Primordial Ooze
(Published on 7. January 2023, 01:53 by Kafkapharnaum)
... and so this time, I've created a 6x6 example puzzle (below the main puzzle) that you can play separately, as well as provided the 'correct' and 'incorrect' shading examples again, tweaked to reflect the additional Odd/Even restriction. If you want the real deal though, you might want to try Metroid (linked above), or I also strongly recommend Sktx's Eternal Life
Normal sudoku rules apply: Place the digits 1 to 9 in each row, column, and 3x3 box
Even/Odd Still Life Rules
Shade some cells green ("alive cells") 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 digit in a CIRCLED/GREY DOT cell is always odd and indicates the number of cells that are in the SAME state as its own in its neighborhood, INCLUDING its own cell
- A digit in a SQUARED/GREY SQUARE cell is always even and indicates the number of cells that are in a DIFFERENT state from its own in its neighborhood (therefore not including its own cell)
Clues outside the grid indicate the sum of the digits sandwiched between the 1 and the 9 in their respective column
Solve on the CTC app
==== EXAMPLES ====
In Example 1, a 3x3 box with a Game of Life pattern is shown (green for Alive cells, grey for Dead cells). But the cells marked with a ! are unstable : they either are dead but with 3 alive neighbors, or alive but with less than 2 or more than 3 alive neighbors. Therefore this pattern is not a Still Life pattern, and can not appear in a Still Life Sudoku puzzle.
In Example 2, a 3x3 box is shown filled with digits and clues (circles and squares), the Game of Life pattern that is shown is stable, and all the clues are fulfilled. This could appear in a Still Life Sudoku puzzle.
Solution code: The digits in the ALIVE cells of row 8 (from left to right), followed by those in the ALIVE cells of column 8 (from top to bottom)
Comments
on 2. November 2023, 17:33 by Yann
Awesome, I think I may have overcomplicated some logic, but it was still really fun ! I especially loved the c2 sandwich, it had a very nice logical implication in the break-in.
About your puzzles, I began Solaris, but didn't get far, I colored almost every c123r789 galaxy according to r56c23 is it the way to go ?
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Thank you so much for yet another solve and for the kind words, I'm glad you liked this rather unique experiment! It sure makes for a completely different experience from the other Still Life's doesn't it? :O
About Solaris, I'm not quite sure I follow, but I think I can tell you without spoiling anything that it's essentially a "Build Your Own Renbans" puzzle, where the renbans just happen to also be valid Galaxies in a Spiral Galaxy puzzle (which allows to safely notate them). Since coloring could be useful later on, I suggest using the line drawing tool to draw them, instead of colors
Also, I happen to have made a mini Solaris for a nano-pack on Discord, which I think could be helpful! Here's the link :-)
https://www.tinyurl.com/ms63rnfj
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I prefer solving on paper, so I already found the renbans. Thanks for the mini solaris !
on 9. October 2023, 04:35 by taintedfox
Hi! Another very nice Still Life; difficult but in an elegant way. I never felt super stuck during this and it flowed nicely (although maybe only because I've done so many of these by now :P).
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lol, you've been on a tear indeed, thank you so very much! The celebratory FoW for Discord is ready and I'll post it soon, so you can be on the lookout for it :-)
And while I'm at it, thank you also for trying the Munchkins pack. It's definitely just a 'starter pack', I have tons more of these on Discord as well, but if you want the real deal, you could try the 'Discord Line Squadron' pack here on LMD -- a selection of my best ones from that series, that I'm really proud of but didn't perform as well here as they did on Discord :/ Only if you liked the ruleset of course -- anyhow, thanks again!
on 13. September 2023, 21:48 by wullemuus
Hello it's me again- wanted to give something relaxing a shot after the "tiny" monsters XD ... . This time I agree with Sktx! Also I had to develop a new solving pathway missing the clues on the edges but it worked anyway. Due to an error in colouring I entered the wrong code first, so I have to go on with these puzzles ;D.
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LOL, yeah my head is still spinning from that Tiny Monster effort, and I'm still in shock that I actually managed to solve it! XD
Thank you so much for continuing your trip through my puzzles, and for the kind words, it's all the more appreciated that it's almost like I'm on everybody else's ignore list -- it's truly more appreciated than you can know :D
This puzzle was another ordeal to set as well, as this additional restriction made everything stiffer haha, but I'm happy to hear I managed to give it an enjoyable solve path!
on 13. January 2023, 19:38 by Sktx
Another very cool one ! The odd/even rule didn't make it as simple as I thought it would, but it gives birth to great logic. Wonderful puzzle !
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Thank you so much! It wasn't easy coming with something that felt as organic as the original ruleset with this additional restriction. I like the puzzle and others seemed to have liked it too, but I think it'll remain an isolated experiment!
on 9. January 2023, 23:25 by WithIceCream
I am LOVING this variant! I found both this puzzle and Metroid very difficult, but also very rewarding. Thank you!
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Thank you so much for these kind words! I am very happy to hear that, even as this one which was supposed to be more approachable clearly hasn't quite achieved it...
If you'd like to solve more of these, I have in stock a number of other attempts at making approachable Still Life puzzles: "Framed Miniature" (6x6), its big 9x9 brother "Structured Illumination", and a little pack of four small puzzles "Amber Fossils". Then of course, you'd have those of the creator of the ruleset himself, Sktx (who also made a 6x6 and a 3 stars one, called "Life Along the Diagonal")
