Almost bought a Revolution: Rubik's Cube fun

(tags puzzle, Rubik's Cube, game, Dual Screen)

No not a Wii, but the Rubik's Revolution. Luckily I read the box description after I noticed that it doesn't rotate. Then I read it: play 6 different modes of basically Simon Sez. That is not the mathematical wonder I found in the regular Rubik's Cube, so I didn't buy it. I can't believe I subscribed to the Rubik's Revolution blog for this.

On the same shelf there was an interesting new Rubik's Cube revision called the Speedcubing Kit (ルービックキューブ スピードキュービングキット). It is the regular 3x3x3 with almost the same decals but with removable face plates and screws with springs. It also comes with two screwdrivers and a "wax" for lubrication. Disappointed with the Rubik's Revolution, I bought that 2300 yen product instead. Here's a guy getting exciting with it: 「ルービックキューブ スピードキュービングキットがいい感じ（おばきい）」.

Also on the day I bought the Harry Potter (just 3 days ago, sheesh), I bought a mook-style Rubik's Cube solving book with big pictures. Perhaps I can learn about "speedcubing" though I doubt that remembering all the combinations will be easy. This book doesn't go in-depth into cubing, its just a set of instructions on how to solve it.

I also bought the Rubik's Cube and other famous puzzle games DS game (頭の回転のトレーニング ルービックキューブ＆超有名パズルたち). I tried it out and the control is horrible because of misinput. You would swipe your stylus intending one face rotation but it picks another face. Arg! When it works, it feels good, though. The devs put some effort into it with the sensible controls: L is keep viewpoint, D-pad is quick temporary cube swivel, R is undo, etc. You can set the handiness, so probably lefties will be able to grip and manipulate just as well. You can also play 2x2x2 all the way up to 6.x6x6. Crazy. I got 1 minute 50 seconds to do one layer, not fast at all.

And I just have the New Super Mario Bros. Rubik's Cube (NEW　スーパーマリオブラザーズ　ルービックキューブ) there to show off.