Hello, this is Matsubara.
Now I work as a "project consultation desk" and am in charge of calculating the amount of work required for estimating and scheduling projects that customers inquire about. I'm a former coder, so I do some coding from time to time.
I started working with Rubik's Cubes during the work-from-home period and became obsessed with them, so I've started a series called "Let's create a program that automatically draws the unfolded diagram of a cube!"
In the first episode , I talked about how I got started with Rubik's Cubes (speed cubes), how to "scramble" the cube, and the concept of the program I'm going to create.
In the second and third articles , we reported on the process of developing the site using HTML and JavaScript, but the content may be a bit difficult for those who don't understand coding.
So, this time I'm going to take a little coffee break.
I'll introduce 7 carefully selected trivia (common knowledge in the cube world) that I didn't know at all until I started cubes. I guarantee that you'll find surprising information that will make you exclaim "Wow!" and want to tell someone about it. Let's get started!
Number 1: Surprisingly cheap
Actually, they are also sold at 100 yen shops.
The cube in this photo was priced at 500 yen on Amazon, a reasonable price that even beginners can easily get started with. By the way, if you want to start speed cubing, you need a cube with a magnet !
Magnets assist the rotation, so the parts stick together and stop precisely.
2. There are stickers and stickerless
The one on the left is the sticker type, and the one on the right is the stickerless type.
Many people may be more familiar with the one on the left. Neither is superior in terms of functionality, and even cubes of the same type have different touches and feel when turning, so you can choose according to your preference.
By the way , they also sell just the stickers for the cubes , so you can peel off the sticker-type cubes and replace them with your favorite colors, such as pink or gold. (However, I don't think you can use them in competitions.)
Tip 3. The center opens
Depending on the cube, most cubes have six sides that open in the middle.
When you open the cover with your fingernail, you will find a screw like the one in the picture. By turning this screw, you can adjust the weight (stiffness) of the cube's rotation ! Loosening the screw makes it easier to rotate, and tightening it makes it harder to rotate.
Customizing the cube to your liking is also an important point in getting a good time. Another item to improve rotation is to use a lubricant specifically for cubes.
Number 4: Too cute
Look at this, isn't it super cute?!
If you have such a cute cube, you'll want to show it off to someone (I do!).By the way, this cube that doubles as a keychain can also be rotated properly.
Tribox , the specialist 3D puzzle store where I usually buy my cubes, has heaps of insanely cute cubes like these, and just looking at them makes me feel good!
5. It's not just 3x3x3
As mentioned briefly in the second article, speedcubing is not limited to 3x3x3! Here are all 17 official World Cube Association (WCA) events.
| 3×3×3 Two-handed | 3×3×3 One-handed | clock |
| 2×2×2 two-handed | 3×3×3 Blindfold | Pyraminx |
| 4×4×4 two-handed | 4×4×4 Blindfold | Megaminx |
| 5×5×5 two-handed | 5×5×5 Blindfold | Square 1 |
| 6×6×6 two-handed | 3×3×3 Multiple Blindfold | Skewb |
| 7×7×7 both hands | 3×3×3 minimum number of moves |
*3x3x3 Pairs became an unofficial competition in January 2020.
Of course, it's not an official competition, but there are people (gods) who can juggle the cubes like beanbags and line them up, so there are endless ways to have fun!
Tip 6. Link with your smartphone
When I first saw this I was shocked.
The cube works in tandem with your smartphone to measure time, analyze your solves, and even give you a score! There are apparently a few cubes that work in tandem with smartphones, but the one in the photo is the "GAN356 i."
The cubes made by the manufacturer "GANCUBE" are of high quality and very popular, and are used by many competitors in competitions. My main cube is also GAN!
Number 7: I no longer run it myself
The " GUN ROBOT " released by GANCUBE mentioned above will automatically align all six sides of a broken cube just by setting it in the machine. It can also scramble cubes, so I'm thinking about getting one as a scramble machine.
Speaking of "enjoying it without spinning," there is a genre called "cube art," in which multiple cubes are used to draw pictures or letters with the colors on the sides, and from last month to this month, Japan's first " cube art exhibition " was held. I really wanted to go, but the venue was in Osaka, so I gave up this time. I hope they hold it in Tokyo too!
How was it?
You're probably already wanting to play cubes, and you want one, right? I'm not a promoter, but if you're just starting out with cubes, I recommend the tribox starter set with solutions. Let's enjoy cubes together!
Current Best average of 5: 34.35
*The "average of 5" is the average of the three times out of five consecutive solves (a series of actions to complete six sides), excluding the fastest and slowest times.
MATSUBARA Megumi