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Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

hexapipes.vercel.app

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Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#81

Post by teolandon »

technothrasher wrote: post #74

I liked it, but I've got a funny thing about being timed. It stresses me out and makes a game that should be relaxing completely unenjoyable. I've heard others say the same to me often, so I know I'm not alone. Although there are clearly plenty of other folks who do like the added pressure of a timer. If you had a mode that completely turned off any times, I'd actually keep playing.

It's not like the timer is counting down and the game ends when the timer runs out. The timer is going up. There's no pressure, you can ignore it (or even write a script that hides it client side).

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#83

Post by culi »

Nice I was addicted to this exact game on a mobile app many years ago. Thanks so much for making the source code available! Gonna be fun to dig into it

Edit: found the app, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/noodles/id967624193

Looks like they have a sequal to it and it includes a triangle grid!

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#84

Post by culi »

yarg wrote: post #65
ALittleLight wrote: post #63

I struggled with the first 5x5 taking about 8 minutes, then 2.5 minutes, then less than one minute. I'm still not even sure what principle I'm using to solve these but it is enjoyable. It's mainly just rotating until I hit the right color and looking for the next 3+ joint to rotate.

It's a bit like sudoku; start with the elements for which there's only one choice, and rotate into place. Often this will lead to more tiles with only one viable configuration. (At very least you'll reduce the search space.)

I used to play this exact game on a mobile app. One great feature was the ability to click and hold to "lock" certain pieces into place. Like you pointed out, there's certain pieces (on the edges) that only have one possible configuration

My 5x5 is record is 28s on my 5th game. The strategy is actually really simple once you get going: run through and identify all the "lockable" (only one possible configuration) tiles and then run through the consequences of those configuration and keep repeating

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#85

Post by vesche »

Very fun, although I don't really feel like it takes much skill. Seems to be a chill puzzle experience and doesn't scratch the same brain itch as something like a Rubik's cube or Loopover (https://loopover.xyz/).

I did the 20x20 in 32:31.596 and now feel like I can close this tab :P

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#86

Post by ALittleLight »

culi wrote: post #84
yarg wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a bit like sudoku; start with the elements for which there's only one choice, and rotate into place. Often this will lead to more tiles with only one viable configuration. (At very least you'll reduce the search space.)

I used to play this exact game on a mobile app. One great feature was the ability to click and hold to "lock" certain pieces into place. Like you pointed out, there's certain pieces (on the edges) that only have one possible configuration My 5x5 is record is 28s on my 5th game. The strategy is actually really simple once you get going: run through and identify all the "lockable" (only one possible configuration) tile…

You can lock with a right click.

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#87

Post by culi »

mbusheikin wrote: post #21
Syzygies wrote: post #3

Wow! What fun. You have to make this a phone/tablet app...

Well, this seems an appropriate place to plug the phone/tablet app we made with these puzzles, called Noodles 2. It's the same puzzle style, with square, triangle and hex shapes, with some extra mechanics - disappearing pieces, infinite grid (it wraps around). gereleth, great job on the puzzles - I played a few of the bigger hex puzzles and it was real smooth. :) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lumm…

Hey I just mentioned your app in another comment! I don't suppose your app is open sourced haha?

Big fan of the original many years ago. Will definitely check out the sequel

Noodles and all the Conceptis games were the only puzzle apps I never deleted off my phone

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#88

Post by technothrasher »

teolandon wrote: post #81
technothrasher wrote: post #74

I liked it, but I've got a funny thing about being timed. It stresses me out and makes a game that should be relaxing completely unenjoyable. I've heard others say the same to me often, so I know I'm not alone. Although there are clearly plenty of other folks who do like the added pressure of a timer. If you had a mode that completely turned off any times, I'd actually keep playing.

It's not like the timer is counting down and the game ends when the timer runs out. The timer is going up. There's no pressure, you can ignore it (or even write a script that hides it client side).

> you can ignore it

No can do. Psychology is a funny thing.

> or even write a script that hides it client side

Sure, or just update the code and host it myself. I was just making a casual comment, which the author is free to casually ignore.

Re: Show HN: Pipes puzzle (a.k.a. Net) on a hexagonal grid

#89

Post by culi »

gereleth wrote: post #70
neilv wrote: post #64

Neat. The multiple colors for groups is another innovation beyond SGT's Net. You might consider implementing the traditional 3 mouse button controls (rotate left, mark correct, rotate right). If you can keep the Firefox context menu from popping up. Maybe there's a way to support wrapping, and help the player understand which edge wraps to which? Maybe affecting the shape? Related: 5 days ago "Simon Tatham's Portable…

Mm, middle button, why didn't I think of it. My wrap puzzles show an infinite tiled grid, so there shouldn't be questions about which edge wraps where. There are no edges, tiles just start repeating after a while. Maybe I didn't understand your question about wrapping?

A "click and hold" to lock a tile into place would also be great and mobile accessible
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