Standardizing Mirror Blocks

[qwr]

Here is my idea for standardizing mirror blocks, for weekly comps or should it be added to the WCA official events.

Unlike some other puzzles proposed for the WCA, the Rubik's company produces an official version.

• For size, any puzzle that turns identically and has piece size proportions equal to that of the Rubik's Mirror Cube (within some margin) is allowed. For example, if the proportion of one side was 1:3:5, any puzzle that matches that up to 10% error is allowed.
• Any color is allowed, allowing for stickerless puzzles like Qiyi's.
• Center orientation does not matter. Some puzzles like the Qiyi silver and gold ones have a "brushed metal" pattern, but afaik the original rubik's one did not have the pattern.

Let me know what you think.

 

[SH03L4C3]

Like the idea. I have one problem. Brushed metal should be allowed as it is very common (Sengso,Qiyi ...) Plus. It poses no advantages

 

[qwr]

Like the idea. I have one problem. Brushed metal should be allowed as it is very common (Sengso,Qiyi ...) Plus. It poses no advantages

It is allowed. Just my proposal is that center orientation does not matter.

 

[SH03L4C3]

center orientation does not matter.

I think we should keep it consistent.
2 things we should add: THere are Green, chrome, and bronze mirror blocks. I think we should have it so only Chrome ones are allowed. It is the most common, as qiyi and sengso use it.

No Carbon Fiber

 

[minxer293]

I think we should have it so only Chrome ones are allowed. It is the most common, as qiyi and sengso use it.

Honestly it shouldn't matter what it looks like as long as it turns like a normal mirror cube, fits mirror cube proportions, and poses no easily changeable disadvantages (ex: carbon fiber stickers)

 

[qwr]

I think we should keep it consistent.
2 things we should add: THere are Green, chrome, and bronze mirror blocks. I think we should have it so only Chrome ones are allowed. It is the most common, as qiyi and sengso use it.

No Carbon Fiber

Like the debate between stickered and stickerless puzzles, it shouldn't matter.

 

[abunickabhi]

Good extra set of rules to take note of.

If some competitor does not follow this guideline, will their solves be DNFed in the weekly comps?

 

[SH03L4C3]

I guess so...
@qwr before we go setting rules, we need to make a survey asking people with what they have available.

 

[qwr]

Good extra set of rules to take note of.

If some competitor does not follow this guideline, will their solves be DNFed in the weekly comps?

the weekly comps are unofficial and afaik no one actually checks if you're following all guidelines so I guess it doesn't matter

Like the idea. I have one problem. Brushed metal should be allowed as it is very common (Sengso,Qiyi ...) Plus. It poses no advantages

Actually the lines do help when it comes to finding the correct orientation of pieces. I didn't consider this

 

[SH03L4C3]

the weekly comps are unofficial and afaik no one actually checks if you're following all guidelines so I guess it doesn't matter


Actually the lines do help when it comes to finding the correct orientation of pieces. I didn't consider this

but it is common.

 

[PingPongCuber]

I agree on all of this. I think the 10% error is important because it won’t make too much of a difference at that point. One other issue is, that the Rubik’s one doesn’t have brushstrokes, should brushstroke cubes be allowed. It lets me know what pieces are adjacent / opposite each other on cross
Edit: After looking at the thread this has been addressed somewhat

 

[ProStar]

These look interesting. I feel like for the weekly comp it doesn't matter that much, but these would definitely be useful if Mirror Blocks were to be considered as a new event

I guess so...
@qwr before we go setting rules, we need to make a survey asking people with what they have available.

The only person that could make these rules official (for the weekly comp) would be Mike Hughey, seeing as he's the one running the weekly comp.

 

[qwr]

I don't ever see the WCA adding mirror blocks due to the regulation difficulties that Kit Clement said. FTO, kilominx, or master pyraminx would be much easier to add because the regulations already handle non-shapeshifting puzzles well. So this is just theorizing for fun.

 

[SH03L4C3]

yes. Z3 also states the problems with this.
However, it would still be fun to see in SS

 

[DNF_Cuber]

yes. Z3 also states the problems with this.
However, it would still be fun to see in SS

it is on the SS comp

 

[qwr]

it is on the SS comp

which makes me wonder. of the people who are solving in the weekly comps, are they using the brushed metal lines? because that makes piece orientation significantly easier. and if so, are they solving the center orientation?

 

[SH03L4C3]

which makes me wonder. of the people who are solving in the weekly comps, are they using the brushed metal lines? because that makes piece orientation significantly easier. and if so, are they solving the center orientation?

I do. It is on my Shengshou one.

 

[joshsailscga]

which makes me wonder. of the people who are solving in the weekly comps, are they using the brushed metal lines? because that makes piece orientation significantly easier. and if so, are they solving the center orientation?

Probably depends on your speed to a large degree. I'm one of the faster people on SS (roughly sub-30 global average) and have plain stickers on my mirrorblocks, no lines. At my speed I'm doing OLL and PLL like on a normal 3x3, AKA see the whole picture rather than deciphering one piece at a time. And obviously because of that, I'm not dealing with center orientation. So for me and others similar, the metal lines probably don't give an advantage at all. But I could see it being a used strategy for those averaging 1:30+.

 

[MJS Cubing]

I like this idea, but I don't think mirror blocks should be added as an official event. I know that we all love a good 3x3 shape mod, but the fact remains that it is just a 3x3, but a little bit different. We already have a 3x3 in the WCA, and I'm not sure how another cube that is essentially 3x3 a would be accepted, at least as far as people competing will go. Once people get used to recognizing shapes instead of colors, it will just be another 3x3. However, if instead of having it an official event with records and stuff, maybe it could be just a fun event that doesn't count for anything except a piece of paper saying you got first place. This has already been done in comps, along with many other non-wca events. I think puzzles more likely to be added will be puzzles that aren't shape mods, such as a master pyraminx or kibiminx. At this point I just feel that the chances are slim to none of getting mirror blocks added, because people have been asking for it for years. I definitely think that it would be a fun weekly comp event though.

 

[SH03L4C3]

I agree. I would rather have master pyra then mirror blocks. Plus it would be hard to judge because it is all one color