 A
rival to Rubik? Quite possibly. A gift that will drive
you friends nuts? Perhaps! Something
different? Definitely! A
novelty gift? I
would like to think The Manx is a little more sophisticated, but
a novelty gift isn't
a bad
thing, especially if that's what you've been looking for. Here
it is!
Do you remember the 80's - Rubik's
Cube. What a phenomenon? It's a sequential move puzzle,
but in some marketing circles it was considered a novelty gift. And
goodness, was it successful. As
of January 2009, 350 million cubes have sold worldwide. It
is the top selling puzzle in the world. I would like that
record to go to The Manx!
Proceeds
Go To Charities or Worthy Causes
Check each event for a notification
about how the proceeds will be used.
Personally,
I Like The Opportunity
To Win Something
I am only speaking for myself here,
but if I put out an effort to do something, I like to have the
opportunity to receive some recognition above and beyond the fact
that I successfully accomplished the task. That's why I like
to compete in running events. I have the opportunity to win
something for my effort. That's a driving force for me. The
age group division in running events offers me a better prospect
of winning an award. That's why I incorporated age
group divisions in the Manx events. I went a step further
by making a distinctive commemorative available
to all who
correctly solve a Manx within the allotted time frame - seven
days. There's so many
incentives that I might even enter. Although I can't really. It's
against the rules.
Anyone Can Win!
That's right. You could win the
Grand Prize. The Manx has different nuances that level the
field for competitors. It doesn't matter if you're really
good at solving puzzles, playing games, or writing books. It
doesn't matter if your young, a seasoned adult, or somewhere in
between. Due to this puzzle's design, everyone has an equal opportunity to win!
Win
Without Solving?
That's definitely
possible. Do you feel like you're too old or too
busy to compete? You know who has great visual acuity -
young people. They're
good at figuring things out too. Ask one
of your children, nephews, or puzzle loving friends if they would
like to compete for you. They may win the Grand Prize. Then
you could sell it and divide the money. There's nothing
wong with that!
Concentrate
on the Solving, not the Competition!
This event is designed to be fun and
rewarding for everyone. Don't get nervous about it being
a competition. Think about solving the Manx as a personal
challenge. You may be the Grand Prize winner, in the top
3, or place in your age group. The
real objective is to solve the puzzle. Think about it as
you would a jigsaw, crossword, or any other puzzle type. The
fun is in the solving. And
you get rewarded for solving
this one!
A
Very Unusual Gift
An entry ticket or
a mini CD (if available)
Why
did so many give a Rubik's Cube as a gift? This is pure
speculation, but the cube was a new, movable block. It
was truly unique. People may have
liked the idea of giving something different. We all look
for the unusual, affordable present for that person who has everything. Some
may have given the cube just to torment their friends. Whatever
the reason, it has a place in history, and its success continues
today.
The Manx is a puzzle, but it won't
drive anyone crazy. Well, maybe a few people. Anyone,
I hope, can solve them. Although
there are variations on the Rubik theme, including electronic
versions, they are fundamentally alike. I have no limitations
on The Manx. I
can design thousands of them - each one different. I can
make them simple or more difficult than any sequential move puzzle.
There are speedcubing competitions,
but I speculate the participants have a special affinity for such
events. Personally, I have not heard much about them. If
a physical cube - rather than an electronic version - is used,
then the events have a limiting factor right there. There
is no limiting factor with The Manx. It is delivered in electronic
form, but it is not an electronic game. It
has been tested in a traditional jigsaw format using a printed
manual. The solving technique is the same.
And unlike the cube, physical dexterity
is not an issue. Can you imagine the thousands of hours cube
competitors must practice to be able to realistically compete? I
did the same thing with yo-yos as a kid. I entered and won
many competitions, but I practiced many hours, day in and day out.
The Manx doesn't require that kind
of dedication. It's designed for anyone to arrive at the
correct answer, which is the name of the art work that incorporates
the puzzle's symbols. Everyone can win
in a Manx competition. That's
the beauty of it. Just take a look at the Plasma Manx awards page. I
designed The Manx so people could have fun in a competitive event
and at the same time the competitions would raise funds to support
the two endeavors I mentioned in the second paragraph.
Competitor & Non-competitor: Let
me explain this. Many road race registrations have the option
to enter as a competitor or a non-competitor. If you register
as a non-competitor you are not eligible for an award or a registered
time. People who register as no-competitors simply like to
run and are there to support the cause and enjoy the post race
activities.
We do not offer a separate registration
for competitors and non-competitors, but in effect you can decide
if you want to compete or simply enjoy the puzzle solving experience
as a non-competitor. You can still win
an award and your time will be registered, but you do not have
to prepare yourself to receive the Keyword at the second it becomes
available. You
can retrieve it when you want to start. There is a seven
day time limit to solve the puzzle. That time period begins
when the Keyword is
made available to all registered competitors. That signifies
the start of the competition. You will understand the significance
and usage of the Keyword after you
complete the
practice samples.
The bottom line is, you can enjoy the
Manx experience in whatever manner suits your comfort level, as
a competitor or a non-competitor.
I have been a competitive road racer
for over thirty years. One of The Manx traits was incorporated
as a result of my racing experience - the age group award and
categories. If you are a runner or race coordinator, you
may want to take a look at my Your
Running Memories site.
Thank you very much for your time. I
look forward to seeing you on our results listing.
Jason Savage
Designer
|
