing I've really not enjoyed is square 1. After cube shape it's mostly algorithms, and I didn't like that. I definitely invest more time into BLD, 3x3, 4x4 and OH than other events, but I'll still compete in everything. I don't think that time investment correlates directly to the number of people who do an event. If you could calculate it, you'd probably find that the average square one solver has put more time into square one than the average 3x3 solver has put into 3x3.

 

[Mollerz]

Yeah, I was one of those who delved straight into BLD. After I learnt sighted, I got my first BLD solve only 2 weeks after. Then my first 4BLD success was the day before my first competition, 3 months after I started.

I went 3x3 -> 4/5 -> BLD -> OH -> 6/7 -> All the rest of the things at the same time.

 

[BlueDevil]

2x2 Is what made me want to learn to solve cubes, so I got into 3x3 and 2x2 at the same time. Then with being exposed to the community, and going to a competition, I decided I wanted some other WCA puzzles (pyra, mega, 4x4, 5x5, magics). Then with more exposure to the community, and fairly cheap prices, I decided to go ahead and try square-1 and clock.
Now I'm here and I'm thinking about getting into non-WCA puzzles

Basically, I think people typically start with the most basic - 3x3, then get into 2x2, 4x4, pyra. The fact that they can compete in it at a competition. Also, without experience, something like square-1 or 7x7 might seem like impossible tasks, which is why they aren't as popular.

 

[antoineccantin]

I think that it can really depend on many factors, such as the events at the local competitions. For instance, in Canada, competitions usually have 2-5, OH, BLD and Magic with occasionally Mega, Pyra or SQ1, so those events are generally the most practiced in Canada. However, during Canadian Opens, they have many events and might encourage people to try other events that are not usually held. An example of this is that I had absolutely no interest for Master Magic, then I decided to get one for Canadian Open and practiced a bit, realized I liked it, and got faster, etc...

 

[Cheese11]

I personally think that it's personal preference.

But since cubing started with a 3x3, that's the most obvious cube to be popular.

 

[mrpotatoman14]

3x3 -> [4x4/5x5 -> 2x2 or vice versa] -> pyraminx [first non-cuboid] -> megaminx/sq-1/clock -> non-WCA puzzles

I agree with this for the most part. Personally I did this except pyraminx and 4x4/5x5 were swapped because pyraminx was easier to learn.

 

[retep]

Well for me, and presumably many others, the first puzzle you hear about is the most popular 3x3, so people start with that. Next you either find out about and try the bigger 4x4+ or smaller 2x2. Then you realize there are actually a lot of puzzles so you find the popular ones (which are the WCA competition puzzles). This is where I currently am (I have only solved a 3x3 and 4x4, currently ordered (been shipped, just waiting) a 2x2, 5x5 and 6x6 and Considering gettting pyraminx/sq1/megaminx).

 

[Ninja Storm]

Because they're more fun!

I went 3-Siamese-6-4-7-5-2-Mega-Pyra-OH-BLD

...Yes, that's the real order I learned to solve them in xD

 

[BlueDevil]

Because they're more fun!

I went 3-Siamese-6-4-7-5-2-Mega-Pyra-OH-BLD

...Yes, that's the real order I learned to solve them in xD

Why did you pick 6x6 second?

 

[jonlin]

Judging Keaton, he LOVES 6x6.

EDIT:
3x3->2x2/4x4->OH->Pyraminx/Mega/Skewb->5x5.
I was never interested in 7x7...

 

[mDiPalma]

3x3 > OH > 2x2 > repeat

 

[Zarxrax]

For me, it mostly comes down to ergonomics. 3x3x3 feels great in my hands. 2x2x2 and 4x4x4 are not bad, but larger cubes get less and less appealing. Puraminx isn't too bad either, but its not as great as the cubes. When you have weird shapes like square-1, its just not as enjoyable to solve anymore because it feels weird in the hands, its hard to turn, and things like that.
This is just my personal preference.

 

[RNewms27]

People follow popular puzzles; therefore, they become more popular. Once someone practices and masters a separate puzzle, he or she will grow some competition

I like puzzles that have a market. Usually the first production of a puzzle isn't great because there haven't been improvements to make outside of the initial launch. 7x7 might be more popular because of SS.

I regret my professor pyraminx, pyraminx crystal, and square-1. Boring methods are the main cons to them IMO.

 

[scotzbhoy]

I don't think there is a particular reason, it just comes down to personal preference. I think most people started with 3x3 because obviously that's the original, the most famous, and certainly for me I didn't start with the goal of becoming a speedcuber, I just wanted to be able to solve a cube, partly as something interesting/impressive I could do and partly because I got annoyed with having a scrambled cube which I couldn't solve. From there it just sort of escalated. I learnt about the 4x4 because I learnt the 3x3 from Dan Brown's tutorial, and he says something about the 4x4 at the end. Once I found out about the WCA I just wanted to learn all of them. Don't think there was any particular order.

 

[Ickenicke]

My favourite events are 3x3,2x2 and Square-1.

I don't know why I like those 3. I think that big cubes are popular, but I don't like it. I think most people like 3x3 beacuse it is often the first puzzle they learn to solve (or 2x2) and you can show that to your friends, and they still understand how a 3x3 works.

 

[Godmil]

Feel is a big thing for me. The 3x3 is just really satisfying to turn. My SQ-1/mega/pyra all turn poorly so I find them frustrating to solve. I'm not a fan of big cubes, but My fav is the 7x7 because it just feels great.
I really love the 3x3x2 and 3x3x4 but they're not official so it doesn't seem as worth while spending time practicing them.

 

[tx789]

it just because aquare 1 is a side event and 2x2 4x4-7x7 are too but it like a 3x3. With aquare it is a completely different method and it turns different a well


for me my favourite event changes often.

 

[peterbone]

I think that what makes a puzzle popular is the best compromise between a simple puzzle, in terms of its mechanism and how it looks, and a complex puzzle, in terms of the challenge it provides. In my opinion a good puzzle looks simple but is complex to solve. I think that's why the 3x3x3 is the most popular.