Amber Fossils
(Published on 30. June 2022, 03:16 by Kafkapharnaum)
Each puzzle uses a different set of digits: 2x2 (3-4), 3x3 (1-2-4), 4x4 (3-5-6-7), 5x5 (5-6-7-8-9).
The puzzles are not linked in any way and can be completed in any order John Conway Game of Life
RULES
Normal sudoku rules apply: Place the digits 1 to 9 in each row, column, and 3x3 box
STILL LIFE **(All grids contain live cells)**
Shade some cells green ("alive cells") inside the 4x4 region such that the (up to) eight cells neighboring each green cell contain exactly 2 or 3 other green cells and the neighbors of each 'unshaded' (or grey) cell ("dead cells") do not contain exactly 3 green cells.
- A CIRCLED cell's digit indicates the number of cells that are in the SAME state as its own in its neighborhood, including its own cell
- A SQUARED cell's digit indicates the number of cells that are in a DIFFERENT state from its own in its neighborhood (therefore not including its own cell)
Solve on the CTC app
Solve on Penpa
Solve on Penpa (phone version)
*NOTE REGARDING THE SOLUTION CODE*: "Lowermost" means the alive cells that are the lowest (in the lowest row) of the puzzle. This row does not need to be the very bottom (last) one. Basically, in other words, you will need to enter alive cells for all 4 puzzles (Thank you lerroyy for the clarification)
If you feel like you can tackle the next step after this, you might want to check this 6x6
IMPORTANT NOTE: The code for this puzzle’s image is 000E0N :D
Solution code: From the smallest puzzle to the largest: The LOWERMOST *alive* cells in each puzzle (if there are more than one in the row, list them in order from left to right before moving to the next puzzle), FOLLOWED by the *dead* cells in *row 1* of the 5x5 puzzle (13 digits total)
Comments
on 10. September 2024, 22:52 by chrisj50
Fun little set & really highlighted some interesting ideas, particularly how large numbers are quite restricted by the ruleset. Probably should have started with this one :)
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Glad you enjoyed! Insightful observations too, I think you're already about to notice the equivalences between clue types that exist around the 'full neighborhood' digit (if you haven't already) -- you're crushing this ruleset something impressive! :O
on 1. November 2023, 19:13 by Yann
Cute, but hard 3x3, and weird 2x2, with two very nice other puzzles ! I think you should specify that there always has to be 1 alive at least in every puzzle...
Also, I started solving the tiger jaw puzzle and solaris, they both have staggering geometry so far !
Thanks !
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Thank you for trying this little pack, much appreciated! About the 2x2, I had added in the rules on the puzzle page (Sudokupad and Penpa) that all puzzles have to contain live cells, but you're absolutely right, it's missing on this here page, so I'll add it
The 3x3's (EDIT-- not 4x4 haha) are super hard to set too -- oftentimes, the exact same clues can be valid with two completely opposite shadings, and it took quite a bit of effort just to come up with that one haha -- and obviously, the 2x2 is there for the first timers, to put them in the right frame of mind :-)
And since I'm writing a novel here, might as well congratulate you on getting your first rated puzzle! Even if in my opinion, I think some people are being completely unfair toward it (and you). If it's a 3/5, then surely they found the logic and the puzzle is even more of a masterpiece than if it was 4/5. And if it's a 4/5 then it's just a hard puzzle by definition and the number of clues is just right for it, since it solves. Either way, there's no way this puzzle is not a masterpiece in my book, there's just not! Something tells me some have tried your Tiny Monster and couldn't solve it, and they're taking revenge on the one they could solve hehe ;-)
on 31. May 2023, 14:25 by Kafkapharnaum
(Changed links for phone friendly versions)
on 9. July 2022, 03:13 by Samish
This is all very clever, there's a huge amount of little deductions to make in such a little space. Impressive job to have set that ! But definitely not GAS level I think, at least it didn't feel easy to me :D
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Thank you so much for your solve and kind words (and for testing the new one as well)! There definitely seems to be a consensus there that just about nothing with this ruleset is ever going to be easy... Oh well, I'm giving it my best shots!
on 4. July 2022, 08:15 by lerroyy
Very nice puzzles! The ruleset was hard to get used to, but is very good. Thanks Kafkapharnaum!
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Thank you so much for your solve and kind words! -- And yes, it's as Sktx said, probably anything using this ruleset will always be tricky by nature (and even more so blind), but I'm happy you liked the puzzles! :D
on 30. June 2022, 19:40 by Sktx
Thanks for using my fiendish ruleset, and compacting so much logic in those little squares ! I really enjoyed the 4x4 and 5x5, and surprisingly the one that felt the hardest was the 3x3. I guess this ruleset is just unable to produce a clearly easy puzzle. But I'm really happy that someone else partakes in my interest for Sudoku+Game of Life variants :) !
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Thank you! I'm glad to have the creator's seal of approval haha. I guess sometimes we just have to go with the saying that even if only one people (or two!) enjoys it, then it's still worth it :-) Your ruleset deserves better though!
on 30. June 2022, 09:56 by filuta
I think you succeeded to make an approachable puzzle out of this devilish ruleset (even though it's pretty close). the two last puzzles are really good I think (especially the 5x5), the 2x2 is so funny and, well, I'm not gonna say anything about the (treacherous) 3x3 :o)
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Thank you for your solve! And for the kind words too of course, though as for the puzzle(s) being approchable, it looks like it's not quite doing it adter all... Oh well, hopefully it can still beat my Doppelganger pack's 3 solves XD
(oh and thank you as well for testing the prototype for this puzzle! :-)
