Cubing generations

[Ordway Persyn]

I categorize 5 generations currently. These are similar to Ben's except I consider his Gens 4&5 to be one generation and disagree with S1H about there being an additional generation starting in 2019

1st gen: 1980-1990, First wave:
cubing is born and becomes big quickly. Worlds 1982 occurs.
2nd gen: 1990-2003, Dark ages:
cubing wanes in popularity. early online communities around cubing form.
3rd gen: 2003-2010, WCA gen:
2003 worlds occur, WCA is formed, Type A-F cubes are released. People start getting much faster than before.
4th Gen: 2010-2015, Cubing Boom:
Cubing grows significantly in popularity. The Dayan Guhong is released. Feliks Zemdegs dominates 3x3. The Aosu 4x4 comes out. Skewb becomes an event.
5th Gen: 2015-Present, Current gen:
Qiyi Square-1 is released. Lucas Etter gets the first sub-5 in competition. Magnetic cubes become a thing. 3x3 Hardware plateaus. Max Park Rivals Felik's. People get really fast with Roux.

 

[semiprime799]

I disagree. I believe that magnets are a significant change, but I am unconvinced by the idea that pre-set "customization" options are a meaningful change. The current hardware era is better defined by the fact that at least for 2-5 cubic events there are multiple equally-well performing puzzles at multiple price points, and there is no single best puzzle for any of them.

I'm not sure on the magnets bit, but...

I think customizable cubes will lower the bar of entry for new-gen cubers. Another categorization I think we have missed is the idea of sub-X eras.
Where we have people averaging sub-10 etc.

 

[One Wheel]

I think customizable cubes will lower the bar of entry for new-gen cubers.

I disagree. You can buy excellent cubes that need little or no setup very cheap, "customizable" cubes are more expensive. It's still a relatively cheap hobby, but customizable cubes do nothing to lower the entry barrier and actually raise it.

Another categorization I think we have missed is the idea of sub-X eras.
Where we have people averaging sub-10 etc.

This is an incremental change, not a "generational" change.

 

[EngiNerdBrian]

I'm not sure on the magnets bit, but...

I think customizable cubes will lower the bar of entry for new-gen cubers. Another categorization I think we have missed is the idea of sub-X eras.
Where we have people averaging sub-10 etc.

I disagree. You can buy excellent cubes that need little or no setup very cheap, "customizable" cubes are more expensive. It's still a relatively cheap hobby, but customizable cubes do nothing to lower the entry barrier and actually raise it.


This is an incremental change, not a "generational" change.

Agreed. Sub-x is not “generation” of cubers since you could reach say sub-30 and be a cuber from the 80s, early 2000s, or current gen. Times are irrelevant to this grouping.

 

[semiprime799]

Agreed. Sub-x is not “generation” of cubers since you could reach say sub-30 and be a cuber from the 80s, early 2000s, or current gen. Times are irrelevant to this grouping.

When I was saying times I think I was referring to world records. idk

 

[zslane]

I'm a 1st Gen cuber who has picked up cubing three different times in his life. First time was in 1981 when the cube first hit big in the U.S.. Second time was in 2007 when I got curious about it again, but lost interest again after a couple of months. And then most recently, two months ago when I got curious about it yet again. This is the first time, however, that I've ever progressed beyond a beginner method on the 3x3, and the first time I've ever tried something other than the classic 3x3 (I recently learned how to solve a 5x5).

In fact, I still have 1980s-era Rubik's cube lying about somewhere.

 

[BenChristman1]

In fact, I still have 1980s-era Rubik's cube lying about somewhere.

Are you looking for a new cube? That would make you a lot faster.

 

[zslane]

Back in 2007 I bought a pair of Rubik's DIY cubes and a stickerless Dayan Zhanchi, which were way better than the original cube. Now I have many new cubes--some budget-level and some flagship-level--and have been slowly improving my solve times.

 

[EngiNerdBrian]

This is the first time, however, that I've ever progressed beyond a beginner method on the 3x3, and the first time I've ever tried something other than the classic 3x3 (I recently learned how to solve a 5x5.

And down the rabbit hole we go; exploring new puzzles is my favorite part of this pastime.

 

[BenChristman1]

And down the rabbit hole we go; exploring new puzzles is my favorite part of this pastime.

That’s another cool thing about cubing. You can focus on collecting and solving new puzzles, you can speedcube, and more!