Sudoku's Storied History
Ancient civilizations did marvelous things, and built wonderful reminders of their skill and creativity, such as the Great Pyramids. They used their intelligence in many ways, including to entertain themselves. They did not have radio or television, but instead relied on their brains to solve problems and develop creative solutions.
Today, when people find the media has become somewhat dull, repeating stories in a cycle -- "the sames" rather than "the news -- they often turn to brain teasers and puzzles as a remedy. Doing so encourages our brain to get a bit of a mental work out, and dusts off unused parts of the mind that need to be worked to keep them healthy. Puzzles and riddles serve lots of purposes, and all over the world, people enjoy challenges that help keep the mind active and thinking up new ideas and strategies.
Many ancient games have been modernized, or simply repackaged, for a modern audience. Others have had a few tweaks to make them more relevant to today's world. Sudoku may have been played centuries ago, and its simple design can be inviting to newcomers, but there are layers in abundance here.
The word "Sudoku" is derived from the word for "number place." Based on the Japanese language, Sudoku indicates that it is a logic-based placement. Therefore, it is a kind of puzzle game. The first modern Sudoku puzzle was published in a US magazine in 1979. It was picked up by players in Japan in 1984 and was instantly popular. The original name of the game was abbreviated to Sudoku, which, translated into English, actually means "the digits must remain single." There are also various different pronunciations of "Sudoku" throughout the world, but the basic elements of the game remain the same. And the mental power benefits also accrue wherever the game is played.
Sudoku was created by Howard Garns at the end of his career as a puzzle maker. A retired architect, Garns enjoyed making puzzles as a freelancer, and he knew how to make a great one. He based it on the Latin Square puzzle work by Euler, an ancient game that Garns improved by adding a third dimension. With the addition of a partially completed grid, Garns had a winner on his hands that players immediately loved.
Only after arriving in Japan did the name "Sudoku" get applied to the game, which Garns had named "Number Place." Later, the name was copyrighted by a Japanese company, though the puzzle itself was launched in Britain and then around the world.
Originally, Sudoku was played manually in Japanese and American publications. In 1989, Loadstar Publishing introduced a computerized version, followed by another version by Apple. Sudoku has also been fashioned into a version of another popular 1980's puzzle, the Rubik's Cube.
In the year 1997, the popularity of Sudoku in the media had reached overwhelming heights. A Hong Kong judge named Wayne Gould became so engulfed by the game, he developed his own computerized version of a Sudoku creator.
Newspapers in many countries began printing Sudoku puzzles, and they would sell out for that reason alone. Some analysts stated that Sudoku was the world's fasted growing puzzle, and it perhaps peaked in popularity in 2005.
Knowing something of the history of Sudoku adds a nice touch to this enjoyable pastime. From its beginnings in the ancient world, to adaptation using modern computers, to global acceptance, Sudoku has come a long way in a short time. Thanks to Howard Garns for creating a puzzle that brings pleasure and brain stimulation to millions of people every day.
Author Terence Uniacke writes for several popular contemporary web sites, on garden supply and hobby supply themes.
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