Sudoku: why?

[Quizmonkey]

As sudoku is being discussed...can anyone who does these puzzles please give an intelligent explanation of why? Whenever I have tried them, I've lost all interest and the will to live halfway through. What is the appeal of filling little boxes with numbers? There's no cleverness, no artistry, no richness thst you encounter in crosswords. And I'm sure any newspaper could have just three grids and alternate them indefinitely and the solvers would never know.

[angelap]

what is the point in coming on here just to have a go at people who enjoy something you dont? each to there own!!

[Quizmonkey]

I'm not having a go at anyone and don't wish to cause any offence at all - honest! I'm just curious as to why people enjoy them: what it is about them that they like. Why do you, for example?

[floss85]

Im completely addicted to them! No idea why! Like you say - only a bunch of boxes and numbers!!

It's the same as anything! I dont understand why people can sit there for hours and do crosswords - dont see the fun! (even though its the same princple!)

[Quizmonkey]

Well, with respect, it's not the same principle at all: crosswords celebrate the richness of language, wordplay, coded meanings etc and the grids can be used to conceal limitless clever themed gimmicks etc. Sudoku is, erm, fitting numbers into boxes.

[Mickey_Blue]

I like the challenge, and the satisfaction of trying to help someone else or each other. It also brings people together as a team during that challenge.

[Sixtus]

Is the current popularity of `sudoku` due ONLY to the fact that it is considered a new puzzle - from Japan - and is therefore the thing to do?    These puzzles have been around for many years without this level of interest but only recently been re-invented with an Oriental name.   I believe that a large proportion of modern enthusiasts are simply fad-followers.

[fergol]

I sit here for hours doing crosswords for one good reason - in the hope that I can win some money. I dont do them for fun - I dont see the point when there are so many prize crosswords to chose from. I personally don't see the point of sudoku but whatever floats your boat.

[shaneystar]

I much prefer crosswords and language to numbers. Have tried these Sudokos ..gave up after a few attempts. . I cannot get any satisfaction out getting numbers 1 to 9 in a straight line up down and across.But I get great pleasure out of our wonderful language and like to learn new words and their meanings.Maths never has been my strong point anyway .
But ..it's up to the individual and any type of puzzle is good for the old grey matter !

[biley]

Sudoku is a logic puzzle, NOT a numbers puzzle - it could just as easily be letters or symbols.

Cannot agree with you, Quizmonkey, that there is no cleverness in them - any logic puzzle has its own cleverness and you do have to work them out, exactly as you would do with a cryptic crossword puzzle.

[THECORBYLOON]

Quizmonkey, if there is no cleverness involved why can you not do them? The priniple is simpl, yet it is hard to reach the solution. A crossword has a "unique" solution yet it is still possible to enter words to fit the spaces but not satisfy the clues.

[crowdpleeser]

Hello Quiz Monkey, I'm crowdpleeser's friend who enjoys playing Sudoku. I'd like to know how many times you have completely finished the Sudoku puzzle. As for why..........It's challenging and brain stimulating..............Personally I think anyone who does not understand or is willing to have a go at people who enjoy playing the game either don't understand how to play it, or are just BLOODY STUPID!!!!!!

[Quizmonkey]

Even more STUPID (your caps) are people who don't read questions/answers properly. I havent 'had a go' at anyone - I merely wanted to understand why people do them, and asked for intelligent answers. Sadly I didn't get any.

I have solved some - but only when I have had to (as part of a contest), but I find the whole process tedious, unrewarding and inelegant. If some nutters take that opinion as a personal slight, and can't explain what they get out of sudoku in any original terms, that's probably indirectly answred my question.

[carrieann]

Well I enjoy then too. Bought one from internet that includes time scores. I can beat the hard ones (by halving their time) but the medium ones take longer. Now tell me the logic there!

[Explorer-8]

Hello Quizmonkey. I had no idea how to solve sudokus and I hated the frustration of them. As time progressed, I learnt the principles of solving the easier ones and then I wanted to know if I could solve the harder ones. When I learnt the principles of solving them, I wanted to do a fiendish one. I was determined to try and so I've had to learn some more principles like pairs, triplets and quadruplets. I just keep wanting to know whether I can do it. I've lost interest in the easy ones now.