My 14 year old son Alex has recently become obsessed with the Rubick's cube. Did you know there is a whole sub-culture associated with this puzzle? There are tournaments, internet forums, collectors, competitors, customization of cubes etc....He was recently "indoctrinated" by his friend Andy who can solve the puzzle in 24 seconds!!! My son currently can do it in 1 minute 20!! He's slow......... the record is 7 seconds, if you can believe it!
Is your kid into this "sub-culture" of game geeks? What are their current obsessions?
Gotta go......... my son needs me to time him while he solves it!!
[question posted by rocketj1]
responses and comments:
I guess his obsession is the same one we all had many years ago when this puzzle first came out. I have seen some of the competition in this activity/ [savypat]
Yeah, The Rubix cube was so popular beause everyone was so fainated st the seemingley impossible puzzle... But people still solve it and enjoy it today, I even think there are people who can solve it in <30 seconds! [Psykolabe]
I think that is cool he has found something he likes that much. When they have tournaments, is it just for fun or do they win money? My son is 10 and he finds all of these weird video games to play. Right now he is playing Roblox which is free (or paid whichever you choose) and you can build and play in your own (and other peoples) lego worlds. [sedel1027]
In Finland and Japan, I guess it's really big. There are money making competitions there and I believe someone may even be able to be a "pro" and earn somewhat of a living that way. Amazing, huh? My son says his friend Thomas plays Roblox too, so I guess that is pretty big around here too. Thanks:) [rocketj1]
Uh, wow! Never knew it went that deep. Now I mean, I knew there were a lot of people into it and all, but geez... to still be that popular! I can't solve that puzzle to save my life, at least not without peeling stickers off and replacing them elsewhere, lol! [katsmeow1213]
Same here! I believe there is a pattern that can be memorized to solve it. Once that is remembered, they can solve it from any starting configuration. Then it becomes a matter of hand dexterity and speed. Thanks:) [rocketj1]
Wasn't the Rubick cube a product of the 80's? I seem to remember that it was very big a long time ago. However, don't go by me as I forget things. lol I did not know anything about tournaments etc. Just go with it - it is a harmless obsession that is giving him lots of fun. Blessings [cynthiann]
Yes, I remember the cube from my HS days. I think there are always math and puzzle aficionados that have never given up on it. Now it's a new generation. I think it's great and he's hanging out with the nicest kids too! Thanks, cynthiann:)!! [rocketj1]
Wow that's amazing, this is the first time I have ever heard of anyone who could even do it. Unless of course the stickers are peeled off. Oh My!!! [Grandmaof2]
I just shake my head in amazement too! He's a pretty amazing kid in general, I think. We kinda like him a bit! heehee Thanks:) [rocketj1]
Hard to believe that rubix is still popular after all these years. [goofygrmp]
7 seconds huh? Are you sure it wasn't 7 days? For me it would probably take 7 years. At least he's got something to occupy his mind and you always know what he is up to. [savak03]
The Rubic's cube has come with all the kids. We used to try our best to solve that thing and could after awhile. My kids tried and could solve it. But I don't think any of us ever got it solved that quickly. We also had different sizes. I've seen them small enough to go on a key chain! Who knows; your son may end up doing it faster than anyone with practice. [Barb42]
I remember the Rubick's cube from back in the 80's when my kids were playing with it. Most all of my kids friends had one. It's funny how some of the same toys and games keep coming back like the Rubick's cube and the hula hoop. I thought I remembered it being invented by a school teacher for a math class but on checking to make sure I find it's invented by a Hungarian sculptor. I think it is probably one of the better games for a young person than so many video games. He needs to be care of getting Rubick's wrist. It is something like tendinitis or tennis elbow. When they were popular back in the late 70's and 80's a lot of kids were suffering from wrist problems because of the constant twisting of the cube. [deebomb]
I had forgotten about the slinky. It was fun to watch it going down the stairs. [deebomb]
yes I knew all that but I was never able to figure it out and lost interest fast lol [winterose]
Wow, that's insane! I still haven't learned how to solve it at all, haha. I've never heard of the "sub-culture" of the rubix cube but I'm not suprised [mamabeezy]
I was so obsessed with this when it first came out. I loved it and can still do it. my kids think that I am crazy though. [sweetpeasmom]
That seems a good time to me. It would probably take me a year to solve one. I have not seen a Rubicks cube for years. I used to cheat years ago and pull all the stickers off them. To they still have the stickers on them or have they changed? I am sure your son will improve, as he sounds great already. [hildas]
I saw an article on TV not to long ago about this very thing. Didn't remember what the record was but I just knew all of those kids would certainly do better than when I tried. I never did get that stupid thing figured out. Its bad to have to go through life and claim to not be smarter than a Rubick cube. Since the kids have all grown and left home I really haven't stayed up on the latest trends. Enjoy and share they grow up so fast and then they are gone. [eeyore39]
I have yet to solve the cube, lo these 30 years! My obsession is baseball. I watch, read about, collect, etc [ErrollLeVant]
My son is into Line Rider... it too has a whole set of things. They can make movies out of it, set it to music, all sorts of neat and quietly educational things. Shhhh... don't tell him about that last part. [TLChimes]
My son is 17 and his obsessions xbox. He's on it ever waking minute while online chatting with his friends, and I worry about him. [LuckyLadyD]
Hey can you send him over here to put mine back together? I have one that's been mixed up for about four years now I think ever since my sister mixed it up 5 minutes after I got it for my birthday! wubI can't solve it, even if my life depended on it. I have tried multiple times and once I even went online to get the instructions of how to solve it. Sadly, in that instance I was completely illiterate. No matter what I did I could not understand those instructions and nor could I translate them in a way to move my hands so that cube was back in order!angry You have certainly given me my chuckle for the day. Your son is certainly better at that than I ever will be and I'm ashamed to admit that I really did try! blush On the bright side though, be glad that his obsession is the rubik's cube and not some other weird or mortifying interest. Remember to count your blessings because it can always be worse. Until next time, happy posting! [wheel416]
Wow, I had no idea that there was a subculture with the rubik's cube! This is definitely interesting information and let me just say, I could never solve that thing when I was a kid. I haven't touched one in years. I'm sure if I messed around with it I could possibly solve it but there is no possible way I could solve that thing in a minute or even less! [highflyingxangel]
i never could work those things. i think that's good for a 14 year old to be involved in something like that. feel lucky that he is. at that age it could be something he didn't need to be obssesed with. u are raising a good guy sounds like to me, [ANTIQUELADY]
even given a whole day to solve a rubbicks i will not be able to solve it. i am really bad at rubbicks. i am really so bad at it. and really slow to learn it. but i am not really interested on playing this a lot that is why i am not able to learn or develop my sped on solving this rubbicks. i don't find it a good game. but good for our brain though. but i just do other things to help me develop my brain in thinking or solving some puzzles. i just busy myself in other things online which i find more interesting. anyways, 7 second record is quite unbelievable. i have to look for it on the net to see other people's records. i am more interested on the facts than learning this one. [hotsummer]
Oh My Lord, I remember when that toy first came out. I got so mad because I would get all but one side amd ended up throwing the darn thing away. Patience was something I didn't have back then and I have even less now. I wish you son Good Luck in his endeavor. [OLIJULSAR]
Hi rocketj1. It seems that the rubick's cube mania is influencing my country as well and I do have teenagers at my school trying to solve this rubick's cube. [ronaldinu]
we recently got one and i just cannot figure it out. my brain does not work that way. it also seems impossible to solve yet i know for a fact that it is possible and i have seen people on tv do it in no time flat. it is amazing to me that there are people whose brains are so quick and can figure these type of things out with little or no effort. i am just not one of them and never will be. [mikeysmom]
I used to be really obsessed with these, but I was never very good at them. My record is about 4 hours, which is extremely slow in comparison to everyone you read about on the internet who can solve them in a matter of seconds. I don't know of anyway who can solve them quite that quickly, but I know that I will get a little better if I carry on practicing! [GemmaR]
I've seen commercials for all the different types of Rubik Cubes, but never realized that there were tournaments and such like that. Rubiks Cubes are fun, I think I've played with one before. [SomeCowgirl]
That is so great to hear there are so many other bad things a 14 year old could be doing. I'm glad that yours is expanding their knowledge and brain power. I'm pretty sure the more he does it the faster he will become. My kids are into that rap music. I will trade with you, LOL [agrant10]
Yeah, I've seen this spring up everywhere now, There is a specific set of formulas and patters you can memorize do complete it, after that its making your hands do them really fast that beomes the problem... [Psykolabe]
Hi there rocketj1 I could never do the Rubik's cube when it came out the first time and don't think I could get my head around it in the this day and age either! lol[/em. I don't think my kids are into anything right now that I used to be when I was their age, not that I can think of anyway. I did try to teach my son how to paly marbles and then asked me how I knew how to play and I told him that I used to play when I was at school and his age. He looked at me as if to say he wasn't so sure and that maybe I had looked it up on the internet or something!! lol [Humbug25]
Wow... your son's mind really is active for him to be passionate into Rubick's cube. My kids (10 & 12) love Rubick's cube too, though they're not really that passionate about it, but at least their minds would work when doing it coz it really needs one to think about solving it. If your kid is really obsessed into it, he could do it in seconds with his constant practice. I've seen those kids in tv who could make it in seconds and I'm really amazed ... :) [Nhey16]
Hi rocketj1! Oh my, I do remember when I was in high school that was the time I first held a Rubick's cube in my hand. Never was able to complete or solved it but one of my friends who is really kinda funny told me to just disassemble it and she will put it back with all specific colors on each sides. lol...Good luck to your son..I hope he beats the 7 seconds!wink Take care and have a great day! lovelots..faith [faith210]
Rubicks cube is an awesome game, it requires intelligence, good reasoning skills, memory, and all. You have to be proud of your kid. [juliotostado]